Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Buddy Reads: Current & Upcoming
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Collins,Suzanne The Hunger Games, - informal buddy read begins 15 May 2024
Part 2Collins perfectly describes the high-stakes and stressful environment of the Hunger Games; I felt as if I was there with Katniss in the games, feeling, hearing, and seeing what she was experiencing.
Also, I love Rue so much, probably as much as any person on this thread, and I think she will remain one of my favorite characters in The Hunger Games.
(view spoiler)
The only thing I want to do now is to get a physical copy and annotate it. Through this thread, I see that many of you are also rereading The Hunger Games, and your views have been slightly different. So, if I annotate it, my thoughts would stay frozen in time, and I would have a proper record. (Maybe after exams...)
Sophie wrote: "The rest of the world may be struggling underwater but have decided to work together (widely optimistic) and looked at Panem and decided to shut them off. Or they got hit by the nukes from district..."Oooh - an underwater sequel trilogy would be supper cool.
Stacey wrote: "I'm listening to this and I'm about a third of the way through. The reader is very good ---for every character except Katniss. :/ I can't help but picture a 40 year old woman when she's doing her p..."Same on the narrator - are you listening to Carolyn McCormick? I need more of a bite with Katniss. I loved Jennifer Lawerence as the actress who plays her, but this narrator is just not biting enough for me.
I have always like Katniss - but then I always like people who are rough around the edges.
Sammy wrote: "I'm a little behind as I was concentrating on getting a couple of long audios out of the way, and just finished part 1.The main reason I rated this 3 stars in the past (I've read it twice before...."
I guess that is true - she may be the vehicle for telling the story instead of being completely developed as a character.
I am re-reading the series for the challenge - and I am still loving them. I wonder about the commentary of rich v. poor and what Susan Collins used for inspiration. My favorite character is Cinna though. He is a true artist - and can see through the facade of most things. He is loyal to Katniss without romance.
Melissa wrote: "Stacey wrote: "I'm listening to this and I'm about a third of the way through. The reader is very good ---for every character except Katniss. :/ I can't help but picture a 40 year old woman when sh..."Last time through I read it, this time I'm listening to the audiobook. The audiobook seems more "urgent" then the book. I assume the movie would be even more high-paced.
It seems really cruel that all the contestants have to train together, I would think it would be better to keep them all seperate.
Why do they wait to insert the tracker until just before the game starts? I would have thought that was something to do before they left the district.
Laura wrote: "Why do they wait to insert the tracker until just before the game starts? I would have thought that was something to do before they left the district."Good point, for those who try to escape before the games start. Who knows. Maybe they figured it is impossible once they are in capitol security area
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One thing I that caught my attention on a reread is the mentions of how Gale is like a brother in..."
I am just in chapter 6 and I completely agree. I read the book in 2013, so tbh most of my memories are probably now from the movies rather than the book.
There is a lot packed in to those first few chapters to give us a sense of District 12 and the world.
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When Katniss was eating one of her first..."
I agree. I think that exploration of poverty is important. Because it isn't just about the luxury items they have in the capital, it is how she can press a button for food versus needing to sneak out with her bow to catch game
This is my first time reading and I haven't seen the movie. I'm about 20% in and so far it's still most of the stuff I've already known just from being a human in the world when this was popular 😂. Like others have said though I am finding the treatment of poverty to be pretty interesting. I don't think I would've caught it had I read when I was younger. I find it a little slow going at this point, but I know that's just the worldbuilding.
Fiona wrote: "Christina wrote: "Angie ☯ wrote: "I know that I am in the minority, but I am usually drawn to the "unlikeable" characters. This was and is the case with Katniss. She is bitter about alot of things ..."I just listened to the scene mentioned like an hour ago and it's still as heartbreaking as it was on my re-read 5 years ago just like it was the very first time I read it. Katniss really saw (view spoiler)
I'm still surprised at how much I'm enjoying this book. And I'm not really finding Katniss unlikable. No, she's not warm and fuzzy. And she's not particularly good at reading the scene, but she's also only 16. Her resourcefulness makes her seem older, so her emotional immaturity is more apparent.
I decided to break my reading down into the 3 parts in the book, and I just finished part 1. It's been several years since I read this, and I didn't realize the things I'd forgotten. Peeta's dad coming to visit, Madge's gift, how mockingjay's came to be, Katniss meeting Rue for the first time, and most importantly I forgot that Katniss was only 16.
Small things that fell to the wayside of my mind.
Even though I've read this and seen the movie more times than I can count, I was still near tears from reading the scene when Katniss volunteered as tribute. It's very powerful, because it demonstrates the love we all know she has for Prim. Just moments before she was hoping that her name wouldn't be called, and then the name of the person she loves the most and who she least expected to hear is called and she does something that is so selfless and brave.
