The Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins Showing 601-650 of 1,573

[[deleted user]]

I just didn't see enough of Gale in either book to fall in love with him. It's not that I dislike him or anything like that. We just don't "know" him.

And as for Sam, I know he is too sensitive but I think that comes from his past. Maybe he'll man up in Forever.

[Cassi aka Snow White]

I don't think I have to be right or wrong. I suppose what I'm saying more than anything is I would choose Peeta for myself. Guys like that just don't come along often enough. I don't know what decision Katniss is going to make, after all she is 16 and very rarely do we know what we want at that point (or what is best). Katniss doesn't strike me as wise enough of the ways of love to know who is the better guy, and I think Peeta is a great guy from what we've seen. (I still stand by the thought she would have developed a crush on him if she hadn't been so busy pretending to like him. At that point she misread his motives so she couldn't see clearly).

[Heidi]

Cassi wrote: "Heidi I wrote: "Stacia I could not agree more. I hunger (pun intended) for a book with a strong female character in her teens that does not have to end up with a guy."

I can think of one series..."

*****Spoiler alert *****

If you are talking about Graceling, I don't really consider Katsa a "teen".

[Cassi aka Snow White]

Heidi I wrote: "Cassi wrote: "Heidi I wrote: "Stacia I could not agree more. I hunger (pun intended) for a book with a strong female character in her teens that does not have to end up with a guy."

I can think..."

Nope! Think more noble, less assassin. (And I know Katsa stops being an assasin but it's a hint)

[Jaimie]

Just ran across this Team Gale argument and thought it was great. Also pretty fair. http://www.persnicketysnark.com/2010/...

Also the blogger wrote a break up letter to Gail here http://www.persnicketysnark.com/2010/...

[Kourtni]

That was awesome Jaimie. I love it.

[[deleted user]]

I liked that, Jaimie. It didn't sway me at all but I liked it.

I won't be upset if Katniss ends up with Gale but I know someone is going to die and I don't want it to be Peeta.

[Becca]

Me too, loved it. Very persuasive argument either way.

[Jaimie]

It seemed well balanced on both sides and I think that just shows that Collins really knows how to write a love triangle!

[Heidi]

Still Team Peeta, but great article.

[Jaimie]

my favorite part of the break up letter is the "P.S. Stay the hell away from the Mayor's daughter"

[Becca]

Rofl! I didn't even read that one earlier, but that's a fabulous piece of heart bleed right there. lol, love it! The last line is my favorite too Jaimie.

[Roshini]

Thanks Jaimie! Great last lines - including the one about who wears the pants.

[Brittany (finally graduated and can once again read for fun)]

Jaimie that was fantastic! Also loved the P.S. line of the break-up letter. It was pretty amazing.

I'm going to start my Hunger Games re-read sometime tomorrow I think. Hopefully I'll have enough time to get through them while I'm out of town before Tuesday!!

Should be interesting switching from Katsa and Po and Fire and Brigan back to Katniss, Peeta, Gale... and hopefully Cinna!!

[Jaimie]

I know right, def going to have to start following her blog. She had something else on her love for Pacey Whitter from Dawsons Creek and it was instant love.

[Brittany (finally graduated and can once again read for fun)]

Oh Pacey... Who wants Dawson when you can have Pacey? (Kinda like who wants Peeta when you can have Gale ;)) Oh Joshua Jackson. I'm going to have to start following this blog too.

Thanks for sharing.

[Caitlings]

I'm just about to start my re-read of the Hunger Games and I'm so excited!

Also, just to weigh in on the discussion, I'm Team Gale.

My issue with Peeta (and this is personal, not meant to insult or push my feelings on anyone else) is that it is clear very early on that he is really good guy who would do anything for Katniss.

And then, two books later, who is he? A really good guy who would do anything for Katniss. And we don't really know anything else about him, we never see him make any tough decisions or go through some character growth despite how much he is in the books. I just find him to un-interesting.

