National UnFriend Day Featuring Lisa Kudrow

National UnFriend Day Announcement Featuring William Shatner

Mockingjay

Mockingjay is the last book in the Hunger Game trilogy.   Suzanne Collins has done it again with this book.  If you have enjoyed the previous two books, Mockingjay does not disappoint.  The last book is filled with much bravery and suspense. 

The book begins where Catching Fire leaves off.  Katniss has been transported out of the arena and to District 13, which has turned out to be an underground city.  Once, Katniss has awaken she learns that rebellions against the Capitol have sprung up in the majority of the districts after she shot the arrow into the force field.  It turns out that there has been a lot of planning and everyone seemed to know something, except for Katniss and Peeta (Peeta has been captured by the Capitol).  The leaders of the rebellion wants Katniss to become the Mockingjay, the face of the rebels; a leader.  Katniss has an influence on the people, an influence that can change the way things are.  But we find Katniss struggling over whether or not to become the Mockingjay.  She weighs what could happen if she becomes the Mockingjay and what could happen if she doesn't.  She puts much thought into this decsion and goes back and forth as to what she is going to do.  When Katniss learns of all the sacrifices that have been made for her, she accepts the role of the Mockingjay.  I don't want to give away too much more.  If you want to know what happens check out the Mockingjay Wikipedia article.  What follows Katniss' decision to be the Mockingjay is war, loss, triumph, death, and love.

With Mockingjay being the final book, I wanted to reflect on what makes this trilogy so great.  It is Katniss that draws the reader to the story.  As she narrates the story we see everything through her eyes.  As the reader we are able to see things about Katniss that she does not see about herself.  What makes Katniss so likable and admirable, is how strong, brave, and self-less she is.  She really is all of these things without really knowing it.  She's confident yet not confident in herself and her abilities.  She doubts and questions herself and her decisions and intentions.  And she is ever so loyal about keeping her word.  She is very smart too.  Too keep her real though, she is comfortable being who she is and being looked up to.

I must admit, Mockingjay was not my favorite book of the series.  It had a very different feeling to it compared to the first two books.  The focus somewhat shifts to a different storyline.  It was still a good read and worth reading if you've read the first two.  My favorite part of this book was the last chapter when Katniss realizes what she needs in life to survive. 

In case you were wondering, Catching Fire, in my opinion is the best book of the trilogy.

Catching Fire

Catching Fire is the second book of The Hunger Games series.  Much like the first book this book draws its readers in the world known as Panem.  It brings about the same raw emotions that The Hunger Games brought.  The imagery is so strong that you really can place yourself with the characters.  In Catching Fire the reader sees what life is like for Katniss following Peeta and her's victory in the hunger games.  There are many repercussions to her actions in the games and uprisings and rebellions begin because of Katniss' actions.  The Capitol is threatening Katniss and the ones she loves.  Katniss really struggles with her new life.  There is the triangle that between Katniss, Peeta and Gale.  As she tries to sort out her feelings something happens that changes everything.  Every 25 years the Capitol holds the Quarter Quell, which is basically another hunger games, but with different rules.  For the 75th Quarter Quell to competitors are a male and female victor from each district.  Katniss along with Peeta find themselves in the arena again, but this time with an alliance.  At the end Katniss is in District 13, a place that isn't suppose to exist, and Peeta has been captured by the Capitol along with another member of her alliance.  And District 12 has been destroyed.

Catching Fire was just as interesting and intense as The Hunger Games.  I really enjoyed it as the story takes you through another journey.  This book does what few do and really pulls at your emotions.  It isn't very often that I cry reading a book.  Yet, this series has managed to do just that in both of the books.  The themes of this book and series really make you think.  You can identify with the situation as we all at one point have to make important decisions in life.  We ask ourselves how much are we willing to sacrifice to save the ones we love.  How selfless or selfish are we?  Katniss has to decide whether or not to run or stand up and face the Capitol.  Once again we find Katniss willing to sacrifice her life for someone else.  Katniss is a leader and a fighter, but like in real life, it takes time for her to realize her full potential and who she really is.  There is something special about her that only others can see.  Just like in life, we must embrace who we are.  We can try to run, but reality will always find us no matter how hard we try to run. 

Visit California - Misconceptions

This week California began airing the "Visit California" tourism ads again.  Once again they are poking fun at the misconceptions that so many people have about Cali.  They haven't done one in several years, but I am just as stumped as before as to why they air them in California.  They tell the audience to get out here, but what if we are already here.  When you live a state, you don't really visit it, it's more like you travel it.  Obviously living in CA I have no misconceptions.  Everyone does not drive a convertible because the weather is not always sunny and not always covertible weather.  On a typical day, you can't expect to see celebrites roaming the streets of CA.  They aren't everywere you go and the chances you seeing one on the street, are pretty slim, that is unless you hang out at the right spots.  That's right, don't expect to go to the beach and see Jason Mraz strumming his guitar.  However, Disneyland is that amazing, even without the Jonas Brothers.  It would be really hard for everyone to be surfer seeing that the entire population does not live at the beach.  I do get a kick out of them because really where do people get these misconceptions.  There is one problem with this, telling people to visit CA will not rid us of this misconceptions.  Because where do people want to visit in CA?  The places that have exactly these things.  And aren't these misconceptions what bring people to California?  Really none of this matters because they are showing the commercial to the people of the state.  That is something I really just don't get.  Read more to check out the latest ad.

SNL Glee Sketch

Gilly joins New Directions

The Hunger Games

With all the buzz surrounding the book trilogy, The Hunger Games, espcially with the recent release of the last installment of the triology, Mockingjay, I finally decided to pick up the first book to read.  I am really glad that I did.  I instantly became hooked to this book.  The themes in the story are thought provoking and emotions run strong through out the book.  There was one point that I found my eyes tearing up.  The plot, the issues, the characters, everything really drew me into the book.  The use of imagery allows the reader to be right there with the characters and able to see/imagine from the characters point of view.  I absolutely love this book and I believe gives the Twilight Saga some real competition.   Read more to learn a little more about the book.