Book Review: Catching Fire, the second book of The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

Publisher's Synopsis:
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.


Product Details:
File Size: 479 KB
Print Length: 404 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0439023491
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Source: Purchased


My Review:
I didn't think that it would be possible but Catching Fire is even better than The Hunger Games! Catching Fire was a spell-binding read for me. It was the perfect sequel to The Hunger Games, and answered some questions that left me wondering when I finished the first book. The author gives the reader a better understanding of Katniss' home town, the rather starkly named, District 12. District 12 is a poverty-stricken mining community which is strictly and harshly controlled by the Capitol. There is more description of the surrounding districts too which helps to build a bigger picture of the world in which Katniss lives. We are given a greater insight into the characters and their motivations which I found intriguing and I liked the romantic element which is further developed.
Catching Fire is a rollercoaster read and more than surpassed my expectations. There is a constant simmering tension brewing just under the surface which makes for some nailbiting reading! Again, the book was quite violent at times, not gratuitously violent as it was necessary to the overall plot, but I wouldn't recommend it to children under twelve.
Catching Fire is quite a thought-provoking novel. It could be argued that The Capitol represents dictatorial rule which some people are still enduring today and are so bravely rebelling against. It was interesting how the author compared and contrasted the atrocious lives of those living in the districts to the comfortable lives of the Capitol's citizens. It made me think how oblivious and even unconcerned we can be to the suffering of others.
Catching Fire is a riveting read from start to finish, which I would highly recommend. Try to have a few days free before you start reading the trilogy as you won't be able to get anything else done!

You have the Right

Thank you to Pandora Poikilos for sharing these powerful and inspiring words. I wanted to share this piece here on my blog too.


Author Unknown

You have the right to be you; the way you are, the way you want to be.

You have the right to grow, to change, to become, to strive, to reach for any goal, to be limited only by your degree of talent and amount of effort.

You have the right to privacy; in marriage, family, or any relationship or group. You have the right to keep a part of your life secret, no matter how trivial or important, merely because you want it to be that way.
You have the right to be alone part of each day, each week and each year to spend time with and on yourself.

You have the right to be loved and to love, to be accepted, cared for, and adored, and you have the right to fulfill that right.

You have the right to ask questions of anyone at anytime in any matter that affects your life, so long as it is your business to do so; and to be listened to and taken seriously.

You have the right to self-respect and to do everything you need to do to increase your self-esteem, so long as you hurt no one in doing so.

You have the right to be happy, to find something in the world that is meaningful and rewarding to you and that gives you a sense of completeness.

You have the right to be trusted and to trust and to be taken at your word. If you are wrong, you have the right to be given a chance to make good if possible.

You have the right to change your mind.

You have the right to be free as long as you act responsibly and are mindful of the rights of others and of those obligations that you entered into freely.

You have the right to win, to succeed, to compete, to make plans, to see those plans fulfilled, to become the best you can possibly become.

You have a right to boundaries and limits, a right to be intentional, a right to choice.

Book Review: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Publisher's Synopsis:
Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.


My Review:
I'm not usually a big fan of young adult fiction but I fancied a change from my usual reading fare and decided to see what all the fuss was about The Hunger Games. Well, I most certainly was not disappointed! The Hunger Games is a young adult, science fiction novel by Suzanne Collins and is the first book of the trilogy. It is set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian, totalitarian state where children are chosen to fight to the death for their lives. The premise of the book is barbaric to say the least; a televised fight to the death for survival. I loved the originality of the plot and how compelling it was to read. I was lost in Katniss' world from the very beginning.

The characters were mesmerising and the world which the author created was absolutely addictive. I enjoyed being able to escape into a fantasy land and lose myself there completely for a few hours.
I liked Katniss, the main character and admired her constant bravery and courage in her fight for her family's survival and in the face of so much adversity. It was a refreshing change to have such a brave female lead.

There are elements of light romance and some humour throughout the book. It is quite gory and graphic in parts, so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under twelve or thirteen years of age.
The Hunger Games was a gripping read that was full of suspense and drama and I very much look forward to reading the sequel.