Gale is barely in the books and as such is a mystery. We don't know all of his motivations, or all of his actions. It is clear that he cares about Katniss a great deal but he has so much more going on for him. More commitments, more people that depend on him, more to lose and more to gain. And I just really, really love him.

[Cassi aka Snow White]

Caitlings wrote: Gale is barely in the books and as such is a mystery

I'm thinking the mystery is what you like. (Not saying that Gale is bad...honestly neither guy seems bad.)

Peeta may have fairly simple motivations. But dang they are good motivations. The guy I'm seeing at the moment is hard to figure out and hard to get to know (We've been dating like 14 months too). I think I'm over mystery. Give me something solid and reliable, and that's what I see in Peeta. He's dependable in good ways (not dependable in that "I knew you'd be late but somehow I expected you to be on time" way.

It's probably personal preference. When I know Gale I may like him perfectly well. But I think some people are just drawn to the unknown, the mystery where they can feel in the blanks, and other people want to know what they're getting themselves into.

[Jaimie]

Yeah but out of the two, Katniss knows Gale better. As readers we know more about Peeta currently - what Collins has in store for Mockingjay? who knows but we do know that it is Peeta's turn to be missing for at least part of the book seeing as the Capitol snatched him up. I would pick Gale over Peeta personally but I think the way the story is going Katniss will choose Peeta and that will not spoil the series for me because Peeta is a good guy (despite my theories that shall not be mentioned because that thread has been deleated ;) ) I am just so excited to get the last book and see where it all goes!

[Becca]

ROFL! Thank you Jaimie for the reminder that we won't get into it again. I needed that. I was getting all fired up. And I feel the same way Caitlings, Peeta is kind of a boring personality to me. He's sweet, but that's the ONLY way he's been described so far. A girl can gag on enough sweetness. Not that the mystery of Gale is going to be any better, and I too think she's going to end up with Peeta and won't be disappointed. I do like Gale better, but that's for me, not necessarily Katniss. Personally I'm beginning to get on the "Katniss ends up alone" bandwagon. It would do so much for her as a person to be alone after this is over. She doesn't even know what life could be like and how it will change people once the capitol isn't a factor. I mean, how will it change Peeta and Gale? Gale may be the sweetheart once the capitol he rages against is gone.

[Cassi aka Snow White]

Honestly even though I have a boyfriend I think being an old maid doesn't sound that bad (have debate with myself if it's preferable). If Katniss ends up agreeing with me...I'll probably laugh quite a bit.

[Becca]

First, Katniss is only sixteen, so she shouldn't be making this decision yet anyway, and second, she won't end up an old maid otherwise Collins' younger fans would be up in arms and would never read anything written by her again because they didn't get the satisfaction of seeing who the most talked about protagonist since Bella ended up with. Totally sad for Katniss, if she were a real person, but totally true.

[Becca]

and I'll laugh too if it ends up that way and then I'll cheer Collins for making the choice of the biggest minority in the history of 'ship preferences.

[Jaimie]

Team Katniss!

[Traci]

On the "Katniss is only sixteen" debate, I just have to throw my personal experience into the mix. I've been dating my boyfriend since we were sixteen. I'm almost twenty-two now and we live together and plan on getting married when we're out of college. So to me, making that type of decision when you're young isn't too far out there.. I know it's not the norm, but it can happen.

I would like to see Katniss stand on her own two feet, however, the only way I can see that happening is if BOTH Peeta and Gale die, and that is just too sad to think about. :(

[Cassi aka Snow White]

Traci wrote: I would like to see Katniss stand on her own two feet, however, the only way I can see that happening is if BOTH Peeta and Gale die, and that is just too sad to think about. :(


They don't have to die! She just has to tell them both no, I've got a new country to run boys I got bigger fish to fry than silly relationships.

[[deleted user]]

I've been with my hubby since I was 16 (will be celebrating my 39th birthday next week *gasp*) but we aren't the norm. Katniss isn't real so imagining her having a forever-type relationship at 16 is easy.

