Re: The Hunger Games/Catching Fire/Mockingjay
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:28 pm
Wow, I haven't been on here in forever.
Just want to say I LOVED MOCKINGJAY.
It was perfect. And I am not even lying. Everything was so thought-provoking and perfect and I LOVED IT.
I'm copying this from my ff.net profile just cuz I'm too lazy to re-type it.
I did have to register everything Suzanne Collins wrote before making my decision. And I've reread it already and have come to my final conclusion. IT WAS BRILLIANT.
First thing you people should remember: THIS IS A WAR STORY. If you've read my stuff you know I'm a total cheeseball, but even I know that THG is not all about the romance. First of all, people are GOING to die. I think if we lived back in WWII or Vietnam more people would get it, however I think so many people take this all for granted now, because they aren't having their older brothers, friends, dads, husbands, etc. drafted in or feeling obligated to join the military. But being from a military town, having military in my family, this is such an accurate portrayal for me. Finnick dies, yes. It's sad and it's tragic because he's just married Annie, and they have a little baby in the oven (although I wonder if he knew about that before he left...) but who is it that goes and fights in wars? Young men, with wives and a family. Finnick was the only one who had that of the characters. His death represents so many deaths that have occurred because of war, all of the sacrifice. People also said his death wasn't dramatic enough. HELLO what do you think war is like? That every person gets a long epic death? They were in battle! That's as it happens! In fact, Katniss says she has a flashback of his life for him. That isn't enough for you people?! Some complained they didn't grieve enough for him. THEY COULDN'T THEY WERE IN BATTLE. Grieving would make them lose concentration and then they would DIE. Prim's death. I cried. It was terrible and it was sad. BUT THAT IS WAR. Some say it was pointless then, for Prim to die, because Katniss volunteered for her. Do you think life cares about that? Prim's death was the worst thing ever. I agree. But it was the best thing for the book. It brought such irony and horror to the situation. Innocent lives taken for no reason. That's what war is.
And I thought it was great how Coin was evil, and the rebels had to make sketchy choices. It's so realistic. Stalin was our ally in WWII...and wasn't he just a peach? Ever heard of Hiroshima? That's still under big debate to this day. Both sides in war do horrible, atrocious things.
CASE AND POINT: Mockingjay is about war. People die. People kill. People have to make hard decisions. If everyone lived, what would be the point? If the rebels could magically take over without needing to destroy, where's the thought, the side that we as humans now have to and should relate to and think about? This book was so brutally honest about that situation, it wasn't glorified and or idealized like Hollywood stuff. This was real. Suzanne Collins grew up learning this from her dad who was in Vietnam. It's uncomfortable, but Mockingjay was so brilliant with the war aspect I...it was so mature beyond YA I think that's why some people have problems with it.
THE LOVE TRIANGLE: Team Gale is only bitter that Katniss didn't end up with him. If you've read through Catching Fire, I don't see how anyone could think they were going to get together. In all honesty, that would have been the biggest shock to me, if Katniss ended up with him because that whole relationship is just..ick. Team Peeta is upset because Peeta got hijacked and he "isn't the same". WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE ON? Peeta is a million times a better character! First of all, it's not like he chose to hate Katniss. It was the Capitol's fault. Yes, through most of the book he was pretty crazy. But OH MY GOSH he is still amazing! After ALL that he went through, he came back the same, although a scarred, person. He saw all of Katniss' faults but loved her anyway. He kept her from committing suicide. Peeta is the best character ever written. I swear, I love him so much more after everything he went through and is still the sweet guy that goes and plants primroses for her.
On a similar note, Gale and Katniss' friendship breaking. First time through, I didn't like it. I didn't know what friends would leave it like that, with no closure. Then I realized...there was closure. Gale talked to Katniss. She made it pretty clear she wouldn't be able to see past the fact that his design for the bomb killed Prim. I KNOW he didn't kill her. But their relationship was breaking before. It was fraying, and that was just the final straw for them. Gale tried, but failed so he moved on. I'm sorry Team Gale. I was on your side at first. But after rereading it...I thought it was...fine. It's not one of those things I agree with 100%, but I can accept it and sort of see why it happened.
