Some of you may recall that on Saturday I was expressing my envy of the lucky people who had received copies of the Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. I even said: "And perhaps my copy is just slow making it out to California, don't you think?" I thought that I was just being wishful. But no!
Yesterday afternoon, I was feeling a bit under the weather. Not to mention out of sorts because there was no Red Sox game. I was deciding between going to the grocery store to get something to cook for dinner, and lying on the couch with my library book. I decided either way that I should go check the mail first. And lo and behold! On my doorstep was a package from Scholastic containing a much sought-after ARC of Catching Fire.
I brought it inside, opened it up, and started reading within minutes. Mheir, understanding soul that he is (and huge fan of The Hunger Games himself), picked up pizza for dinner, and left me undisturbed to read the book cover to cover. (I did break to eat, but that was all).
The ARC came with heartfelt pleas not to disclose any twists from the book, and not to review it in detail at all until September 1st. The letter from David Levithan begins: "Dear Very Deserving, Very Lucky Reader", and the lucky part is certainly true. I try never to disclose spoilers anyway - I like to go into books knowing as little as possible about the details. But in this case, I will confine myself to a few general comments, and write more around the publication date.
Yes, Catching Fire is worth the wait. It is fabulous. It is compelling and intriguing. I didn't find a single page that dragged. Several twists took me by surprise. I read the last two chapters twice, in rapid succession, and I'm thinking about re-reading the whole thing, now that I understand the twists. (I'll have to give Mheir a turn first, though.) I lay awake after finishing the book, thinking about everything. Even though this is a very plot-driven book, Catching Fire also made me think about some larger societal issues, and made me ponder what I would do in Katniss' situation. I think that the book is a bit deeper than The Hunger Games in this regard. (This is consistent with the dramatic arc in Collins' previous series, the Underland Chronicles.) But, as in The Hunger Games, Katniss rocks!
The only bad thing about reading the ARC now is that now I'm DYING to read the third book. And that's got to be a long ways away. (I won't be surprised if they don't do ARCs at all by then, if the momentum for this series keeps building the way it has been).
If you haven't read The Hunger Games yet, consider yourself lucky. You have two great books ahead of you. If it was me, at this point, I'd wait until late August, then read The Hunger Games and get Catching Fire as soon as it's available (September 1st). I'll be back with more coverage closer to the publication date.
If you have read The Hunger Games, and you're craving more Catching Fire coverage now, here are a few links:
- Steph at Review X is having a contest to give away a copy of Catching Fire. There are 255 entries to date, and no announced end date for the contest, so hurry over there now. (I entered before receiving my copy. In the unlikely event that I win, I'll just have her pick again.)
- Scholastic has a new site called The Burning Question, where you can ask questions of Suzanne Collins. Three fan-submitted questions will be answered. More details here.
- Liz B. has a Catching Fire round-up at Tea Cozy (who got pre-BEA copies, where she's seeing buzz, etc.) Liz is also predicting no ARCs for the next book, though I didn't see her prediction until after I had written mine above.
- Lisa Chellman reports that Catching Fire has already made the comics.
- Updated to add: new Catching Fire trailer on YouTube.
This blogging thing does have its perks!
© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.
I feel like someone needs to host a safe, underground book discussion on Catching Fire so those of us who have read it can gush over it!!
Posted by: Martha Flynn | June 02, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Maybe if I wish hard enough, a copy will come my way... ;) I think I can wait, though. I'll just have to make sure that I'm high up on the hold list at the library.
Glad you loved it.
Posted by: Melissa | June 02, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Ooh, I just read it on the plane home, and I agree it is AMAZING! I also read the end twice, and I also am deranged with anticipation of book 3! It's going to be FOREVER! I know people won't be able to resist slipping tiny spoilers into reviews, so I advise: don't read any reviews. It would be so easy to have some of the major surprise elements blown.
Posted by: Laini Taylor | June 02, 2009 at 01:19 PM
You are SO lucky!
Posted by: Frankie | June 02, 2009 at 02:12 PM
I definitely look forward to being able to discuss the book with people who have read it, Martha.
And Melissa, think about it this way. The longer you wait, the longer you still have reading the book ahead of you as something to look forward to.
Laini, book three does seem like forever away... But I think that's good advice for people. Just don't read any reviews, until you have read the book yourself. Seriously.
Frankie, I do feel lucky!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 02, 2009 at 04:06 PM
You are so lucky!! I can't wait to read it, but I'm also not looking forward to it being over. Ack!
