For What It's Worth


Friday, September 16, 2011

Happy TGIF!


TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by GReads! to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for followers.

Book Disappointments: Have you ever come across a book you were so stoked to read, but it failed miserably in your eyes?
Mockingjay. That book disappointed me so much that I spiraled into a reading slump lasting almost 5 months. Plus I live in fear of ALL trilogies. It takes a lot to make me pick up a new series now and I would rather wait until all of the books are out and read them together then so I can see how other people are feeling about the series ending.
I didn't really have a lot of expectations for what Mockingjay should or would be. I was just waiting to be blown away. The last book felt so disconnected from the previous two and Suzanne Collins writing style seemed different to me. Almost like she had a different agenda. I would have enjoyed the book as a stand alone anti-war novel, but as the conclusion of my beloved series and as a goodbye to some of my favorite characters it crushed me.

My posts for the week:

Have a great weekend everyone!

21 comments:

  1. Ahhh unfortunatly I agree with you! First two books AMAZING! The third felt like it was written by someone else. It pains me to recall that book. I really wanted to love it :(

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  2. I agree with you. Mockingjay was just NOT handled and executed very well, which was incredibly disappointing because the two books prior are amazing! I am trying to just imagine that it didn't end that way at all to be honest.

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  3. Mockingjay was very, very heavy for me. I just never got that "good" feeling from the book - but I think that was the purpose. However I think the epilogue needs to be taken out. Holy cheese factor! That didn't fit well, at all.

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  4. I know you have mentioned Mockingjay many times and agree with you and there is something about trilogis that make my head swim too.

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  5. Mockingjay was bittersweet to me, but all in all the series was amazing IMO. Interesting to read your POV though.

    New follower btw :)

    Here's my post: http://www.jjireads.com/2011/09/tgif-and-flove-friday-1.html

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  6. I know I am in the minority not feeling MJ tainted the HG series. It provided me with lots of tears. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I agree with you. The ending was a major disappointment, and I think you're right about the style. It felt like such a major switch from the focus of the previous two and I think I would have been more on board if we'd gotten some of that information in Catching Fire instead. You know - ease us in a bit!

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  8. I didn't mind Mockingjay the way it was...and I loved the Epilogue. :P

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  9. That is funny. I was disappointed with Mockingjay as well. I just attributed it to my end of series blues. Guess not. I was looking forward to A Need so Beautiful. That whole thing just didn't work out for me.

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  10. It took a while for it to sink in for me just how bad Mockingjay actually was. And when it did, it ruined my August. Dreary hopelessness and long-lasting trauma might not be the best way to end a trilogy. Just sayin'.

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  11. Totally agree with your opinion of Mockingjay. It didn't even feel the same as the other two books. I feel like Suzanne Collins had an agenda of what she had to tie up and that got in the way of the organic feel of the story. I think she could have easily written another book instead of cramming so much info into Mockingjay. I definitely missed the scenes in the arena though. Those were my favorite.

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  12. I hadn't even thought of mentioning Mockingjay in my answer, but I agree with you completely. I adored the first two books, but Mockingjay was too military and too bleak. They really needed to bring the arena in somehow.

    Wasn't a fan.

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  13. You saw that I said Mockingjay and I must confess I had read your post beforehand and thought that you were too right and I couldn't agree more.

    I remember when I finished it and a certain numbness coming over me. I was gobsmacked and it didn't really sink in for a few days. Then I put it back on the shelf, read The Hunger Games to remind myself she was a good writer, then moved on.

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  14. When I first read the question, Mockingjay came to mind. Then I saw the next word -- Mockingjay. haha

    I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in a book as I have Mockingjay. I hated that book so much, I discourage folks from reading Catching Fire. I liked Catching Fire almost as much as Hunger Games (which was beyond superb!). However, I know folks will want to read Mockingjay after reading Catching Fire because of the cliffhanger. I just don't want them to experience the disappointment I had.

    Next in line after Mockingjay would be Bad Moon Rising by Kenyon. All I could think was how dare you copy and paste your old scenes into a sequel and pretend like it's new!

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  15. oh no mockingjay :(( i haven't read any of the series yet.
    i think i'd have to go with true blood/sookie stackhouse book 1, couldn't even finish it.

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  16. Oh you and Mockingjay, lol. It's been a year now...can't you let it go?!

    Totally kidding. You know I love you. I still haven't read it, though, because I'm afraid I'll be disappointed. I trust you oh so very much.

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  17. I need help picking out books for my year in China. So, I don't have a bunch on a list like this. :( Let me know what you think?

    Mad Scientist

    Steampunkery & Book Reviews

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  18. When I read Mockingjay the first time I thought it had been too long since I read the first books so this summer I went back and reread in order. I didn't hate it but did feel the ending put it all back together neat and tidy.

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  19. @Lena --Yes, we're still bitter about Mockingjay. ;-) When you're jilted by your own favorite series, it leaves scars. I'm going to go listen to some angry Kelly Clarkson, now...

    *here I am once again, I'm torn into pieces!*

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  20. @Tiger YES! this book was SO scarring to me, I don't think I'll EVER be over it. EVER. Hear that Lena? EVER!

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  21. In a way, I think Mockingjay couldn't possibly live up to the hype and anticipation, but Suzanne Collins really did write one of the most depressing endings I've ever read. I don't think feeling depressed is going to make many readers happy (obviously!)

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