In the sixteenth chapter of Catching Fire, HOLY SHIT. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Catching Fire.
This honestly keeps getting better and better. Seriously. I know it’s silly, but I expected myself to be bored with things like interviews, allies, and training sessions, since we’ve already seen them, but the dynamic that Collins has created makes these scenes even better a second time around.
Haymitch grips my wrist as if anticipating my next move, but I am speechless as the Capitol’s torturers have rendered Darius. Haymitch once told me they did something to Avoxes’ tongues so they could never talk again. In my head I hear Darius’s voice, playful and bright, ringing across the Hob to tease me. Not as my fellow victors make fun of me now, but because we genuinely like each other. If Gale could see him…
I know any move I would make toward Darius, any act of recognition, would only result in punishment for him. So we just stare into each other’s eyes. Darius, a now a mute slave; me, now headed to death. What would we say, anyway? That we’re sorry for the other’s lot? That we ache for the other’s pain? That we’re glad we had the chance to know each other?
I still like the idea that Darius acts as a parallel to Katniss’s guilt, but here we’re given another subtext to all this. Perhaps the parallel is more about the inevitability of their lives in contrast with the Capitol. In a way, they’re both slaves to this tyranny, one forced and the other chosen.
The Capitol sure knows how to ruin everything.
But the only time I really feel present is when I purposely knock a dish of peas to the floor and, before anyone can stop me, crouch down to clean them up. Darius is right by me when I send the dish over, and we two are briefly side by side, obscured from view, as we scoop up the peas. For just one moment our hands meet. I can feel his skin, rough under the buttery sauce from the dish. In the tight, desperate clench of our fingers are all the words we will never be able to say.
Could a dish of peas ever be so heartbreaking? No, really, I respect Katniss a lot for this. It’s such a small thing to do, but the small things are what matter sometimes.
This chapter, in that sense, is all about people doing things that are small in scale, yet affect things in a much larger way. After a night of terrible sleep, Katpee are forced to do what they did a year before: train with the other tributes. It’s interesting here how Collins almost acknowledges that this process is incredibly boring by having the victors refuse to take most of it seriously. It further contributes to the idea that this Quarter Quell idea is not going to work in the Capitol’s favor.
First of all, Haymitch tells Katpee that they should plan to make friends with some of the other victors and create allies.
“No,” I say. “I don’t trust any of them, I can’t stand most of them, and I’d rather operate with just the two of us.”
You know, I agree with Katniss. It doesn’t seem like a good idea, despite that I generally trust Haymitch’s judgment when it comes to the Games. Well, I should say that if Katpee were going into this blind, it would make sense. But I’m worried that making friends with the victors would make everything much harder. How is making friends going to help them survive? What if one of the victors they ally with immediately turns and kills them?
“Because you’re at a distinct disadvantage. Your competitors have known each other for yearss. So who do you think they’re going to target first?†he says.
Ok, that is sort of a good point, but the games are about physical and mental triumph. Don’t other people have a distinct disadvantage that is more prominent over the “newness†of Katniss and Peeta?
“Find someone to team up with who might be of some use to you. Remember, you’re not in a ring full of trembling children anymore. These people are all experienced killers, no matter what shape they appear to be in.â€
I have to admit that makes sense. Nearly all of these people do not appear to be killers at all, and I suppose it is foolish not to remember that.
It didn’t help, though, that virtually no one took the training sessions seriously. When Katpee arrive downstairs, only two other people are there.
Only Brutus and the woman from District 2, Enobaria, are present. Enobaria looks to be about thirty and all I can remember about her is that, in hand-to-hand combat, she killed on tribute by ripping open his throat with her teeth. She became so famous for this act that, after she was a victor, she had her teeth cosmetically altered so each one ends in a sharp point like a fang and is inlaid with gold. She has no shortage of admirers in the Capitol.
Well, so far, Enobaria is the only victor I’m not too fond of. Also, WHAT.
We’re treated to scenes of Katniss moving through various stations, starting with knot-tying. You know…it is kind of boring. I kind of feel I should say this. Finnick shows off a bit, Katniss gets bored again, then moves on to fire-making. The listlessness of all of it didn’t grate on my nerves, though; in fact, it just made me more nervous for what would break the monotony of it all.
That monotony gets broken by two unsuspecting tributes from District 3, Wiress and Beetee, a woman and an older man who seem to pose no threat to anyone…well, ever. Turns out they are both inventors of sorts, and while they make small talk about such things, their conversation turns to uprisings.
“I guess a lot of orders from Distrcit Three were getting backed up.â€
Beetee examines me under his glasses. “Yes. Did you have any similar backups in coal production this year?†he asks.
I love that they have to use language in this manner to avoid detection; the subversive nature of their conversation is one of Collins’s better details that she provides, even if it’s a simplistic style of coding. Obviously, it’s not as complex as, say, Navajo or Choctaw Code Talkers, especially since this isn’t for conversation during wartime. But I do want to give her credit for re-creating this sort of parallel in this way, because we sometimes take for granted the privilege of open conversation.
Their conversation does become a bit more open after this, but not about uprisings. Wiress gestures towards the Gamemakers, who have entered the room, specifically, Plutarch Heavensbee.
I don’t see why this merits comment, but I say, “Yes, he’s been promoted to Head Gamemaker this year.â€
“No, no. There by the corner of the table. You can just…†says Wiress.
Beetee squints under his glasses. “Just make it out.â€
I stare in that direction, perplexed. But then I see it. A patch of space about six inches square at the corner of the table seems almost to be vibrating. It’s as if they air is rippling in tiny visible waves, distorting the sharp edges of the wood and a goblet of wine someone has set there.
WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT
“A force field. They’ve set one up between the Gamemakers and us. I wonder what brought that on,†Beetee says.
“Me, probably,†I confess. “Last year I shot an arrow at them during my private training session.†Beetee and Wiress look at me curiously. “I was provoked. So, do all force fields have a spot like that?â€
“Chink,†says Wiress vaguely.
“In the armor, as it were,†finishes Beetee. “Ideally it’d be invisible, wouldn’t it?â€
Head has exploded into a trillion different pieces. Force fields? Now my brain is turning. How have these two seen force fields before? And noticed that they have weak spots? And why is Collins making sure to point this out?
Oh man, I can’t believe that she’s gotten me to forget about District 13. Or uprisings. My mind is NOW wondering about the edge of the arena and force fields and victors. BRAVO, COLLINS.
During their meal break from the training, Katpee discuss allies, the other victors, and Haymitch’s ability to be annoyingly correct about the Games. I wasn’t surprised that Katniss wanted Wiress and Beetee to be on her “team†with Peeta and I kind of hope they are, mostly so we can learn more about what they know about Capitol technology. Peeta, on the other hand, wants both of the District 11 victors, Seeder and Chaff. Katniss opposes Chaff because…well, dude did kiss her when she didn’t want it.
Unlike in The Hunger Games, Collins spends a moment with almost every victor; we learn their names, their districts and brief bits of information about what kind of person they are. Katniss meets Effie’s friend Cecelia, the woman with three kids, and an older man named Woof we seems ill-suited for the Games. She meets the brother and sister team from District 1 and frets about the thought that she killed both tributes from that district a year earlier. There’s a short moment where she trains with Enobaria, but that doesn’t seem to work out at all. Finnick introduces Katniss to the female victor from his district, the 80-year-old Mags, who proves to be rather amazing at making a fishhook out of anything.
Suddenly I remember how she volunteered to replace the young, hysterical woman in her district. It couldn’t be because she thought she had any chance of winning. She did it to save the girl, just like I volunteered last year to save Prim. And I decide I want her on my team.
Great. Now I have to go back and tell Haymitch I want an eighty-year-old and Nuts and Volts for my allies. He’ll love that.
Well, go for it, Katniss. It can’t make things any worse, right? I don’t really know how fishhooks are going to factor into anything at all. I am worried that the Gamemakers will see Mags’s ability and then design like…a lake full of poisonous fish or something.
Katniss decides to abandon any attempts at making allies, so she heads to the archery training area.
Since I’m hitting everything he throws up, he starts increasing the number of birds he sends airborne. I forget the rest of the gym and the victors and how miserable I am and lose myself in the shooting. When I manage to take down five birds in one round, I realize it’s so quiet I can hear each one hit the floor. I turn and see the majority of the victors have stopped to watch me. Their faces show everything from envy to hatred to admiration.
Oh, Katniss. You are my favorite. Not that this doesn’t make EVERYTHING MORE DIFFICULT. The thing is (and Katniss points this out), the more she spends times with the victors, the harder it is for her to think about killing them. Does the Capitol intend this? Man, I still think this is going to backfire in some way.
The last thing of training is the private sessions with the Gamemakers, which could be the most absurd thing about all of this. The Gamemakers already know what these people can do, so why even have them? When Katpee meet up before they are called, they both vocalize how strange this all is.
We sit in silence awhile and then I blurt out the thing that’s on both our minds. “How are we going to kill these people, Peeta?â€
“I don’t know.†He leans his forehead down on our entwined hands.
“I don’t want them as allies. Why did Haymitch want us to get to know them?†I say. “It’ll make it so much harder than last time. Except for Rue maybe. But I guess I never really could’ve killed her, anyway. She was just too much like Prim.â€
Peeta looks up at me, his brow creased in thought. “Her death was the most despicable, wasn’t it?â€
Now I’m curious: Has Haymitch actually made his first mistake in mentoring them? Is this going to create a situation where there’s a death that’s somehow worse than what happened to Rue?
Goddamn, I am so worried about all this.
Peeta gets called in for his fifteen minutes, but Katniss isn’t called for forty minutes. FORTY MINUTES.
When I go in, I smell the sharp odor of cleaner and notice that one of the mats has been dragged to the center of the room. The mood is very different from last year’s, when the Gamemakers were half drunk and distractedly picking at tidbits from the banquet table. They whisper among themselves, looking somewhat annoyed. What did Peeta do? Something to upset them?
OH NO. Why is there a mat in the center of the room? Did Peeta paint a poisonous cake or something? Is he even still alive? WHAT IS GOING ON.
Katniss, confused by this, is certain that Peeta did something to irritate the Gamemakers. She immediately resolves to do exactly the same:
To break through the smug veneer of those who use their brains to find amusing ways to kill us. To make them realize that while we’re vulnerable to the Capitol’s cruelties, they are as well.
OMG. OMG. WHAT. WHAT ARE YOU DOING. YOU ARE GOING TO GET KILLED.
Suddenly I know just what I’m going to do. Somethig what will blow anything Peeta did right out of the water. I go over to the knot-tying station and get a length of rope. I start to manipulate it, but it’s hard because I’ve never made this actual knot myself. I’ve only watched Finnick’s clever fingers, and they moved so fast. After about ten minutes, I’ve come up with a respectable noose. I drag one of the target dummies out into the middle of the room and, using chinning bars, hang it so it dangles by the neck. Tying it’s hands behind its back would be a nice touch, but I think think I might be running out of time. I hurry over to the camouflage station, where some of the other tributes, undoubtedly the morphlings, have made a colossal mess. But I find a partial container of bloodred berry juice that will serve my needs. The flesh-colored fabric of the dummy’s skin makes a good, absorbent canvas. I carefully pain the words on its body, concealing them from view. Then I step away quickly to watch the reaction on the Gamemakers’ faces as they read the name on the dummy.
SENECA CRANE.
;ASDFJ;LASDHFÂ ;AHSJF; ALSDFUH;ASDF@#$%#^@^RTHSDFW$%$%
HOLY SHIT. HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!
Oh my god, I can’t. I just can’t. oh my god
I wonder if Enobaria wanted her teeth filed down like that or if the Capitol did it to her, to increase her celebrity, as it were.
Ooooh, that's an interesting thought.
This is a good point. We've seen before that the Capitol has absolutely no regard for bodily integrity.
Although that's entirely possible, something tells me that Enobaria would have relished having that done to her. Who rips out someone's throat with her bare teeth?!?!
Well, it was hand to hand combat. What if she was about to be killed, and her teeth were the only thing she could reach her opponent with? I think I would totally rip someone's throat out with my teeth if it was the only way I could defend myself from being murdered.
I'm just thinking how hard you would have to bite/tear to accomplish that…*shudder*
The human jaw is one of the strongest muscles in our body, and it comes pre-equipped with handy cutting mechanisms….so, if it's life or death….probably not that hard. Adrenaline can be crazy.
Not really. Once, I bit a guy as hard as I could, and I didn't even break his skin.
It is absolutely disgusting and I would rather die, tbh. I could never do that. I mean, I guess I have a weird kind of respect for her. You'd have to be seriously tough to be able to bite someone like that. But ew ew ew horrible.
Never say never. You don't know what you're capable of if you're fearing for your life. As this book series proves.
Denzel Washington in the Bone Collector. Rippd someone's throat out that way, was still the hero.
Ripping out someone's throat with your teeth, is not a reaction a normal person would have, no matter how much in "fight flight" mode they are in. I don't think your body would just respond like that.
There's no honor in a fight to the death. As Terry Pratchett would say, "Stuff the Marquis of Fantailler". Maybe I feel this way because I'm small and unathletic and female, but biting and eye-gouging and other such brutal moves seem perfectly normal to me in a context like the Games, where you know you're going to be fighting for your life. You go for the weak points and you do it as fast and hard as you can.
It's not just you, don't worry. It's called combat pragmatism, to borrow the tvtropes name, and even Bruce Lee was a follower. Like you said, there is no honor in trying to kill each other, and you do what it takes to survive. I actually think that biting is probably one of the first responses your body would have in close combat or grappling.
And Enobaria is one of the careers, so she probably wants to milk her victory for all it's worth. I honestly don't know what I think about it, just wanted to raise the idea.
I agree with tethysdust. Not to mention, many of the winners have been slightly mentally unstable. It wouldn't be hard to go unhinged from the horrors of the Games.
That's what I thought too. If they were going to alter Katniss while she was drugged, they wouldn't have any issues doing the same to other victors. And as for the whole throat-ripping act, when it's life or death you'd be surprised what people will do.
Yeah I always felt she didn't have a voice in what they did to her teeth.
I’ve been frantically refreshing for TWO DAYS and it finally paid off! Yes!
I was shocked with the whole Seneca Crane thing. It’s bad ass but seems like…trouble.
I LOVE YOU KATNSIS. Words can not express just how much I love her absolute ballsiness in hanging Seneca Crane. It's so brilliant. It's a reminder to the Gamemakers that even though they think that they're so powerful, if the Capitol wants them gone, they can be taken out just as easily as Seneca Crane was. Not even the Gamemakers are safe from the Capitol.
Oh, Katniss. There is really nothing more to say to that ending.
I know … it gave me a lot of anxiety reading that ending
KATNISS IS A BAMF FOREVER THE END.
They're is some bumper sticker going around that says "And then Katniss killed Bella, The End." I love it 😉
Agreed. I couldn't even come up with words to describe how proud I was of her at that moment.
You know what the greatest tragedy is? Going on holidays to a place with no internet connection and missing a whole week of reviews! Ok, so now that I'm all caught up (and I still can't believe I missed so much), all I feel free to say is "Katniss is the best" and "HOLY SHIT!"
I know how you feel! I was gone for a week and just caught up too!
Me too! I just got home and I've missed so much! I will catch up though!
LOL I was at Disney World. I'm catching up now! 🙂
This is one of my favorite chapters, simply because we do get to meet all these new characters. Also, I want Mags to be my grandma. I mean, I already live in a fishing community, she'd fit right in.
Also, I get the sense there's something more to her character. She seems like one of those people you meet who have loads of fascinating stories.
Well, now that I think about it, she was alive during the Dark Days (75 years ago), although she would have been very young.
Wow, yes, that never occurred to me!
I think Katniss no longer cares. She is walking into these games with a death wish so why not? I love her.
I don't think she cares about her own life anymore. I do think she cares about sending a message to the Capitol. Otherwise, she would have just shot some arrows at a target and called it a day. Her priorities are shifting
Yes, she has officially become a BAMF, and I'm excited about it.
Gloves are off my friend! They know they are going against the Capitol in every way possible (you know the arena will not be playing fair- it will target them for sure). I love that they are basically saying "F*ck you" to them in this chapter!
"Poisonous cake"
Heh. Hehe. Heheheh.
I might accept "Death by cupcake", if I had my choice.
Church of England, Cake or Death?
Uh… death. No, wait, cake! I meant cake!
