“Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins

“The Hunger Games” takes 120 pages to get interesting. “Catching Fire” takes 60. In many ways, this is a superior story, focusing on the turmoil of being an unwanted symbol of a rebellion and the emotional toll that takes. Even the romantic relations become plot points rather than remain fanservice fodder, and the narrative’s constant drive keeps the pages turning. All this needs is a definitive climax and ending to reward the audience’s interest and patience, neither of which are provided here because money is cool. When greed meets artistry, the audience rarely wins. It was going so well, too.

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