Tori’s Comments (group member since Dec 17, 2013)

Tori’s comments from the On Tyrants & Tributes : Real World Lessons From The Hunger Games group.

I am a senior in high school and I have been accepted to about 5 or 6 colleges so far, but I have not decided where I want to go next fall. Also, I have no idea what I want to major in, but I do have some interests. I have really enjoyed the Digital Media class I took this past semester and I think in a way it would be really cool to be some sort of video editor, movie creator, music video designer or photography editor. Also, I love my job at Chick-fil-a and I think it would be awesome to get a business degree and climb up the corporate ladder and make it big as a Chick-fil-a store owner or manager one day. :)

I am only in high school, so I am not even old enough to vote yet, but I do try to keep up with todays politics. But with the book, I think the government rein over the districts is pretty harsh. I'm so glad we don't have to live like that...but wait...where are we going...the government listens to all our conversations, reads all our texts, facebook and twitter posts. Honestly, facts show, in some ways our government is heading toward the government expressed in the Hunger Games novels and I don't like it at all.

But honestly, it didn't affect my interpretation of the book, because when I read the story, I didn't know a whole lot about government and I didn't keep up with the latest information like I do now, so it was really just another book to read for me. Except for the fact that it is my favorite book. :)

I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Snow, is crazy, he only cares about himself and maybe a little for the capital, but his ultimate goal is for no freedom in the districts. At least Coin short of cares about her people, but (SPOILER ALERT) Coin and Snow both die in the end of the 3rd book, so it really doesn't matter anyway. Katniss makes everything better! Yay!

It took a lot for Katniss to actually kill people in the books. Although each day that passed she got a little bit more comfortable with it because she knew when people were dying, they were dying for her and for the hope that she would be able to lead a successful rebellion to rid the districts of the awful rule of the capital. Its not that she just enjoyed killing people, but she knew some people would have to be sacrificed for the cause.

Famous people in general, is what this reminds me of. Before anyone hits the red carpet, they have to go through a series of stylists to make sure they look just right for the people engrossed in the events taking place that night. Like this, the tributes have to look great so they will have hopes of receiving sponsors that could possibly help them survive in the games. The "famous" people of today need to look right so they will have fans to buy their albums or movies or whatever it is that they are out there for.

*SPOILER ALERT*

When he wispers "You love me, real or not real?" I say, "Real."

"I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now, and live in it forever."

"I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don't hurt anyone but myself" -Cinna

I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute.

She has no idea, the effect she can have. ~Peeta

"Remember, I am still betting on you girl on fire..." -Cinna

Gradually, I'm forced to accept who I am. A badly burned girl with no wings. And no fire. And no sister.

Katniss....There is no District 12-Gale

I want to show them I am more than just a piece of their games -peeta

“Peeta" I said "Stay with me" I heard him say one word before the drigs pulled me under, I realised later that what he said was 'always”

Already the boy with the bread is slipping away from me. I take his hand... dreading the moment I will finally have tot let go.

"Just this time twelve, for Rue." ~Thresh

"Tick, tock." -Wiress

“Sometimes when I'm alone, I take the pearl from where it lives in my pocket and try to remember the boy with the bread, the strong arms that warded off nightmares on the train, the kisses in the arena.”

"No. You keep it. It's the reason I decided to trust you." --Rue

“My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. There is no District 12. I am the Mockingjay. I brought down the Capitol. President Snow hates me. He killed my sister. Now I will kill him. And then the Hunger Games will be over....”

All the people that really are close to me, wondered how I could read such a sick book with all the murder and blood and guts part of it, because it is so unlike me to read things or ultimately be interested in such things. But death is something that we all must face, so I was able to get past the face that people died. Although, the fact that they were brutally murdered and were so young was harsh. But honestly there is a theme throughout all the books that really drew me in. That is love. In almost every page there is some kind of message of love, Katniss and Prim, Katniss and Peeta, Katniss and Gale, Katniss and her dad, Katniss and her mom, Katniss and everyone. It is truly incredible, the relationships and the love shown throughout the story. The unity between Katniss and Peeta, or Rue, or Prim, or Gale, or Effie, or Haymitch, the list is never-ending. The themes throughout the story that really showed love were what made it for me. I've read all the books and I am currently reading them again. The story is incredible and the fact that they all have to work for freedom is inspiring to me. These are my favorite books ever, and its the relationships and lessons that shine through each page that allow me to get past the cruelness of it all and enjoy a truly inspiring and influential book. I would definitely recommend you try re-reading them, looking at them in this point of view. Good Luck!

