Jayson’s Reviews > Mockingjay > Status Update
Jayson
is 80% done
Notes:
(1) "It's a long shot, it's suicide maybe, but I do the only thing I can think of. I lean in and kiss Peeta full on the mouth. His whole body starts shuddering, but I keep my lips pressed to his until I have to come up for air."
- The "only thing" she can think of? Apparently, kissing's her default solution in any emergency.
(2) Of all people, why's Gale still alive?
— Jan 24, 2021 11:40PM
Notes:
(1) "It's a long shot, it's suicide maybe, but I do the only thing I can think of. I lean in and kiss Peeta full on the mouth. His whole body starts shuddering, but I keep my lips pressed to his until I have to come up for air."
- The "only thing" she can think of? Apparently, kissing's her default solution in any emergency.
(2) Of all people, why's Gale still alive?
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is 99% done
Notes:
(1) I'll take a bit of a break after this. I've been doing daily audiobook updates for two years and, frankly, I don't drive much because of lockdown, which was my main listening time.
(2) As for what's next, I have options. I could do a run of Neil Gaiman books (Neverwhere, Stardust, Coraline) or the James Bond novels. There's no natural successor like there's been.
— Jan 30, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) I'll take a bit of a break after this. I've been doing daily audiobook updates for two years and, frankly, I don't drive much because of lockdown, which was my main listening time.
(2) As for what's next, I have options. I could do a run of Neil Gaiman books (Neverwhere, Stardust, Coraline) or the James Bond novels. There's no natural successor like there's been.
Jayson
is 96% done
Notes:
(1) More executioners should wear eyeliner.
(2) Great! As if the book wasn't grim enough, we get a whole chapter about suicide, night terrors, drug withdrawal and trauma.
(3) "Flame envelops the rose and devours it. Fire beats roses again."
- One last fire metaphor.
(4) "I have to remind myself that Gale's in 2 ... probably kissing another pair of lips."
- Seriously?
— Jan 29, 2021 11:40PM
Notes:
(1) More executioners should wear eyeliner.
(2) Great! As if the book wasn't grim enough, we get a whole chapter about suicide, night terrors, drug withdrawal and trauma.
(3) "Flame envelops the rose and devours it. Fire beats roses again."
- One last fire metaphor.
(4) "I have to remind myself that Gale's in 2 ... probably kissing another pair of lips."
- Seriously?
Jayson
is 94% done
Notes:
(1) "I dump the pitcher of water in his face. [Haymitch] comes to with a gasp, slashing blindly with his knife."
- A nice callback to the start of the second book. Haymitch will always be Haymitch, war or not. He's the one constant.
(2) "Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change now."
- And thus, we have the thesis statement for this book. How utterly nihilistic.
— Jan 28, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) "I dump the pitcher of water in his face. [Haymitch] comes to with a gasp, slashing blindly with his knife."
- A nice callback to the start of the second book. Haymitch will always be Haymitch, war or not. He's the one constant.
(2) "Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change now."
- And thus, we have the thesis statement for this book. How utterly nihilistic.
Jayson
is 91% done
Notes:
(1) "I am on fire. The balls of flame that erupted from the parachutes shot over the barricades, through the snowy air."
- Enough with the fire metaphors! No, my mistake, she's actually on fire.
(2) Snow: "I wasn't watching Coin. I was watching you, Mockingjay. And you were watching me."
- Isn't that a line from ABBA? No, my mistake, that's "Knowing Me, Knowing You."
— Jan 27, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) "I am on fire. The balls of flame that erupted from the parachutes shot over the barricades, through the snowy air."
- Enough with the fire metaphors! No, my mistake, she's actually on fire.
(2) Snow: "I wasn't watching Coin. I was watching you, Mockingjay. And you were watching me."
- Isn't that a line from ABBA? No, my mistake, that's "Knowing Me, Knowing You."
Jayson
is 88% done
Notes:
(1) "The main thing I absorb is that fur underwear is a valuable trading item at the moment. Especially for people who left their homes underdressed."
- When it comes down to it, people will protect their loins at all costs.
(2) I've reached the point where THE death happens. You know, THE death that changes the entire series and renders it expressly nihilistic. Ugh!
— Jan 26, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) "The main thing I absorb is that fur underwear is a valuable trading item at the moment. Especially for people who left their homes underdressed."
- When it comes down to it, people will protect their loins at all costs.
(2) I've reached the point where THE death happens. You know, THE death that changes the entire series and renders it expressly nihilistic. Ugh!
Jayson
is 83% done
Notes:
(1) "I'm running on hate. When the energy for that ebbs, I'll be worthless."
- I feel the same way when I'm out of coffee.
(2) "We hastily help one another apply thick layers of makeup, pull on wigs and sunglasses."
- Sounds like a slumber party.
(3) "The fire inside me has flickered out, and with it my strength."
- Okay, Girl on Fire. Enough with the fire metaphors.
— Jan 25, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) "I'm running on hate. When the energy for that ebbs, I'll be worthless."
- I feel the same way when I'm out of coffee.
(2) "We hastily help one another apply thick layers of makeup, pull on wigs and sunglasses."
- Sounds like a slumber party.
(3) "The fire inside me has flickered out, and with it my strength."
- Okay, Girl on Fire. Enough with the fire metaphors.
Jayson
is 77% done
Notes:
(1) Peeta: "You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real."
Katniss: "Real ... Because that's what you and I do. Protect each other."
- Well, except those times those two tried to kill each other.
(2) "I think [Snow] might have recently had more work done ... his prep team really needs to use a lighter hand with his blush."
- Katniss Everdeen, cosmetics expert.
— Jan 23, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) Peeta: "You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real."
Katniss: "Real ... Because that's what you and I do. Protect each other."
- Well, except those times those two tried to kill each other.
(2) "I think [Snow] might have recently had more work done ... his prep team really needs to use a lighter hand with his blush."
- Katniss Everdeen, cosmetics expert.
Jayson
is 73% done
Notes:
(1) "A painted window shatters, revealing the ugly world behind it. Laughter changes to screams, blood stains pastel stones."
- That's some real teen angst poetry there. Katniss' totally emo.
(2) "I sprint across the intersections, holding up a hand for the others to wait while I look for trouble."
- If there's something Katniss is great at, it's looking for trouble.
— Jan 22, 2021 11:55PM
Notes:
(1) "A painted window shatters, revealing the ugly world behind it. Laughter changes to screams, blood stains pastel stones."
- That's some real teen angst poetry there. Katniss' totally emo.
(2) "I sprint across the intersections, holding up a hand for the others to wait while I look for trouble."
- If there's something Katniss is great at, it's looking for trouble.
Jayson
is 70% done
Notes:
(1) "Squad 451 and the television crew collect dinner from the canteen and gather in a tense circle to eat. At first I think that Peeta is the cause of the unease, but by the end of the meal, I realize more than a few unfriendly looks have been directed my way."
- Even compromised and dangerous, everyone still enjoys Peeta's company over Katniss... well, except Gale.
— Jan 21, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) "Squad 451 and the television crew collect dinner from the canteen and gather in a tense circle to eat. At first I think that Peeta is the cause of the unease, but by the end of the meal, I realize more than a few unfriendly looks have been directed my way."
- Even compromised and dangerous, everyone still enjoys Peeta's company over Katniss... well, except Gale.
Jayson
is 67% done
Notes:
(1) 'Only a victor would see what I see so immediately. The arena. Laced with pods controlled by Gamemakers. Finnick's fingers caress a steady red glow over a doorway. "Ladies and gentlemen..."
His voice is quiet, but mine rings through the room. "Let the Seventy-sixth Hunger Games begin!"'
- Three years in a row? Rough. Guess the odds weren't ever in Katniss' favor.
— Jan 20, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) 'Only a victor would see what I see so immediately. The arena. Laced with pods controlled by Gamemakers. Finnick's fingers caress a steady red glow over a doorway. "Ladies and gentlemen..."
His voice is quiet, but mine rings through the room. "Let the Seventy-sixth Hunger Games begin!"'
- Three years in a row? Rough. Guess the odds weren't ever in Katniss' favor.
Comments Showing 1-50 of 53 (53 new)
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TMR
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Jan 25, 2021 03:39AM
I think the only point here is kissing. That’s all.
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TMR wrote: "I think the only point here is kissing. That’s all."It might be the only point of the whole series. Kissing drives the entire plot. 🤷♂️
Kissing Peeta has worked in the past so... 🤷♀️
Alan wrote: "hahaha, indeed"😁👍
Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ wrote: "Kissing Peeta has worked in the past so... 🤷♀️"Well, I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Kissing's a winning strategy, apparently. 🤷♂️
Wow, even my inner hopeless romantic can't stand these kisses lmaoo
Delaney wrote: "Wow, even my inner hopeless romantic can't stand these kisses lmaoo"Very few people can. I figure, it's be more acceptable if she wasn't also kissing Gale all the time as well. 🤷♂️
I hate Peeta, Gale is clearly the better choice, but I guess all this, "Oh, I'm with you in the Hunger Games and Gale isn't, why not, you know?" And also, yeah, kiss Gale, then you betray him and then kiss Peeta, what is this!
Madeleine wrote: "I hate Peeta, Gale is clearly the better choice, but I guess all this, "Oh, I'm with you in the Hunger Games and Gale isn't, why not, you know?" And also, yeah, kiss Gale, then you betray him and t..."I've been telling people since the very beginning: kissing is the central motif of these books. Kissing moves the plot, kissing generates drama, kissing provokes self-reflection, kissing is the solution to most problems, kissing creates most of the problems, kissing is everything in these books. It's so weird!
Well the two series that I have read City of Bones and only the first book of Clockwork Angel are lowkey at first for 'Mortal Instruments' and then it get's a little ridiculous and there is obviously a love triangle in both of her series's. I like 'The Infernal Devices' better then 'The Mortal Instruments' even though I've only read the first book, but anyway, I brought the author up because there is some ridiculous stuff in 'The Mortal Instruments' and some kissing that, as you say, is supposed to solve problems.
Madeleine wrote: "Well the two series that I have read City of Bones and only the first book of Clockwork Angel are lowkey at first for 'Mortal Instruments' and then it get's a little ri..."Kissing as a problem solving device in YA books seems like a trope worth further attention. It's very under-the-radar at the moment. Frankly, people are often surprised it's a thing when I bring it up.
I know, it's like that quote you wrote that Katniss said, she couldn't think of anything else to do so she was like, why not? Well, why couldn't you think of anything else? I don't know what that scene was, but she probably could have walked away or done anything else. Sorry, I just really hate Katniss and Peeta.
Last year, when I read this series, I will never do this again, but I skipped to the end because I NEEDED to know if she got together with Peeta. I was almost finished with the book, but I couldn't do it, why do female protagonists sometimes have such bad tastes in people, Gale saved your family and you have known him for such a long time, then something new and shiny comes along and she's like, "Ooh, I want that!" I know a lot of people love Peeta, but when I found out they got together, I dropped the book and never picked it up again, but I'm going to reread that series this year to give it another chance because the only thing that I really remember is Katniss and Peeta getting together, the seething hate I feel for that relationship.
Madeleine wrote: "I know, it's like that quote you wrote that Katniss said, she couldn't think of anything else to do so she was like, why not? Well, why couldn't you think of anything else? I don't know what that s..."(view spoiler) No need to apologize for having an opinion. It's okay to disagree.
Madeleine wrote: "Last year, when I read this series, I will never do this again, but I skipped to the end because I NEEDED to know if she got together with Peeta. I was almost finished with the book, but I couldn't..."Who know? Maybe you'll like Peeta better the second time around. I doubt you'll change your mind, but there's always the chance. 🤷♂️
Now I remember the scene, thanks!Do you like Peeta?
I definitely won't like Peeta and Katniss the second time around, but I'll probably like the story better if I read it a second time.
Madeleine wrote: "Now I remember the scene, thanks!Do you like Peeta?"
I prefer him to Gale... I really hate Gale.
Why do you hate him? Oh, is it because he's just not what a real person would be like?
Madeleine wrote: "Why do you hate him? Oh, is it because he's just not what a real person would be like?"He's not really a character so much as he's a plot device. His only narrative purpose is to get in between Katniss and Peeta. He has zero personality, and his only defining traits are that he's generically tall, dark and handsome. I find nothing interesting about him, and the fact that Katniss continues to go to him despite being both publicly and privately involved with Peeta makes him the archetypical "other woman" character. And no one like a homewrecker... well, maybe you do. 😁
What do you mean by, " And no one like a homewrecker... well, maybe you do."I actually kind of agree with you about Gale, but even though he might have zero personality, it's not that he's tall, dark, and handsome, but it's just because he's another person other than Peeta, and I hate Peeta.
I also don't like love triangles unless you're talking about the one in Clockwork Angel, but I don't like the one in City of Bones because it is just so obvious who the main character wants to be with.
But as you said, I don't like judging people and I respect other people's opinions, in fact, I don't really care if people disagree with me on any subject, because there is always going to be someone to disagree with.
Madeleine wrote: "What do you mean by, " And no one like a homewrecker... well, maybe you do."I actually kind of agree with you about Gale, but even though he might have zero personality, it's not that he's tall, ..."
What I mean by that is (1) Gale's obviously a homewrecker, or is assigned that character role, and (2) homewreckers are almost always villains, and no one likes them. But (3) you obviously have a preference for Gale, so (4) MAYBE you do like him. That's all.
Apologies if I assumed you liked Gale if it's merely a lesser-of-two-evils situation.
Madeleine wrote: "I also don't like love triangles unless you're talking about the one in Clockwork Angel, but I don't like the one in City of Bones because it is just so obvious who the..."I think it's obvious who the main character wants to be with here. But, then, we disagree. 🤷♂️
Madeleine wrote: "But as you said, I don't like judging people and I respect other people's opinions, in fact, I don't really care if people disagree with me on any subject, because there is always going to be someo..."People should disagree on things more. It makes for more interesting discussion... so long as people can accept that different opinions can exist.
Yes, it is a lesser of two evil's situation. While I was reading the book, I actually liked Gale, but he waited too long to tell Katniss if he liked her or not, and that's his fault. I don't not like him for that reason, but I agree with your description of him, but I still don't like Peeta more. Why do you like Peeta? Maybe you can make me realize that I do like Peeta.
Madeleine wrote: "I definitely won't like Peeta and Katniss the second time around, but I'll probably like the story better if I read it a second time."😁👍
Jayson wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "I also don't like love triangles unless you're talking about the one in Clockwork Angel, but I don't like the one in City of Bones because it is just ..."I did think that Katniss was going to be with Peeta in the end, but while I was reading it, I was in denial, but I knew that, inevitably, she would be with Peeta.
Madeleine wrote: "Yes, it is a lesser of two evil's situation. While I was reading the book, I actually liked Gale, but he waited too long to tell Katniss if he liked her or not, and that's his fault. I don't not li..."I don't know if I like Peeta so much as I prefer him over Gale. Peeta at least has a personality. He does specifically noble things, as opposed to Gale who does generically noble things. Peeta takes a beating to offer Katniss burnt bread when her family's starving, for example.
On the other hand, Gale evacuates District 12 during the fire bombing, which is non-specific to Katniss and not nearly as interesting. Plus, Gale takes the role of Katniss' deceased father, as her hunting partner. So, as a replacement for her father, I personally find it kind of icky them being together.