Am I the only person who thought of L and Death Note when I saw that?
Chicken!
The first time I read that chapter I had completely forgotten who Seneca Crane was so I didn't get what Katniss had done AT ALL.
I had totally forgotten who he was, too.
I had forgotten as well, then I read it again and put two and two together. Then I cringed. haha
Who is he, again?
Old Gamesmaker who let Katniss pull the berries stunt
Absolutely the same. To me it was the only fault with this chapter. Crane's name is mentioned…what, once or twice? And now he's a crucial Katniss-being-badass device. It sort of spoiled the moment for me that I had to go back and look up who he actually was.
yes. the same for me.
First time I read this I thought it was Ceasar and I knew that wasn't right.
Man, I love this. LOVE IT. This chapter is one of the reasons why I'm liking Catching Fire more than Hunger Games. We get to know more about other characters besides Katniss. Don't get me wrong I love Kat, but for me a great book is made when the author makes you fall in love with EVERYTHING in it: The main characters, the background characters, the scenary, the hate the villian makes you feel,and a lot of other things, which is why I adore Harry Potter (that's my pasive-aggressive way to tell you I want MOAR Harry Potter ;D) so much. In this book we are finally getting that, and I love it. It still makes me sad that we never knew Foxface's real name. This time, I find all of the victors fascinating, even if some of them are kinda disgusting (Enobaria, she killed a guy with her teeth. WHAT.) and I can't wait for Collins to tell us more about them when we get to the arena. I think Kat is going to pay for that bold move she did to the Gamemakers, but in the meantime GO KATNISS YOU ARE A BADASS I APPROVE. 😀 😀 😀
I love Mags. It's amazing to me that she managed to live to an incredibly old age for being in the Districts, and yet gives it up for that younger woman. How can you not love someone that courageous and selfless?
Also: Katniss has forever won me over.
Actually it's surprising to me that more elderly victors didn't do that–volunteer to replace the younger ones who were called. Like, "I'm going to die soon anyway, so why not go out in the arena and save a younger person's life?" But maybe I'm overestimating the selflessness of HG victors. Or, you know, people.
Well, when you think about it…
1, and 2 likely had all volunteers among them (Brutus for sure, Enobaria likely, and what are the chances of a brother-sister duo from a Careers district being picked randomly? Unless maybe one of them was picked, and the other volunteered. Or it was arranged by the Capitol)
3 has middle-aged weirdos (Nuts and Volts…that nickname implies some people think they're crazy to me)
4 had Mags volunteering
5 has a potential alcoholic for one
6 has morphling addicts
7 only had one female tribute
8 has a really old male tribute
11 has older victors (Seeder's around 60, and Chaff is at least mid-forties) and one potential alcoholic. Also, keep in mind that a lot of these districts don't have many victors.
The only one I really don't understand the no-volunteers thing is Cecelia, because of her children. Yes, Finnick is young, but I would bet that, coming from a Careers district, few people thought to volunteer in his place.
So there you have it. My super-long justification for Why Humans Are Not Monsters All the Time.
I'm willing to bet that the Capitol picked the Brutus and Enobaria fro the drama. Had it been left to them both it would have been dreadful.
It's interesting,because they would have had 2or 3 months (between the announcement of Quarter Quell and the selection) to discuss it, like Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta did). So, presumably, the victors from each district could come up with some contingency plan, depending on who was selected. Perhaps Finnick made it known that he doesn't object to going in, or perhaps it was felt that with his popularity in the Capitol, he would pull good sponsors, and would have a good chance of winning.
You also have to remember that the winning District still gets a reward after the Game are over, so they'd naturally want the fittest tributes coming forth. It wouldn't matter to a richer place like District 4 is supposed to be, but to the higher number districts (and especially the ones that've been punished for rebelling recently), it's a really important opportunity.
Oh, that's a good point.
The tag \’So Fucked Up\’ really should have been on this post because what Katniss did is INSANE. I mean, I get that she wants to remind the gamemakers that they are vulnerable against the Capitol as well, but that is crazy.
Watch it, Mark!! You're gonna need a new keyboard by the end of this book.
I <3 you, Mark.
I was worried about them going back to the Games, because I didn't want to just read a more intense version of The Hunger Games, so I was pleasantly surprised by this chapter. I like all of the extra detail about the Tributes and that Katniss is actually paying attention to them. They're all fairly relaxed and analytical compared to the last Game's training session. And Beetee won my nearsighted heart forever by looking under his glasses.
I like this more than the first Hunger Games, in terms of the narrative. Learning about the other tributes makes it way more interesting to me. I also think it's kind of neat that we get to see how much Katniss has changed by showing her very different attitude in (more or less) the same situations as last book.
I really want the tributes to team up. If they were able to trust each other, they could just be like "Nope, we're not fighting each other this time. We're working together to fight the arena itself."
After all, I think we can assume that the head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, is a Katniss&rebellion supporter. He's tried to tell Katniss this, though she wasn't really paying attention. Also, given what happened to the last head, I'm pretty sure he didn't hop into the post for the prestige. I feel like they will have help in the design of the arena. Of course it will have to still be a deadly place, because he can't be too obvious, but I think the tributes should keep an eye out for some kind of help from him. Maybe he'll even design them a way out, if they're clever enough to find it. I think that Heavensbee sees this as the only meaningful way he can rebel. Of course, maybe I'm just way too optimistic and he's actually a total jerk who wants them all to die, I don't know :).
Also, other predictions from Collins' foreshadowing: I think that force fields and the chinks in them will play an important role in these Games, possibly helping Katpee (and others?) escape the arena. The Haymitch backstory could also be foreshadowing for this.
