Hunger Games - Discussion
I loved it so much, I hate the way it ended, leaving me all tangled up in the story, craving for more. I liked the rebellious creativity of Katniss, the self-sacrificial love leading Peeta to heroism, the whole thing. Are we reading the second and the third as a part of the club program, too? |
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| Ha ha...The second and third sequels were not part of the thought plan but I know once I finished the Hunger Games, I couldn't wait and read the rest ! I am done with all three already!!!! So, discussiion on The Hunger Games...let's begin... I was disturbed by the plot at first...young teens getting pulled into a "game" where they had to kill each other to survive. Didn't sit well with me. But continuing on, the book grabbed me and I couldn't stop reading! Then I thought, well, not very different than us sending our teens to war and having them kill other young people they don't know just to stay alive... I loved all the characters. Loved Katniss - although she was a bit tough and sometimes cold. Her mother I had no regard for. Yes, she did wonders with the healing of people but the fact she left Katniss and poor baby Prim feeling so isloated after their father died was hard for me to understand. As mothers, our job is to keep our children stable and safe and normal - even whn things are horrible and especially if their father was killed... The idea of the Games is really disturbing! But definately caught my interest and loved the way the author roped you into continuing reading...Did you just love the way Katniss ran in to substitute for her sister Prim? And how about her relationship with Gale? Did you think the "friends" thing was real? I think Gale was in love with her for all along... I'll get into what I think of the Capitol but want to hear what everyone else things of the "players" so far...Katniss, Gale...then we meet Peeta...Ru ( we all love Ru I'm sure)....And waht about the stylist teams? I just loved Cinna too! let's get this discussion going! |
I loved this book!!!!! I also went ahead and read all three.  I will say that the second book was my favorite and the third was my least favorite. I would recommend that others read the whole series, the last book was not bad, just an emotional roller coaster.Back to Hunger Games....... I think Katniss is a great sister to Prim and taking her place in the games was very honorable. I was really behind her at that point. Somewhere along the way I started to cheer more for Peeta than Katniss. Outside of her kindness toward Ru, I also found her to be pretty cold. Did anyone else think it was a little too easy for her to switch from hunting animals to people? I know she had to, but there wasn't much sadness over her actions. Love Peeta  He is so kind. Truly doesn't want to kill anyone or change who he is for the capital or the games.Feel sorry for Haymitch, because of how the games and training the tributes has affected his life. Careers are brutal. President Snow and the game makers are just cruel.  Cinna is very talented and this helps Katniss in the form of sponsors, but it also helps him. If his tributes stand out and win, then he gets to design more clothing this only helps his standing in the capital. Can't believe they eat dog strew at the hob  I would rather starve! |
| Re: Katniss's mother. I understand that she became overwhelmingly depressed after her husband died. It can happen to the strongest, best people. And she was not born and raised in the life she lived with her husband and daughters: she had been a shopkeeper's daughter, and had a softer upbringing. Katniss, on the other hand, never had any easiness about her life, even before her father died. Afterwards, she had to assume a much more parental role, but it cost her. She could not forgive her mother, could not love her sister's cat, could not allow herself any softness inside. If she did, she would have collapsed entirely. In the games, she avoids killing anyone directly, as much as she can. She indirectly kills two of the other tributes when she shoots down the hornet's nest, and she kills the tribute who killed tiny Rue, who reminded Katniss of her own sister so much. It was not a kill to win so much as a kill out of revenge and horror over Rue's death. Most of her time was spent trying to survive --find food, water, shelter, tend her own wounds, avoid being killed by other tgributes, and later, trying to help Peeta survive using the same methods. Near the end of the last book, she kills another tribute as a kind of mercy. It's important to keep in mind Katniss's age: she was 16 at the start of the books, an age at which many girls are still very critical of their mothers. Katniss has been so overwhelmed with survival in a very harsh world that she allows herself few areas of vulnerability. She cannot afford sentiment for Prim's cat, or forgiveness for her mother. She can value Gale as a friend and hunting companion, but cannot allow herself to entertain any romantic feelings for him, although she recognizes that he is considered a good catch, in her world. She feels she will never marry or have children, that she could not bring children into the world she lives in, or even, a world into which she might escape with Gale. She is so detached from any real, personal goals or emotions for herself, beyond survival that she doesn't even comprehend that Gale is proposing that they start a full life, as a couple, rather than as friends. Her only area of vulnerability that she allows herself is her love and affection for her little sister, whom she idealizes. In fact, Prim and her mother both have reserves of strength that Katniss does not recognize (until the 2nd or 3rd book). She does not even entertain the notion that Madge is her friend and realizes it only belatedly, when Madge gives her a