Peeta has a character arc. He's in love with Katniss, then he resents her for faking love in return, then they risk their lives for each other in the arena again, then he's brainwashed (view spoiler), and then he slowly comes back to normality. That's interesting. Gale, on the other hand, has one note: brooding jealousy. That's not interesting.
Madeleine wrote: "I did think that Katniss was going to be with Peeta in the end, but while I was reading it, I was in denial, but I knew that, inevitably, she would be with Peeta."It's another reason I prefer Peeta, it's a happier ending in this very bleak book. Ending up with Gale would just be bleak on top of bleak.
I actually like Peeta more now because of your reasoning, thanks.
You have good reasoning skills, you are actually right about Peeta in the aspects you mentioned, I will definitely give Peeta another chance when I read it again.
Jayson wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "Yes, it is a lesser of two evil's situation. While I was reading the book, I actually liked Gale, but he waited too long to tell Katniss if he liked her or not, and that's his fau..."Haha, brooding jealousy! Exactly!
Madeleine wrote: "I actually like Peeta more now because of your reasoning, thanks."Glad I could provide some food for thought :)
Madeleine wrote: "You have good reasoning skills, you are actually right about Peeta in the aspects you mentioned, I will definitely give Peeta another chance when I read it again."Happy to hear that :)
Madeleine wrote: "Haha, brooding jealousy! Exactly!"😁👍
I did not realise there was so much kissing involved. It seems Katniss can't to decide who she wants to be her forever kissing partner, Gale or Peeta. After watching only the movies even I felt Peeta deserved someone much better than Katniss.
Tahera wrote: "I did not realise there was so much kissing involved. It seems Katniss can't to decide who she wants to be her forever kissing partner, Gale or Peeta. After watching only the movies even I felt Pee..."Realistically, I think there's so much kissing because these are teenage characters, and for pure marketability of the product, you can't take romance any further than that in these books and still be suitable for pre-teens.
Having said that, there's excessive kissing to the point of ridiculousness. Personally, I think Peeta would have been best suited with someone like Prim or even Delly. You know, an actual nice person, instead of someone who publicly two-times him when he's being tortured and brainwashed. 🤷♂️
WeasleyNewtValdezDiAngelo wrote: "wow, I seriously did not notice so many Katniss-defects in this book until your updates"Happy to be of service, Satvika. It's a consequence of listening to the audiobook, slowing things down and paying closer attention to things. It's also deciding to do daily updates, and having to come up with interesting things to say every day :)
WeasleyNewtValdezDiAngelo wrote: "Exactly! Seriously, you deserve an award for all your patience and ideas XD"Thanks! That's nice of you to say. I appreciate it. Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do once this book's done :)
omg i didn't even notice, soo many people died why not Gale??
Sakshi wrote: "omg i didn't even notice, soo many people died why not Gale??"Apparently to annoy me... 😒
Totally agree with the second point. I felt like he was just the embodiment of irrelevance.
♦♣ Queen of Faerie ♠♥ wrote: "Totally agree with the second point. I felt like he was just the embodiment of irrelevance."Like I always say, his only purpose in the books is to get in between Katniss and Peeta. Beyond that, his role could have been filled with any nameless, faceless background character. He's essentially a video game NPC (non-player character).
Jayson wrote: "♦♣ Queen of Faerie ♠♥ wrote: "Totally agree with the second point. I felt like he was just the embodiment of irrelevance."Like I always say, his only purpose in the books is to get in between Kat..."
hahahahaha
♦♣ Queen of Faerie ♠♥ wrote: "hahahahaha"😁👍
WeasleyNewtValdezDiAngelo wrote: "Jayson wrote: "WeasleyNewtValdezDiAngelo wrote: "wow, I seriously did not notice so many Katniss-defects in this book until your updates"Happy to be of service, Satvika. It's a consequence of lis..."
I agree with what @WeaselyNewtDiAngelo wrote, you have great patience, ideas, and you don't care if people disagree with you, you just tell people why you think your reasoning and be done with it. You also probably changed my mind about Peeta, great debating skills!