The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins - MMC GBR - July 2023

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Could you survive on your own in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins will be one of our GBRs for July 2023.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Sarah Elizabeth]

GBR reviews - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Mia]

Dystopian/fantasy fiction isn't a genre I gravitate to but for some reason I picked up this book and read it (over 10 years ago). I don't remember much but I know I very much enjoyed it.

I've been wanting to read this again so I can read the whole series. Glad it's available on Kindle Unlimited (which I really need to use more).

[Aly]

Ch 1-5 (view spoiler)[ When Prim is chosen is always so hard to read, though I love how Katniss immediately volunteers without a second thought. There's no way she's letting her sister get killed.

It was so sweet that the baker said he'd look after Prim. I forgot about that part. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 6-10 (view spoiler)[ Katniss definitely doesn't understand the strategy games Haymitch and Peeta are playing. She's too literal and I didn't like that she hurt Peeta. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 11-15 (view spoiler)[ Rue is so sweet and it's terrible that she's in the games. They're all children, but she's even younger.

Smart to drop the tracker jackers on the careers. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 16-20 (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad Katniss found Peeta, especially after losing Rue. District 11 sending her the bread almost made me cry, it was such a touching moment. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 21-End (view spoiler)[ That was such a dirty thing for the Capitol to do, taking away the exception that two people could win. I'm glad Katniss forced their hand.

Poor Peeta at the end, he really loves her. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-5 When Prim is chosen is always so hard to read, though I love how Katniss immediately volunteers without a second thought. There's no way she's letting her sister get killed.

It was so swe..."

(view spoiler)[I find it especially neat when past tributes never did such a thing for their younger siblings. Shows a LOT about her character (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

The Hunger Games23%
Okay, now that Aly pointed it out... (view spoiler)[Peeta's father saying that, and then Peeta's comments about them and her mom...IDK, weird vibes. Maybe sweet but still, a strange thing to emphasis I feel. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

The Hunger Games 41% (view spoiler)[Its baffling that nearly half the contestants are killed in that first skirmish! (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Ch 6-10 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, she is very straightforward and has no manipulation skills. A rare thing, but not good under such circumstances (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Ch 11-15 "


66% Rue- (view spoiler)[Rue was a sweetie. Smart and caring. I loved seeing her team up with Katniss. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Ch 16-20 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[The district getting her the bread was sweet. I wonder if they already had it ready and were going to send to Rue when it all went wrong, or if they sent solely as a thank you for the care she showed Rue (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

The Hunger Games Finished. (view spoiler)[How can Peeta not understand her confusion. Just because he liked her doesn't mean he should get that it would take time to sort out the reality of what they just experienced, to decide what is real or not. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 1-6 (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Peeta is in the know about the charade of them being in love. It's also good that he hasn't been putting any pressure on Katniss since they've been back, they both have so much trauma to process.

Visiting District 11 was so tough, those poor families. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 7-12 (view spoiler)[ The whipping is horrible, how someone can survive 40 lashes is amazing. Thank goodness for Katniss's mom.

Now everything is going to hell in the districts, plus the quarter quell. It seems so obvious that Snow organized it to kill Katniss and Peeta off. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 13-18 (view spoiler)[ Peeta always coming in with bombshells. I'm sure Snow hated that, he's the enemy of everyone now.

I like that the tributes are more united and since they've all been in the games before, they're more pissed off then scared. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "
Ch 1-6 I'm glad Peeta is in the know about the charade of them being in love. It's also good that he hasn't been putting any pressure on Katniss since they've bee..."

(view spoiler)[Agreed. Honestly this is not the time to be worries about which boy one likes. I wouldn't be able to focus on that either. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Catching Fire
35% (view spoiler)[Trouble in every district, lack of supplies and lets decide which boy I like. NOT! Haymitch's drinking seems to be highlighted more in this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Jamie wrote: "Aly wrote: "
Ch 1-6 I'm glad Peeta is in the know about the charade of them being in love. It's also good that he hasn't been putting any pressure on Katniss since ..."

Right? Much bigger problems happening here

[Aly]

Jamie wrote: "Catching Fire
35% [spoilers removed]"

Haha exactly. Love triangles do not matter right now.

