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My name is Katniss Everdeen.Why am I not dead?I should be dead.Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.It is by design that Katniss was rescued fr...
|Edition Language
|Number of Pages
|392 pages
Mockingjay Reviews
So, of course I had to read it again after getting only half of the story from the Mockingjay movie. Unsurprisingly, cried and cried again. My feelings basically remain the same about this installment. Structurally, the novel is quite messy. There is such a big game going on and Katniss' motivations and actions don't always make sense to me. But the ending is brilliant, especially the final chapters.
I need something to cheer me up ASAP.
Let's face it, a series is only as good a
So, of course I had to read it again after getting only half of the story from the Mockingjay movie. Unsurprisingly, cried and cried again. My feelings basically remain the same about this installment. Structurally, the novel is quite messy. There is such a big game going on and Katniss' motivations and actions don't always make sense to me. But the ending is brilliant, especially the final chapters.
I need something to cheer me up ASAP.
Let's face it, a series is only as good as its last book. Is a kitchen towel drenched in my tears a good indicator of the quality of
? I think it is, considering that I am not a crying-over-books type. I think this book is a
ending of a
The book is lying next to me now, so deceitful in appearance, with its innocent, bright, cheerful cover. Who knew there would be so much darkness hidden between its pages, so much heartache?
is indeed a
book full of deaths, sacrifices, torture, betrayal and despair, a book which takes you to a very disturbing but very real place.
I have no doubt the novel will have thousands of readers livid, especially the crowd of readers who mistakenly think
trilogy is mostly dedicated to Team Gale/Team Peeta dilemma with some revolt thrown in as a picturesque backdrop. These books are about love indeed, but they are also about survival, freedom, and peace.
I find it amazing that people are disappointed that Katniss doesn't take a Katniss-becomes-a-superwoman-and-takes-over-the-world-while-deciding-on-which-boy-to-pick route. How realistic is it to expect a
damaged by hunger, oppression, and violence she had to witness and take a part in, and thrown into the midst of all kinds of political intrigue, to achieve that? How many soldiers do you know who came out of a war unscathed or empowered by the atrocities they have witnessed? How many children?
This is why this book has such a great effect on me. It takes a very difficult but honest route, portraying the infinitely damaging consequences of war (regardless of the righteousness of its cause) and Katniss's journey to stay true to herself and do the best she can. And the love triangle resolution. Truly, it couldn't have ended any other way.
a perfectly written book? Absolutely not, it's not nearly as perfectly constructed or clear as
, but just like another imperfectly perfect successful series finale -
- it brings its message across in the most honest and powerful way possible.
Suzanne Collins is a genius, she is fearless and I have a great respect for the gutsiness of hers that didn't allow her to settle for an ending all wrapped up in pink paper with a perfect little bow. I am sure she knew that the faint of heart would be enraged. But she stuck to her guns and stayed true to her message and to her characters.
The question now is how will I recover from PTSD of my own caused by
? It will probably take me months and a score of
to get over it. But I love this book anyway, in spite (and because) of all the pain it has caused me.
i NEVER thought i'd ever rate this book below a 5...but here i am....and the only reason i gave it a three even is because the first two books of the hunger games were just SO GOOD they brought this one up...by three stars. honestly, i've waited so long for mockingjay to come out. i practically peed my pants on august 24th and now that i've finally finished the book (thanks to a full day of obsessive reading-meals not included) all i can feel is…annoyance. annoyance and disappointment. annoyance
i NEVER thought i'd ever rate this book below a 5...but here i am....and the only reason i gave it a three even is because the first two books of the hunger games were just SO GOOD they brought this one up...by three stars. honestly, i've waited so long for mockingjay to come out. i practically peed my pants on august 24th and now that i've finally finished the book (thanks to a full day of obsessive reading-meals not included) all i can feel is…annoyance. annoyance and disappointment. annoyance that katniss let herself be so easily used, didn't really care about anything, and was idle for so much of the book. and disappointment that you never really get any closure with gale, peeta wasn't there for a third of the book, and he "wasn't himself" for almost all of it. but mostly just mad that nothing really happened for large portions of the book. like…katniss seemed kinda…stuck all throughout. i've always loved her because she was a character that didn't break down easily but mental breakdowns seemed like her favorite activity in this book. she spent like a fourth of the book missing peeta but she never actually DID anything about it. and then when he was saved she barely even talked to him let alone tried to help him. okay *spoiler alert* one of the only bright spots of this book is finding out about finnick's past. i was definitely surprised by all he had to say. it made me like him even more. i can honestly say he was the only character that didn't annoy me once in mockingjay…AND THEN HE DIED. i am SO MAD that finnick and cinna's death were pretty much considered inconsequential. like yeah, katniss was sad, but neither of them got like a dramatic tragical death. it was just "yeah. they died. it sucks." and that really bummed me out cause i LOVED them both. i thought finnick's death was three times as devastating as prims, mostly because i feel like we never got to know prim well enough to really mourn her death. but for finnick i had to go back and reread the page several times before i could actually accept that he had died. and even then i hoped he would magically pop to life again. and not a single tear shed for him from katniss? NOT. OKAY. even though this was the book where the most characters died, it was also the book where i didn't cry once reading it. mostly because katniss didn't seem to really even care about anything which sort of killed my sympathy and sparked annoyance instead. and yeahh…so back to the whole non-closure thing with gale? it was just so…anticlimatic and…lacking. i've been a peeta supporter since the first chapter of the first book and even i hated how katniss and gale ended. i don't know. i just think that maybe i was expecting this last book to follow basically the same format as the hunger games and catching fire, and i'm just ridiculously (like seriously to the point where it's pathetic) disappointed that it took such a different turn. …and now that i know the entire series is over so that's the only ending i'm gonna get....:'(
katniss's shining moment appeared near the end though. when she decided to shoot coin instead of president snow. it almost brought back the old hunger-games-and-catching-fire-rational-and-strong katniss. almost. but then she had to go and try to get herself addicted to morphine in a suicide attempt. bleh. i always knew this was a somewhat dark series, but this book was just. so. bleak. reading it was pretty much equivalent to cutting my wrists. perhaps no amount of writing could ever have helped suzanne collins live up to my sky high expectations of this book but still….
the book could have been better. a lot. better.
I'm never very good at predicting outcomes. Nothing I could've predicted would have been quite as good as this. Although I did get close (a very distant "close") on a few things, and I was right in saying that it wouldn't be walking through a field of flowers and sunshine.
A book like this just
It's good, and yet not good. Because it's good in a very heartbreaking, chilling, haunting, intense way.
Katniss is a different person from the first two books. I found her softer, more thought
I'm never very good at predicting outcomes. Nothing I could've predicted would have been quite as good as this. Although I did get close (a very distant "close") on a few things, and I was right in saying that it wouldn't be walking through a field of flowers and sunshine.
A book like this just
It's good, and yet not good. Because it's good in a very heartbreaking, chilling, haunting, intense way.
Katniss is a different person from the first two books. I found her softer, more thoughtful, and also more open (granted, she's still kind of a brat sometimes. But don't we all have our moments?). In the first two books, even though the story is told by her, she's very closed off with us. This book is filled with more emotion, and I liked her best in this book, even though it's a tragedy of sorts.
As I'm stewing over the novel I read every word of yesterday, I think, "Did I
love it?" And then, "How could I
it?" I shake my head. I can't love something so terribly sad and at times grotesque. Something so painful.
Truthfully, I don't think I loved it. Love isn't the right word. It was a fantastic novel. I don't think I can come up with any better way for a trilogy of this kind to come to a close. The perfect note of sadness and sweetness, pain and healing all mixed up in a jumble. This book was far more severe than the first two. Much harder to read, and with more emotional depth, I think. Sometimes I just had to close the book for a while and breathe because I needed to stop for a bit, to regroup myself so I could get through a certain part.
Collins wove in a few questions to ponder. Where do you draw the line? Do you give just what you got? Should you show mercy to those who haven't shown mercy to you? Is it right to kill innocent people just because the leaders on their side of the line killed innocent people on your side?
Contrary to what some believe, this is not an anti-war book. Actually, I think Collins is trying to get us to ask ourselves questions about what justifies war, and where the line should be drawn between justice and vengeance. Not that we shouldn't fight, but that we know what's worth fighting for.
Several notable characters die. It's painful, and it hurts to read it. Some believe that these characters didn't get enough homage. But since this is told from first-person, maybe it's just too painful for Katniss to dwell on those deaths.
The last three pages make all the heavy, intense, painfulness of the rest of the book almost worth it, in a strange way. Bittersweet is the perfect word. The sense of loss underlying the message that life really does goes on, even when we don't see how it possibly can.
Sometimes we need a little help to pick ourselves off the floor and start again.
I wasn't disappointed with the ending, but I am disappointed that it's the end. It left me feeling emotionally drained and like I'd lost something. I'm not sure if I'm shell-shocked or simply worn out by the intensity of it all. I'm glad, in a way, that it ended like it did. I'm also sad, and a little confused. Not because I didn't like the ending, but because I simply feel emptied out for the time being.
I just wish...I wish that there could have been more happiness for these characters that I love so much. I think that unfulfilled wish is, at the end of the day, why I'm feeling this way right now. In time the feeling will pass, I know, but at the moment I'm sorry for it. No matter how I enjoyed this book (and I did, I really did), I'm in a sort of grieving state. Happiness was there in the end, but it just wasn't enough to compensate for all the sadness.
Then again, I think that was the point.
It's a very rare thing to find a trilogy like this one, and I'll always hold a place in my heart for the girl who was on fire.
Waiting for this is torturous. I finished Catching Fire and wanted this in my hands
Oh Suzanne, please let Peeta live (without becoming seriously maimed {again}, either)! :'(
I know it's stupid, but I want a happy ending. Not like uber-happy, of course, I'm not unrealistic...but I just want to finish this trilogy humming and skipping around the house (yeah, laugh. I don't care! ;)) rather than lying around depressed afterwards wondering what went wrong...'cause I just hate when that happens.
P.S. I'm not making any predictions because it feels like either my wishful thinking or my most dreaded outcome. I can't find a balance in between. Call me weird.
All I can say without bias is that the ending will
be all walkin' in a field of flowers and happiness. :P
3.5 stars
Well, hmmm. I'm not sure how to react to Mockingjay. I didn't love it and I'm not sure it satisfied me, but it was a disturbing read that will stick with me. Sadly, I can't say that I'll be recommending the series as fervently as I did after reading
. Not that the series isn't good, but I'm not longer sure it's for the masses of YA readers.
, Mockingjay took awhile for me to get into. When the pages turned into the triple digits and I wasn't hooked, I go
3.5 stars
Well, hmmm. I'm not sure how to react to Mockingjay. I didn't love it and I'm not sure it satisfied me, but it was a disturbing read that will stick with me. Sadly, I can't say that I'll be recommending the series as fervently as I did after reading
. Not that the series isn't good, but I'm not longer sure it's for the masses of YA readers.
, Mockingjay took awhile for me to get into. When the pages turned into the triple digits and I wasn't hooked, I got worried it wouldn't be epic. And maybe that's problem: I expected this to match
when I don't think anything can. Like
, the stakes are upped, the gruesomeness of war more real, and the intensity more fierce. And in the end, that was my biggest problem. In my opinion, this crossed the line with violence into shock value for the sake of shock value. Yes, it's meant to be thought-provoking and show the price of war to humanity, but at the peak of all this violence, I pulled out of the story. It wasn't President Snow or President Coin (I hated that name) torturing Katniss; it was Collins. I could see the questions running through her head: "What is the worst thing I could do to Katniss? What will break her the most?"
In war, the casualties fall randomly, if heavily, but this was all targeted at Katniss. The death that should have hurt most hardly fazed me
; at that point, I had already shut down in a story that was working too hard to manipulate my emotions. It was
killed me (no pun intended), and it disappeared like a whisper. It seemed like Collins picked the only character she made us care about in this book on purpose. It should have felt natural to the progression of the story, but it didn't.
Plus, the desensitization was, in my opinion, too much. There is a lot of bleakness in the other books in the series, but it is balanced with a humanity and hope that I think is crucial in YA fiction.
of Hunger Games states that Collins took an unbelievable story and made it believable. Here, she took the believable violence and cruelty of war and made it a little unbelievable for me. I struggled to find motivation from President Snow targeting children, to understand why the citizens of the capital continued to believe him, to accept that these villains could be this sadistically evil, to believe that this much could go wrong for one person, to champion Collin's bleak take on humanity. Not that this story is any more unbelievable than
, but Collins delivered this one with such a numb, detached string of events that relied on violence instead of characters to deliver her message. Even more important than hope in YA is a strong character you would follow anywhere. I didn't want to follow Katniss in this story.
She shut down in the end, but really she'd been shutting down the entire book. After the fiery character of the first two books, it was hard to get nothing from her (especially as a first-person POV) and still feel vested in the outcome of her story. Her cold, detached comments to
in particular bothered me, especially after everything he sacrificed for her. I had to keep reminding myself of all the horror she'd been through because although her detachment realistic, it bothered me. I couldn't remember why anyone wanted a self-absorbed teenager as the Mockingjay. I didn't need Katniss to lead the revolution, but I wanted something from her: a peek into her emotions/insights, a proactive motion, anything that pushed her character forward. Without any character development (from any of the characters), the story relied too heavily on action without connecting the pieces, developing those story lines, or making me care about the characters involved. I would have almost rather heard the story from a third party watching a broken Mockingjay than the emptiness with which Katniss tells her story. What I really wanted is Katniss back. I know I can't have her, but if I had to lose her, I wanted to feel heartbreak instead of nothing.
About the love triangle...
I guess what depresses me most about this book is that I expected so much more from it. I know Collins is capable of power. In the end, I was too numb to feel its power, to even cry, to feel anything at all. I left a fantastic series with a major blank.
Ugh. I was just thankful that I decided to be grown-up and not wait until midnight to get this book and then stay up all night reading it. I kindled it early this morning and ignored my kids for 4 hours and got through it. This book makes you realize how much the storyline in the first two depended upon the tension created by the love triangle. In Mockingjay, the author robs her readers of what they (I) crave! By the end, everything is so messed up that Peeta vs. Ga
Ugh. I was just thankful that I decided to be grown-up and not wait until midnight to get this book and then stay up all night reading it. I kindled it early this morning and ignored my kids for 4 hours and got through it. This book makes you realize how much the storyline in the first two depended upon the tension created by the love triangle. In Mockingjay, the author robs her readers of what they (I) crave! By the end, everything is so messed up that Peeta vs. Gale became "OH snap. Who even cares anymore?" I couldn't help but be disappointed--it was so violent, everyone dies (I CANNOT forgive Collins for taking away both Finnick and Prim!!) and even though there is a nicely packaged epilogue, I wanted more...EXPECTED more out of this final installment. I have to chalk this work up to "Twilight Syndrome"...gifted authors with an original page-turning first book, followed by hurried, increasingly poorly written and thought-out sequels.
Bottom line: You have to read it, but don't spend money on it- wait and borrow it from your friend. And then fondly recall the excellence of the first book.
What. the. f***. Words can't begin to express my disappointment. I bought Mockingjay the first day it came out and I was preparing myself for a truly epic novel, one worthy of its predecessors. I loved The Hunger Games; it was fast-paced, thrilling, suspenseful. Catching Fire wasn't as good but it was still enjoyable (I was majorly impressed by the game arena). I wasn't let down by Catching Fire though; I figured it was just a transition novel, build-up to what would undoubtedly
What. the. f***. Words can't begin to express my disappointment. I bought Mockingjay the first day it came out and I was preparing myself for a truly epic novel, one worthy of its predecessors. I loved The Hunger Games; it was fast-paced, thrilling, suspenseful. Catching Fire wasn't as good but it was still enjoyable (I was majorly impressed by the game arena). I wasn't let down by Catching Fire though; I figured it was just a transition novel, build-up to what would undoubtedly be a mindblowing, epic conclusion in Mockingjay.
Maybe I set my expectations too high. I do think Collins is a good writer; she definitely knows how to write and tell a story. But I feel like she lost her way in this book. Or maybe the only thing that made this series so great was the Hunger Games, and now that it's absent, there's nothing to drive the story.
The love triangle wasn't well played out. First of all, I'm getting a bit tired of reading about love triangles -- especially in novels where there's a much greater plot present. But I'll admit, I was on Team Gale throughout the series, because he was strong and resilient and resourceful and caring. There was this attractive manly quality about him and he was so in sync with Katniss, and hot to boot. But towards the end of this novel, I didn't give a flying fart about Katniss's love life and who she ended up with, because everything seemed like such a hopeless, depressing mess that there was no point. I also hated how she kept flip-flopping and toying with both Gale and Peeta (I've been bothered by this since CF). She should make up her mind about who she wants instead of leading them both on! Her fickleness is pretty inconsiderate to these two guys whom she supposedly cares about. And if she can't decide (I can see why, they both have great qualities), then she should give herself some space/time to decide, and in the meantime, don't go kissing or showing romantic affection to either one!
She ended up with Peeta, which would have been fine if it had been executed properly. But even in this aspect of her life, she didn't get to CHOOSE, which is basically the story of her life. She just ended up with Peeta because he was the only one who stuck around. At the end, I found myself wanting her to end up alone, of her OWN choice. Heck, instead of spiraling into bleak depression and continuing life as a puppet, I would have rather seen her die for a noble cause and for doing the right thing. That would have been a more satisfactory ending, and that's saying something because I normally HATE when characters die.
I didn't like that we didn't get to experience the action close-up. As the war unraveled, I felt like Katniss was always on the sidelines, only called in when other people commanded her to. We didn't get to see Katniss kicking butt against her enemies, we got to hear from other characters about events that occurred, or watch them on the TV. It is so mindnumbingly dull to be watching a character watching something, instead of experiencing the action with the character. Everything she did was for show, for a propo or campaign or whatever. It was all so .. fake. Here they are in the middle of a war, people are dying left and right, and all they care about is filming and getting good shots and angles and putting on a pretty face! It felt so staged and it was boring and infuriating to read. The only real action is towards the end when she and her team are going on the assassin mission to kill Snow, and even THAT was originally only for a propo (that went astray).
The last third of the book (the assassin mission) was gorey and bloody, which I didn't mind. It's war after all. But many characters' deaths were so rushed and pointless. Prim's death didn't have the impact that I'm sure Collins was aiming for; I didn't feel sad when she died, as she's barely in the story as it is, so I didn't get to know her well enough and connect with her beforehand. She was absent for at least 100 pages before her death came out of nowhere, for God's sake, so her death felt like any stranger's death. (Although it seems her death kind of defeated the point of sparing her from the Hunger Games.) What DID kill me was Finnick's death. Finnick was one of the characters I loved most in this series, and call me petty, but I can't forgive Collins for killing him off after he'd been through so much and finally got to marry the love of his life. It wasn't even a death of purpose. He got eaten by mutts in a sewer, along with half their assassin team. It annoyed me so much because their deaths felt so UNNECESSARY, like they were just a way for Collins to emphasize that "this is a DEATHLY SERIOUS, VERY BLOODY BOOK!" It felt like she was just randomly and meaninglessly killing off supporting characters because she couldn't bear to part with her main ones. Deaths are fine when they're important to the plot, but this felt like death for the sake of death.
Okay, now on to the REAL disappointment of this book: Katniss herself. One of the reasons why I loved this series was because of Katniss. She was strong, resourceful, clever and cunning, she had an amazing survival instinct and she knew how to persevere. In Catching Fire, these qualities diminished; she was mainly a pawn, a puppet for others to use for their own objectives. But she still had some semblance of control and she was still Katniss. In Mockingjay, all these traits are scrapped and we get a Katniss-clone who is angsty and bitchy and whiny (wasn't Bella in Twilight bad enough?). Half the book, she's throwing herself pity parties in the closet (literally!). Sure, she definitely has reason to be sad and angry, and her life is full of hardships and tragedies. But I thought that the Katniss from the Hunger Games, the Katniss who had to keep her family alive since the age of 12, would be able to fight through and persevere. I guess I wanted a strong victor, a strong heroine, not a self-pitying victim who can't make her own decisions.
That's another thing that bothered me: throughout the whole book, she had no control over ANYTHING, not even her own life and actions. She was a empty, lifeless pawn, a zombie if you will, who didn't do anything that wasn't directed or commanded by other people. In this novel, I was expecting her to STEP UP, embrace her role as Mockingjay, use her power/influence to get involved in the rebellion, take control of her life, and make a difference in the outcome of her world. I was expecting to see her grow and change and I was excited for her metamorphosis. Instead, we get this weak girl who's shirking all responsibilities, addled on drugs half the time, and lashing out at people the other half. Not only did she not improve herself from the first book (she was kickass in the first book btw), she got WORSE, an empty shadow of her former self. At the beginning, I could understand her confusion, her pain, her reluctance to be the Mockingjay. It'd be weird if she DIDN'T feel this way, if she didn't have that time of indecision and unwillingness. But after, I expected her to be strong and work through it, to face her fears and obstacles and choose to do the right thing, to really fight for justice. The best things in life never come easy; anybody who's done anything has had to overcome obstacles to accomplish their goals. When she decided: "I must be the Mockingjay", my heart soared (cheesy but it did!) and I was rooting for her 100%. When I heard her inspirational words during the propos, the fire behind them, my heart soared because I thought Katniss was back. But as I kept reading, I realized .. even though she verbally accepted her role, her mind still wasn't in it and she wasn't in control of herself. She didn't grow and become stronger, that's what pisses me off.
The post-traumatic stress, the mental breakdowns, the self-pity, the self-loathing, the nearing of insanity .. all of these things are realistic, yes, but a bit tiresome and not very interesting to read when it's all the same and the narrator is drowning herself in it in the face of much greater things to the point where it detracts from the plot. These feelings shouldn't be the main focus throughout the ENTIRE novel. There has to be a turning point when she overcomes all of this and actively decides not to let these obstacles stand in her way. Now, many people will say her breakdown is more true to life, and it's what any normal 17-year-old girl would feel and go through. But, maybe I'm weird here, but for some stories, I don't WANT to read about the average, normal teenager. I want to read about someone who's a bit special, who's different, who displays traits (like courage, heart, perseverance) greater than the norm and accomplishes more than the "normal, average teen" even during the most difficult of times. Something that, when you close the book, makes you feel like "Wow, they're amazing. Inspirational. I want to be like that." & to be honest, I didn't sign up to read a war documentary or some nonfiction account of how war affects its victims. I came in expecting a break from reality, a fantasy sci-fi young adult novel about a girl who becomes a hero.
In trying to be as realistic as possible, I think Collins chose a pessimistic extreme of "realism" to portray. There are perfectly human people in real life in real circumstances who are able to fight through obstacles and hardships and come out on top without relying on drugs and hiding in closets. They can find more constructive and positive ways to deal with their problems. Sure, it obviously affects them (they're not invincible) but they don't lose themselves the way Katniss does. Those are the kinds of inspirational stories I wanna read when it comes to these kinds of novels, not this "Diary of an Emo Puppet."
This book was also REALLY anti-climactic. Whenever Collins finally gave us an exciting scene, as soon as it got intense, Katniss would get knocked out in the midst of things and we'd wake up to her in the hospital being treated. (MAJOR COP-OUT, in my opinion.) Then, of course, comes the inevitable centuries (that's what it felt like) of us hearing about her in pain and agony. Okay, we get it after reading about it the WHOLE novel! Now can she please pick herself up and make herself useful?
Katniss doesn't deserve the title "girl who was on fire" and to be the main character in such an epic setting and story. Sure, she can be on fire, but only when someone sets her on fire or directs her to be on fire, not of her own doing. She was soulless and indifferent and cared about herself and her own feelings more than anyone else's (seeing as how she spends most of the novel grieving for herself and almost never for anyone else) .. if the main character, the narrator, doesn't care about anything and has no passion, why should we? What's the point when the main character whose eyes we're seeing through has no heart and no passion? And what happened to the selfless girl who willingly sacrificed her life to save her sister?
The things I did like. I liked that Katniss had 2 seconds of mental clarity and shot Coin instead of Snow (the only time in the book when she was truly thinking clearly and acting of her own accord). I wonder if I'm giving her too much credit though; judging from her selfish one-track mind in this book, I fear that she did this only because Coin killed Prim, not because she saw the bigger picture. Worse yet, I fear this may just have been a result of Snow's manipulation, not her own decision. I also feel the significance and bravery of this smart moment was rendered meaningless by her immediate cowardly reaction: instead of having conviction in her action and facing the consequences, she scrambled frantically to find the most painless and quickest way to kill herself. She never once in the book acknowledges all she has to live for and all the positive things she still has in her life. When a character's will to survive is absent through a whole novel, I as a reader have no desire for them to live either; grant their wish already! But to continue on .. I liked learning about more of the characters in depth: Gale (who I grew to love even more in this book), Finnick, Annie, Boggs, Johanna, etc. I liked the ending passages (fitting and beautifully haunting) and I liked the songs (The Hanging Tree and the meadow one). There are probably some other things that I'll update this review with once disappointment and frustration are no longer clouding my brain.
I wouldn't have minded so much if it had been a page-turner that was exciting to read, but trying to finish this book felt like a chore. When reading for enjoyment starts feeling like a chore, that's the ultimate sign that I dislike the book. 90% of the book, Katniss was wandering aimlessly through hallways, drugged out on morphling, hiding in a closet, or lying in a hospital bed. I kept waiting, I was so sure it would happen any minute, for the story-changing moment when Katniss would pick herself up and say "Enough is enough." I kept waiting for the moment when the winds would change and she would decide with conviction to actively work through her problems -- but to my shock, that moment never came. This book seriously dragged and dragged and dragged, and just got slower and slower until everyone started dropping dead towards the last quarter of the book. The Hunger Games, I couldn't put it down; for this, I dreaded picking it up to finish it. I did tons of things in between reading this book (doing my nails, watching TV, taking a walk, etc) because I couldn't read it in one sitting without wanting to gouge my eyes out. It was the same reoccurring theme: Katniss was manipulated and controlled by everyone around her and she didn't think or do anything of her own will. It got old.
I read all this build-up and didn't get rewarded for it. And even though the rebels triumphed, I didn't feel anything for them, not relief, not happiness, just nothing. I was just detached. And none of it was thanks to Katniss: her only role in the Capitol's defeat was watching Prim die, getting burned, and waking up in a hospital, where we're TOLD instead of SHOWN how the Capitol fell (all while she was unconscious, an occurrence that's way too common in this book).
Again, anti-climactic! During the scene when it really mattered!
I understand the message Collins is trying to convey and I agree with it: that war is awful and no one truly wins. And good and bad are not clearly defined black and white. (It got too preachy at certain points though, didn't it?) And I understand that not all books are unicorns-and-ponies happy endings, and that this series has always been intense and dark and a bit bleak. But that only works when there's an underlying message of hope and of optimism. I felt it in the 1st books, but this ending was devoid of all hope and happiness. Yes, humans are disgusting creatures who hurt and kill one another, who do horrible things because of greed and selfishness and just pure malice. But humans are also capable of love and compassion and kindness, and I wish she'd incorporated a bit of that into the story as well so there'd be a more hopeful ending. Even in real life, no matter how bad things may be, there is always hope. Isn't that the kind of message you really want young people to be left with? Instead of pessimistic doom and "give up on mankind"? I finished the book feeling hopeless and lost and depressed, and not in that deep, profound way where it motivates me to get up off my ass and do something to make a difference.
Gosh, at least Harry was his own person and got to face Voldemort in the end. What did Katniss get to do except be an empty canvas for them to paint and feed lines to?
Though I guess since I'm feeling so passionately about all of this, it wasn't a worthless read. It was just very, VERY disappointing.
I just re-read this review a month or so after I wrote it and I sincerely apologize for my sloppy writing and overindulgence in run-on sentences! I was in a rush to unleash all my feelings after finishing the book so I wouldn't forget anything. I hope this review was understandable and enjoyable anyway :)
That's the end of the review and you can stop here but I wanted to add on .. and I'm thinking those who grew up with Harry Potter like I did can relate:
So I decided to re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to prepare myself for the upcoming movie, and to get the bitter taste of Mockingjay out of my mouth, and here's a passage towards the end where Harry's character really touched me and left me in awe:
"Because," said Harry, "sometimes you've got to think about more than your own safety! Sometimes you've got to think about the greater good! This is war!"
"You're seventeen, boy!"
"I'm of age, and I'm going to keep fighting even if you've given up!"
a few sentences later .. "I'm going to keep going until I succeed -- or I die. Don't think I don't know how this might end. I've known it for years."
Reading it again makes me all emotional and teary all over again, from Dobby's heartfelt burial to Harry's courageous walk to his death in the forest, knowing fully well what awaits him and yet willing to sacrifice himself for others and for a better world ...all the while, struggling with his fears and the temptation to run away .. and I swear, tears of pride and joy sprang from my eyes and exhilaration shot through my veins when Harry, the boy we grew up with, stepped up as a man and faced his enemy with confidence, strength, wisdom.
Whatever faults the last HP book may have, I just have to say: Thank you, Harry, for giving me hope again and proving there are still admirable heroes in young literature.
: the movie adaptation,
, was absolutely outstanding. I've seen both of the other movies for this series, and while I enjoyed them greatly, the third instalment was on another level entirely. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a very, very long time. Good job, movie people. You made a meh book into a stellar piece of cinema.]
Those two stars are for the last ten pages, which were absolutely outstanding. Probably the best ten pages of the series. The 380 pages
: the movie adaptation,
, was absolutely outstanding. I've seen both of the other movies for this series, and while I enjoyed them greatly, the third instalment was on another level entirely. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a very, very long time. Good job, movie people. You made a meh book into a stellar piece of cinema.]
Those two stars are for the last ten pages, which were absolutely outstanding. Probably the best ten pages of the series. The 380 pages before that, however, deserve nothing. The first 380 pages can kiss my ass.
This book was a fucking slog. I kid you not. This book tried me to the point of breaking. About halfway through, I was ready to feed the damn thing to my dog.
I'm not the biggest
fan. Y'all know that. However, when I read
, after its predecessor disappointed me, I was STOKED to read
was just fantastic. I really, really and truly enjoyed it.
was a bloodbath. If you're sensitive to pointless deaths and gratuitous violence, then this is not the book for you.
Actually, I like that word.
. It describes this book perfectly. Everything in this book was gratuitous and over the top, from the wangst to the ridiculous romantic interludes in the middle of battle scenes, and from the candy-gore violence to the stupid, overly-disgusting deaths of several characters who did not need to die. There's also the writing, which is so overwrought - it's not even like the author took the sparseness of the first book and butchered it. It's like she took the sparseness, fed it to her dog, fed the dog to a crocodile, fed the crocodile to a Tyrannosaurus rex, cut the Tyrannosaurus rex up into steaks, sold the steaks in Soho to a cabaret dancer, A-bombed the cabaret dancer's house, collected the ashes, mixed them into fluorescent paint, and then splattered the paint all over the White House in D.C. Because we, as readers who have stuck by and read the entire series through, need an entire page of Creative Writing Class explanation on what the Hanging Tree song means. It's like in the first book, when we were constantly being told exactly what the dandelions represent. And in
, when the meaning being the clock was spelled out in an "I AM SYMBOLISM" manner. Everything, from Katniss's clothes (which she's weirdly fixated with) to her circular, drier-than-Egyptian-sand inner monologues were painstakingly pored over to the point of ridiculousness. Yes. Ridiculousness. Shall I repeat that again? Ridiculousness.
One more time? No? Ridiculousness.
Contrary to the masses, I love reading books where loads of lovable characters die in the final fight. I love going through that grief, feeling the torment of watching one of my beloved friends die a bloody death. In fact, in my own work, I have a death list. I kid you not. I literally have a list of the most beloved characters, and I've put stars in red pen against all those who die.
There are
red stars on that list.
But what I do not enjoy, and what I found far too much of in
, are pointless deaths. Deaths that don't ensure anyone else's survival, are excessively undignified, or never grieved for. Finnick, Mesalla, Mitchell, Boggs, and Cinna all died ridiculous deaths that really did nothing to aid Katniss's bringing down the Capitol. Essentially, they were all just Mauve Shirts, and they had been all along. I mean, fine. If the author wanted to kill these characters, go ahead and do it. It's actually not the fact that the characters died that bothered me. Yes, I was absolutely distraught over the death of Finnick (he just married Annie! Annie was pregnant! What the fuck kind of sadist kills that?) but given the choice myself? I'd probably kill him too. But the way in which Finnick dies is nonsensical.
YA is a tricky field in which to write dystopian. True dystopian always deals with death. It always deals with untimely death, tragic lives and terrible situations in which people are abused and scarred, in any and every way. But YA is inspiring to young people. YA is a window to different ideologies and -isms held up by other people; for instance,
is a clear message against war. But YA is also meant for a broad audience of a younger age, and that comes with a responsibility to instill a message that yes, will inspire, but coax some kind of hope out of readers. Some kind of desire to be a better person. Some kind of knowledge that there are wonderful things in the world worth salvaging, and weathering difficult patches in life will ultimately result in a brighter future.
This sounds idealistic, I know. But this series is shelved in Children's. Kids as young as 12 are picking these books up, and what are they finding? The world sucks. People suck. Give up, and stop caring, because nothing good will ever come of trying. Perseverance will get you nowhere. Suicide and alcoholism will make you feel better.
Where is Katniss? Who's the drugged-up shadow that's replaced her? In
, this fickle, doom-and-gloom girl is not the battleaxe we met in
. This Katniss is constantly waking up in hospital, taking drugs and completely losing the will to fight for the people she loves. Her voice is flat, drab, full of a whole lot of wangst surrounding the
that, during the latter half of the book, became one of the very main concerns. What? I hear a lot of guff about this not being a romance, but it's quite clear that it is. And the scene in Tigris's cellar when Katniss pretends to sleep, but actually lies awake listening to Gale and Peeta talk about how they both love her unconditionally, and are perfectly fine to let her choose who she'll pick like a carton of juice off the shelf in the supermarket, and who she'll dump on his ass? Brought back some pretty pungent T-word memories. Gale and Peeta have absolutely no self-respect, and this scene was totally unrealistic. People do not behave like that in real life. Think about it: you're sitting facing the person who you know has been fooling around with the person you wholeheartedly love, and have done for years. The person you one day see yourself marrying. Are you really going to say, "Oh, I know how he/she feels about you. I know he/she has been making out with you behind my back, just after making out with me. I'm cool with that. I get it. No biggie." Don't even lie. I know that if I were Peeta or Gale, I'd be absolutely furious with Katniss. I'd demand to know why I was being toyed with, used even, and frankly? I'd walk away. I'd pick up my dignity and get out of there, because being treated like a piece of chewy candy in a pack of two that she can't decide whether or not to eat is an insult, and unspeakably degrading.
I kind of wanted Katniss to end up alone. Yes, once I'd forced myself to come to terms with the fact that that wasn't going to happen, I did enjoy the last ten pages greatly. Greatly. They were quite beautiful, actually, as long as I pushed myself to suck up everything I hated about the miserable and hopeless tone of this book. What I didn't enjoy was Gale's end. What happened to him? Oh, he's in District 2. And what's he doing in Distict 2? Dunno. How did he get there? Dunno. Why did he go there? Dunno. How does he feel about Katniss being with Peeta out of default, not either one's choice? Dunno. What's he going to do with his life now? Where is he going to live? What's going to happen to this character that we've been forced upon for almost three whole books, and 1200+ pages, and who's played a huge part in the story of Katniss's life?
Uh...I dunno.
I also couldn't believe Katniss's trial just happened without us. What the heck? Katniss is moping and plotting her suicide
in her room in the Capitol, and then one day Haymitch wanders in and says, "Your trial's over. You're free as a bird."
Yes, Katniss is free as a bird. She goes home and lives out the rest of her days as she pleases (and her mother just buggers off too, like Gale did. Where's your mom, Katniss? "Oh, somewhere.").
This whole thing felt like a sputtering fizzle-out of what really should have been a fantastic series. Part way through
, I was considering that this series may even be literary, but
spat on that. This is commercial YA, through and through. Yeah, the strong message about war and the hopelessness of Katniss tries to cover it up, but it has everything: silly love triangle, cackling villain, and the fate of the world resting on a teenager's shoulders. What's that? Oh, yeah. This is silly. Silly.
Katniss's Mockingjay role was equally silly. One minute Katniss is insisting, "I'M THE MOCKINGJAY BITCH!" and then the next, she says that she just doesn't care about it. She doesn't care about the Mockingjay, or all the stupid TV spots they do, or anything really. And then BAM!
Katniss got on my nerves here. As did her constant use of
in futuristic combat. What is that? Since when was there an explosive that could fit on the head of an arrow and blow up an entire airship?
Why am I even trying to reason this?
The bow and arrows did not have a place in the world of
. It seemed overwhelmingly stupid for Katniss to still be using arrows, a prehistoric weapon, when everyone else around her was using firearms and bombs. There's also the "sheath" business, which is just ridiculous. It literally takes 0.40 seconds to Google "bow and arrows" and find that arrows are held in a quiver. See? Simple!
The writing in this book irritated me. The first hundred pages are almost comically boring, and the prose suffers under nonsensical fragments, run-on sentences and huge internal monologues in the middle of conversations. It's just damn hard to read.
was such a flop for me. While the idea of exploring PTSD in war veterans was very interesting, it was employed in such a way that it brought the narrative in this book to a painful grind. There was absolutely no hope left within Katniss, and her complete derailment just destroyed any hope left in the message of this book. The writing was irritating, the deaths pointless, the violence totally over-the-top.
was a great big depressing
Ok, short summary. This is day 3 of my Hunger Games binge after I watched the last movie last Saturday without knowing anything about the books and not having watched any of the movies. First book. Awesome. Second book. Glorious. Third book. FUUUUUUUU *wails out something that sounds like "fuck you, Peeta!!!!!!"*
So now I know what a Mockingjay is (and I can probably eat it), I know who Coin is, I know wh
Ok, short summary. This is day 3 of my Hunger Games binge after I watched the last movie last Saturday without knowing anything about the books and not having watched any of the movies. First book. Awesome. Second book. Glorious. Third book. FUUUUUUUU *wails out something that sounds like "fuck you, Peeta!!!!!!"*
So now I know what a Mockingjay is (and I can probably eat it), I know who Coin is, I know who President Snow is, and I know why Peeta is so thin. And now that we've gotten that over with...
How did she end up being so admirable and awesome in the first two books and turned into such a sniveling, squishy mess in this one? The answer: Peeta.
What the fuck happened to Peeta? Ok, fine, we know what happened to Peeta, but that doesn't make it any better because he's collateral damage. And Katniss is the one who gets hurt with her stupid obsession of him.
In this book,
was my favorite. He's the voice of reason. It's war, people have to die in order for there to be peace. And Katniss is like all noooooooo, we have to save ALL THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE ONE WHO COULD GET US ALL KILLED. Because I love(d?) him ;_;
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fuck your single-mindedness, Katniss. YOU HAD ONE JOB. And it's to save your people, not your boyfriend, fiancé, whatever.
And that ending. That stupid ending. I'm sorry, I know that life doesn't always turn out well, but dammit, Suzanne Collins, you put us through the wringer with the last two books. You made us care about these people, and WE DESERVE A BETTER ENDING THAN THAT.