Peeta and Gale are both good guys. For me, it's just a matter of knowing Peeta better and loving what I know. Katniss is so worried about their feelings being a show that she is dismissing her true feelings. But I know she has real feelings for Gale too. I don't want her to end up alone. She's felt alone for so long and I want her to feel loved. I'll be happy with whoever she ends up with but I'll be a happier if it is Peeta. ;)

[Courtney]

Shannen wrote: "I've been with my hubby since I was 16 (will be celebrating my 39th birthday next week *gasp*) but we aren't the norm. Katniss isn't real so imagining her having a forever-type relationship at 16 ..."

I've been with my hubby since 17. Maybe it isn't so out of the ordinary? I guess you can't plan when you meet your soulmate. I've been following the Peeta vs Gale debate for a few days now and weighing my options. I'm going to go with Team Peeta b/c they have a better "meeting" story. From Peeta's perspective, he fell in love with Katniss when he saw her spirit that day in the rain so long ago. For Katniss, she (IMO) fell in love during the hunger games. It was the scene with the berries for me. Both great stories to share with the grandchildren!

[Melissa]

Courtney wrote: "Shannen wrote: "I've been with my hubby since I was 16 (will be celebrating my 39th birthday next week *gasp*) but we aren't the norm. Katniss isn't real so imagining her having a forever-type rel..."

I have to second Courtney on this one. I met my husband our freshman year of high school and we started dating when we were 17. We got married at 25 and have been married for 8 years as of yesterday. I am surprised by how many people marry their high school sweethearts. It isn't typical, but there is enough of a percentage, that I think it is still fun to entertain the idea that Katniss might end up with one of these great guys.

I honestly can't say if I am Team Peeta or Team Gale. I just want her relationship, if she has one with either of them, to be realistically portrayed. I guess I am saying I want good reasons for her choice whoever that may be. I may have some slight Team Gale leanings though, because with Peeta I feel like you might always have to wonder, how much is real, and how much is doing what people (whether the Capitol or the resistance) expect you to do. I would be happy with either choice though as long as it is convincing.

[Heidi]

I agree with Jaimie. Team Katniss. Screw the guys! (not literally)

[Becca]

rofl!

And I feel like I'm the only one who didn't meet my hubby in highschool...

[Heidi]

Nope you are not alone Becca! I met my hubby when I was 27.

[Becca]

Oh good! I was starting to think I did something wrong, lol.

[Heidi]

Becca wrote: "Oh good! I was starting to think I did something wrong, lol."

Nope. In fact I dated my HS boyfriend for five years, but I can not even imagine ever marrying him.

[Kourtni]

I married my HS sweetheart. :) Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with not doing that. Nothing wrong with anything. At all.

[Cassi aka Snow White]

Kourtni wrote: "I married my HS sweetheart. :) Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with not doing that. Nothing wrong with anything. At all."

Spoken like a diplomat. I didn't even have a serious boyfriend till 24 or my first kiss until then either.

I think the thing about Katniss is she hasn't had time to figure out love for herself. There have been too many people pushing her around the chessboard of life. That's partially why I think she's not ready. It's not necessarly because she's 16 but because she needs a chance just to live for awhile (without Hunger games, or keeping her family afloat, being the face of the revolution....seriously when does she have time for love?)

[Becca]

Lol! Me either, in fact I am so thankful I didn't marry any of the guys I dated seriously in high school. The funny thing is my husband in high school was definitely not one of the guys I would have been attracted to then. Some girls have to grow up a bit, and boys too.

I see Katniss as kind of stuck in the same position for the last four to five years (since she started taking care of her family) without a whole lot of growth, so I would love to see her grow up a bit and develop a little more maturity before she decides who she going to be with for the rest of her life. It's just my personal opinion (not that I don't love her as is), but she doesn't seem all that mature and able to make that kind of decision without regrets yet.

