BookBunnies

Marshmallow reviews Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

A few weeks ago Marshmallow reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the first of the famous Hunger Games trilogy. Today she talks to Sprinkles about the second book in the series, Catching Fire, first published in 2009.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, tell us a bit about this second book.

Marshmallow: Well, it starts more or less where the first book ended. So Katniss and Peeta won that year’s Hunger Games, and they go on a victory tour. But it is not really a real victory, because they are being coerced into performing like they are proud and also in love for the masses.

S: So it is really like a reality TV show.

M: Yes, but it is also based off the Roman gladiator games, like we said the last time. This became apparent to me when we see rich people who make themselves throw up so they can continue to gorge themselves with more food. Roman aristocrats also did this.

S: Such a waste of food.

M: Yes, but also keep in mind that there is real poverty in other parts of the country. So it is especially disturbing that they have too much to eat while others are almost starving.

S: I agree. Okay, so tell me more about the victory tour that is not a real victory tour bur rather a fancy photo op.

M: When Katniss and Peeta both survive, this is kind of against the wishes of the Capitol, and this leads to people having some rebellious ideas. So President Snow coerces Katniss to act as if she is really in love with Peeta and did not intend to start a rebellion. But still, they become the symbols of a rebellion against the Capitol.

S: That sounds like they might be in danger then.

M: Yes, eventually there is a new Hunger Game announced and this time they do not choose new champions. Instead teams of two from among the earlier victors will be put together. And of course since Katniss is the only female victor from her district, she has to play. Peeta joins her and they face an even more challenging game this time, because this time President Snow wants her dead.

Marshmallow is reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. — Marshmallow is reading *Catching Fire* by Suzanne Collins.

S: Okay, I think that sums up the plot of this second book quite well.

M: But wait there is a love triangle as well.

S: How so? Tell me.

M: Well, Katniss is developing feelings for Peeta, but also she has some lingering feelings for Gale, who was her friend from before the Games in the first book. So there is that, too.

S: I see. But I am guessing that it does not get too mushy, or you would not really love the book so much.

M: Yes, that is correct, so no, it does not get too mushy. Thankfully. There is some kissing and stuff, but it is not as central to the book as in some other books.

S: Okay, I know you want to move to the next book immediately, so does that mean you liked this one?

M: Yes! I’d rate it 100%, if only it did not end in a cliffhanger…

S: I guess you will just have to read the third book soon.

M: But first we have to watch the movie for this book!

S: Maybe.

M: At least maybe we can put the trailer here?

S: We can do that! Here it is:

Hunger Games: Catching Fire – official trailer (YouTube).

M: Thank you. I think that looks really good!

S: I agree. So maybe we should see it some time.

M: Yes!

S: But for now, it is time to wrap up this review.

M: Yes!

S: What do you want to tell our readers?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow would rate Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 100% if it did not end in a cliffhanger. — Marshmallow would rate *Catching Fire* by Suzanne Collins 100% if it did not end in a cliffhanger.

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer

Last week, Caramel reviewed Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer, the second book about the evil boy genius Artemis Fowl. Today he reviews Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, the third book in the series, first published in 2003. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So here we are, about to start talking about yet another Artemis Fowl book. So this is number three. Tell us about it.

Caramel: This book starts out with Artemis Fowl building a supercomputer he calls C Cube. He tries to bargain with a business man who steals it from him. And his friend Butler is shot. The supercomputer uses fairy technology that Artemis stole from the fairies, and the fairies detect it when he uses it to show off to the businessman. They come to figure out what is going on, and the fairy officer Holly ends up helping Artemis again.

S: So we have some old characters, and some new ones, too. Right?

C: Yes, the businessman Jon Spiro is new. But for example, Foaly the centaur and Mulch Diggums are not new, and they have very important roles in this book.

S: I see. So is the plot as convoluted and complicated as the one from Book Two?

C: Yes, I think so. That’s why I have been rereading the book, to make sure I got all the details.

Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer. — Caramel is reading *Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code* by Eoin Colfer.

S: So is Artemis Fowl still evil?

C: Pretty much. Or maybe, not as much. He seems to be planning to go legitimate.

S: How so?

C: Like he knows that the supercomputer he built can be dangerous, and he actually wants it not to be in the hands of bad people.

S: You mean, other bad people? Because he built it after all, and he is probably still kind of bad?

C: He built it because he wanted it for himself, but he was not going to use it to cause any trouble. He was even thinking of making a version of it that could be marketable, like a real product.

S: So he was trying to become a “legitimate businessman” like Fat Tony in The Simpsons always claims to be?

C: No! Fat Tony is not a legitimate businessman. Artemis Fowl was trying to become a real legitimate businessman. He was trying to make a version that would not be dangerous at all and could be useful to a lot of other people.

S: I see. So there is some character development for the main character, then?

C: Yes. I mean he is still arrogant and so on, but I think he is softening up a bit.

S: I see. Do you like that?

C: Yes I do. He is still brilliant and funny.

S: Okay, so now I bet you will want to read the next book?

C: Yes! Especially because this book kind of ends on a cliffhanger.

S: Oh no! Okay then, I guess we will have to locate a copy of the fourth book now.

C: Yes, we have to!

S: Okay Caramel, I am guessing this is a good time to wrap this review up. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer and is ready to read Book Four. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code* by Eoin Colfer and is ready to read Book Four.

