Mockingjay // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Duh.

Where I got the book
Greeeeeeenwich.

Expectations
Finally getting to this whole rebellion thing.

So how was it?

After being rescued in Catching Fire, and bumming around with what is probably several layers of PTSD, Katniss ends up the Mockingjay: the rebellion's figurehead. There’s lots of arguing about everything, a new flavor of makeover, and actual rebellion-fighting action! Then she sets off with a small elite squad and the real action actually starts. Also, Peeta’s all sorts of messed up.

This vastly exceeded my expectations. Not so much in terms of plot, but in terms of how Collins handles the emotional aspects of war. There's a brief afterword at the end (read by the author in the audiobook) explaining how she came up with the idea: she was flipping through channels, and saw  young reality TV stars juxtaposed against young soldiers in Iraq. I'm so glad I stuck around for the afterword (I usually don't read them) because it explains how this book had such an impact; the plot and the characters are your typical dystopian thriller, but there's a strong undercurrent of -- I don't know what to call it, but it reminds me of M*A*S*H.

The afterword also explained why I was constantly thinking jeez, I really hope they filmed this shot-for-shot, the scenes are set up perfectly for film -- Collins worked in TV!

Recommendation
Well, if you’ve made it this far…

Feels
Like everyone’s dying and you don’t have time to care. Seriously, just assume everyone dies. Not everyone does, but at least then you'll be -- let's not say pleasantly surprised, but at least not totally crushed.

Favorites
Continues to be Finnick and Haymitch, although Haymitch plays a smaller role this time. The shenanigans with the camera crew. Katniss’ last arrow.

Least favorites
The whole thing with Peeta was a little silly initially, but I guess it served its purpose. I also wasn't a fan of the way she wrote the fire... thing at the very end.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Catching Fire // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Well, I can’t stop in the middle, now can I?

Where I got the book
Greenwich, Overdrive, etc. etc.

Expectations
Not really sure what The Hunger Games is going to be after the Hunger Games are over. Politics and rebellion and ass-kicking, I presume.

So how was it?

Okay, so, I guess the Hunger Games aren’t over.  

Catching Fire kicks off with the victors, Katniss and Peeta, going on tour to all the districts. It’s traditional, but President Snow is also using the tour (and their shmoopy fake relationship) to relieve the unrest inspired by Katniss’ defiance in the previous book.

Aaaand suddenly there’s such a thing as a “quarter quell,” an extra-special version of the games that happens every 25 years, and involves special rules… yup, Katniss and Peeta are dumped right back in the arena. I know, it's so ridiculous that they can't believe it, either. But in a shocking turn-up, this second trip to the arena actually wasn’t boring or repetitive. It’s an entirely different situation, with entirely different tributes -- other past victors, at various ages and levels of preparation -- and everyone’s acting oddly.

On the Team Gail / Team Peeta front, Katniss becomes even more conflicted; I continue to prefer Peeta. (Which, from my experience with Korean TV dramas, usually means she'll end up with the other one.)

Recommendation
Same as the first book: there’s fighting, survival, romance, a little bit of a psychological thrill (like a spy novel), family drama, and pageantry.

Feels
About the same as the first one in terms of gritty YA plot/action, but the tone is no longer one of immediate immediate desperation. Katniss continues to have no idea what's going on.

Favorites
Finnick Odair, hands down. Of course that means he’s probably going to die. I also continue to like Haymitch.

Least favorites
The Gail/Peeta wishy-washy gets on my nerves, but I knew what I was getting into.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy // Gary Oldman {Movie}

Why I'm watching
Okay, the Cumberbatch kick inspired me to finally borrow it, and it came on my radar because of Tom Hardy... but I’m really watching this for Gary Oldman. And, y'know, because it looks like a legitimately interesting movie.

Where I got the movie
Greenwich. What what.

Expectations
A great spy thriller.

So how was it?

Oh my god, this was the best spy thriller… and absolutely not what you probably want or expect when looking for a spy thriller. It’s quiet. It’s desperate. There are zero gun fights, kung-fu fights, crazy surprise plots -- but if you have the attention span, it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Basically, it follows the interpersonal drama of a spy agency in the 70s, on the tail end of the Cold War. Yeah, I said interpersonal. That’s real espionage, folks: finding out which one of your trusted allies is the mole. George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is the main character, brought out of retirement to find the mole among his former peers -- peers who forced him into retirement in the first place. He enlists two younger spies (Hardy and Cumberbatch) to quietly sort everything out.

The timeline jumps all over the place, which makes it a little hard to follow, but pulls the mystery together beautifully.

Recommendation
Fans of quiet suspense. Not for anyone expecting Bond or Bourne.

Feels
Sly. Thrilling, but realistic. Quiet.

Favorites
Gary Oldman, oh my lord, that creepy-sly-good poker face.

Least favorites
Getting ahold of the timeline was a struggle -- especially because I wasn’t expecting it.

Imitation Game // Benedict Cumberbatch {Movie}

Why I'm watching
I could say that I think Alan Turing is awesome, and it wouldn't be a lie. But I’m really watching this because I’m (still) on a Benedict Cumberbatch kick. I love Turing, but a docu-drama probably wouldn’t normally interest me.

Where I got the movie
Borrowed from Greenwich.

Expectations
Nothing specific; Turing is awesome, Cumberbatch is awesome, Knightly is pretty awesome too. So… awesome. But tragic, all things considered.

So how was it?

Hmm. It pains me to say this, but… not so awesome.

I can’t believe this got an Oscar for screenplay. Worth watching for the acting, absolutely; but the story itself is painfully trite, romanticized, and nowhere near accurate.

The story follows Alan Turing (Cumberbatch), misunderstood mathematical genius, who applies for a job as a code-breaker during WWII. He works to break the German Enigma code, more or less single-handed, often having to fight the rest of his department to do so. The timeline sticks mostly to the WWII era, with a few flashbacks to childhood events, and a small amount of time on Turing's tragic end.

As for the accuracy, well... it's not. I didn’t know most of this when I watched the movie, but it still felt inaccurate because it was just such a textbook hero story. You can read a list of inaccuracies on Wikipedia. Slate also has an interesting article about characterization; I can't bring myself to blame the characterization problems on Cumberbatch, because the entire first half of the plot hinges on Turing being basically on the Autism spectrum. He couldn't have played it any other way (and indeed, when the plot stops harping on the Autism, he becomes a much more engaging character).

Recommendation
It's absolutely still worth the watch if you're interested in Turing's life, gay rights, WWII, cryptography, etc. Don't let my disappointment make this seem like a terrible movie. Just don't expect realism.

Feels
Deliberately classic. Insistently uplifting. Hollywood.

Favorites
Everything about the last few scenes. When Turing breaks down after the project is over, it’s heartbreaking. Apparently Cumberbatch was actually upset.

A police officer also finds him sweeping up cyanide from an experiment -- a nice reference to how historians now think he might have died.

I also appreciated the subtlety and dignity of Turing’s homosexuality. Somehow they got that right, when everything else is so ham-handed. Cumberbatch and Knightly have this fantastic non-sexual chemistry. He manages to deliver a desperate marriage proposal that has all this affection and honestly… and zero romantic interest.

Least favorites
The plot. It’s just so contrived. It tries so hard to be heartfelt, but you can't be heartfelt without being honest and human... which means not relying on a bunch of Heartfelt Tortured Hero tropes. The inaccuracies aren't just inaccuracies; they change the whole tone of the film.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!