Top 5 Tuesday - Top 5… Fave Characters F-J

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme that explores different topics. Originally created by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm, it is now hosted by Meeghan at Meeghan Reads. For a list of September topics you can click here. To participate, link your post back to Meeghan's blog or leave a comment on her weekly post.

September will prove to be a challenge for me, but I'll do my best.

Top 5… Fave Characters F-J

We meet Finnick Odair in Catching Fire. Mentored by Mags, a previous District 4 victor, he is wildly popular in the Capitol. The fact that Finnick ends up being way more than expected when you first meet him makes him a favorite and makes his death in Mockingjay even more tragic.

I grew up watching how the Grinch with his heart two sizes too small is transformed after he steals everything from the Who's Christmas and they still celebrate. Just like my other holiday favorite, Ebeneezer Scrooge, the Grinch learns a valuable lesson about the joy of Christmas. Perhaps the best part--other than this heart growing three sizes that day--is what the Grinch figured out--"Maybe Christmas...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more?"

You first meet Harry Potter as a young orphan mistreated by his aunt, uncle, and cousin. His fortune swiftly changes when he discovers he is a wizard. But does it? Through the next six books, Harry experiences many challenges and more tragic losses as he moves closer to fulfilling his destiny of meeting Lord Voldemort in an epic battle. 

The Invisible Man may seem like an odd choice, but hear me out. Griffin is a scientist who develops a serum to render himself invisible. What Griffin believes to be an incredible scientific discovery, soon presents challenges he did not imagine. He arrives at an inn, where he soon becomes the talk of the town. He's running out of money and his landlady is pressuring him to pay his rent and get out. Griffin becomes desperate. He seeks help from others and is betrayed. He descends into madness and ultimately dies after being beaten by a mob. The psychology of this character is what draws me to him. 

I think I read more of The Hardy Boys than I did Nancy Drew in my early days. Joe Hardy picked up most of his detective skills from his father. He is good at sports, attends church, and seems to have a knack for fixing their van's mechanical issues. He's a bit impulsive, which attracts me to him as a character. Good thing his brother Frank is more cautious.

What do you think of my choices? Do we share any of the same ones?

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: The Anatomy Of Panem - A Look at the 12 districts in THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE comes out this Friday. AMC theatres everywhere are gearing up for this blockbuster film. On 11/21 you can see THE HUNGER GAMES and THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE back to back at AMC's double feature event! They are the only ones giving away collectible victor dog tags from THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE, so don't miss out!

This video is an unofficial look at each district in Panem, the Victors that will be involved in the Quarter Quell in THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE and some info about each district. There is also this infographic that we shared with you back in October.

Feel free to share if you enjoy this video.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Infographic - The Anatomy Of Panem

Catching Fire, the second movie installment of The Hunger Games trilogy, is slated for release on November 22nd. Both my girls have been talking about it for months. With a new director and several new cast members, Catching Fire looks like it will be another fantastic movie. It is based upon the book of the same name by Suzanne Collins.

Below you'll find an infographic I was sent to share that discusses the victors who face off against each other in the 75th Hunger Games, the latest Quarter Quell. I hope you find it a helpful reminder if it has been a while since you read the book.


Click here to buy tickets for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire before they're sold out!

Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Katniss and Peeta survived the Hunger Games. Now an angry President Snow is determined that Katniss will pay for her deceit. As Katniss and Peeta begin their Victory Tour, Katniss catches a glimpse of the rebellion her actions have inspired. And then there's Gale, angry and eager to see the Capitol brought to its knees. Katniss can't seem to let him go, but if she can't convince all of Panem that she and Peeta are madly in love, it could be disastrous for everyone she holds dear.

In this highly anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games, readers revisit Panem along with Katniss, as she tells the story of the Victory Tour and the unrest her actions in the Hunger Games caused. Collins's impressive writing captures the reader's attention and there are enough twists and turns to keep her engaged.

The largest challenge with Catching Fire is that Katniss is turned into an unlikeable, whiny character without direction. In amongst the glimpses of the growing rebellion, she shares bits and pieces of the Hunger Games as she experienced them; the tension between her and Gale because of her relationship with Peeta; her fear of what Snow could do to her family unless she can convince all of Panem she is deeply in love with
the bread maker/artist. And while the reader sympathizes with all the Games have cost her, they don't feel Katniss has grown or learned much of anything.

A Quarter Quell is announced and its rules shock everyone. The reader sees more violence and more death. Tributes are going to have to make decisions. They are going to have to form alliances if they wish to survive.

Yes, this book has a fabulous cliffhanger ending that will leave the reader eager to pick up the final book of the trilogy, but Catching Fire didn't have as much meat as I was looking for. I didn't want to rehash so much of what happened in the first book. I wanted Gale to play a more pivotal role in Catching Fire. I wanted Katniss to make decisions instead of complaining about her circumstances. My daughter, who read the books with me, liked it, but she preferred the first and third books as well.

While this book is rated as 13 and up, and I know many kids younger than that have read it, I still think there's too much violence for young readers.

Reading level: Ages 13 and up

Hardcover: 391 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0439023491

ISBN-13: 978-0439023498

SRP: $17.99

Also available for Kindle

I borrowed a copy of this book from a neighbor so we could continue with the series. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

This is the twenty-third book I've read for the following challenge:

It is the sixteenth I've read for the following challenge: