Quiet By Susan Cain

Susan Cain has done a really impressive job in arguing how important it is for introverts to value themselves even though American culture is so skewed towards the extrovert ideal. She lists all the things we would not have in our world were it not for an introvert: the Internet, Apple, or even (perhaps) the Civil Rights movement. So passionate is Susan Cain about the power o introversion that sometimes she seems to be almost apologizing to that half of the world (and presumably her readers) who are extroverts. That, I admit, made me (a self-confessed introvert) smile. After all, most of the time, I read books that say there is nothing (much) wrong with being an introvert (which those books equate with being shy). It was therefore quite nice to read a book that so systematically demolished the many myths about introverts, beginning with the definition.

Introverts are not shy people; they are people who prefer low levels of stimulation. They draw their energy from quiet me-time whereas extroverts draw their energy from other people. Introverts are the leaders you need when you're trying to create something new because they allow (indeed encourage) everyone to have their own idea while the extrovert is the leader you need to keep something routine going because extroverts are the cheerleaders who can be counted on to make a routine task more fun.

And if, like me, you're an introvert who has been criticized for not liking small talk or socializing activities or been told that you think too much, this book will come as a great relief. Reading it is almost an affirmation; a kind of I am not alone moment. It really is great to know that my introversion is inherited and that it is wholly normal. That it's OK to not be able to think in groups (that, in fact, most people don't think well in groups), that innovation really does happen when you work alone, and that many of the most famous people (from Warren Buffet to Rosa Parks to Darwin) are or were introverts.

Quiet has little good to say about our culture's extrovert ideal which has created a world where introverts must struggle so hard to carve out a niche for themselves. In our world, even the office space (with its open floor plan) is tailor made for the extrovert. And that's not even counting the frequent presentations and meetings people are expected to give and attend. In our world, there doesn't seem to be room for thought; only for talking. And yet, the introvert's power lies in solitary thought and quiet persuasion.

That's the first part of the book, anyway. The second half reads a lot like many of the other self-help manuals out there. The advice to identify our core passions (which Susan Cain provides in the second half of the book) for example, is advice that's good for anyone--and advice I at least have heard many times before. So, my personal advice is to read the first half of the book several times. It can really change the way you see the world and yourself and maybe skim over the second part.

Hunger Games-The Thirth and Final Book- The Mockingjay

 It's the right way to end the Hunger Games Trilogy. With that said, after reading it all, I've been feeling disturbed. I guess the series was disturbing, but I could NOT get to sleep last night. I'm 18 and I had woke up every 30 minutes with Mockingjay moments lining my dreams. Alot of it has to do with a feeling of incompleteness. The ending for Katniss has basic building blocks, but there are some conflicts that are left loose. Maybe that was the intention...I guess I'll never know.
Team Peeta and Gale? You know, that decision doesn't even matter. That was one of the dynamics I loved about the series, but the story was much more powerful than a little love triangle.
Suzanne Collins kept me on my toes from the get go. I can usually figure out the ending, but as I kept reading I gave up because it was fairly impossible for me to decipher.
Don't expect a fluffy happy ending. If you do, you will be disappointed and more haunted than me. Don't expect everything to go to hell. If you do, there is no way you can enjoy the book. Just keep everything open.
Suzanne Collins ended it with a realism that other authors have failed to achieve. Make sure you've read the books preceeding this one.
This one is alot more bloody and violent. The themes are much more mature. Be ready for Suzanne Collins absolutely not holding back. I was smiling big at the end. I was also crying because it was painful.

I love the Hunger Games. Even though it made it difficult to sleep last night.

Jabberjays are a type of bird that were created in Capitol labs to spy on enemies and rebels of the Capitol. Jabberjays had the ability to memorize and repeat entire human conversations, and were used to gather words from the rebels. Once the people in the districts realized how their private conversations were being transmitted, they used the jabberjays to feed lies to the Capitol. The Capitol therefore ceased using the jabberjays and abandoned them to die off in the wild, but they didn't die off. The male jabberjays bred with female mockingbirds to create mockingjays. Their offspring, named mockingjays, were able to repeat both human melodies and birdsong. They became the symbol of the rebellion because they were a species that the Capitol never meant to create.

