FIVE ELEMENTS

Collins, Suzanne, and Suzanne Collins.Catching fire. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009. Print.

1.Suspense
2.Plot
3.Conflict
4.Swift Conclusion
5.No Unnecessary Detail

SPOILER FOR CATCHING FIRE IN THIS POST

SUSPENSE

I chose suspense to be the most important element in a story that I read. Suspense in a book always motivates me to keep reading because I want to know what is going to happen. I share this same amount of suspense when I watch the TV series Lost, in this series there are always constant questions that are being asked like "Who are these people?", " Will they ever get off the Island?" and "Are they alone?". When I am reading Catching Fire I'm always asking questions too like, "Will the president kill Gale?", " Do the Districts up rise against the Capitol?" and " Who will Katniss coach for the 75th Hunger Games?" and "Why does the President smell of Roses and Blood?" All of these questions drive me to keep reading and once the questions are answered it is either shocking, disappointing or it frustrates me. Here is a quote from Catching Fire that I thought was very suspenseful. "I'm leaving the room when a beeping noise catches my attention. I turn back to see the screen of the television go black. Then the words"UPDATE ON DISTRICT 8" start flashing. Instinctively I know this is not for my eyes but something intended only for the mayor. I should go. Quickly. Instead I find myself stepping closer to the television. An announcer I've seen before appears. It's a women with graying hair and a hoarse, authoritative voice. She warns that condition are worsening and a Level 3 alert has been called. Additional forces are being sent into District 8, and all textile production has ceased."
             

A Good Book

Qualities that I expect to see in a good book are suspense, a good story and a good description of what is happening. I love to have suspense in all the books that I read because if there is a part in the book that has me on the edge of my seat it motivates me to keep reading more of the book. The Hunger Games was a book that had a lot of suspense to it, I could barley put it down because I had to find out what was going to happen next. Secondly, the book should have a good story to it. Having a good story is probably the most important part of the book. If the story isn't  good than the reader will loose interest and stop reading the book. To Kill a Mockingbird had a very good story, the story would always want make me want to keep reading, laugh and shock me at times. Finally, a book should be well described if it is not than the story is very hard to follow. The author should give clear and precise details so that the reader can understand what is going on and how it relates to the story.

I am currently read Catching Fire the second book in The Hunger Games series. Suzanne Collins (The Author) is very good at portraying suspense, I have not began any suspenseful parts in this book but I have read the first book and Collins is very good creating at creating suspense in her novels. So far this book has a very good story and this story talks about life after The Hunger Games and how all the other districts will react to who has won the Games.  I find this book describes what is happen very well, Collins has a way of going into deep description to make sure her reader really make sure they understand what is going on, and that is why she always keeps her readers wanting more.





 Here is an example of the suspense, good story and description.

" I can feel my my mind begin to race. Who is here? What do they want? Why is my mother so pale? 
' Go right in,' says the Capitol man, who has followed me down the hallway. I twist the polished brass knob and step inside. My nose registers the conflicting scents of roses and blood. A small, white-haired man who seems vaguely familiar is reading a book. He holds up a finger as if to say, 'Give me a moment.' Then he turns and my heart skips a beat. I'm staring into the snakelike eyes of President Snow."

 Collins, Suzanne, and Suzanne Collins. Catching fire. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009. Print.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print. 

Lee, Harper. To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1960. Print.