For Real

It was depressing to read the finale of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay. Darkness, death and destruction had been the constant mood of the book from the beginning to end. The first two books were the same, but it was full of satisfying comic relief, captivating romance and advancement to gain freedom from the capitol. These are the key elements that the third book seemed to miss.

All Out War
Mockingjay is a war novel. The author masterfully wove power players, propaganda, hidden motives and military operations. The ‘propos’ had been a tremendous success that inspired the rebels to revolt against Panem even though odds are not in their favor. I think Katniss had been effective to lead them to victory by being the face of the rebellion. The rebels rallied with her to capture each district and finally take over the Capitol.
But she fell too short in the other factors that resulted to unnecessary setbacks in her twisted mind and the efforts of the rebellion. She was not able to deal with the power players of the war, reducing her to a pawn instead of being more significant. President Coin, Plutarch and Snow are always steps ahead of her. She did not exploit her charm to be the one who will have the reign to control, to decide or to influence on how the war should be executed. She was not able to guess correctly what are their motives, what made them tick. That is why she can’t properly protect her love ones who continuously drops dead like flies.
The decisive moments of the book echoed that she is a hunter and a victor, but never a military tactician. She led her team in a death trap of pods without any strategy on how to survive and prevent losing her comrades. It is as if she is blindfolded and just hoped against hope that they will all make it through until they reach the mansion in the Capitol, which of course did not happen. I have to admit that is my frustration in his book, the fact that Katniss failed in her personal vendetta to assassinate President Snow which she promised since she was still in the arena of the Hunger games and was made as her resolved in the earlier pages of the Mockingjay.

Not Too Literal
I believe in the talent of Suzanne Collins. That is why I think that one should read between the lines to understand the unpleasant and surprising turn of events in her finale book.
I was taken aback when Prim ‘turned into a human torch’. The author did not directly answer who is mastermind of this autocracy. But I believe that President Snow was telling the truth about this. President Coin, became impatient and wants to end the war once and for all, delivered the parachute to the wall of children with double detonated bombs. Prim being there as a medic in the still on-going war puzzled me. Though I am also sure that the bomb that killed Prim was the brainchild of Gale, the reason why they can never be together.
It was also so fast that I almost missed that it was President Coin who was assassinated by Katniss with her deadly bow and arrow. I think that is how she paid all her war crimes. Abandoning the other Districts in the first war against the Capitol when victory was out of hand that led them to the Dark Age. Then striking a deal to be left alone while the other Districts suffered under the vengeful iron fist of the Capitol. She has a lot to pay for, and Katniss made sure she paid it fully with her life. Real changes, healing and progress of Panem will not be achieved under Coin, but rather with Paylor who was the ground battle commander of the rebels to take over the Capitol.
Katniss and Haymitch, agreeing that there should be another Hunger Games after the war with Capitol’s children as tributes is only a fluke and should not be a reason to question their morals. They really do not intend to have another bloodbath, it was just their diversion to President Coin since it was her idea. They decided that was not the moment to openly defy the person who now seats in power.

The Triangle
The third book did not dwell too much about the love triangle that captivated the heart of its’ fans. I personally wished that there were more interaction between the two men and Katniss. But the author decided to make Peeta ‘hijacked’ almost through out the book. Katniss was not as concerned as I want her to be to help him gain his sanity back.
Though it is really hard to expect that much from her since she is also hunted with her own horrors and pain.
What I was satisfied about was Gale. He remained loyal to Katniss, he helped in the war efforts in the rebellion and his ideologies maybe brutal, but it is honest. I don’t buy it that he is already enjoying his ‘fancy job’ in District 2. I think that Gale, whatever position was given to him, he earned it and he will be very good at it. He will be instrumental in the recovery of the war torn Panem and he will be able to help the citizens to forgive and unite to build their lives again. He was broken hearted losing Katniss, but he knows that she will never fully forget about Prim and he has no choice but to let her go to be with Peeta.

Like It Or Not
Over all, I like the book. It gave an unpredictable and realistic conclusion to the Hunger games trilogy. It exceeded my expectations in a way that I should understand the context of the story, the dynamics of war, the vulnerability of humanity, the frailty of life and the gray area of morality before I can fully appreciate the Mockingjay.
I believe that the three books combined was really an achievement to the author. The trilogy is truly special and one of a kind.