It's the reason I love her so much, even when she doesn't come across as likeable in the beginning for a lot of people.
Then there's Peeta. It was always Peeta. I wish that Katniss could have seen what most of us saw right away with him. He is the epitome of actions speaking louder than words, but she was too young to see, plus it's a stressful situation to be in and you really don't know who to trust.
Throughout my reading I kept thinking how this young woman didn't really get a chance to enjoy her childhood. She basically became the head of the household at the age of 11, and now she has to go into the games and fight to have the right to continue to live.
Fiona wrote: "Finished part 1 of the book and I enjoy it a lot!It's been more than 10 years since I last read this book and it's crazy to see how much I still remember. Not just the things that are shown in the..."
It's been a while for me, and I was thinking I didn't realize how much of the small things I forgot. It's not exactly like reading it for the first time, but getting the reminders make it more enjoyable along the way.
Angie ☯ wrote: "Started my re-read of the series. I read the books originally shortly after they came out (15 years!) but just read the prequel for the first time this year! My initial though about the book when..."
I agree with you about the reason for Peeta's father visiting.
When I think about the hunger games, and the story they were told for why it happens. I always think about the fact that history is written by man, and he who holds the power gets to dictate the narrative. I have a hard time thinking that someone could justify this being done for anything other than sport, entertainment, and to keep the other districts chastised and afraid.
If it was for the benefit of all, then I wonder why none of the capitol's children were entered.
Catsalive wrote: "I'm not a fan of YA stuff but the pacing is very good so I find this pretty easy to read. I'm struck by how unlikable I find Katniss, she is so self-centred, not terribly bright & often foolish. I'..."I see quite a few people who say they didn't like her. I can see that, but I have never thought of her as self-centered. I've always thought of her as selfless when it comes to the people she cares about. In this first book that's mainly just Prim.
The rest of the time she is just a young woman thrown into a situation that is unbearable, not really knowing who to trust because as far as she is concerned every person that is entering into the arena is going to be out to kill her. At this point everyone's motives are suspect.
If nothing else, when I think of her with Prim and then Rue there is no way I can think of her as self-centered. Not necessarily likeable at first? Yes. I get it.
Dale wrote: "I wonder if i could ever be brave enough to do what Katniss did for her sister; volunteering."I recently asked people around me this as they were doing a rewatch of the movies.
It's really hard to answer. I would like to think that I would, but in reality, I would probably be a big fat chicken.
I just hope I have to never find out.
Fiona wrote: "Michael wrote: "Being from the States - it's way too easy to see correlations to our current socioeconomic climate - but I'm curious how our international tributes feel when reading The Hunger Game..."Valid. One day I’d like to live in Europe!
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It's been several years since I read this, and I didn't realize the things I'd forgotten. Peeta's dad ..."
Good points.
It is clear to me on this re-read that Peeta is a decent, and good human.
I didn't realise there were people who didn't like Katniss - I always found her strong and amazingly resilient. She has been forced to be much older than her age
I started the actual Hunger Games portion of the book last night right before I went to bed and I guess I forgot how good that is! I loveeee the way she writes the action, it's so compelling and exciting - (view spoiler) Often I find myself skimming over action scenes because I can't picture what's going on in my head anyway, and I just want to get to the conclusion of it, so why bother trying to figure out all the nitty gritty of it... but that really isn't happening here, it's so fast-paced and fun and I don't see it taking me long to read more today
The thing for me with Katniss and Peeta in this book is that they are at cross purposes. (I put this comment under spoilers in case anyone is just starting the book. I mention a couple of plot points.)(view spoiler)
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As mentioned I haven’t read this since 2013 but I am really appreciating her ability to world build super quickly and also the little nuggets that are thrown in which become much more important later on.
I really like Katniss. As hard as their world is, it is still difficult to imagine being thrown into a situation where you are forced to kill other humans or be killed. It isn’t hard to see why Haymitch is so broken.
Now to part II and the action!!
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Totally agree. Despite this genre loving the old love triangle, this one has much deeper layers as you say
Karen ⊰✿ wrote: " Part I As mentioned I haven’t read this since 2013 but I am really appreciating her ability to world build super quickly and also the little nuggets that are thrown in which become much more imp..."
Part 3
I am currently the same age as Katniss, and I couldn't ever imagine being thrown into games like that. I don't think I could survive it, I barely have enough energy for my exams.
(view spoiler)
Overall, this book is quite timeless and is a great warning to future generations about what should not happen. I think I enjoyed it more than I did the first time I read it and I think I might do a reread every couple of years to see how my views change.
I just finished and for the last bit I've been thinking about how it's very interesting that the book's parts seem to be separated by whether Katniss sees herself as an ally to Peeta or not - (view spoiler)It's also been cool to see how well Collins is setting up the second and third books in this one already. I often feel like books get sequels slapped onto them that have weird vibes, cause the whole story was never planned out to go where it ends up going, but you very much get the sense that everything that happens in the entire series was planned from the get-go. (Caveat: I haven't read the other two books since 2012, but this is based on what I remember about them...)