Catching Fire -The 2nd Book In The Hunger Games Trilogy

Catching Fire is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. The story follows the events after Katniss and Peeta get back from the Hunger Games as victors. An uprising across the districts is brewing all because Katniss defied the Capitol by forcing them to allow both herself and Peeta to live.

The first question I wanted answer was who does Katniss choose? Peeta, the loveable baker who has demonstrated his devotion to Katniss time and time again? or Gale, her childhood best friend who she grew up with? I'm personally a Peeta fan myself...In this respect the book is kind of frustrating as Katniss struggles to come to a decision.

One plot-twist was so aggravating, that I didn't want to continue reading it. However, then I realized that I had to finish reading it because I was dying to find out what happened next. The aggravation lasted for all of five minutes.



Anyway, had the book been less action-packed and less creative, than its predecessor, I would have been admittedly disappointed, but decidedly understanding. Often times, after the success of the first book in a series, the author gets this attitude of do-no-wrong and their subsequent publications are not up to par with the original (See the Twilight Saga and Eragon). However Suzanne Collins has managed to write a gripping novel with intense action, gore, unpredictability, and surprises that is rivaled only by the first. Readers will not be disappointed and will be begging for the release of the final chapter in the trilogy.
Against staggering odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark of District 12 have somehow won the annual Hunger Games. But the fruits of triumph are bittersweet. Success in the arena means a life without want in the Victor's Village, but extravagant food and a nice place to sleep can only provide so much comfort when an increasing amount of one's life must be faked for the protection of those one loves. That's exactly Katniss's predicament, because she when she held up the poisonous berries in the arena, it was interpreted as an act of defiance against the Capitol rather than Katniss's strong will to life. And now the girl on fire has become the spark for rebellion--a rebellion the Capitol is determined to stamp out at any cost.

I must commend Collins for writing such a phenomenal sequel to The Hunger Games as Catching Fire is. It's everything I hoped for and even more than I expected. Katniss's legend lives on in this action packed, suspense filled drama in which one's friends are nearly indistinguishable from one's enemies and ambiguous meanings make life into one giant maze. Collins takes her portrayal of a dystopian future to the next level in this novel by highlighting the extent of the power the totalitarian Capitol wields and the beginnings of long suppressed dissent. Catching Fire is such an engrossing read, thanks to Collins's well written and executed plot, vivid and realistic characters, and the resulting sense of revolutionary fear. It's so easy to lose track of time while reading this novel, because the story just flows from the page so fluidly; I really enjoyed the many plot twists and the development of each character. The only times I had to pause while reading were due to the multitude of names and minor characters that are somewhat difficult to remember. But overall, Catching Fire is a story so overwhelmingly incredible, no reader will want to put it down.

Catching Fire and its prequel The Hunger Games are must reads for all readers not just because they are such interesting stories but because they show the nasty side of politics and culture not enough of us are aware of. This trilogy will be especially enjoyed by fans of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, Cherry Heaven by L.J. Adlington, Shift by Charlotte Agell, Daylight Runner by Oisín McGann, and the Poison Study trilogy by Maria V. Snyder. I know that I, along with throngs of others, can't wait for the conclusion to this trilogy.

The Hunger Games - Definitely worth reading!

This was a fantastic book. Suzanne Collins is very skilled at creating a world where ridiculously cool things have happened. I really loved the character description in the book as well as the way that the setting was described. The Hunger Games within the book was extremely thrilling and filled with suspense. The way that Katniss' and Peeta's relationship changes throughout the story was captivating and sucked me in so that I didn't want to put the book down. This bok made me want to read the rest of the series and I mustsay that the second two books are equally thrilling and captivating. This book was so fantastic that I wish I could give it six stars. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thrilling story with a captivating ending.






Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.