[Traci]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with that. Katniss was forced to grow up really quickly. She didn't have a choice. She had to become a mom, a dad, the sole provider for her family. She may be tough and has built up walls but I'd say she's much more mature than most 16 year-olds.

[[deleted user]]

Kourtni wrote: "I married my HS sweetheart. :) Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with not doing that. Nothing wrong with anything. At all."

Totally agree. I'm a small town girl. Married my high school sweetheart, two kids, same friends since middle school, the only vacations we have taken are camping and SoCal (my husband had his first plane ride when he was 35).

Cassi and Becca - I agree about Katniss.

[Jaimie]

Not that there is anything wrong with marrying your HS sweetheart but I am so glad that I didn't - man any of the guys I dated in HS would have been disasterous in the long run. They weren't bad people and they cared about me but for as grown up as I felt back then I realize how young I really was now and it just would not have worked out between us. Even my HTB and I took some time apart after the first two years we were dating and I think it only made our relationship stronger. It would be different if Katniss wanted a serious relationship - marriage, kids, the whole shebang - but I haven't seen any evidence to that front. She doesn't even really act like she wants a boyfriend right now. I guess that is why I have always liked Gale because he seems to respect that even though he obviously likes her. I think if she hadn't been picked for the games he had a long term plan of wooing her that gave her plenty of space. It's different with Peeta because their "relationship" is part of their strategy and he doesn't have the option to really back off and well he is just so sweet and full of the oooie gooies he has for Katniss he can't hold it in, which shows he does care for her even if he doesn't want to except she is the type of girl that needs some space to figure out what it is she wants if she wants anything at all. yeah that was a bit of a rant. Team Katniss!

[Melissa]

I did marry my high school sweetheart, but we didn't get married (or even live together) until I was 25. I knew what I wanted, which was to go to college, get my degree, and then get a good job. I not saying that is right for everyone, or that anyone should choose to make the choices I did, but it was right for me. Katniss should be able to choose what is right for her too. Katniss doesn't have to decide now, she has time, and even if she does get together with one of the guys in Mockingjay, she may choose later on down the road to end it. Or she may choose to marry them at the ripe old age of 25 ;). Or not to marry at all. In either case, it is important that she do what is right for her. I just ask that whatever future Collins writes for Katniss, that it be true to her character and true to the books. I don't want a relationship forced on Katniss, that isn't true to the story being told. So yeah, TEAM KATNISS.

[Stacia (the 2010 club)]

Sorry to off topic the marriage thing, but I was discussing this series with my oldest son just a few minutes ago and we were talking about the possibility of Gale and Katniss being related.

Gale and Katniss are being described as looking so much alike, down to the same skin coloring. Both of their fathers are gone.

Is it possible that Katniss was somehow placed with her "mom and sister?" Neither one of them have olive skin, and both of them have blonde hair. Yes, I realize that siblings can inherit different traits from different parents, but maybe it's not a coincidence that Katniss shares nothing with either her mom or Prim, yet she looks so much like Gale?

[Cassi aka Snow White]

Stacia wrote: "Sorry to off topic the marriage thing, but I was discussing this series with my oldest son just a few minutes ago and we were talking about the possibility of Gale and Katniss being related.
"

You bring up a point. They have mentioned their looks A LOT, to the point of "why are you telling me this." However, with as much time as they spend together you think someone would have warned them if they were related.

On unrelated note I'm pre-ordering Mockingjay. I can't pay the $17 for next day shipping. Amazon has a big facility and 1.5 hrs from me. Usually 3 day shipping comes quickly. How are you guys pre-ordering?

[Traci]

I just plan on waltzing into Barnes & Noble right away at 9 when it opens and grabbing a copy. It's funny because I heard about The Hunger Games on Stephenie Meyer's website and when I went to go get it, they hadn't even unpacked their shipment yet, so I got the first book before they even had it on the shelves. Then for Catching Fire, my roommate and I went right when the store opened on the release date to get our copies, and again they hadn't even stocked them yet, so I got that one first too. I called and asked if they would for sure have a giant display ready on the morning of the 24th and the lady assured me they would. I'm so beyond ready for this book. I've been waiting two years for it!