Book Review: Confessions of a Cake Addict, by Emma Kaufmann

Publisher's Synopsis:
Londoner Kate Pickles has hit rock bottom. She's funny, kind, and talented but totally unaware about all the great things she has going for her. Day in and day out, she sits back and whines to her sister Laurie in Sydney, Australia, as her boss walks all over her and her best friend Eva bags the hot guys while Kate ends up dating whack jobs and comfort eating cake. Pouring out her heart to Laurie in a series of letters and emails, Kate longs for her sister to confirm she really is the loser in love she fears she is.

Abruptly, Kate's life is turned upside down when, on a trip to Vienna with her glamorous pal, Eva, Kate falls for a sexy Austrian and gets sucked into making a Bollywood film.

The story unfolds in a series of letters and emails between overweight, insecure Gherkin (Kate) who lives in London, is tortured by her boss The Haddock at the advertising agency she works at and whos life has generally hit the skids since she split up with her long term boyfriend and has started dating a string of losers. Whenever things go wrong she muffles her feelings with cake.

Her sister Egg (Laurie) lives a perfect life in Sydney, Australia, is happily married and has two perfect, high achieving kids. However, the kids do leave her frazzled so she enjoys dipping into Kate's messy life and living vicariously through her romantic disasters but can't resist giving her dollops of sisterly advice. Laurie pulls no punches when commenting on Kate's bad life choices and echoes the reader's sentiments that zany, kooky Kate really needs to get a life. Laurie is a refreshing burst of reality, cutting through Kate's delusions and encouraging her to lose weight and go for it with Count Alex von Pappenberg when she's scared to be vulnerable.

Alex von Pappenberg, is a handsome but sensitive Austrian Count who is similarly disillusioned with life and love as Kate and lying low in the Austrian sticks in his Schloss. Like Kate he is stuck in life - his once successful vineyard has gone bankrupt and he's too unmotivated to start it up again. When Kate arrives at his Schloss as part of the entourage making a Bollywood movie Alex is determined to win her love but scared to make a move himself. Readers will enjoy seeing two insecure people grow to the point where they can take a chance on finding love again and facing the challenges of the future together!


My Review:
The title of "Confessions of a Cake Addict" was the first thing that struck me about the book. It instantly made me smile as I completely empathised with Kate, the protagonist, as I am a self-confessed chocaholic. Kate is the quintessential geeky girl with a great big heart. There were so many times during the book that I just wanted to hug her. We've all been where Kate finds herself in life; single, chubby and just a little bit lonely. Of course there's always that one person who seems to be living the best life and has everything working out according to their plan and in Kate's case it's her perfect sister Laurie.
The tone of the book is lighthearted and humourous and the dialogue quick and witty. I especially enjoyed how the author revealed Kate's innermost thoughts and feelings through the letters that Kate sent to her sister.
I liked the burgeoning love affair between Kate and Alex and I was thrilled that she won her handsome prince in the end.


Product Details:
File Size: 448 KB
Print Length: 338 pages
Publisher: DynamicEbooks.com (April 3, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B007RH1KDA
Source: Gift from author in exchange for my review
Click here to buy on Amazon

Book review: Thin Rich Bitches, by Janet Eve Josselyn

Book Details:
File Size: 480 KB
Print Length: 259 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B007JCSNDI
Publication date: March 11th, 2012
Source: Gift from author in exchange for my review
Available to purchase at Amazon


Publisher's Synopsis:
An uproarious romp through the minefield of female one-upmanship!

Leaving her cheating husband in Boston with the paralegal he impregnated, Pippin Snowe and her son move to a ramshackle farmhouse in the exclusive community of Dover, Massachusetts. Pippin finds employment with a local architect, designing kitchen renovations for wealthy Dover women who treat her as they treat the rest of the hired help. Concluding that social climbing is just another sport that she is no good at, Pippin opens a country club for dogs that offers services that the Dover women didn't know they wanted until they found out that admission was required and spaces were limited.