Marshmallow reviews The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds

Today Marshmallow reviews The Odyssey, the famed epic from about twenty-eight centuries ago attributed to Homer, in its graphic novel adaptation by Gareth Hinds, first published in 2010. Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, we know you are a big fan of mythology, and you have read a ton of books about Greek myths especially.

Marshmallow: You mean I read all the Rick Riordan books?

S: I guess. But besides his standard series based on Greek myths (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo), you have also read and reviewed Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods and Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes. Those gave you quite a foundation on Greek mythology.

M: I guess you could say that. But I did not really read the myths from other sources …. until now!

S: Yes, that’s right. So when you told me your English class was reading The Odyssey by Homer, I was excited. And when I learned it was a graphic novel version, I knew you would find it absolutely fascinating!

M: That is exactly right. I really enjoyed reading about Odysseus and his adventures. I had read a lot about that world, as you said, but with the graphic novel version, I could see it!

S: So okay, maybe we can start there then. Can you tell us a bit about the illustrations and coloring?

M: Well, it is colorful. And distinct characters have distinct facial features. And there is a lot of action, and the action is depicted very effectively. I should also say though that there is a lot of nudity and graphic violence.

S: I guess it is not meant for very young bunnies.

M: No, I do not think so. For example on page 23, they are skinning an ox, and it is very much visible. And there is a scene or three when Odysseus and this lady are doing stuff. “Engaging in sexual acts”, one might say.

S: I see. I guess it is meant for more mature bunnies.

M: Yes.

Marshmallow is reading The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds. — Marshmallow is reading *The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation* by Gareth Hinds.

S: Okay, then, maybe let us move on to the plot. The story of The Odyssey is relatively well known in some places, but not all our readers might know or remember. Can you tell us a bit about what this odyssey is about?

M: Odysseus fought in the Trojan War, which was described in detail in The Iliad. The Odyssey happens after the wars and tells the story of Odysseus going back home to Ithaca. He meets a lot of challenges and distractions along the way, so the trip takes him about ten years, but he eventually makes it home to his wife Penelope in one piece.

S: The way you described Odysseus and his journey reminded me of one of my favorite poems, Ithaka, by Greek poet Constantine P. Kavafy. Kind of like the journey is the point, the arrival a goal set to start the action, but not really the central meaning of everything.

M: Well, I guess that fits the book I have just read. Odysseus has so many adventures, and he is sometimes quite easily distracted, experiencing and exploring and learning and so on. And the home that he is heading to appears only at the very end.

S: You had met some of the characters in this story earlier in some of the Percy Jackson books, right?

M: Yes, cyclops and the sirens, and so on, they all showed up at various points in the Percy Jackson books. So it was really neat to see where all those stories came from originally, and also to see how this one artist, Gareth Hinds, visualizes them in his head.

S: You know that he has also published a graphic novel version of The Iliad, right? Are you going to read that one, too?

M: Yes, I want to.

S: Great! So maybe you will review it for the book bunnies blog some time in the near future.

M: Probably! I’d rate this book 100%, so I am hopeful about the other one.

S: That will be wonderful! Alright, Marshmallow, this is probably a good place to wrap up our review. What would you like to tell our readers?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds 100%. — Marshmallow rates *The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel Adaptation* by Gareth Hinds 100%.

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

A couple months ago, Caramel reviewed Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, the very first book about the evil boy genius Artemis Fowl. Today he reviews Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, the second book in the series, first published in 2002. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, apparently we are back with Artemis Fowl, the evil boy genius. Tell me about this second book.

Caramel: As it turns out, everything is not too well.

S: What does that mean?

C: Artemis Fowl’s dad gets kidnapped. And the fairy lands are also in trouble. And the two troubles are related. And so Artemis ends up working together with Holly, the fairy detective from the first book, and together they try to figure out what is going on. And then they will foil the plans of the evil characters behind all the bad things going.

S: I see.

C: Actually there is a lot more, but it is really quite complicated.

S: Do you mean the plot is complicated?

C: Yes. There are plot twists and all kinds of new shady characters. I felt kind of anxious while reading it.

S: Hmm, that sounds intense.

C: It was intense. But in a good way.

Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer. — Caramel is reading *Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident* by Eoin Colfer.

S: Okay, so you described the first book as “fast-paced and action-packed page-turner.” What about this one?

C: That would work for this book too.

S: So this book did not disappoint?

C: No it definitely did not disappoint. In fact I liked this book a lot more than the first one.

S: That is interesting! Why?

C: I think it is more interesting. You already know the characters…

S: Hmm, so you feel a deeper connection to them.

C: Exactly.

S: And it sounds like the plot is a lot more convoluted, so there must be a lot going on all the time.

C: Yes. I could not put the book down when I was reading it. In fact I am holding it even now.

S: I can see that! Are you going to reread it?

C: Yes! I like rereading books I like. You know that.

S: I do.

C: And this is a book I liked!

S:Apparently there are at least six more books in this series. Do you think you will want to read some of those books, too?

C: Yes! Artemis Fowl is interesting! And I like how there are fairies, too, and it is totally normal that there is this other world.

S: Sounds like you found yourself a new series.

C: Yes! And this book also has the runes at the bottom of each page. And you know I like runes!

S: I do. And they are fun to play with. Here is a two-way translator that translates between the runes of the book and common English if any of our readers want to play with it.

C: I think there might be a few bunnies who might play with it right now.

S: Okay, let us wrap this review up first. Then you can play.

C: Okay.

S: What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer and is ready to dive right into Book Three. — Caramel loved reading *Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident* by Eoin Colfer and is ready to dive right into Book Three.