Posted by: Janssen | June 02, 2009 at 07:13 PM
I'm so happy you got one!
I'll reread The Hunger Games in August to prepare myself!
Posted by: PJ Hoover | June 02, 2009 at 08:12 PM
But the real question, Jen, is: Are you Team Gale or Team Peeta?
Posted by: Carlie | June 03, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Thanks, Janssen and PJ. I may re-read both books in August myself, just for fun.
Carlie, I think that the mark of a well-conceived love triangle is when it's hard to choose your favorite (and when the dilemma is plausible - you can see why the protagonist would be conflicted). I love them both. But if I have to choose, I'm going to have to go with Team Gale.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 03, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Team Peeta! Uh oh, are we going to have to have a rumble?
I've been informally polling those who have read one or both books, and it seems like Team Peeta is winning, but not by a landslide.
Posted by: Carlie | June 03, 2009 at 09:51 AM
Yes, I think we'll have to rumble. Maybe to the death, in the spirit of the Hunger Games.
Seriously, though, I can see why people choose Peeta - we get to know him a lot better, and see him demonstrate his love for Katniss. For me, though, her passion for Gale edges that out. At least so far. I reserve the right to change my mind while reading book 3.
A television parallel strikes me. Joey/Dawson/Pacey. Although, in that one, I was 100% Team Pacey by the end. So maybe I will change my mind...
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 03, 2009 at 09:57 AM
So, you have this ARC, and you've read it. Twice. And you probably need to make space for all the other books on your list, right? So, as a favor to you, I would be happy to take it off your hands.
Since you've done so much for me, it's the least I can do.
Posted by: Sheila | June 05, 2009 at 06:48 AM
Oh, and I'll throw in my two ARCs for Incarceron and it's sequel Sapphique. In this case, ARC stands for Already Read Copies. But these books takes weeks to get from Amazon, and they are fantastic. They are probably the only books I have that you haven't already read.
Posted by: Sheila | June 05, 2009 at 07:49 AM
That is a very selfless offer, Sheila. However, I'm afraid that the book is already spoken for by family members. Sorry!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 05, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Rats, I was gonna offer dinner next, or a week's worth of child labor, or a fabulous Vegas vacation package (all you have to do is listen to a short presentation on time-share opportunities!)
Kidding aside, I will tell myself that waiting until September will mean I won't have to wait as long between books 2 and 3.
Now I'm off to your archives to compile some recommendations for my kids summer reading.
Posted by: Sheila | June 05, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Aww, lucky person!
(BTW, Catching Fire forum because I saw you mentioned an underground place for discussion on another site. I then clicked to get your profile: http://www.hungergamestrilogy.com/phpbb3/viewforum.php?f=9 )
Posted by: Catching Fire Fan | June 09, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Ugh, sorry, it's here: http://www.hungergamestrilogy.com/phpbb3/viewforum.php?f=23&st=0&sk=t&sd=d&start=0 )
Posted by: Catching Fire Fan | June 09, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Thanks so much for taking the time to track me down and let me know about the discussion forum, Catching Fire Fan. I'll definitely check it out! And yes, I am very lucky.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 10, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I was lucky enought to get to read this book too. A friend got the ARC and let me borrow it... I had suggested she read Hunger Games. I loved it. I have to return it to her but I devoured it in one day. So good! I can't wait to be able to share what it is about with others.
Posted by: Mary Rowe | June 29, 2009 at 06:17 PM
Congratulations on getting a copy of the book, Mary! I agree. So good! And I do look forward to having more detailed discussion of the book with people.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 29, 2009 at 06:52 PM
are you going to share the wealth and let a lucky reader have a chance at reading it? that would be really nice....
Posted by: Mary | July 13, 2009 at 09:17 AM
Afraid not, Mary. I've passed it along to a family member.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | July 13, 2009 at 10:01 AM
How do you get the arc thing because the hunger games is my favorite book and i am dying to read catching fire i hat haveing to wait what do i have to do to get it early
Posted by: Paige | July 17, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Paige, you have to either have an established venue where you publish book reviews, or you have to attend a conference like the American Library Association conference, to have access to ARCs (advance reader copies). But it's not worth starting a blog just for the sake of having access to ARCs - it takes quite a while to build up an audience, establish professional-quality reviews, etc., before anyone will offer you advance books. The only other thing I can think of is to ask your librarians - one of them might have the advance copy, and might let you borrow it.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | July 18, 2009 at 11:30 AM