Jenny wrote: "The thing for me with Katniss and Peeta in this book is that they are at cross purposes. (I put this comment under spoilers in case anyone is just starting the book. I mention a couple of plot poin..."I think you've pretty much got all of that spot on!
As to the question of volunteering, it's impossible to say really without being in that situation. It wouldn't have been possible for me, as my bothers are 8 1/2 years younger than myself, so I'd have been too old by the time they were eligible.But honestly, teenage hormones and impetuousness (not to mention the idea that they're invincible) being what it is, I'm surprised the volunteering this didn't happen more often!
Same as Sammy actually, my brother's almost 10 years younger than me so I wouldn't even be able to volunteer for him.And that's the difference between the districts actually. 1, 2 and 4 have their career tributes who do train for the games and volunteer, whereas the teens from the poorer districts sometimes barely have the strength to keep themselves alive, let alone fight for their lives against other tributes. It's really not fair, but I guess the Capitol does not care not enough to actually enforce their rules of potential tributes not being allowed to train for the games. It's probably seen as even more 'fun' to watch if at least some people know what they're doing and have the goal to k!ll. It's actually gross.
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The part with Rue’s death is still an emotional read and mind boggling this is something they make kids due. Like seriously, 12? Not that 16 is much better but gross. How detached do you have to be as a person to think this is okay. Though it’s probably more that people from the Capitol think District people as “other” or “less than” making the whole Hunger Games situation easier to justify away.
I feel a bit bad for Katniss and the forced relationship thing. She’s a 16 year old girl who’s spent most of her life trying to survival until tomorrow and keep the rest of her family alive. And people seem to want her to be boy focused and dream of babies or whatever. Ain’t nobody got time for that 😂
As Judy mentioned there is good ground work for sequels and it’s clear that was always the plan. Series do certainly work out better that way in terms of execution. It one of the things I like about how Michael J Sullivan writes his series. He writes the whole series and the goes back to the first book and edits before release. It makes for tighter stories and you don’t have these tangent side plots that end up going no where.
Michael wrote: "Since we don't have an official thread on the prequel... "I agree totally! I am also very curious to know (view spoiler)
Judith wrote: "As Judy mentioned there is good ground work for sequels and it’s clear that was always the plan. Series do certainly work out better that way in terms of execution. It one of the things I like about how Michael J Sullivan writes his series. He writes the whole series and the goes back to the first book and edits before release. It makes for tighter stories and you don’t have these tangent side plots that end up going no where."I agree. I hated the sequel to Me Before You so much for this very reason. It felt like a money grab after the book and then the movie did so well.
I've finished. I have only read these books once, and then seen the movies a few times. What struck me this time around was Haymitch (and how excellent was that casting?!)I think he might be the character I feel the sorriest for. Even if he did win his Hunger Games by trickery as Katniss and Peeta surmise, he would have still had to kill at least one person. As an adolescent. And then to be returned to the scene every year. I think he drinks to cope with PTSD (and he really needed a therapist!). As an advisor, for the first few years the tributes would have been people he probably knew from school. And then eventually his friends' kids. And he had to watch them die every year, with no real means of helping them. And so he has no friends, so he'll have no attachments to the kids. Every other district's advisors have at least one other person to help carry the load.
So anyway, that's why Haymitch's character makes me sad.
Laura wrote: "I've finished. I have only read these books once, and then seen the movies a few times. What struck me this time around was Haymitch (and how excellent was that casting?!)I think he might be the ..."
Yes, i felt bad for the character too, he lives with his memory and having to revisit yearly knowing every kid he meets has a 95% chance of dying, many horribly. I can get him being distant, I would be.
I've finished and I didn't realize it was going to be a cliff-hanger. I guess with a trilogy that should have occurred to me. :-)Great points about Haymitch, Laura. I was thinking along those lines for whoever survived the current game, but didn't think about how it affected him.
I haven't seen the movies, so I don't know what happens next. The only thing I knew going in was that Katniss survived. It was interesting how she didn't want to fall for Peeta - never wanting to get married or have kids so she wouldn't have to send them off to do what she did.
Laura wrote: "I've finished. I have only read these books once, and then seen the movies a few times. What struck me this time around was Haymitch (and how excellent was that casting?!)I think he might be the ..."
I have so much empathy for Haymitch!! You’re absolutely right about what all he has had to see and endure not only in his own time in the arena but in the years following…especially being the lone Victor for a while. 😭😭
Preeti wrote: "Michael wrote: "Since we don't have an official thread on the prequel... "I agree totally! I am also very curious to know [spoilers removed]"
Yes!!! I’m off to beg Suzanne for more!! Haha 🤭
SandyL wrote: "I haven't seen the movies, so I don't know what happens next. The only thing I knew going in was that Katniss survived. It was interesting how she didn't want to fall for Peeta - never wanting to get married or have kids so she wouldn't have to send them off to do what she did.."
