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Catching Fire
Buddy Reads: Current & Upcoming
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Collins,Suzanne Catching Fire - informal Buddy Read beings 15 June 2024
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In order to collect points for participating in this informal buddy read, you must make at least 3 posts that contribute to the overall discussion of the book.
Just posting something like "this book is great" does not count.
To collect the 20 points for participation the book and discussion posts must be completed between June 15th and July 15th.
I started this book a little early because both it and The Wishing Game came in last week for my Library hold (audio) so I wanted to be sure that I could finish them both before they are due back.I think my first comment is about audio vs. the written page. There are some books I like more when I listen, and some I prefer when I read. For example, The Others series by Ann Bishop, I cannot listen to. The reader isn't necessarily bad - he just doesn't match at all the voice in my head when I read it.
I think for THIS series - I also prefer reading vs. listening. But alas, I was able to get the audio and not the written pages. If any of the rest of you are listening - do you too feel like the narrator kind of makes Katniss feel bratty sometimes? I think when I read these years ago, she was a lot nicer in my head.
But also, I have changed since then. So maybe I'd have the same opinion of her either way now :).
I have just started re-listening, but I am only at chapter 2. So far she didn't strike me as particularly bratty-sounding, but I'll be on the lookout. :)From the first time listening I remember really liking thenarrator.
I dug out my print copy, as I agree on the audio. Although, I think it was rerecorded by someone else that is better than the one that I have. I plan to start later today. I also plan to stretch it out a bit, but I doubt I will be able to. This story is pretty compelling.
I'm glad to have another opinion! I think it might be just me. Plus during the first part, I just so absolutely hate love triangles, so I may be taking that out on the poor narrator. In book one, I liked Katniss a lot more after the first part of the book, so probably in this one I will too :) I need to root for her, after all!
My narrator is Tatiana Maszlany. I believe there was another narrator before her (?).
Note: As a teenage girl I would have LOVED the love triangle thing. What a dream to have two hot guys both in love with me. Lol, now I just feel sorry for everyone and want everyone to just be happy.
My narrator is Carolyn McCormick. And she's not awful, I just don't love her Katniss voice :)
That explains. :)
Suzanne wrote: "My narrator is Carolyn McCormick. And she's not awful, I just don't love her Katniss voice :)"That's the one I have. I preferred her in Law and Order.
Yay! Starting this one tonight
I've REALLY liked learning about the other districts - I had forgotten a lot (although having the challenge has helped with that). Things in the district seemed a lot more brutal to me than they did in the first book. Roo's district was so brave. And District 12 got so much worse.
It's so appalling that after their "victory" Katniss & Peeta are supposed to do a "tour" of other districts and possibly meet the people whose children they killed. The Capitol knows how to manipulate and keep the districts apart. It's bone chillingly brutal and cruel.
Yes! And those people are expected to celebrate them and cheer. Awful. But I guess it's cheer or get shot.
I haven't read President Snow's prequel story (though now I think I will read it eventually and also yaaayyy that we will get to read Haymitch's story!), but it just occured to me to check which district he was originally from as I didn't know that. Hunger Games Wiki says he's from the Capitol.
2 powerful scenes: 1 is Katniss meeting with President Snow (yes, I do picture him as Donald Sutherland in my head) and the other when she tells Haymitch (yes, Woody Harrelson :) about it & Haymitch helps her realise that if she wants her and her loved ones to survive, she is bound to Peeta & the Hunger Games for the rest if her life. The thought of them possibly having children who would be bound for the reaping.....
And then Katniss and Peeta visiting District 11: that made me tear up and break out in goosebumps at the same time.It seems this is also the book where I can more strongly relate to Peeta.
The scenes where Katniss tells Gale and then Peeta that they should escape and their reactions are also very telling.