Katniss' loss of mental stability was BRILLIANT. I love Harry Potter. But is his reaction to all of those deaths and carnage realistic? Maybe, but I'm tired of the hero complex where this stuff doesn't bother them, or they can move on easily. Ever heard of PTSD? Yeah, it's real. It affects a lot of people. And after losing her sister, how could Katniss remain stable? I love that she broke down. Katniss is human. It's perfect. How many YA books have their main character, in first-person POV, go completely off their rocker? Only one that I can think of. Because Suzanne Collins is amazing!
The Epilogue: Starting off with the "ehhh, it was too mushy" people. First, are you Team Gale and just saying that because she ended up with Peeta? That's ridiculous. It was not mushy. Katniss still has dark episodes she will never ever forget. But what? Is Katniss supposed to be in an uber depression for the rest of her life? Are people supposed to start another war? Please. It was a perfect balance. It shows the haunting of the past, but that there is hope for the future. It was perfect. And the kids. Some are all "ewww Katniss didn't want kids!" She was 16/17 when she said that and under very different circumstances. Yeah, it took a long time to get her to have kids, which is in character. But I know people who were like that. They didn't want a kid but their spouse did, so they go on ahead with it. And they love that kid so much. One of my dad's friends was like that and ended up having another. It's completely realistic. And also, remember there is no Hunger Games anymore, no starvation. Other say Katniss was too...cold to them? What does this line mean to you? "Only the joy of holding her in my arms could tame it." THE JOY, people, THE JOY. She loves her kids. No, she didn't name them but...is Albus Severus really any better? It's a stylistic choice on Suzanne Collins' part not to name them, to leave the story more open and vague. Just for us to know they're there, and life is going on.
So...that's it for now. It was great. If you didn't like it the first time, reread it knowing what's going to happen and appreciate the brilliance of it.
And on a separate note, I found the perfect Peeta! Hunter Parrish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkeECBOgcO0
Go to like 1:28 in this one, HE'S BAKING! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1cNI95ceoo
Honestly, I was a little "meh" on him at first, but after watching him act, I am to the point where if he doesn't get cast I will be devastated. I even started a twitter supporting him as Peeta. Hunter4Baker: http://twitter.com/Hunter4Baker
Just want to say I LOVED MOCKINGJAY.
It was perfect. And I am not even lying. Everything was so thought-provoking and perfect and I LOVED IT.
I'm copying this from my ff.net profile just cuz I'm too lazy to re-type it.
I did have to register everything Suzanne Collins wrote before making my decision. And I've reread it already and have come to my final conclusion. IT WAS BRILLIANT.
First thing you people should remember: THIS IS A WAR STORY. If you've read my stuff you know I'm a total cheeseball, but even I know that THG is not all about the romance. First of all, people are GOING to die. I think if we lived back in WWII or Vietnam more people would get it, however I think so many people take this all for granted now, because they aren't having their older brothers, friends, dads, husbands, etc. drafted in or feeling obligated to join the military. But being from a military town, having military in my family, this is such an accurate portrayal for me. Finnick dies, yes. It's sad and it's tragic because he's just married Annie, and they have a little baby in the oven (although I wonder if he knew about that before he left...) but who is it that goes and fights in wars? Young men, with wives and a family. Finnick was the only one who had that of the characters. His death represents so many deaths that have occurred because of war, all of the sacrifice. People also said his death wasn't dramatic enough. HELLO what do you think war is like? That every person gets a long epic death? They were in battle! That's as it happens! In fact, Katniss says she has a flashback of his life for him. That isn't enough for you people?! Some complained they didn't grieve enough for him. THEY COULDN'T THEY WERE IN BATTLE. Grieving would make them lose concentration and then they would DIE. Prim's death. I cried. It was terrible and it was sad. BUT THAT IS WAR. Some say it was pointless then, for Prim to die, because Katniss volunteered for her. Do you think life cares about that? Prim's death was the worst thing ever. I agree. But it was the best thing for the book. It brought such irony and horror to the situation. Innocent lives taken for no reason. That's what war is.
And I thought it was great how Coin was evil, and the rebels had to make sketchy choices. It's so realistic. Stalin was our ally in WWII...and wasn't he just a peach? Ever heard of Hiroshima? That's still under big debate to this day. Both sides in war do horrible, atrocious things.