mocking jay pin as a token to wear in in the arena. While Katniss possess an obvious strength and courage, and determination that she uses to keep herself and her mother and sister alive in the Seam, and which she takes with her into the arena, in fact she needs Peeta's strength, his ability to find and create beauty, his ability to feel love and hope for a future. Not merely because the Capitol finds it entertaining to watch two young 'lovers' fight to stay alive, Peeta's love keeps Katniss alive as much as her hunting skills keep him alive. I love also the layer there, almost hidden, very subtle of the other wheels which are turning. Haymitch and Cinna and Katniss's team all know that there is more at stake. In truth, Katniss is a pawn of sorts. She is completely unaware of the behind scenes manipulations of image, sentiment that are used to help garner sympathy for her (and Peeta) and which contribute to their success. She develops an idea of it, because she figures out what she can do to get help from Haymitch. But it is still all beyond her comprehension. |
| Where does Gale fit into all of this? Yes, I think we forget the young age of Katniss when we are reading. To think someone a mere 16 or so all alone trying to survive in the Games! Kids today can't stay afloat today without their parents until they are like 30! Ha ha...yes, this is a book but there is a message here I'm sure... The Capitol is just disgusting. Having these games every year as a way to keep the poplulation from over exploding...and a means of their entertainment. Imagine beting on which child will survive. But I can't help think we send off our children to fight in a war to kill others they don't even know.. And we don't provide magic parachutes for what they need....Maybe we don't consider it entertainment or bet on it but we still send them out...And it was not always to protect our own country. Just a thought... |
Ashley wrote: Where does Gale fit into all of this? I think Gale really cares for Katniss and her family. I think he loves Katniss like his own family, but not romantically as Peeta does. He is jealous of her relationship with Peeta, but he doesn't protect her as Peeta does. Do you think Gale should have volunteered for the games as Katniss did, so that he could protect her? If Peeta had known Katniss as well as Gale at the time of the reaping, and his name was not drawn, do you think he would have volunteered for the games and try to save Katniss? I do. |
| Gale is in love with Katniss. She doesn't realize it. Romantic love is not something that's ever crossed her mind, she's so focussed on survival. Gale actually knew Katniss much better than Peeta did: they spent many, many hours together in the woods, whereas Peeta only knew Katniss from afar, a more idealized version of Katniss. Katniss made Gale promise to take care of her mother and Prim. And she would have taken care of his family if he had been chosen and Katniss hadn't gone. If both Katniss and Gale were tributes, their families would likely have starved. |
| I agree with most of the points brought up...so I won't repeat all the same stuff! I did really like the book, and am partway through the 2nd one. And Todd has started the 1st one! My (grown) kids have all read the series too, so not sure why they never mentioned it to me to read this series?? They did with Harry Potter, Twilight and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.....  |
| Sounds like everyone is already reading the next boo...do you want to discuss that one next? wee don't have a book for the next discussion...I already read the three... Back to the original Hunger Games...What do you think of the ending of the first book The Hunger Games? Made me immediately go to the next book in the series....The whole revolution and the "rescue" of Peeta and Katniss left me hanging! I have to day, their life in the "districts" sounds like what life must be like in the communist countries , don't you think? The Government in charge and the wealthy living in the Capitol while the rest of the people get hand- outs and are left to survive on their own? Two ends of the spectrum...the very wealthy and the poor... Interesting how the author used this as a "sci-fi" idea but really, it could be real life for those people in other third world countries... |
| I'm fine with discussing the next books too.... One thing I noticed in regard to Katniss and Gale - they fall into the typical oldest child role. They both are in single parent households. Gale's mom works hard doing laundry and there are littler kids to keep track of. Katniss's mom had a depression/mental breakdown after her husband was killed - to the point she was not able to care for Katniss and Prim. So both of them as oldest have taken over caretaker roles in their family. Also - they market their hunting/gathering bounty to the town - so they are also in an adult-like role in that regard too. The town people have accepted them acting as providers, instead of kids who THEY should be helping.  |