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- 2 nice-sized thick filet mignon steaks, 2 inches thick at least
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- fresh coarse ground black pepper
- 1⁄2 teaspoon minced garlic (optional if you don't like garlic) (optional)
- 2 slices muenster cheese or 2 slices swiss cheese or 2 slices monterey jack cheese, thick
- 1 sheet puff pastry, rolled out just a little bit
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Creamy horseradish sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 -2 tablespoon horseradish, to your preference, and not the the cream style, the real deal
- 1⁄4 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- Trim any fat from the steaks, sprinkle with pepper, spread tops of each with 1 Tbl butter.
- In shallow roasting pan, bake in pre-heated oven, buttered side up, at 425º for 10 minutes.
- Place in fridge til cold.
- Roll out puff pastry a little and cut in half.
- Spread steaks with garlic, top with cheese.
- Place cheese side down onto center of pastry squares, fold pastry over, moisten edges and seal well.
- Place seam-side down onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Prick top with a fork, cover with plastic wrap, and re-chill for 1 hour.
- Beat egg with oil, and brush pastry with it.
- Bake in center of pre-heated 425º oven for 25 minutes for med-rare.
- Serve with horseradish sauce if desired.
- Serves 2.
Ready In 45 mins
Serves 2
Most Helpful Review
"update on my previous review - I had a couple of these left over (can you believe it?) from my party, since they were large some people shared. So I put them in Ziploc's in the freezer. Today I popped one out and after about 35 min at 350, 95% as good as the first time! Long story short, these freeze surprisingly well."
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45 Outrageous Mash-Ups
Pizza is from Mars and waffles are from Venus, but when they get together, fireworks fly.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
My Jambalaya
Recipe by Random Rachel
This is my jambalaya recipe. When my Grandpa makes it, he doesn't use butter, but cooks down really fatty bacon and sausage to get the grease out of it, and then discards the remaining chunks of grizzle before adding the onions, etc. You can use canned chicken and broth if you don't want to mess with the thighs. Really, jambalaya is supposed to be a cheap meal that stretches meat, so you can use whatever leftover meat that you want to in place of the sausage and thighs. 2 1/4 cups of rice is 1 entire small bag. Please adjust the hot sauce to your tastes. Serve with red beans or potato salad.
Top Review by Linky
I went with the 3 thighs (rather than 1 cup), also added half a red pepper. Next time will add a few more veggies. That being said, this made a delicious jambalaya. This was the first time I'd made it with no tomatoes. I loved the flavor from the broth - much richer chicken taste than just using skinless, boneless thighs! made for ZWT9 Soup a Stars
See Discussion:2 Reviews
Ingredients Nutrition
- 3 chicken thighs (1 cup)
- 1⁄2 lb sausage (1 cup)
- 7 cups water
- 1 onion
- 1 bell pepper
- 3 stalks celery
- 2 garlic cloves (or 1 tbsp minced)
- 1⁄2 cup butter
- 1⁄3 cup flour
- 2 1⁄4 cups rice
- 1⁄4 cup hot sauce, to taste
- 2 tablespoons tony's cajun spices
Directions See How It's Made
- Boil the chicken in at least 7 cups of water. (You will be using the water as broth later on.) Boil for at least 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, chop the onion, pepper, celery and mince the garlic. Add to about 1/3 stick of the butter in a dutch oven.
- Meanwhile, remove the chicken from the broth, and de-bone, while sautéing the vegetable blend. Slice the sausage and chicken into large chunks. Add the meat to the vegetable blend. Continue simmering the broth, with the bones and skin added back in if you'd like.
- Add the remaining butter, and the flour. Make a roux. (Cook until the flour no longer smells raw, and begins to brown slightly.).
- Add the 7 cups of broth and the rice, being sure to remove the skin and bones. Stir thoroughly.
- Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring 2-3 times to ensure that the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom of the dutch oven. It is done when the water is absorbed, and the rice cooked. (If you have a non-stick dutch oven, you may have to add an additional cup of water at the end to allow the rice to cook all the way.).