Also, I hope Peeta painted a poisonous cake.
What a badass. She's already dead (unless Pres. Snow is having too much fun with things like putting Darius near her to kill her right away) so she might as well go out with a bang. I love how absolutely spur-of-the-moment it all is. YOU SHOW THE CAPITOL YOU DON'T GIVE A FLYING FUCK ABOUT STAYING IN LINE!
Again, I love how new this all is. I guess that's why Collins didn't give ANY BACKSTORY WHATSOEVER about the preparation for the first Games/who the hell all the tributes were (ALTHOUGH SHE COULD HAVE!), but I'm glad we're at least getting it here!
Poisonous cake, lol. Too bad the force field would have kept Peeta from feeding it to the Gamekeepers…
(Edit: Haha, Gamemakers. Nevermind. I JUST LOVE HAGRID SO MUCH AND OF COURSE I WOULD BE GLAD THERE WAS A FORCE FIELD IN THAT CASE, OKAY?)
Katniss is my favorite forever and ever.
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6r8L7Cf9vbA/THLQOBqlV4I/AAAAAAAAEiU/Sg7NG_kUshM/s1600/SenecaCrane003.jpg">
I found this in a Google search, so I have no idea who to credit. But, I should let you know that this is a CAKE. Not sure if it's poisonous or not.
I love this. We are discussing Catching Fire and Mocking jay at my IRL book club next month. I am TOTALLY making this!
Oh yum! Though, eating a hangman cake seems kinda … unreal … to me! haha
Dead Gamemaker. YUM.
That cake is so scary.
Tasty Gamemaker!
THAT SOUNDS CREEPY.
I wonder if it's red velvet cake, and then when you cut into it it would be red like blood.
…that's kind of brilliant >_>
Two favorite parts of this chapter:
Johanna Mason is naked again and oiling her skin down for a wrestling lesson.
LOL NEVER CHANGE JOHANNA
We each get fifteen minutes before the Gamemakers to amaze them with our skills . . . There's a lot of kidding about it at lunch. What we might do. Sing, dance, strip, tell jokes. Mags, who I can understand a little better not, decides she'd just going to take a nap.
Haha, Mags' super special skill is napping. That is all kinds of awesome. Team Mags?
(Also, I'm going to make a wild leap and bet that Johanna Mason suggested stripping.)
That tree oufit from the chariot parade? She spent the previous night sewing it….down….into a wicked burlesque getup.
Am I the only who totally loves both Johanna AND Finnick??!?!?!?!?!
They are badass and naked. WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE. 😉
Not at all. I adore both of them. They're both so confident. And I love Johanna's complete lack of filter.
They are kinda awesome aren't they? *happy sigh* <3
"And I love Johanna's complete lack of filter."
And clothes. Don't forget clothes, she lacks them also. Which is both real badass and real awkward.
"It's Naked Naked Naked Time,
Naked as can be,
Nakedness is so much fun,
So much fun for me!
They might call me a pervert,
They may call me a fool,
But it's Naked Naked Naked Time,
All around the school!"
~Dumbledore
LOL. XD
You've seen that youtube vid, right? Right? I can't be the only one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olqvB3HbhV0
I HAVE SEEN THAT VIDEO…. AND I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE GIGGLED LIKE A MANIAC. AND THEN REPLAY IT AND GIGGLED SOME MORE.
I may have seen all of them and I may or may not know them by heart… And giggle everytime I listen to them.
They are my two favorite victors, too.
NO I THINK THEY ARE ~FIERCE~ AND ENTERTAINING. And Mags. I love Mags. NEVER CHANGE.
Mags is <3 . It will be very bad when she dies. *cough* Eh, I mean yeah…D: D: D:
WHY DOES EVERYONE HAS TO DIE?!?!?!?!?! *distress*
Because this is the hunger games and everybody dies.
<img src="http://gickr.com/results4/anim_dc083c66-28f6-0914-31f8-4aca86d3ea10.gif">
Ooh… Mark Watches Bones, anybody?
YES PLEASE.
Yes please!!
I first i thought you were spoiling, then I thought "its the hunger games. everyone dies"
I'm loving them both already! =D Finnick makes me picture Aquaman, though. I hope he summons up Cthulhu during the Game!
Team Mags for LIFE…. which might not be long in the Games. 🙁
However, I kind of like how irreverent Johanna and Finnick are. In a way, they're showing that they won't be reducted to weeping wrecks in their own way. What says, "Kiss my ass" more than that? :3
Dude, I love Johanna and Mags so much.
Um, am I the only one who can't remember who SENECA CRANE is??
He was in charge of the Games last book. President Snow indicated that Crane was executed for letting Katpee live after their suicide threat.
No, I had to look it up when I was reading Catching Fire the first time, and again when I read this review. Apparently that name just does not want to stick in my head for some reason.
I totally forget the first time around which confused me SO MUCH. I was like WHO IS THIS PERSON. KATNISS YOU ARE A BAD NARRATOR. STOP KEEPING SECRETS.
Right? Right! I kept thinking "I SHOULD know who this is!"
Thanks for enlightening me 🙂 It is way more badass now that I know who he is.
LOL NO. I, at least, had an excuse the first time around when I read Catching Fire because I hadn't read Hunger Games first, but then I re-read CF… and still had nfi who he was. *facepalms at self*
I don't think they mentioned him in Hunger Games. Pres Snow talked about him when he came to Katniss' house before they went on the victory tour. Then, Katniss mentions him when she has to dance with Plutarch whatshisname at the ball at pres Snow's mansion, about how the job wouldn't be in demand, seeing as how easily the person responsible would be killed if something stuffed up.
