may the odds be ever in your favor.

I think this is what reality television is headed to. I firmly believe that one day contestants will fight to the death; it seems to be an inevitable conclusion to what people will do for fame and fortune. Also to appease the masses of those that would watch I mean you can only watch 20 people live on an island for months without food so many times.

The idea of the Hunger Games to me goes back to ancient times, to the Roman coliseum. Whether it be slaves (the poorer districts) or professional gladiators (the richer districts).

I love the world that the author has created, with a post-apocalyptic America, and the idea of the 13 colonies is very reminiscent of the beginnings of American life.

My favorite character was of course Katniss. I know she was the main character and all, but I loved her rebellious nature and take charge attitude. I found it refreshing that her goals were to save herself and not for love of someone else. Nowadays female characters seem to be only willing to live for love, but I think its believable that she would be looking out for herself and for her sister too.

The scene with Rue broke my heart, I really liked her, but I knew she had to die in order for Katniss to live and win the games. But the tribute with the flowers that Katniss did for her was beautiful and fitting.

So I know that love was not the message of this story, but I can’t help but wonder who I want her to be with. Now I do agree with Katie, I’m glad that she doesn’t really fall in love with Peeta when the games begin and I still honestly don’t think she is love with him at the end either. But then I can’t help but feel bad for Peeta because he is truly in love, and it’s heartbreaking when he finds that out.

I don’t know what is going to happen in Panem now, I think that what Katniss has set in motion by trying to commit suicide at the end of the games won’t go away lightly. I can’t wait to start Catching Fire, and then Mockingjay! This has been an amazing book, I’m so glad that everyone has loved and enjoyed it!!

My final thoughts on Katniss and the Games

So I loved the Hunger Games (as you all know).  As previously discussed, the whole set up of the book is intriguing with the Capitol rule and the actual Hunger Games.  When I got to the actual section on the Games, I couldn't put the book down.  Collins does a great job of making me feel like I'm right there with Katniss as she's trying to survive the Games.

I love Katniss and I also loved that she is not in love with anyone.  Peeta is in love with her but she doesn't have the same feelings.  Her whole focus is on the actual games.  I thought her not instantly falling in love with Peeta refreshing.  She is only 15 and I found it very realistic that she doesn't know how she feels about Peeta or Gale.  Overall, I think I enjoyed it because it was very different from Twilight.

I also loved that Katniss made an alliance with Rue.  Rue is so young and her being chosen I think really shows the cruelty of the Hunger Games.  Rue does have some skills but she isn't a fighter or hunter like Katniss or Cato.

This book is fantastic (thank you Christine!). I have already finished Catching Fire and I'm almost done with Mockingjay.


 

Final Musings of a Capitol Controlled World

Collins has set up a terrific world here.

I tend to go through reviews and look at the most negative because a lot of reviews I see are all, "OMG THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN!! I LUV IT!!," and they have no real substance toward the review. But the negative ones seem to give a better idea of what the book may be about. While I don't doubt the reviews professing undying love toward the book, it helps to see something other than those couple sentences, lol.

One review I read said that as a parent she couldn't understand why the parents would allow their children to be sent to death like that. Maybe it's because I'm not a parent, but I think it shows just how much control the Capitol has over the people. You can see it even during the games, when they set fire to smoke Katniss out of her hiding place. Especially with the sponsors and when they can send things to the tributes.

I do like the signs of rebellion Katniss shows. The flowers she spreads over Rue made me want to cry. It was a heartbreaking moment. I really loved the end of the games when both she and Peeta eat the berries when the Capitol tries to go back on their word. It makes me want to read the 2nd and 3rd books because you know they're not going to let Katniss get away with her acts of defiance.

Overall, the book was great. It was a nice quick pace that rarely lagged. It was interesting seeing Peeta as the more emotional of the two and Katniss being the stronger one. He seemed to recognize his strengths and weaknesses and expected to die, whereas Katniss battles within herself whether or not she could kill him. I like watching that internal battle with her, since a lot of feelings seem to be foreign to her. Picking up the others should make it interesting to see how things come out, especially if there are things between Gale and Katniss as well.

Great pick, Christine :-)

All is not fair in Love and War

No wound is worse than counterfeited love.
SOPHOCLES, Antigone

Ah, young love. It is the central topic of all the most popular tween books and blockbuster movies. For the most part it is the hub a plot revolves around but not necessarily in The Hunger Games. In this story it is used as a means to an end. Love is a tool that is capitalized on and shamelessly exploited for entertainment purposes and personal survival.

Through the course of the story you start to understand that Peeta and Haymitch choose the united front strategy to gain public support. In regards to the game, being "team players" were entirely new and certainty gained public attention and greatly aided Katniss and Peeta.

But Love becomes this immense double edged sword when we realize Peeta agreed to the strategy because he did greatly care for Katniss. But our young heroine totally doesn't get it at all. She has small moments where she believes Peeta's actions and words are sincere and honestly becomes greatly conflicted and confused. Katniss then slowly starts to drive me crazy with her thoughts before deciding it is all a front for the game and continues to play into it.

Heck, before the whole mess started when Gale was talking about having a family and running away she didn't get it. Hello Katniss! You have two men who care about you and obviously want you to bare their children. What a lucky biotch!

I understand that as a reader, the author is setting up the love triangle for the future books. I just really wish that Katniss was more in tune with the emotions around her. She seems so naive in that aspect but flaws are often what characters in popular stories are missing. So despite my utter annoyance with her behavior I am glad she has faults as great as mine.