I definitely don't blane her not wanting to bring kids in that world!
Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Shan ~A~ wrote: "I decided to break my reading down into the 3 parts in the book, and I just finished part 1. It's been several years since I read this, and I didn't realize the things I'd forgot..."
Totally agree!! I’ve always been a big fan of Katniss… I can look past her flaws and empathize with the human underneath. I really think this series has some really great character development. Even the ‘unlovable’ are still very layered and nuanced.
Michael wrote: "Laura wrote: "I've finished. I have only read these books once, and then seen the movies a few times. What struck me this time around was Haymitch (and how excellent was that casting?!)I think he..."
I just keep picturing this scene from Stargate SG-1. The base is caught in a time loop, and O’Neil and Teal’c are the only ones who know. They keep trying to fix things, and then one day O’Neil says, “I’m taking this loop off.” And then shoots golf balls through the Stargate. I’m sure Haymitch just wanted to take a few years off!
Laura wrote: "I just keep picturing this scene from Stargate SG-1. The base is caught in a time loop, and O’Neil and Teal’c are the only ones who know. They keep trying to fix things, and then one day O’Neil says, “I’m taking this loop off.” And then shoots golf balls through the Stargate. I’m sure Haymitch just wanted to take a few years off!"Easily my favourite episode! I'm actually re-re-re-re watching the show now! 😁
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Absolutely agree. That has been very obvious to me on this re-read also. And it is clearly written as a trilogy. I'm really enjoying this re-read!
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That's true, but I wonder if that has to do with the Districts.
The ones the 'careers' come from see this as something to prove themselves and it is an honour. Whereas lower down the Districts it is something they fear.
I think with Katniss she was 4 years older than Prim in years but much older in every other way and had been her mother figure for so long ; and this is absolutely something you would do for your child.
Whereas with Peeta there was no reason/benefit for his brothers to take his place.
I'm not sure at 16 I would have been brave enough to volunteer, but if it was my child out there and I could take their place there is no question
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Omg. Prue. Tears! Again!
Yes agreed with Michael J Sullivan. Love this books, but also love knowing that there is an ending already written :)
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I think he might be the ..."
He is the most tragic of all the characters imo
I do love how Collins explores this more over the series
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The tension!!!
What I have realised in this re-read is how bloody great this book is. For a short, YA, she really packs a punch with the world building and the characters.
I realised that she never really describes what the characters look like. Peeta has blond waves over his forehead.... (or curls now I can't remember the word she used).. Rue is not quite 30 kilos, looks about 10, "has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin".
I noticed this because the images of the characters from the movie kept coming into my mind and I was trying to work out if they were the same as in the book and realised you can't really know because the book isn't very descriptive. But it also doesn't need to be.
And omg. Rue. I can't believe I was crying. Again. wth.
And although I know what happens I still find I'm on the edge of my seat wanting to know how it all ends... weird... lol
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The tension!!!
What I have realised in this re-read is how bloody great this book is. For a short, YA, she really packs a punch with the world building and the characters.
I realised th..."
Same! LOL
But I think well done books/movies/whatever just do that. There are certain movies (The Last of the Mohicans comes to mind) that I've seen a million times and still stress me out at certain points.
Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Part TwoThe tension!!!
What I have realised in this re-read is how bloody great this book is. For a short, YA, she really packs a punch with the world building and the characters.
I realised th..."
I wholeheartedly agree with this!!! I have always been a huge fan of this franchise as a whole, but it’s been at least a decade since I last read the books, so the specifics were a little rusty. I really enjoy SC’s world building, and think a lot of authors could/should take notes. With fantasy books, I get overwhelmed with the extensive descriptions (both characters and world), but SC gives you enough to have a bit of a mental image but still leaves room for your mind to have a little freedom. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this, and happily the magic of that first read feeling is somewhat still there. I don’t even have the emotional bandwidth to talk about Rue. (view spoiler)
As for the action/tension - YES YES YES. The intense moments were nail-biting even having read the books multiple times (as well as the movies). I did find myself anticipating certain things to happen, but then realizing those scenes are from Catching Fire or Mockingjay (lol).
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (other topics)The Hunger Games (other topics)
Catching Fire (other topics)
The Hunger Games (other topics)
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Carolyn McCormick (other topics)Lauren Groff (other topics)
Suzanne Collins (other topics)
I am interested to see how my views of the book have changed over time and with the perspective for a bit more age and experience beneath my belt. I am sure I am still going to find the whole thing barbaric and feel sorry for the pressure put on Katniss to help keep where family alive.