| The townspeople, or at least some of them, do help Katniss and Gale. Trading in the Hob is illegal and hunting is punishable by death, yet Katniss and Gale are welcomed to the blackmarket, and even important people welcome their game and buy it. In the story that Katniss told Peeta about her happiest day, she tells the story of how she got Pim's goat. It was obvious probably to any reader/listener that the butcher who came for the damaged goat gave up the sale so that Katniss could afford to buy the goat. Some people always bought from Katniss, quite possibly as a way of not only getting good game, but also as a way of helping her and her family survive. It was all done very subtly because no softness was allowed: if you were soft, you died, probably of starvation. Strength and resilience and resourcefulness were strongly valued because these characteristics were necessary to survive for individuals. And the Capitol did whatever necessary to make sure that no district and no one in any district became strong enough or independent enough to challenge the Capitol's power. There was no social network in District 12 to help care for those who needed it. The Capitol did not help in any way. Even the most prosperous people did not have enough to eat. Many of Katniss's mother's patients died from starvation or malnutrition and she was helpless to stop this. Old and disabled people were left to fend for themselves. There was a children's home but Katniss couldn't bear for Prim to go there where children were treated coldly. Giving a needy family part of your food meant that your own family, near starvation itself, would have less. And in the coal mines, there were always accidents, always orphans and widows to take care of and none of the profits from the mine went to helping the widows and orphans or those disabled by mining accidents. People lived by their wits, and very, very carefully. |
| I thought the annual Reaping was a lot like our current reality tv shows. No, its not to the "death" but its "last man standing" is the winner. I haven't watched "Survivor" for a number of years but I remember them "pitting" contestants against each other. I wonder if the author got her idea of the Reaping from watching these shows? |
| I thought of Hunger Games like Survivor, only carried to a horrible extreme. Never watched the show, so only know about it from the promos during other programming. |
| Haha, going to be tough to talk much about this without giving away other stuff down the line. Book 1 was my favorite, i think. Overall though, i found it hard to connect with the characters or really root for any of them in book 1. There are some characters down the line that i really enjoyed reading about. Funny i say i didn't connect with many characters but i did really like the book. |
| I've read all three books and have enjoyed them. What I liked about them is that you can enjoy the story, but it really makes you think about what is happening. The "reality show" and the different perspective of it from the district/tribute standpoint and the Capital citizens standpoint, the districts and how they are treated and the politics and manipulations that manifest in the next two books. The Reaping does remind me of a combination of the reality shows particularly "Survivor" (which I have not seen. I don't watch reality shows much) and the roman gladiators.... I'll save some more thoughts later once more people have read the second and third book...  |
Ashley wrote: Sounds like everyone is already reading the next boo...do you want to discuss that one next? Back to the original Hunger Games...What do you think of the ending of the first book The Hunger Games? Made me immediately go to the next book in the series....The whole revolution and the "rescue" of Peeta and Katniss left me hanging! I have to day, their life in the "districts" sounds like what life must be like in the communist countries , don't you think? A "yes" from me for the second book. The ending of The Hunger Games was unforgiving. It's like, "Get the next book, or else". I come from a former socialist totalitarian country, born and raised in the capital. Just like in most of the European countries that happens to be the biggest and best looking city. The other cities, depending on their location, size, and industry were either prospering, or miserable looking. Other cities were artificially pumped up because some big wig comunist party leader was born there. The villages were the really poor places where people lived of the land and the pension was $90 a month. You couldn't just relocate, unless you married someone out of your village/small town. Of course, the hardest to get into and the most desirable was the capital. That's why all young girls from the country did their best to look all dolled-up and sexy, all the time. You can still see this nowadays, even in the capital. When tourists go visit my home country, they are all flabbergasted by the beauty of local young women. So yes, Ashley, you are right. |
| Ana, sounds like you had a very interesting life...I can't imagine living like that...wondering where my next meal will come from, having to answer to Capitol people all the time and asking permission for everything...Born and raised in the USA spoils one I guess...Although, here too its becoming a split between the weathy and the poor...another discussion! |
Ashley wrote: Although, here too its becoming a split between the wealthy and the poor...another discussion! The poorer families in the Hunger Games are more likely to be chosen to compete because they are forced to put their names in the lottery more times in exchange for food. Similar to our current society, where children from low income families are disadvantaged ie living in poorer neighbourhoods attend poorer schools. So very true in Canada where our native schools receive less funding from the government than our urban/city schools. |
Oakley's Mom wrote: Ashley wrote: Although, here too its becoming a split between the wealthy and the poor...another discussion! The poorer families in the Hunger Games are more likely to be chosen to compete because they are forced to put their names in the lottery more times in exchange for food. Similar to our current society, where children from low income families are disadvantaged ie living in poorer neighbourhoods attend poorer schools. So very true in Canada where our native schools receive less funding from the government than our urban/city schools. Here in the U.S. poorer people are also more likely to serve in the military. Especially those who want to go to college but can't afford it. |
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