I get Gale and the way he reacts, but in a way it shows that he doesn't get Katniss and her motives and that there is already a gap between them. Gale's horizon is both wider and narrower than Katniss's. While he's ready to fight for "all" people in a possible uprising, he only wants to escape with Katniss and both their families and doesn't want Haymitch, Peeta or others around.
He also clearly doesn't see that Katniss is not in a place emotionally to reciprocate his feelings in a way he wants.
Suzanne wrote: "Note: As a teenage girl I would have LOVED the love triangle thing. What a dream to have two hot guys both in love with me. Lol, now I just feel sorry for everyone and want everyone to just be happy."I'm with you, Suzanne - I am not a love triangle fan. Everyone happy sounds good to me.
Whenever I end up reading something particularly angsty, I think of a Ben Folds lyric::
And as I'm growin older I'm bored;
I remember when misery thrilled me much more
Yess! Starting this one tomorrow!
Melindam wrote: "2 powerful scenes: 1 is Katniss meeting with President Snow (yes, I do picture him as Donald Sutherland in my head) and the other when she tells Haymitch (yes, Woody Harrelson :) about it & Haymitc..."Rereading the President Snow scene makes me realize how closely they recreated this scene in the movie. It is almost word for word. I do love it when screenwriters can use the author's words and it works for the movie.
I also see most of the cast in my head when I am rereading this, especially Snow and Haymitch. Collins describes Snow as being a small man, but he is large in his presence, so casting Sutherland was a brilliant choice. Plus, every time I see Donald Sutherland, I want to go watch M*A*S*H, or The Dirty Dozen, or Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He has been in some brilliant movies.
But back to the book. Collins is so good at setting the mood with very few words. It took me about three sentences in to remember to be really mad at the Capitol, and the situation that Katniss and the rest are thrust into. She deals with her crap existence with grace, I think. Even if she isn't emotionally equipped to deal with her reality. I think that Gale kissing her after she returned from the games was the height of selfishness on his part. He seems to be more emotionally mature, and would have known what a mind f**k that kiss would have been for her. My respect for his character has never been all that high, but it is very low at this point.
Truitt, what is that Ben Folds song? I love that lyric.
Truitt - I love that lyric too! So glad you quoted it here!
I agree about the Gale kiss - it really did feel like he was "staking his claim" there. Katniss wasn't at all ready for that - she's dealing with too much already. I identify with her protective instincts - and her field of who she wants to protect has widened - poor Katniss.And yes District 11 - sniff. That whole scene was meaningful, sweet, brutal, etc. And it's one where I definitely picture the movie for some, but seems like the book was more um...graphic(?) At least what I pictured in my head.
As for the Capitol - it's like they love the tributes as heroes but totally don't get what is going on. The scene where they have the feast and throw up so they can eat more....so appalling when people are starving throughout the districts.
As far as this "game" - first off: in my opinion there is no way this tribute selection was set up 75 years ago (and how appalling it has been going on so long!). At least I THINK they said 75 years?? Aaah...listening, plus my brain.
Second, I liked getting to know more of the tributes in the arena setting. And of course, really rooting for most of them to live. Seeing the intelligence and sacrifice of so many. The first time I read these books - seeing the traps and what happened in the arena was my primary interest. Ugh, that made me so very Capitol. I was more interested in the people this time, but it probably helped that I vaguely remembered what happened.
Also, how brilliant is Peeta and his manipulations with words in his efforts to help Katniss!? And now in his efforts to help the districts. I'm team Peeta (although I feel sorry for Gale).
The throwing up bit comes from the Romans doing the same while feasting maybe?I seem to recall reading that they irritated their throats with peacock feathers -oh so very "sophisticated", uurgh- to make themselves sick so that they could go on gorging themselves on more food.
If Snow was originally a tribute of the Capitol (??) I wonder when they stopped having to send tributes to the Games.
Melindam wrote: "If Snow was originally a tribute of the Capitol (??) I wonder when they stopped having to send tributes to the Games."Yes - the Capitol not having tributes seems unfair! Perhaps that's why they enjoy the games so much though - they don't have the "worry" factor except in an abstract way.