With irreverent wit, Thin Rich Bitches is a humorous chronicle of one woman's quest to find her place within a community of people who are more blessed physically and financially, while learning valuable lessons about life, love, competition, and canine couture.


My Review:
Thin Rich Bitches was a hilarious rollicking read from start to finish! The book was very well written and laugh-out-loud funny. The plot and the dialogue flowed smoothly together and I liked the author's clever style of writing.
The protagonist, Pippin Snowe, is a survivor who takes the reader on her sometimes crazy journey from Boston to Dover, Massachusetts accompanied by Zeke, her long-suffering son. The characters were relatable and likeable in spite of some of their snooty affectations. I enjoyed the normalcy of Pippin's character by comparison to the spoilt rich women of Dover.
Thin Rich Bitches is a wonderfully irreverent read which I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.

Book review: Lily Loves to Love, by Maureen Reil

Product Details:
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 514 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1446751724
Available to purchase at Amazon


Publisher's Synopsis:
A lot of comical things tend to happen to and around Lily Lockhart, the quirky girl just can't help herself before trying her hand at a spot of charity work. At the start of the year, she's just ended her engagement and before long, there's plenty of male interest headed her way. As in 'The Handsome One' (Sean) and 'The Average One' (Tom). Also there's 'The Rich One' (Peter) but Lily can't choose between them. So in the closing chapters, it's down to you 'the reader' to decide who wins Lily's heart as there's a fun, multiple choice style ending to the story. Only one problem, she's pregnant. But who's the daddy?


My review:

I fell in love with this book from the very first line; "The red fruit cocktail drink (which was housed in a giant jug the size of a fish tank) is abruptly poured over my head and I probably deserve it."
The author has a wonderful way of being able to describe serious situations in a witty and light-hearted manner. She opens the reader's eyes to the funny side of life.
The book opens with Lily Lockhart, the protagonist, breaking up with her fiance. I felt as if I was right there with Lily in that break-up scene. Her tension and angst emanated from the page. I cringed when she said "it's not me, it's you" but it's so true, what do you say in that sort of situation?
Lily is a wonderful character who takes the reader on a rollercoaster of dating emotions in her quest to find "the one." I found her very easily relatable. She is a warm and endearing character, in spite of sometimes letting her mouth run away with her! It seemed like I'd made a new friend by the time I finished reading Lily's story and I truly didn't want the book to end.
Maureen Reil has a true comedic gift in her writing. She creates characters and scenes which will make you laugh out loud. Lily Loves to Love is a very entertaining story and a pleasant escape from reality which I would highly recommend.

Book review: Fifty Shades of Grey: Freed, by E.L. James

Publisher's Synopsis:
Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, the Fifty Shades trilogy will obsess you, possess you and stay with you for ever.When Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged entrepreneur Christian Grey, it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy, and being together poses challenges neither of them had anticipated. Ana must learn to share Grey's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity or independence; and Grey must overcome his compulsion to control and lay to rest the horrors that still haunt him.Now, finally together, they have love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of infinite possibilities. But just when it seems that they really do have it all, tragedy and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true ...



Book Details:
File Size: 1002 KB
Print Length: 594 pages
ASIN: B007KOYEOC
Source: Purchased
Available to purchase on Amazon


My review:
I love a happy ending and Fifty Shades of Grey: Freed certainly delivered the goods for me. I was a little disappointed with the second book, Darker, but this book more than made up for it. The plot developed much further than just lots of sex and the story was written from both Christian and Ana's viewpoints which added depth for me. I was particularly fascinated by the complexities of Christian's character. I enjoyed how the author maintained the suspense of his character.
The relationship between Ana and Christian has greatly evolved and they are equal partners now. I wasn't too keen on the submissive/ dominant relationship which they experienced in the previous books. It didn't seem particularly healthy or balanced to me, but having said that it's refreshing to read a book that is as daring and different as the Fifty Shades Trilogy.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the Fifty Shades Trilogy. Ultimately, it's a wonderfully romantic, touching love story between two people who are willing to work through their issues and fight for their love.

Click here to purchase at Amazon