Although I think the 2nd movie was tremendously better than the first, my favorite scene would have to come from the first movie. My favorite it 100% when Rue dies. I know that sound awful, but it is portrayed so well in the film, and it means so much when it comes to Katniss and her future. No one will ever forget when Rue died, because Katniss made it important. For once not everyone was cheering and watching the games go on. Everyone was watching and innocent, extremely young precious girl die that absolutely did not deserve it. The fact that Katniss did everything that she did for Rue, because that lead to rebellions in District 11, which eventually led to more anger, more revolution ideas and more unity between the districts.

Well, I would think most people would say Katniss is their favorite character because she is the heroin of the story. But in my case, I would choose Peeta as my favorite character. He was essential to make the story what it ended up being. Without Peeta, Katniss would probably not be alive and not have the chance to lead a rebellion. Also, Peeta was honestly the only main main character that never messed up, he was always manly and strong, but more than that, he was always there for everyone, he assisted Haymich while is lay soaked in his own vomit, he saved Katniss in many ways, and he was always one step ahead. He always knew the right thing to do to get through situations, and always always always he put others before him. Peeta was truly essential in the story, and he was the least selfish person, who would always hold his tongue even if he was right.

Ruth wrote: "Kelli wrote: "According to the "Freedom or Liberty? Democracy or a Republic?" article this fits in with the Appalachian individualist libertarians it describes, who "are less inclined to organize f..."

I absolutely loved it! It was such an honor to get to listen to the real designer of the movie. She actually answered one of my questions that I put on the list also, which was extremely cool. Not only was the live cast amazing, the entire week was so interesting, and Amy truly did a great job capturing the facts of Suzanne Collins "The Hunger Games". On behalf of all involved in theses weeks program, I would personally like to say thank you for the experience and that I honestly have learned so much and hope to enroll and participate in more online courses in the future!

Amy wrote: "[I've included no spoilers for Mockingjay in the following post!]

Suzanne Collins chose District 12 as the birthplace of her heroine and a main wellspring of the rebellion against the Capitol. Dis..."

This might be crazy, but when reading what you said in your question/post, I couldn't help but think about the fact that the Appalachian mountains were what people had to overcome to continue migrating across the United States. When people first landed on the eastern part of the US, they traveled and searched the land. There were proclamations or laws that restricted colonists from crossing the Appalachia's, but this rule also restricted them from ever making progress and attaining more land.

When thinking about how they eventually traveled threw the area, it makes me realize that the fact that Suzanne Collins placed District 12 in that area is like re-stating that that is where an initial rule of America was broken, or a (in some ways)an act of rebellion or defiance of authority took place.

Just something to think about I guess...since Katniss lived in our modern day Appalachian's and those mountains were the very thing that restricted us years and years ago....

Well of course the capital wanted the districts separate. If they were able to really communicate and associate with each other, then they could come together and most likely overcome the capital. Really on their own, they have little to no chance to make a big impact trying to rebel.

With the districts being separate, not only does that give the capital un-ending control, but it allows the capital to get different things from different districts that specialize in a certain export from the various areas in which they reside.

The capital is very smart and they will not let some measly little district citizens overcome their "supposedly strong" government very easy. They honestly depend on the separation of the districts to keep their butts out of a rebellion or an act of unity or defiance.

This is absolutely crazy! I can't even believe they were charged for that. I cannot believe that is what we have come to.

Well without going into a spoiler alert here, I think I would take the exact route Katniss did. It was difficult and sad at some parts, but I believe she handled it is a great way. Even through constant struggles she persevered and gave her heart 100% to the improvement of her land. It was courageous and I hope in a real life situation, I would be able to do the same.

I feel like - if I was in Katniss's case - then I would be all about starting or being a part of a rebellion. If I was treated unfairly, I would want to voice my opinion which I feel that I should be allowed to do freely and take a stand for what I believe in. Honestly, I think our government is out of control right now. I am excited to be old enough to vote in our next presidential election and in that way have a chance to voice my opinion on our leadership in our government. But honestly, something needs to be done with our leadership in America right now, and I wouldn't be surprised, if we head down the road where a rebellion might be necessary....hopefully not and I know we are no where near that point right now. But all of it is very interesting to think about. The Hunger Games truly is a great story and the character of Katniss is portrayed beautifully.