Katniss is so bad ass!!
I really liked learning more about the other tributes this time around. But obviously this is going to create a problem once they get into the arena. And how sad is it that Mags can barely walk and she still volunteered to go back in? 🙁
SHIT IS SO REAL. I am SO excited. My favorite part is coming up! 😀
Avoid spoiler-esque comments – alluding to possible happy things or excitement is covered in the spoiler policy (that's why you're getting thumbs-downed)
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"Did Peeta paint a poisonous cake or something?"
I read that. Then I read it again. Then I burst out laughing.
Katniss, you are a BAMF forever. I don't really have anything else to say but
YOU. ARE. NOT. PREPARED.
Not to be snarky, but I wonder what she means by "flesh-colored"?
Well, probably whatever the fleshtone of the person who is wearing it. I don't think it needs to be taken out of context.
I'm not sure what you mean by "the person wearing it". This is the context: "The flesh-colored fabric of the dummy’s skin".
Skin coloured, me thinks
So by skin color, do you mean dark brown?
Stupid me. I type before I think. D: didn’t mean it that way!
I think it means pinkish-beige.
You thought of this, but how about flesh/skin coloured meaning the colour of the person wearing it/representing it?
I meant something else with 'you thought of this' but I can't remember what. Meh.
Flesh coloured is a bad phrase. Traditionally it has always referred to the pink/beige colour of caucasian skin, as if that colour is the standard or normal colour of flesh. This dummy could be the colour of dark brown flesh or some other colour, but it's probably pink. It's really better to just call it pink than use a loaded phrase.
So in terms of the Capitol, would that pink, green or orange? Also with regards to life, would "flesh-coloured" be varied shades of brown and beige?
Good point…
Ooh, I hate 'flesh-coloured'. Nasty, sneaky, word.
Also "nude." If you mean beige, say beige. And I think they've stopped this, but BandAids used to be advertised as "skin-colored." Whose skin?
I agree. I don't think you're being snarky. flesh is many different colors.
Whenever I see "flesh-color", I keep thinking of the red color of muscles. Like of meat, dripping with blood. I blame the "pound of flesh" thing from Merchant of Venice.
I can't for the life of me remember what Peeta did. This is what happens when you read all three books in two days.
I like how the tributes just don't give a fuck. They are hanging out like its an ice cream social and then you have Mags who's sleeping and Johanna who's being a naked attention whore.
lmao I really want a fanart of this
Ha, I can't remember completely either! There are so many things I've forgotten, like when my favorite moments are, and I'm waiting for Mark to get them. It's like getting to experience the books a second time, almost fresh, and more awesomely. With more capslock and expletives.
I absolutely adore this chapter. It's one of my favorites ever. There is so much BAMFery. I especially like when Katniss shoot the 5 skeet things. And then she hangs Seneca Crane. And that we get to me so many more Victor Tributes, which in turn Katniss recognizes will make it harder for her to kill them. She blocked everybody out last year on purpose. She never wanted any allies, not even Peeta. But now, to follow Haymitch's instructions, she needs to know all of them.
The part with Darius was so heartbreaking. The clasping of hands in the bowl of peas is Katniss's way of saying goodbye, not only to him but all of District 12 which she didn't have the chance to do.
I have such a hard time wrapping my head around that some of these people are killers (not Enobaria or Brutus those, they were easy). Cecelia, Beetwee, Wiress (who reminds me of my mother with her habit of only speaking in keywords, and dropping off towards the end anyway), Mags.
Speaking of Mags, making her super special skill be taking a nap…fantastic.
Just a thought, but does anybody think maybe Woof (the old guy from 8) was trying to commit suicide? I don't know if he was, but with the discussion in the last book about Tributes choosing to just go off and kill themselves rather than be murdered, it occurred to me. He does keep trying to eat poisonous bugs. If he actually is in control of all his senses, he's going to realize that he's really old, so what chance does he have against the likes of Katpee, Finnick, Johanna, Enobaria, Brutus, and the District 1 siblings? Mags is also very elderly, but she has Finnick, one of the youngest and strongest players as a District ally. Woof has Cecelia, a mother of 3 who I still can't imagine ever winning a game. In his place, I'd probably try to stuff all the poisonous bugs in my mouth I could.
Nap-taking is my own skill, so this makes perfect sense. I will make people go deaf from my epic snores so my ally can then sneak up on them to finish 'em off.
WIN
Also, Can I be your ally??? That way I can beat them with my awesome nakedness… Oh wait someone is already doing that, never mind. 😉
Awesome, so I snore, and you distract them. WE WILL BE INVINCIBLE!
I thought the same about Woof. Makes sense, I mean, if I knew I was going back in the arena I'd be heading for the nearest cliff. If the other tributes were carted off right after the reaping like Katpee, he wouldn't have had a chance till now.
TEAM MAGS 4 EVA!
Oh, Katniss, why are you so awesome? She's almost as awesome as Mags, volunteering to save that younger lady, deciding to take a nap as her talent. Never change, Mags! <3
I cannot fathom how anybody could hate Katniss. I mean, I get if she's not your favourite character, but you have to hand it to her. She is so badass and HOW IS SHE EVEN STANDING. I would be either be dead or whimpering in a corner in her position. And she maintains so much dignity, even after everything. Stunned. What a brilliant role-model for the YA audience.