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By category Ageing, disability & carers Families & children Hospitals Housing & homelessness Indigenous Australians Population groups Risk factors, diseases & death Services, workforce & spending
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Waiting times for elective surgery have remained fairly stable nationally over recent years according to new hospitals information products released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Today's main report, Elective surgery waiting times 2015–16: Australian hospital statistics presents national and state-level hospital data (excluding ACT data, which was not available at the time of publication).
The report shows that, after adjusting for the number of hospitals included, admissions from public hospital elective surgery waiting lists increased by about 1.7% on average each year between 2011–12 and 2015–16.
Amid rising admissions, waiting times remained relatively stable over the same period.
'In 2015–16, the median waiting time—the time within which 50% of all patients were admitted—was 37 days,' said AIHW spokesperson Jenny Hargreaves.
'This was not much different from the median of 35 days recorded for 2014–15 and the median of 36 days recorded each year from 2011–12 to 2013–14.'
The proportion of patients who waited longer than 365 days to be admitted for their procedure decreased from 2.7% to 2.0% between 2011–12 and 2015–16.
In 2015–16, the procedure with the shortest median waiting time (13 days) was Coronary artery bypass graft, and Septoplasty (to fix a deviated septum) had the longest median waiting time (209 days).
The report shows that the median waiting time for Indigenous Australians (43 days) was higher than for other Australians (37) and a higher proportion of Indigenous Australians waited more than a year for elective surgery than other Australians (2.3% and 2.0%, respectively).
In addition to this report, the AIHW has published on the MyHospitals website (www.myhospitals.gov.au) hospital-level information on waiting times by: urgency of surgery, the specialty of the surgeons performing the elective surgery and for various surgical procedures.
Data are also available on waiting times for 290 hospital emergency departments. These are accompanied by an interactive web tool showing how public hospitals compare against other similar hospitals for a range of measures.
For more Australian hospital statistics, visit www.aihw.gov.au/hospitals and www.myhospitals.gov.au
Canberra, 1 December 2016
Further information: Ms Jenny Hargreaves, AIHW, Tel. 02 6244 1121, mob. 0407 012 520
Full publication: Elective surgery waiting times 2015–16: Australian hospital statistics


