After reading The Hunger Games, I was expecting to be blown away by Catching Fire, the second book in the series. Unfortunately, I wasn't. However, the more I've thought about the book, the more I've come to the conclusion that this is a bit inevitable. The first book, or even movie, in a series is always good (if it's going to get published, that is). There are new characters, a lot of plot, things to discover... and The Hunger Games delivers on all fronts. However, Collins' second book, Catching Fire, is a bit slower and at times feels unnecessary-- much like most middle movies or books in a series. Katniss and Peeta seemed to be almost reliving the plot of the first book at some points. At first this annoyed me, but then I realized that their interactions are different this time around because of the experiences they've shared, and that Collins is trying to build relationships, and to allow Katniss to grow in this novel, so that she is a suitable heroine for the third installment. Maybe there isn't as much going on, or it doesn't seem quite as original, but the subtle evolution of the characters is necessary. While Catching Fire didn't meet my expectations, it certainly didn't turn me off to the series, and the ending was very satisfying because it suggested that the third book, Mockingjay, will be very exciting plot-wise.
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