CASE AND POINT: Mockingjay is about war. People die. People kill. People have to make hard decisions. If everyone lived, what would be the point? If the rebels could magically take over without needing to destroy, where's the thought, the side that we as humans now have to and should relate to and think about? This book was so brutally honest about that situation, it wasn't glorified and or idealized like Hollywood stuff. This was real. Suzanne Collins grew up learning this from her dad who was in Vietnam. It's uncomfortable, but Mockingjay was so brilliant with the war aspect I...it was so mature beyond YA I think that's why some people have problems with it.
THE LOVE TRIANGLE: Team Gale is only bitter that Katniss didn't end up with him. If you've read through Catching Fire, I don't see how anyone could think they were going to get together. In all honesty, that would have been the biggest shock to me, if Katniss ended up with him because that whole relationship is just..ick. Team Peeta is upset because Peeta got hijacked and he "isn't the same". WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE ON? Peeta is a million times a better character! First of all, it's not like he chose to hate Katniss. It was the Capitol's fault. Yes, through most of the book he was pretty crazy. But OH MY GOSH he is still amazing! After ALL that he went through, he came back the same, although a scarred, person. He saw all of Katniss' faults but loved her anyway. He kept her from committing suicide. Peeta is the best character ever written. I swear, I love him so much more after everything he went through and is still the sweet guy that goes and plants primroses for her.
On a similar note, Gale and Katniss' friendship breaking. First time through, I didn't like it. I didn't know what friends would leave it like that, with no closure. Then I realized...there was closure. Gale talked to Katniss. She made it pretty clear she wouldn't be able to see past the fact that his design for the bomb killed Prim. I KNOW he didn't kill her. But their relationship was breaking before. It was fraying, and that was just the final straw for them. Gale tried, but failed so he moved on. I'm sorry Team Gale. I was on your side at first. But after rereading it...I thought it was...fine. It's not one of those things I agree with 100%, but I can accept it and sort of see why it happened.
Katniss' loss of mental stability was BRILLIANT. I love Harry Potter. But is his reaction to all of those deaths and carnage realistic? Maybe, but I'm tired of the hero complex where this stuff doesn't bother them, or they can move on easily. Ever heard of PTSD? Yeah, it's real. It affects a lot of people. And after losing her sister, how could Katniss remain stable? I love that she broke down. Katniss is human. It's perfect. How many YA books have their main character, in first-person POV, go completely off their rocker? Only one that I can think of. Because Suzanne Collins is amazing!
The Epilogue: Starting off with the "ehhh, it was too mushy" people. First, are you Team Gale and just saying that because she ended up with Peeta? That's ridiculous. It was not mushy. Katniss still has dark episodes she will never ever forget. But what? Is Katniss supposed to be in an uber depression for the rest of her life? Are people supposed to start another war? Please. It was a perfect balance. It shows the haunting of the past, but that there is hope for the future. It was perfect. And the kids. Some are all "ewww Katniss didn't want kids!" She was 16/17 when she said that and under very different circumstances. Yeah, it took a long time to get her to have kids, which is in character. But I know people who were like that. They didn't want a kid but their spouse did, so they go on ahead with it. And they love that kid so much. One of my dad's friends was like that and ended up having another. It's completely realistic. And also, remember there is no Hunger Games anymore, no starvation. Other say Katniss was too...cold to them? What does this line mean to you? "Only the joy of holding her in my arms could tame it." THE JOY, people, THE JOY. She loves her kids. No, she didn't name them but...is Albus Severus really any better? It's a stylistic choice on Suzanne Collins' part not to name them, to leave the story more open and vague. Just for us to know they're there, and life is going on.
So...that's it for now. It was great. If you didn't like it the first time, reread it knowing what's going to happen and appreciate the brilliance of it.
And on a separate note, I found the perfect Peeta! Hunter Parrish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkeECBOgcO0
Go to like 1:28 in this one, HE'S BAKING! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1cNI95ceoo
Honestly, I was a little "meh" on him at first, but after watching him act, I am to the point where if he doesn't get cast I will be devastated. I even started a twitter supporting him as Peeta. Hunter4Baker: http://twitter.com/Hunter4Baker