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Property Description
Ref # 381271
Because we focus on monthly rentals, we do not accept bookings with a gap between move in date and availability date. We generally require move in dates to be within 7 days of the availability date. Payments are due on a monthly basis starting with the first month due prior to move-in.
Furnished two bedroom apartment with high ceilings and hardwood floors available in a new mid-rise building. This well-maintained elevator building is located in Midtown West, one of the most convenient neighborhoods in all of Manhattan. Enjoy the beautiful views of the city skyline from the rooftop deck and explore what Manhattan has to offer. Timeâs Square, Columbus Circle, Central Park and the Theater District are all within a short walk. Visit the Intrepid Museum by the pier. The building is also located near major subway (C,E) and bus lines. For more questions and to schedule a showing, contact us today.
This HomeSuite property comes fully furnished and has at least a 30 day minimum lease term (see below for minimum lease term of this specific unit).
Additional Property Information Below:
Utilities: 10 Tenant Pays Utilities: No Minimum Lease: 1 months Maximum Lease: 12 months Deposit: 2000 Cable: No Internet: Yes Electricity/Gas: No Heat: Yes Parking: Furniture Alteration: Maximum Occupants: 6 Laundry: Laundry in Building Pets: Cat Friendly, Cat Friendly, Dog Friendly
We have a hard 30 day minimum on our rentals, with no exceptions (sorry!).+ More