You'd wonder if Haymitch would be happier since both his tributes survived, but I think he knows worse things are on the horizon

[Aly]

Catching Fire
Finished (view spoiler)[I wonder if Katniss knew there was a larger plan to break them out, if she could have helped them more? But she's unpredictable and makes very rash decisions so maybe it would have hurt the plan instead?

I hate that Peeta didn't get out :( (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 1-7 (view spoiler)[ I hate that the Capitol has Peeta and Joanna. And now the rebels hate Peeta because he's likely being forced to say the rebellion is bad.

Poor Finnick also, traumatized and worried for his love Annie

And Cinna!!! That loss hit me hard
(hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 8-14 (view spoiler)[ Oh Peeta, how awful to have your mind twisted like that? How could you ever reverse what they've done? It's going to be a long road for him (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Catching Fire 51% (view spoiler)[So we finally get Haymitch's story from his game. So he isn't much of a killer either, but a survivor. (hide spoiler)]

[Plcow]

I want to do this but I might wait till next month got a lot on my tbr 😅

[Aly]

Mockingjay
Ch 15-21 (view spoiler)[ Now Hobbs is dead. It's so difficult reading a book where people you like die, but I also like that characters aren't safe and you never know what might happen.

I am glad Finnick and Annie got their wedding. A small happy moment in all the awfulness (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 22 - End (view spoiler)[ I think Prim is the most shocking death of the series, another little girl dying is horrible. It's no wonder Katniss lost it after that and had to slowly come back to herself.

I see why Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch went back to 12 but I don't think I could ever go back if it were me. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Plcow wrote: "I want to do this but I might wait till next month got a lot on my tbr 😅"

This series-style Buddy read is only for this month, so if you want to participate here, hopefully you get get to it sooner, otherwise, you can inquire into creating a new BR thread with another member ro still enjoy on your own.
But regardless when you read, I hope you enjoy these!

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Ch 13-18 Peeta always coming in with bombshells. I'm sure Snow hated that, he's the enemy of everyone now.

I like that the tributes are more united and since they've all been in the games before..."

(view spoiler)[I wonder how many other tributes just truly did brush off that time to show off their skills for the scores, or which took it seriously. I loves Mags' idea of a nap lol! (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Catching Fire
Finished I wonder if Katniss knew there was a larger plan to break them out, if she could have helped them more? But she's unpredictable and makes very rash decisions s..."

(view spoiler)[I don't blame them for not telling her. She needed to act realistically. The others all knew each other for years and how/if they can likely trust each other. If she went along too easily I think the wrong people would catch on. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Jamie wrote: "Aly wrote: "Catching Fire
Finished I wonder if Katniss knew there was a larger plan to break them out, if she could have helped them more? But she's unpredictable and makes very rash..."

That's true. She's not good at pretending really

[Jamie]

13% (view spoiler)[I am glad she made some demands of 13. Especially regarding her fellow tributes (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Ch 8-14 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[He really is quite a mess! Some impressive twisting of the mind and quite sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Mockingjay
Ch 15-21 Now ."

(view spoiler)[I loved that they married! And that COin had to fight every extra thing I get supplies like food but the rest? I think everyone needed that bit of positivity. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

82% Mockingjay(view spoiler)[Well my happiness for them was short-lived. I forgot he died. Crap! (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Finished Mockingjay (view spoiler)[This ending is more sad than anything. Very heavy (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

I am glad I got a chance to finish Mockingjay now, Starting Mockingjay right now.

[Sharon]

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[To live by such a strict schedule each day, and have it temporarily tattooed on your wrist must be difficult. Also, I feel bad for Peeta. He is still trying to save Katniss, and might have put himself in the middle of this war between the Capitol and the Rebels. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Aly wrote: "

Ch 1-7 [spoilers removed]"

I agree! (view spoiler)[I felt bad for Peeta, Johanna, and Finnick. Losing Cinna was the saddest part of the book because of the friendship that Katniss built with him, and how he always bet on her. He was more like a big brother to her than a friend. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[The ending of this chapter always breaks my heart. All the torture that Peeta went through makes me sad. I cannot imagine going through what he went through. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Aly wrote: "Ch 8-14 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Every time I read this book, I feel bad for him. What they did to him will be imprinted on him forever. He has a long way to recover, but he does recover. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[I am sad when it comes to Finnick's death. It really is the 76th Hunger Games, and he has finally fallen victim to the arena. I always wished that he was with Annie for his honeymoon instead of here. (hide spoiler)]