[Cassi aka Snow White]

Maybe I'll call Books-a-million and ask. Last time I asked them about a release (Shiver in paperback, which I didn't end up liking that much but whatever) they didn't even know it was coming out in paperback.

We're a smaller town so sometimes I think we get shipments less often.

[Becca]

I don't think they're at all related because when they are talking about Katniss's dad they say pretty strongly that she is her father's daughter in looks, voice, mannerisms, everything. And her father was so totally in love with her mother, I couldn't see him straying at all, besides, then Katniss's mother would know she didn't belong. I think the theory is interesting, but not at all viable.

[Cissi "Invisible but Invincible"]

Don't hate me, for all of you who will after I say this, but I have an idea. Don't get me wrong, inlove katniss, gale, and I don't even despise peeta(too much, anyways), but I think that katniss should die during mockingjay. I think that it would be a very intriguing twist in the story. I think that either a, she should die fighting for the revolution, or b, watch gale die painfully right in front of her and later kill herself... After the revolution is lost. Yes, yes, I know, I am a negative person, but that would capture my attention. The girl on fire's final stand, wasted on a lost battle, or a loving couple, torn apart by death, longing to see each other again and be the proper team. I realize that I left peeta out, but I am just not sure what to think of him. I don't know if I love him or hate him, I just cannot decide. I don't know if I want him to turn against katniss and side with the Capitol because it's simply too much to bear to watch katniss with another man(a real man), or if I want him to kill himself to be with katniss again after she dies, as one last act of star-crossed love for her. Any thoughts on any of this?

[Alyssa]

Cissi wrote: "Don't hate me, for all of you who will after I say this, but I have an idea. Don't get me wrong, inlove katniss, gale, and I don't even despise peeta(too much, anyways), but I think that katniss sh..."

I was thinking about this today. I was thinking "it wouldn't really make sense if Katniss didn't die." I know, of course in a way it would, but it's also so unlikely for her to have lived through all she has. Of course, that means she's a strong person, of course, but I also think that in way of a true leader who'd do anything for others, she is going to die in Mockingjay, for either her sister, or Peeta, or Gale. Maybe even Haymitch, her mother or Cinna. She just seems to me as if she's going to risk everything now, and it's all going to fall apart.

Of course, I WOULD HATE for her to have died but...it would seem kind of right. It would make the series unforgettable because it was written TRULY and as close to reality as you can get.

[Becca]

Umm, Katniss can't really die or the book would be finished. The story has been told solely from her first person perspective. There would be no one to tell it if she died. So although it would be totally intriguing, the twist no one was expecting, or whatever, there isn't a chance it's going to happen.

Speaking from an author's perspective, if you are telling a story from a first person perspective, and the entire story is told from one person over the span of several books its pretty much putting the stamp of guarantee that this character is not going to die no matter what happens. In the writing world it's absolute taboo to switch it up after this long. You do that and you'll loose your readership. All hell could break loose and Katniss will have to live through it somehow to tell us the story or there wouldn't have been a story to begin with. Interesting thought, but realistically it aint gonna happen.

[Cissi "Invisible but Invincible"]

Becca wrote: "Umm, Katniss can't really die or the book would be finished. The story has been told solely from her first person perspective. There would be no one to tell it if she died. So although it would be ..."

I see your point...hmm,I didn't really think about that. But, maybe if she died at the end. Like, it ended like, "I felt the last breath leave my body as my oxygen supply cut off and I was left in a swirling, glistening, silver- coated blackness that I could only assume was oblivion. This is where it ends.", or something along those lines. I don't know, just a thought. Good point, though, very good point. I didn't really think of her first person writing.