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Product Description▼▲
A Bible you can hug! In this soft and cuddly book, little ones will find a collection of ten favorite Bible stories in rhyme, filled with comforting truths and promises. Keep God's word close to baby's heart in this perfect introduction for the very young to the stories of the Bible and to God's great love for them.
Product Information▼▲
|Format: Other
Number of Pages: 22
Vendor: HarperFestival
Publication Date: 2010
|Dimensions: 9.00 X 6.75 (inches)
Ages: 1-4
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Publisher's Description▼▲
Baby's first Bible!
It's a Bible you can hug! In this soft and cuddly book, little ones will find a collection of ten favorite Bible stories in rhyme, filled with comforting truths told through scripture. Keep God's word close to your baby's heart in this perfect package.
Sally Lloyd-Jones introduces very young to the stories of the Bible and to God's great love for them.
Author Bio▼▲
Sally Lloyd-Jones is the author of several books for children, including the New York Times bestselling How to Be a Baby . . . by Me, the Big Sister, illustrated by Sue Heap, and The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas & Grandpas!, illustrated by Michael Emberley. She lives in New York City, where she writes full-time.
Product Reviews▼▲
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
DeniHug5 Stars Out Of 5Grand daughter hugs her Hug a BibleJanuary 21, 2016DeniHugQuality: 0Value: 0Meets Expectations: 0My one year old grand daughter took right to it. She is still a bit young to sit for a story but she loves the bold pictures/
Granny5 Stars Out Of 5SweetJanuary 7, 2016GrannyQuality: 5Value: 5Meets Expectations: 5A sweet board book babies love. Short, but tenderly phrased. Teaches baby that the Bible is a very special book!
Deb5 Stars Out Of 5Baby's Hug-a-BibleJanuary 12, 2015DebQuality: 5Value: 5Meets Expectations: 5The stories highlight God and not the characters. Short- sweet and to the point. Love the illustrations too.
Staceysvein5 Stars Out Of 5Babys Hug-a-BibleDecember 12, 2014StaceysveinQuality: 5Value: 5Meets Expectations: 5I loved this book and I cant wait for my 2 year old to see it. She's all about the soft animals and the cover really promotes this. I know that this book will add to her learning experience!
Rusty5 Stars Out Of 5HugabibleNovember 1, 2014RustyQuality: 5Value: 5Meets Expectations: 5very cute bible for the very little ones-easy for them to handle
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In-Kind Donations
Ever received a care package in the mail? You can send a care package to your community through LSI.
We partner with many people who struggle to afford basic necessities. You could organize a donation drive at work, church or school for socks, underwear, toiletries or a backpack of school supplies.
There are many ways to give, whether it is sewing quilts for children at Beloit or Bremwood or donating bus tokens for refugee families. What should you do first? Give us a call. We can suggest some areas of greatest need.
When giving an in-kind donation:
- Each LSI office has different clients and different needs. Call your local LSI office first to make sure we can accept your donation or ask about specific needs in your area.
- Please make sure items are new or only gently used.
- In-kind donations are tax deductible. Please let us know if you would like a receipt for tax purposes.


