Ha ha! I love your comment about the book club. Ditto. Obviously, it's fun sometimes when book characters do something impossible, but that shouldn't be a requirement for a great book. Honestly, there are things that frustrated me in these books, but the lack of rebellion from the teenagers was not one of them.

Meredith wrote: "SPOILER ALERT!!!! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ CATCHING FIRE, DO NOT READ THIS POST!

Well, I have about 10 pages left of the book, but I totally want to address something here that I can't in the Hunger G..."

I COMPLETELY agree. I think that same thought every time I read someones comment about how she should rebel against the capitol. She is 16. I think when I was 16 I couldn't have organized a book club let alone organize a rebellion.

I think we come to expect the impossible from characters in our books. Not just this one, but all books. When you think about it, most book's, hero's in the end, do the impossible. Because of this, we have come to expect, want and crave it, in all the books we read.

She is obviously not the smartest cookie. She wanted to fight her way out with 1 syringe full of air. LOL! I love when Hamitch says "That is why we don't let you make the plans" She would probably end up dead very fast if she was the one to lead the rebellion.

I just finished! I had forgotten how angry Katniss gets at the end. Man, stop making your head suffer, girlfriend! It's not your head's fault! Plus, she's pretty hardcore. I can't believe she was going to kill them all with just a syringe full of air! Woo!

That being said, I think the last part of this book shows how much she really cares for Peeta. Does she love him? Absolutely. In a romantic way? Er...I don't know if I'd go that far. I think she still doesn't know herself. How can she decide how she feels when people keep trying to kill her?!?! But I completely believe her when she says that she needs Peeta and that if she has to go back without him, she won't be able to go on.

I also am worried for Peeta. I think he'll probably live, but I'm worried that he'll be changed by torture. I recall Katniss and Finnick (off topic: how great is Finnick? LOVE!) talking about how people don't win the Games by accident, except maybe Peeta. On some level, he really is "better" than the other victors. I don't know if that's actually the word for it, although it is the one they use, but he is different. You know that, in the end, if it weren't for Katniss, he would not have won. He fought and killed, but it was to protect her, not himself. He really is very selfless. Which is why I love him. I just hope he doesn't become bitter or anything!

Whoops, this became a Peeta lovefest on accident. Oh well!

SPOILER ALERT!!!! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ CATCHING FIRE, DO NOT READ THIS POST!

Well, I have about 10 pages left of the book, but I totally want to address something here that I can't in the Hunger Games section because it would be considered a SPOILER!

All the complaints about how Katniss and Peeta don't stand up to the capitol. They're only 16!!! I think in this book especially, you really see just how much power the capitol really has. If Katniss or Peeta had rebelled more openly or consciously against the capitol, they would have died. Period, the end. There is no way that either one of them could do it on their own. Even with the two of them working together, the only reason their trick with the berries didn't get them immediately killed was luck.

Just look at the rebellion that Haymitch is a part of. It's widespread, has the help of people in power, has been planned carefully for quite some time, and still has a pretty good chance of failing. Two teenagers are not going to be able to bring about a great change on their own. That's a fake thing! I, for one, was very glad that the adults are actually the ones running the show in the rebellion. The characters who are, for all intents and purposes, still basically kids (albeit kids with oodles of crappy life experiences that probably matured/aged them), should not have to overthrow the capitol on their own. Obviously, I think that they should be involved, but I'm glad that there are some reasonably competent adults in the book.

Well, this is only somewhat cathartic, since not everyone from the group can read it yet, but there ya go. I hope it makes sense!

Hee! I totally do get dibs on books a little. I think it's mostly just because I'm at the library all the time and checking the status of my account and stuff all the time. I could technically line jump, but it's definitely discouraged and I never have done it. But keeping my eyes open and pouncing on a book before someone else does is totally allowed. And sometimes the people in tech services will tell me if we've gotten a book they think I want, so I grab it before it gets put on the shelf. So that's basically what I do. This time, the person who had it checked out must have read it in about a day and then turned it back in, so it came to me! I was first on the hold list.

Pres Snow does creep me out. The thought of smelling blood on someones breath. Yuck that is disgusting.

I am a little worried for Peeta. I think he will be okay in the end, but I am sure he will be tortured and that makes me sad :(. It will be interesting to see who Katniss ends up with, to be honest I could see it go either way still. I hope it is Petta, I think Gale could still find happiness with Katniss.