I really think Katniss would be Gryffindor because she launches into incredibly brave actions without really thinking about the consequences. Like when Harry sticks his wand up the troll's nose: "It was both very brave and very stupid." Katniss does things like this all the damn time. And I love her for it.
p.s. in my head Beetee is Bernard Cribbins ("I like prawns, they're nice." ). Like, a complete genius in a totally bizarre way. There is a strong chance I may be remembering his character all wrong but its been a while since I read Catching Fire, and I seem to picture him like that now.
although I should clarify, I think Katniss is fully aware of the consequences in this instance. She just doesn't happen to give a fuck.
She had great character growth from the first book to the second. I also adore these other Tributes, because they have so much personality!
Eh, i tend to actually think of Katniss as a more slytherin-esque character, at least in the beginning, in that she does what she has to to get to her goals. (Also, she and Haymitch are so similar…). However, she transcends to become a more gryffindor character to me throughout the series. She starts caring for people (other than Prim) more and actually being brave and fighting her circumstances. So I don't really know where to place her. She is like Harry Potter! Except Harry never seemed slytherin at all to me……. Whatever you say JK.
I don't understand why no one thinks Slytherins can care about other people than themselves. Slytherins care about other people than themselves. Katniss can do wonderful and brave things AS A SLYTHERIN. And here to, I'd say Katniss is still doing what she has to do to accomplish her goals. She does this brave thing because she's already resigned herself to her death, so she's going for broke. Katniss is an example of a good Slytherin.
I didn't mean to say that slytherins don't care for other people, because they definitely do (And they are awesome, for the record), just as a general character trait they are more of a "do whatever it takes to survive" type people, you know, more survivalist and potentially self-absorbed or way absorbed in others depending on what will suit their needs. Emphasis on the suit their needs. I more of meant that she was willing to lose this game for Peeta, because that just seems idiotic (Which is more of a Gryffindor trait if you ask me), as well as the fact that she seems to be more of looking to protect others rather than herself, wheras a slytherin would want to help both themselves and others, as well as be smarter in the way they go about it. I mean really, Katniss? You think you have more of a chance of keeping Peeta alive if you die because you piss of the gamemakers? Reckless bravery is a more Gryffindor trait. Slytherins are more cunning and smart than that.
The point I was trying to make is that she is somewhat between the two (Though at this point, I still think she is quite Slytherin). I definitely don't agree with the people that say OH YEAH KATNISS IS TOTES GRYFFINDOR because I think she has so much of the wondrous slytherin traits (why does everyone think that good people can't be slytherin? Seriously?), but then at the same time, I have difficulties going full out slytherin for her when she does stupid things like hang Seneca Crane. And then there are the times when she does things that entirely defy both houses, like want to run away from the districts with all those she loves (I don't know where to place that…. Hufflepuff, maybe? I hear they are particularly good finders) instead of rebelling, as well as resigning herself to death, as you put it. That doesn't seem to fit either of the houses to me. So yeah, she is just in the lines for me, and while I totally saw her as Slytherin in the first book, she keeps grabbing Gryffindor traits here and again.
On a random side note, I totally wish I was Slytherin, but I am stuck as a tied for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw person (Like Hermione?) I hate Gryffindor, if you couldn't tell from this. They mean well, but gosh sometimes they can just be really stuck up and self-righteous.
Slytherins can think of other people, but they tend to think of themselves first, or others in addition to themselves. eg saving themselves and others. I don't think they tend to be as self sacrificing, on a personal level. Also, Slytherins tend to be ambitious. I can see Gale as Slytherin, as his first impulse was to stay and start a rebellion, risking lives of his family, because "it is for greater good". Katniss came around to this, but that wasn't her initial thinking. Haymitch, I can see as either Slytherin or Gryffindor; he's on the cusp.
Being a slytherin also means being a great leader. You observe what options you have and choose the best- whether it’s the best one for you or for evryone depends on who you are. Slytherins are cunning and know how to deceive someone. They are calculating (is that an english word? It’s a dutch expression…) and figure things out.
That’s what slytherin means in my book. (wanna hear my theories of other houses?)
I like how you acknowledge the positive examples of these traits. From someone who likes Slytherin (all my favorite characters seem to be the chaotic and clever and eeeeee) and identifies with it, I am so pissed off when people dismiss all Slytherins as selfish, self-serving, and just plain evil. Not all Gryffindors are good or the best option (hi thar Peter Pettigrew, he was in Gryffindor and Harry with his "saving people thing"), so why should Slytherins be reduced to always evil? I like my subjective Houses! Shit, that's why I consider myself a Slytherpuff. [/rant]
ANYWAY. I would love to hear your other theories if they are as nuanced as your Slytherin thoughts. =)
Also, "calculating" is definitely an English word, don't worry! ^_^
I wonder if they let Enobria keep her sharp teeth in the Games. I can't remember, but that definitely seems like a weapon, doesn't it?
I'm with Katniss here: she's thinking she's going to die ANYWAY, so she might as well spend every last minute saying "fuck you" to the Capitol in as many ways as she possibly can.
Would you like to have a very disturbing enobaria fanart? Yes? Okay!
<img src="http://th08.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2010/258/5/2/enobaria__s_games_by_atropos93-d2mvarn.jpg">
How about Young!Mags killing a girl with a fishing pole?
<img src="http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/009/b/7/mags__s_games_by_atropos93-d2n51hw.jpg">
Okay, maybe some happy Volts and Nuts for a change
<img src="http://th05.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2010/237/a/2/Volts_and_Nuts_by_hladzo.jpg">
Oh, wait! Wait! I'll add an Finnick+Johanna-clothes=fanart!