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Artist's description:
This is a Large Abstract that seems to depict many Horizons, hence the title. It is 36in.x36in x1.50in. deep, created on a professionally stretched canvas without staples.
Each of my paintings are created on a professionally stretched canvas with deep edges, no frame needed and ready to hang. I sign each painting on the front, with a sincere personalized note on the back, and carefully packaged, shipped, and insured, through a reputable courier.
If you need a quote on any shipping information to you're country e-mail me you're postal code information.
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Import duties, taxes and charges are the buyer's responsibility. You can check the duty and tax for your country on dutycalculator.com
Any questions on this or any piece in my gallery is welcomed! Thank you for viewing my gallery!!
Materials used:
Professionally Stretched Canvas, Acrylic Paint, Varnish clear coat
Horizons (2014)
Acrylic painting by Art By: Tamara Bettencourt
- Acrylic painting on Canvas
- One of a kind artwork
- Size: 36 x 36 x 1.5 in (unframed) / 36 x 36 in (actual image size)
- This artwork is sold unframed
- Signed on the front
- Ready to hang
- Style: Abstract
- Subject: Abstract and non-figurative
More by Art By: Tamara Bettencourt View all
View all
Sea of Love Ocean paintings 30x15in.
Acrylic paintingby Art By: Tamara Bettencourt


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"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 13 (UNHCR) – The number of people who have fled the fighting in northwest Pakistan this month and been registered or recorded by authorities reached 670,906 on Wednesday, up from just over half a million the day before.
The majority of those registered by Pakistani authorities with the assistance of UNHCR are staying in the homes of friends and relatives or camping out in the open; a fraction of the total – 79,842 – are now living in camps.
Together with more than 550,000 registered displaced people in the North West Frontier Province and some 21,000 in the capital Islamabad and urban areas of the Punjab, the continuing exodus brings to 1,248,715 the total number of people displaced in Pakistan since August, 2008."
End of message.
Supplement: read Mosharraf Zaidi's take on this.


