elissa's comments (member since May 14, 2008)

elissa's comments from the Hunger Games Trilogy group.

If you've never heard of one, there's no reason to feel retarded! It's an Advanced Reader Copy, and publishers put them out for books that haven't come out yet, so reviewers can review them beforehand, and to create "buzz" about an upcoming book. They're also sometimes called "bound galleys" or "uncorrected proofs".

A contest where, Seth? At the publisher's website?

I'm very sad that HG wasn't recognized in any way at ALA's YMA this year! KT, who started this group, was the Arbuthnot Lecture award-winner, though. Congatulations, KT! :)

Yeah, the Gale/Peeta thing ought to appeal to TWILIGHT fans, although the story may not in general, since it's much more violent. GRACELING probably has more appeal for TWILIGHT-lovers.

I actually re-read the book with my son after I posted on 10/03. I did see the reference then. When I skimmed I was just looking at the part when they were out by the stage, but it was slightly after that. Page 40 sounds right! And that was the only time that she mentioned them.

I just skimmed through the reaping scene and couldn't find the insect-like cameras. There were lots of mentions of cameras and camera crews, but not the smaller, flying ones. I'll have to go back and read it again more carefully when I get a chance! I read the book twice and didn't pick up on that. It's definitely very subtle. :)

I think HG is more PG-13 than PG, but I'm sure there are some 11-13 year olds who could handle it fine.

The Underland Chronicles are also wonderful! I like the first 3 books better than the 4th & 5th, and I don't think any of them are quite as good as HG (but then again, I absolutely *LOVE* HG).

Do you mean a forum on goodreads, or somewhere else?

Elissa

Good point, KT, about Peeta needing to tell Haymitch the he'd never be able to kill Katniss. And he probably wouldn't have wanted her to have to kill him, either. Teaming up with the Careers would make it easier for him to both protect Katniss AND make it more likely that he'd be killed by someone else (which he would have been--albeit slowly and camouflaged).

Yes, I definitely think that's a good guess, Morgan! Or even, "I love you, and I'll be waiting for you."? I think Katniss is slightly oblivious about her appeal, which is just the case with some people (Peeta certainly hinted about this when they were talking to Haymitch--he said that she had no idea the effect she had).

I think he wanted to talk with Haymitch about his strategy to help protect Katniss in the arena (and before the interview, the first time he wanted separate training, he wanted to figure out the best way to let the audience know about his love for Katniss). Somehow I don't think Haymitch would have had a problem with Peeta helping to protect her, since he certainly wanted one of the tributes from District 12 to survive. Obviously just a guess, though.

I never thought of CITY OF EMBER, but can see why you could. The books that came up for me were HOUSE OF THE SCORPION, THE GIVER (or maybe more GATHERING BLUE), TWILIGHT, and also Markus Zusak in general (for the pushing the darkness envelope right to the edge for me, which I love). I love CITY OF EMBER, too, but love HUNGER GAMES waaaaay more, and PEOPLE OF SPARKS didn't work as well for me, and I didn't go on to read the prequel.

The only remotely politcal thing that I can remember Peeta saying is that he wanted to die as himself in the arena, whatever that took, even if it meant going against the Capitol in some way. So there's a hint, but not much of one. I'm not sure at this point that he'd do anything out of love for Katniss, but it might not take much to convince him to turn his feelings back on.

I think at the end of the book, they were pulling in to the station in District 12, so they were pretty much there. I just gave the ARC to another librarian who was waiting last night, though, so I can't check on that.

Yes, he's not developed much at all at this point. The only other thing that I can remember much about is that he has lots of young girl admirers at school. I think that's one of the reasons that Katniss doesn't see him as much of a love interest, since she would have so much competition. Katniss also talked about his railing about the Capitol when they were out in the woods, away from other people who might hear. His father died the same time that Katniss's father did, and he's the oldest of many more siblings than she is.

You're right, Monica. I'm sure we'll find out things about Peeta that surprise us (and Katniss!) in the next 2 books, but I definitely don't think he's a weakling. Collins was definitely setting up a big reunion with Gale.

KT~LOL! I love "compassionate and cranky". Perfect description! I finished the book for the 2nd time last night (after reading it much more slowly), and I'm still missing Katniss, even though I've spent the last week and a half with her. It's going to be hard waiting for the next 2 books!

Not sure about Falstaff, Monica, but wanted to respond to KT's comment above that (about Peeta & Katniss). I was just talking about Peeta not surviving in the arena without Katniss. You're right, though, that she never would have survived after her father's death in the first place without Peeta's help. I was also interested in Peeta's strategy in the arena. It seemed like he knew that he couldn't win, so he did as much as he could to help Katniss (like teaming up with the Careers at first and fighting Cato to make sure she got away, even though that meant almost certain death for him). I'm loving this goodreads group to talk about HUNGER GAMES without spoiling it for other people who haven't read it yet!!

I didn't even think of requesting an ARC, Monica! I'll have to remember that for the future! :)

The cameras were a "suspend disbelief" thing for me, especially as far as the tributes not actually seeing them goes. I just figured that the technology was so far ahead of ours that I couldn't really envision how they were filming everything so completely, and where exactly the cameras were. KT's idea of high cables sounds like a plausible one, along with the planted ones. The tracking devices could have possibly made them able to turn cameras to angle exactly toward the tributes, and maybe turn the closest cameras on and zoom in.

I also thought it was a little weird how they could drop down the "gifts" so exactly. The sleeping syrup almost floated by, but District 11's bread landed perfectly, as did the burn medicine (high up in a tree, while Katniss was up working on the tracker jacker hive).

But neither of these things bothered me enough to throw me out of the story at all.

It will be very interesting to see how Katniss handles losing "the boy with the bread", and how she deals with the feelings that she's probably had all along for Gale, but was afraid (or just reluctant because she doesn't completely trust anybody since her dad died?) to admit.

Based on reading the GREGOR books, I think KT's guess about an underground movement (alliance between districts) will be right on. The Avox girl and the boy she was with could have been a part of it, maybe.