One thing I don't love is how Haymitch and Katniss keep Peeta out of everything early on. This is one of those instances I would love a Peeta POV! Their plan really backfired when Peeta offered the money to the families in District 11 . . . and while I don't really think anything would've been different if he hadn't, it still was just fuel to the fire!I can't imagine how bad Peeta feels that Katniss got sponsor gifts during the arena but he did not. I know he would've preferred Katniss survive over him, so I don't think he would've been upset about it, but I can't imagine what that kind of thing does to someone. Peeta is criminally underestimated by the people around him and I hate how most people don't believe in him as much as they should (his mom's comment from the first games about how District 12 would have a victor referring to Katniss, then all the gifts going to Katniss until they teamed up)
Suzanne wrote: "Melindam wrote: "If Snow was originally a tribute of the Capitol (??) I wonder when they stopped having to send tributes to the Games."Yes - the Capitol not having tributes seems unfair! Perhaps ..."
I don't think the Capitol ever had tributes, as the sole purpose of the Games has really just been a power flex by the Capitol the whole time (a reminder to the districts that the Capitol is in charge after a previous attempted uprising.)
I'm a bit more than halfway through. I'm torn. The basic plot is fairly interesting, but some of the writing is silly. Or maybe it's the dialogue?I think the most absurd line I came across is, "I can't worry about kissing when I have a rebellion to incite." It's a valid point expressed in an absolutely silly way.
I'm using the audio book narrated by Carolyn McCormick. I've never read the books before nor seen any of the movies, but I think she sounds like how I hear Jennifer Lawrence. My problem with McCormick as the narrator is that I can't shake Elizabeth Olivet from my mind. 😉
I seem to dislike Gale more and more every time I reread these books. The conversation from Chapter 7 when Katniss is trying to convince Gale they need to leave and he gets upset that Katniss wants to save Peeta and Haymitch. And then he's like "Would you leave me behind?" when she says she'd leave Peeta if he decided to stay. I am trying to remember that these are teenagers with trauma, so I can't depend on them to act rationally, but I do not like the entitlement Gale seems to have when it comes to Katniss. Like because he wants her and they are friends he is owed her. When all they've shared is a kiss and Katniss repeatedly telling him she doesn't know how she feels / does not necessarily want a relationship.
Suzanne wrote: "As far as this "game" - first off: in my opinion there is no way this tribute selection was set up 75 years ago (and how appalling it has been going on so long!). At least I THINK they said 75 ye..."
Yes, definitely 75 years! I was curious to learn more about Mags, so I found her info in the Hunger Games wiki (https://thehungergames.fandom.com/wik...
-- She won HG 11 when she was 16 years old and was the first winner to do the victory tour
-- She was Finnick's mentor for the 65th games
-- She was 80 years old for the 75th games
Maybe y'all know this if you have familiarity with the books/movies. Being a newbie to the world, I had no clue but was interested.
This poster was on Mags's page in the wiki. It's so striking! Does anyone know if this is fan art or official franchise art?
Melindam wrote: "If Snow was originally a tribute of the Capitol (??) I wonder when they stopped having to send tributes to the Games."In the 10th Games, interest was beginning to wane on the part of the Capitol. The Academy that Snow attends assigns students as mentors to the tributes. The students are encouraged to come up with ideas to get people interested. Snow gets District 12 and is highly insulted by that. It boils down to a competition between two of his teachers, one who is the Game Master (I don't think it was called that) and the other who's name was put on the original idea of the games.
The Capitol never sent tributes. the Capitol was the victor and instituted this punishment/reminder.
Thank you for the info, Laura. It makes sense, of course that the Capitol never sent tributes and Snow was a mentor.