Since you work at the library, do you get dibs on books, or do you have to wait at the end of the waiting list?

So, I've started reading Catching Fire again. Eee! I had forgotten how utterly creepy Pres. Snow is. Collins is good with those creepy little details, such as the smell of blood on his breath. Shivers! I'm excited to read the book again.

Ha ha! I like Katniss much better than Bella, but point well taken.

My big thing with the cliffhanger is "But what about Peeta?!?!?!?!?!" I'm sure he's fine, right? He's got to be fine? What if he's not fine? What will I do???? (I love Peeta a lot, in case you couldn't tell.

I did not catch that district 13 was probably still around. Good on ya, Becca!

So, even though I love this book, I felt like the ending was a lot more abrupt than the 1st one. It just kind of ended. I suspect that if book 1 had ended like that, I would have more annoyed, less excited about book 2. Did you get that same sense, Becca?

I am kind of indifferent about the cliff hanger ending.

I think it would have been a more suspenseful cliffhanger if we didn't know that her Mom and Sis got out alive.

From the moment they said dist. 13 had been destroyed in book 1, I assumed it was a lie, so that wasn't a shock at all.

It did however reassure me that there is more to Haymitch then meets the eye. I really think he pretends to be a drunk, more then he is a drunk. Not to say he doesn't drink a lot, but I don't think he is wasted all the time either.

Side note that doesn't really matter-
I was reading this at the same time as I am rereading New Moon, and I couldn't help but notice that Katniss, much like Bella, is a whinny, irrational girl at times.

D'oh! It's checked out! But I'm really thinking of just buying it, so when I do and reread it, I will post more stuff!

I've finished the Hunger Games, and I'm going to try to get Catching Fire tomorrow. I really want to read it again! If I can get it, I will start posting some more specifics here.

It does. And I totally agree. I think after I finish The Hunger Games for the second time, I'll go back and read Catching Fire again. I can't remember all the little details!

One thing I really like about Peeta is that he understands why Katniss cares about and needs Gale, whereas I don't think Gale understands that she needs Peeta. Obviously, I'm sure he would like it better if she just loved and needed him, but, like you said, Becca, he wants her to be happy, even if he doesn't figure into it.

How did you feel about the cliffhanger? I can't wait to find out what happens in book 3!

K- I finished now, and I have to say, I didn't see the whole second Hunger Games thing coming. In some ways it is brilliant of the capitol to do that. What a great way to kill Katniss off and not have the blame be on them.

Peeta is so smart- when he said Katniss was pregers, I was in shock at his brilliance. He really has a talent with those sort of things. Getting people to be on Katniss' side.

I am def. more team Peeta then before. I don't know how to put it in words, but I will try to. When Gale gets upset, he becomes more irrational. He gets upset and reacts before he thinks. He wants Katniss to be happy, but he wants it to be with him. Peeta, when he gets upset. He is more calm and rational about things. He seems to care more about Katniss being happy, and not so much about Katniss being happy with him. Does that make sense?

I know! Peeta FTW!!! Here's my thoughts on Peeta vs. Gale. I think, had Katniss never been picked for The Hunger Games, she and Gale would probably have gotten together eventually. But too much has happened and changed for that, I think. Peeta is the one who can best understand what Katniss went through and how she changed. At this point, no matter how much she cares for Gale, she has a bond with Peeta, and I'm not sure she can ever live without him.

I started to see a lot of different dimensions to all of the characters in this book. Haymitch is a great example, but I think Cinna shows his colors more this time around too.

I'm glad you're reading this Becca, because I've been dying to talk about it with someone, and no one I know has read it yet!

I figure since at least 2 of us have a desire to talk about book 2, I might as well start a discussion that anyone can join in if they want to

`PS remember I listen to the books and so I don't know how to spell the names, sorry.

Now I can discuss the reason why I am leaning towards team Peeta instead of Gale. The main reason is because Gale has never shown a 'loving' interest in Katniss at all, then out of nowhere he passionately kisses her, walks away, and never says anything about it again. That seriously bugs me.

I am starting to think there is a LOT more to Haymitch then meets the eye. The way he knew right where to go in Dis. 11. Also they always talk about how he is to drunk to do anything. But he sure seems to know a lot about what is going on around I can't help but wonder if he is 'playing' drunk some of the time.