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Are you ready to take your GED exam in Troy VA? The GED test is only given in person and not online. Typically in order to sit for the GED exam the test taker must be older than 17 years old. The General Education Development (GED) testing fee in the state of Virginia typically ranges from $40 to $90.
The General Education Development (GED) examination consists of five tests: reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Each section of the test gives a score between 200 and 800. Most states require students to get a score of 410 on each of the five tests and an overall average of 450 for the General Education Development test to pass.
Most GED testing in Troy VA is offered at:
- Troy High Schools
- Troy Community Colleges
- Troy Independent School District
- Troy Adult Education Centers


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Knowledge mining is emerging as the enabling technology for new forms of information access and multilingual information access (MLIA, which encompasses both terms), as it combines the last advances in text mining, knowledge acquisition, natural language processing and semantic interpretation. Question answering, information access based on entities, cross-lingual information access, and navigation via crossdocument relations are examples of new applications that are being adopted both by start-ups and consolidated companies such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. KNOW2 will emulate and improve current MLIA systems with research to enable the construction of an integrated environment allowing the cost-effective deployment of vertical information access portals for specific domains.
The KNOW project (TIN2006-15049-C03) already enhanced Cross-Lingual Information Retrieval and Question Answering technology with improved concept-based Natural Language Processing technologies. KNOW2 plans to move from general domains to specific domains as a strategy to obtain better performance, and the incorporation of text-mining and collaborative interfaces. In fact the main research objective consists in advancing the state-of-the-art in the integration of text-capture, semantic interpretation, non-standard text treatment (blogs, e-mails, oral transcriptions) and inference and logic reasoning with semantic-based MLIA methods. Given the current state-of-the-art in those areas, we plan to develop intuitive collaborative interfaces which will allow communities of users to improve the systems, including multilingual communities involving Basque, Catalan, English and Spanish.
Regarding the expertise and human resources gathered in this project, rather than just piling upc experts from loosely related areas, we have selected on purpose a coordinated groups of researchers from four groups that together form a virtual research laboratory that gathers the necessary critical mass. KNOW2 is formed by an interdisciplinary group including computer-science expertise on natural language processing and industrial applications, and linguistic expertise on the target languages.
The advances of KNOW2 will be demonstrated by quality publications on top-ranking conferences and journals, as well as demonstrators and prototypes on domains such us environment, European parliament and/or geographic texts, including public portals dedicated to popular science (zientzia.net and BasqueResearch, part of AlphaGalileo) owned by Elhuyar, which is a KNOW2 partner. The fact that we apply our state-of-the-art research to real scenarios, and the adoption of the last representation standards and free software licenses will facilitate the technology transfer of the developed technology to industrial environments. The large number of EPOs in this proposal, and their level of commitment, already shows the interest that this proposal raises.
IXA Group - EHU-UPV
PhD Thesis: Computational Model for Semantic Textual Similarity (A. Gonzalez, 2015/07/07) 2017-Jul-06
HAP/LAP master thesis (Noelia Migueles, 2016-06-27) 2017-Jun-27
Talk: Computational explorations of creative language (C. Strapparava, 2017-07-07) 2017-Jun-26
PhD Thesis: Automatic Scansion of Poetry (M. Agirrezabal, 2015/06/19) 2017-Jun-15
Read more IXA
25/07/2017 - Pranava Swaroop Madhyastha PhD dissertation
TALP Talk: Generative adversarial networks (GAN) applied to Speech Enhancement
Neural Machine Translation
Deep Dive in Deep Learning with TensorFlow
Read more UPC
GRIAL: Grup de Recerca Interuniversitari en Aplicacions Lingüístiques
Read more UB
|Send mail to the webmaster to comment on these pages                                                      manage


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The English Door Company™ offers an extensive collection of timber alternative doors that will enhance any home. Our range of designs, colours, styling and glazing options means you can create a door that is truly unique to you - from classic cottage and traditional townhouse doors to contemporary designs - we can create a door that is truly unique to you. Each door is made to your exact size requirements, ensuring a perfect fit every time. Every aspect of the process is chosen by you, from the design, style and type of glass you need, door detailing and an eclectic choice of hardware options to add the finishing touch.
The English Door Company™ offers the very best in design and manufacturing excellence. By using the latest modern materials, our doors are created to emulate the richness and depth of real timber but without the problems traditionally associated with wooden doors. Our long lasting, highly durable doors need very little maintenance, they have excellent thermal and sound proofing properties and each door is fitted with a highly secure, market leading multi-point locking system for total peace of mind.
Our range of Stormproof doors offers you an exciting collection of designs, encompassing authentic representations of period styles for older properties and those with clean, contemporary lines that will complement the character of your home? We even have front doors specifically developed to suit cottage properities that pay homage to the traditional designs. You will find our selection of door designs will suit any property, regardless of the age or style, you just make it your own by the finishing touches and colours that you choose.
At The English Door Company™ we do not believe in manufacturing standard size doors. We make every single door to order - to the exact dimensions of your doorway. Each door ordered will be professionally measured and then built to your specification, which will ensure a seamless on site installation experience. At The English Door Company™, hand-finished excellence comes as standard.
Hand finished excellence and uncompromising performance comes as standard at Evolution. Every door we make is unique. Not only is each one made to your exact requirements, every aspect from the design, colour and glazing, down to the detail of door furniture, is chosen by you. Redefine your grand entrance.
Renowned for exceptional service at every stage of the design, manufacture and installation process; our customer care team ensure each customer receives the very best experience. We're so confident of the enduring quality of the windows and doors we produce, we give a 10 Year guarantee on all Evolution products, providing each customer with the ultimate peace of mind.
If you can't visit your local Evolution showroom but still want to find out more about our beautiful handcrafted windows and doors then simply order a brochure today and be inspired.
Speak to one of our friendly, experienced designers to discuss your requirements and individual project needs. We will provide you with advice and a detailed, no-obligation quotation.
To truly explore Evolution, why not visit your local showroom where you can see the Evolution difference for yourself. We are also always happy to welcome visitors to our Bedfordshire head office.
Contact Us


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Property: Novum Hotel am Bonhoefferplatz DresdenAddress: Bonhoefferplatz 13, 01159 Dresden, Saxony, Germany (Formerly Hotel am Bonhoefferplatz)
Location: Germany > Saxony > Dresden
Ranked #103 of 118 Hotels in Dresden
Price Range (Based on Average Rates): $
Hotel Class:3 star — Novum Hotel am Bonhoefferplatz Dresden 3*
Number of rooms: 49
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Welcome home in Novum Hotel Bonhoefferplatz Dresden. The central location in the district Löbtau allows both the business and the leisure travelers all the targets in Dresden can be reached quickly and easily. The Novum Hotel Bonhoefferplatz Dresden is a stylish house from the 19th century, comfortable and contemporary in design. Functional rooms in different categories, free Wi-Fi and an extensive breakfast buffet await every visitor in a spacious hotel. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Hotels.com, Booking.com, Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity, Hotwire and Cheap Tickets so you can book your Novum Hotel am Bonhoefferplatz Dresden reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


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Looks like Poinciana Three Bedroom Two Bath is no longer available on Rent.com which means this information is likely out of date.
Spacious Home with large backyard, close to Schools and Shopping
The home is a 3/2/2 it was built in 2004 sits on a 1/4 of a acre lot, very close to schools and shopping in a great community. The house has a split floor plan with Family room, Living room, Dining room, and Eat in kitchen. Tiled home with carpets in all rooms. Willing to discuss contract.
Background and Credit check is a must
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Chapter 4.4 Scattering from mesomorphic structures
Reciprocal space
Second Online Edition (2010)
Part 4. Diffuse scattering and related topics
Published Online: 1 JUN 2010
© International Union of Crystallography 2006
Book Title
International Tables for Crystallography
Additional Information
How to Cite
Pershan, P. S. 2010. Scattering from mesomorphic structures. International Tables for Crystallography. B:4:4.4:547–566.
Publication History
- Published Online: 1 JUN 2010
- Abstract
- Article
The terms mesomorphic and liquid‐crystalline are used synonymously. The order of mesomorphic phases is intermediate between that of liquids and crystals. The progression from the completely symmetric isotropic liquid through the mesomorphic phases into the crystalline phases can be described in terms of three separate types of order. The first kind, molecular orientational order, results from the molecules having some preferential orientation, as found in nematic phases. The second type of order is referred to as bond orientational order and the third kind of order is a positional order of an indefinite lattice of the type that defines the 230 space groups of conventional crystals. For mesomorphic phases with a layered structure, this positional order can be separated into positional order along the layer normal and perpendicular to it, or within the layers. In this chapter, mesomorphic phases are classified according to the different kinds of order present and the scattering from each kind of phase is described. Discotic and other kinds of mesomorphic structures are also discussed.
- scattering;
- scattering cross sections;
- mesomorphic structures;
- liquid crystals;
- nematic phases;
- smectic‐A phases;
- smectic‐C phases;
- smectic‐B phases;
- smectic‐D phases;
- hexatic phases;
- smectic‐F phases;
- Smectic‐I phases;
- crystal‐E phases;
- crystal‐G phases;
- crystal‐H phases;
- crystal‐J phases;
- crystal‐K phases;
- crystal‐B phases;
- discotic phases;
- herringbone packing;
- molecular rotation;
- molecular orientational order;
- bond orientational order;
- quasi‐long‐range order;
- surface effects