Melindam wrote: "Thank you for the info, Laura. It makes sense, of course that the Capitol never sent tributes and Snow was a mentor."I read the book not that long ago so we could go see the movie for a birthday. :)
I just bought the audiobook for Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes as it cost 3,80 usd at the Audible summer sale. :)
Beth - thanks so much for sharing that information about Mags. I had no idea and now I love her even more! That's a great resource you found!
Suzanne wrote: "Beth - thanks so much for sharing that information about Mags. I had no idea and now I love her even more! That's a great resource you found!"TBH, after learning that about her, Mags may be my absolute favorite character in the series. 😊
Beth wrote: "Yes, definitely 75 years! I was curious to learn more about Mags, so I found her info in the Hunger Games wiki (https://thehungergames.fandom.com/wik...-- She won HG 11 when she was 16 years old
-- She was Finnick's mentor for the 65th games
-- She was 80 years old for the 75th games
Maybe y'all know this if you have familiarity with the books/movies. Being a newbie to the world, I had no clue but was interested."
I had forgotten this, but my kids reminded me that in Catching Fire they (Katniss & Peeta) study video footage of all their competitors' games in order to strategize. That's where knowledge of her games would come from. That's also where we learn about Haymitch's games.
Melindam wrote: "The throwing up bit comes from the Romans doing the same while feasting maybe?I seem to recall reading that they irritated their throats with peacock feathers -oh so very "sophisticated", uurgh-..."
More on Romans... https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
Jenny wrote: "Truitt, what is that Ben Folds song? I love that lyric."@Jenny & Suzanne
That lyric is from a song called Video from Ben Folds Five's first eponymous album released in 1995. I remember the first time I listened to the album. I was driving to my boyfriend's parents' house out of state. I listened to it once, was completely blown away, and listened to it again for the rest of the journey.
I'm a sucker for piano pop....
Again thinking I may not have actually read this one but not sure. Will start soon.
The whole thing about President Snow's breath smelling like blood is still sooooooo gross to me! I know I've read this book at least twice but thought more than that? But so far (admittedly only a couple of chapters in), the only thing I remembered was exactly that blood breath thing.
What I do know for sure is that I watched the movie twice - I remembered having seen the beginning of it so at some point I was like "let's just watch the rest" and I started at the beginning anyway because I didn't know when I paused, but I thought it must've been about half an hour in (which is when I often pause and then accidentally dnf the movie)... half an hour passed and everything was familiar... I reached the hour mark... still familiar... hour and a half... still familiar... movie ends... well I guess I'd seen the whole thing the first time around too 🫠
Hmmmm. Overall, this book was okay. I would never have read it if not for points. 🤭There was so much repetition from book 1. It’s a hard line to work when writing a sequel… how much can it be stand alone, especially when it comes out so long after the preceding book versus how much do you rely on readers coming back fully aware of where they are. In this case, Collins erred on the side of trying to make this as close to stand alone as possible.
I don’t get the point of Gale. Is it just to be the third point of a love triangle? He seems pretty pointless overall.
I am 100% on the Mags band wagon. My goal is now to be strong enough at 80 to feel like I’d get as far into the HG as she did. 😅
Mags is for sure #goals. I also hope to be as good of a person as she is. She was loved by her fellow district tributes, volunteered for one of them, and sacrificed for them. The hero of the story!
Beth wrote: "I don’t get the point of Gale. Is it just to be the third point of a love triangle? He seems pretty pointless overall."In my opinion the Gale storyline makes more sense in MockingJay.
Suzanne wrote: "Mags is for sure #goals. I also hope to be as good of a person as she is. She was loved by her fellow district tributes, volunteered for one of them, and sacrificed for them. The hero of the story!"Yes, absolutely. And now that I think about it, I would love to read a multi-book biography of Mags!
Laura wrote: "In my opinion the Gale storyline makes more sense in MockingJay."
I hope so. Otherwise, I feel like he could be more or less completely removed from the franchise without too much of a loss.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
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Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before . . . and surprising readers at every turn.
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