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An article in 'Animal' compares the lifetime performance (mortality, maturity, nutrition, birth weight etc.) of West African Dwarf goats kept under various feeding systems. Continue reading
Category Archives: Livestock Systems
ILRI's Index-Based Livestock Insurance and Takaful Insurance of Africa win '2017 Insurance Innovation Award'
ILRI's Index Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) program and Takaful Insurance of Africa are this year's winners of the prestigious Insurance Innovations Award 2017. The announcement was made at the African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re)'s Insurance Awards gala dinner held on Monday 22 May 2017, at the Serena Kigo Hotel, in Kampala, Uganda. Continue reading
Livestock for food security and nutrition—Committee on World Food Security policy recommendations
The following policy recommendations build on the main findings of the CFS High Level Panel of Expert's Jul 2016 report #10, on Sustainable agricultural development for food security and nutrition: What roles for livestock? The sustainable development of agriculture, including livestock, is essential for poverty reduction and the achievement of food security and nutrition. Continue reading
From livestock smallholders to 'smartholders': Nurturing development with animal-source foods
Scientists from across the globe gathered at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences on 29–30 Mar 2017 to discuss ways to improve nutrition through animal-source foods in some of the most impoverished regions in the world. Chronically affecting 24 per cent of the world's children, roughly 159 million in 2014, malnutrition is responsible for almost half of all child deaths worldwide. Jimmy Smith, director general of ILRI, was one of the keynote speakers at the opening of the Global Nutrition Symposium, the theme of which was 'Nurturing development: Improving human nutrition with animal-source foods'. Continue reading
Research to help secure rangelands for users presented at World Bank Land and Poverty Conference
Together with its partners, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has now taken its research agenda on adaptation and resilience a notch higher, at the on-going Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty themed 'Responsible Land Governance—Towards an Evidence-Based Approach'. ILRI is one of the major partners that have supported this premier global forum on land governance. Continue reading
The story of Humidtropics agricultural innovation capacity development, 2014-2016
From 2012-2016, the CGIAR Research Program on Integrated System for the Humid Tropics, or Humidtropics, worked towards transforming the lives of the rural poor in several action sites in Asia, Africa and Tropical America. Initially, capacity development went on almost intuitively, as an integrated part of the implementation process. It soon become clear that such … Continue reading
Sustainable livestock systems – highlights from ILRI's corporate report 2015–2016
In 2015–2016, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners revealed extraordinary findings that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cattle in Kenya maybe up to 10 times lower than previous estimates, clearly making the case for improving Africa-specific understanding of GHG emissions to develop better-targeted climate change mitigation and adaption strategies. Continue reading


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2018 Chrysler 300 Concept, Redesign, Specs, Rumors
To keep its powerful look, new 2018 Chrysler 300 is able to come out with some changes. Its predecessor is known well as a popular sedan. Before, the company launched the updated model of 2015 Chrysler 300 at 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. There will probably be no dramatic changes for its styling cues. It's still a powerful automobile with the impressive exterior design that may get some redesigned parts. 2018 Chrysler 300 concept redesign specs rumors.
2018 Chrysler 300 Exterior and Interior
Exterior of the Chrysler 300 2018, for sure that there won't be any dramatic exterior changes since the current design is recognizable by far. The outside design is the best amplified feel. Integrated cast-aluminum axle will limit the weight from the coupe and will increase the outside design. This type of material keeps weight when increases endurance. There are rumors that the coupe carries front suspensions with hydraulic mounts with built-in mono-tube shock absorbers along with decreased shock suspension whereas the back, 5-shocks with built-in jounce bumpers, rubber bushing, mono-tube and suspension links.
The new 2018 Chrysler 300 will continue in the pretty much same manner, that includes same design, engine, similar interior, features etc. Great thing about this model is a loads of features. There are plenty of things, even in standard package. In the base model, you will see features like 8.4 inch touchscreen, premium audio system, leather seats and more. Also, there are lots of safety features in offer. Some of them are already available in standard model, like traction and stability control, forward collision warning, rear view camera. 2018 Chrysler 300 exterior and interior.
2018 Chrysler 300 Engine Specs
There is no official detail, based on rumor Chrysler 300 2018 along with two engine options: a 3.6 liter DOHC V-6 and 5.7 liter HEMI V-8 engine. These are powering the present-generation model, however with the 2018 model year, we expect boosted performance and increased figures. The current power units can produce 300-hp/264-lb-ft and 363-hp/394-lb-ft, respectively. The fuel economy needs to be improved also, which suggests greater than current 31-mpg on the road. European market can also receive a diesel unit. 2018 Chrysler 300 engine specs.
2018 Chrysler 300 Release Date and Price
The 2018 Chrysler 300 will start $35,000, based on the estimates of experts. Because it's still in draft form, the company will probably release it around the year 2018. 2018 Chrysler 300 release date and price.


text: Do you guys remember this moodboard and how excited I was to get started?? This project is pure black & white, which doesn't happen often. And so far, it's been a blast to work on! Although we're not quite finished yet, I thought I would share the process logos that didn't make the cut. I couldn't help it. From the options above, you can get a good sense of the direction we're taking, but I'll reveal the final brand once everything is all said and done.


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Three types of banners and their uses in Pinetown
June 21, 2015 · Print This Article
Banners aren't just homemade jobs done on your desktop printer, they can be really beautiful, eye-catching pieces that get eyes on your brand and spread your message. There are also many different types of banners to choose from. Here are three banners you can have printed in Pinetown, plus some information on which one would be best for your requirements.
PVC hanging banners
These banners are printed to your size specifications and then each corner is fitted with a metal eyelet; extra eyelets can be added along the edges of the banner if necessary. Rope is then looped through each eyelet and the banner is stretched out and hung using this rope. These banners are hard wearing and perfect for outdoor use such as at golf tournaments and other sporting events.
Roll up banners
Roll up banners are rolled inside their own metal cylinder. They come with a metal stand and the banner is rolled out from the cylinder and hooked to the top of the stand. These are long rectangular shaped banners which stand up and are best used at exhibition stalls, outside of shops to display new product offerings or specials, or used to advertise an event
X-Frame Banners
X-Frame banners have the same advantages as roll up banners in that they can stand up on their own and don't need to be tied to anything. Unlike the roll up banners, they use an "x" shaped frame to reinforce the banner and hold it upright. These aren't really recommended for outdoors as they can blow over, but are perfect for indoor use at conferences and in retail spaces.
For any type of banner, make sure you go with good quality printers such as Minuteman Press in Pinetown. We offer every type of printing you can think of, including all the banners mentioned above. We have graphic designers on site and can print small-scale jobs such as business cards and brochures. Contact us for more information.
Pinetown News
- Follow these steps for effective brochure design and printing
- Essential Marketing Material for Your Upcoming Expo
- Key elements of a catalogue:
- Colour copying – just as good as the original
- Top 5 Mistakes in Logo Design
- The Importance of Branded Stationery
- Graphic Design Tips for Your Business Brochures
- Why Paper Weight Matters
- Minuteman Pinetown is your one-stop shop for design services
- Using Retro Postcard Design as a Unique Marketing Tactic


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WWI animals
Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) stretched out alongside road in France during WWI
TRAITORS OF THE RUSSIAN LAND.Russian Cossacks crossed in the service of Nazi Germany.
The Italo-Ethiopian War, 1935. http://semioticapocalypse.tumblr.com
Edwin Ramsey, 26th Cavalry Regiment turned Philippine Resistance fighter, WWII. Led the last mounted cavalry charge in the history of the United States Cavalry.
Russian Cossack
Russian Cossack Horsemanship
Russian Cossack Horsemanship
What was even more shocking to Wuzhu was that in 1135 Yue Fei had encountered whole detachments of Iron Pagoda Cavalry serving under Wuzhu's Wanyan clan brothers in the thousands, the two armies fought in a series of life and death charges and counter- charges, but ultimately Yue Fei was able to not only steadily keep his own ground but then were able to utterly annihilate nearly all of the Iron Pagodas by the thousands.