<img src="http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/233/c/b/Chibis__Finnick_Meets_Johanna_by_Regendy.png">
That's better, isn't it? Hang on, I think I might have a GIF somewhere…
<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ler54lJ5Ef1qavo3co1_r1_500.gif">
The Beetee/Wiress picture really creeps me out. From the art style it looks like it's by the same deviantART artist who drew a fanservicey picture of naked Wiress with obnoxiously huge boobs.
There's something wrong with me. I looked at the Enobaria fanart and thought, "That's the wrong part of the neck to bite if you're trying to kill someone! You have to go further forward, to the carotid artery or the larynx!"
Same here. 'Course, I also didn't hate Mel Gibson for Passion of the Christ until I heard there was a closeup of a nail being driven into Jesus' hand, and then I went into a rage.
OMG that's exactly what I thought!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Wait, why is she biting there? That wouldn't kill you, it might make you bleed a little, but it wouldn't KILL you. It's the wrong angle."
lol that's just wrong.
My job is clinical research for a medical company. The stuff they make is mostly respiratory. I had the exact same reaction as you, except there was probably more tutting here.
Also, is it me or would you have to actually bite through the vertebrae to bite like that? Or am I being biology-fail?
That was essentially my response to hearing about the premise of the horror movie the Human Centipede, even before I knew it was being touted as "100% medically possible" or whatever it was.
And if anyone doesn't know what it is, I'd suggest they don't look it up. It's definitely not 100% possible, but it is 100% NSFL.
I love the "BROFIST!" drawing. 😀
Am I the only one who was Team Wiress and Beetee after this chapter? Maybe it is because I study science and have ~deep love~ for all things scientific and logical and whatnot, but they were seriously just the best to me. Or maybe Im just Team Smarts Over Brawn because I have no physical skills to speak of >.> ANYWAY only just introduced but immediately jumped to the top of my fave characters list <3
No, they are totally awesome! Being able to outsmart the others is really important, and you can see that they're already there. I'm definitely on their team.
No, I liked them a lot too. I was amused by how Beetee had to keep finishing Wiress's sentences. Lol.
It's frickin' adorable.<3
I love them too. I just <3 nerds forever I guess.
Hell yes for the Nerds!
YES. When I read this chapter I was like, "FUCK YEAH. RAVENCLAW IN THE HOUSE!!!"
best comment ever
you're not alone, I love them as well =D
FREAKING AWESOME.
I love Katniss when she's being a bamf. It's brilliant how this time round, she knows she's not getting out alive anyway so she has this kind of 'to hell with THIS' attitude. It makes her reactions to everything so different from last time.
Which is? Can you tell me specifically what the color of flesh is? Because I'm pretty sure there are actually lots and lots of colors that would qualify as "flesh-colored".
Ugh bringing up Rue and Prim just reminded me of the little girl who was shot on Saturday in Arizona and it just made all it so much more sad.
I absolutely loved Katniss in this chapter. Also, all the talk about force fields has got me really excited. what if katniss and peeta can actually get out of the arena this time by breaking the force field or something. that would be (as Barney would say) awesome!
Oh boy, we're back to another excellent Capitol extravaganza.
<img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/SVEvenstar/Gifs/tyra-predeathgqmarf.gif" border="0" alt="Scary Tyra Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
but what the fuck are some of these fucking tributes doing
<img src="http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/ii452/bluecynder/Animated%20GIFS/Tyra_rabid.gif" border="0" alt="Rabid Tyra Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
i will never be able to look at teeth in the same way ever again.
<img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/SVEvenstar/Gifs/0010y3wbgqmarf.gif" border="0" alt="Shocked Tyra Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
dude, Katniss is
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/ChibiAnubis/Gallery%20of%20GIFs/2diro60.gif" border="0" alt="fierce Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
but all the gamemakers are kind of
<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/pyro3000/animated%20gifs/gojityra.gif" border="0" alt="evil tyra banks Pictures, Images and Photos"/></
and what the fuck is Haymitch playing at? SLOW DOWN CRAZY, SLOW DOWN
<img src="http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l424/Curls016/GIFs/Tyra.gif" border="0" alt="Tyra – Judging Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON???
TYRA GIFS ARE THE BEST GIFS
Gotta love Tyra!
haha this is awesome! two thumbs up for those gifs!
Tyra. Tyra! TYRA!
I fucking love Johanna Mason.
I think its a sign that The Hunger Games are on my mind when the lyrics to the song "Love is in the Air" remind me of the book….
"And I don't know if I'm just dreaming
Don't know if I feel sane
But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when you call out my name"
"And I don't know if you're an illusion
Don't know if I see it true
But you're something that I must believe in
And you're there when I reach out for you"
So incredibly random….
Johanna Mason is where its at!. I Instantly liked her. Finnick first came off as a bit of a tool in the previous chapter, but after this chapter I also started to like him as well. There is something about the way he is trying to make Katniss laugh and how kind he is with the introduction of Mags that makes him seem genuine.
The morphlings make me very sad.
OMG. Not prepared, not prepared, not prepared, not prepared,
Suzanne Collins may not be the best author, or writer. But she is a HELL of a story teller.
true. she does have some awkward sentences, but the plots are amazing
agreed! Love her story and plot twists!
KATNISS. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. WHY IS THAT A GOOD IDEA.
I think 'Wiress' was my last straw for both 'JESUS COLLINS YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO NAME THINGS ANYMORE EVER' and 'WHY DOES NOBODY FROM DISTRICT 12 HAVE A MINING-RELATED NAME.'
ikr, "Chaff" and "Seeder" from 11
HAHAHAHAHAHAAH. What would we name them?
Smoky? Charcoal? Lung? Darkness? Labor?
It's interesting that they seem to get nature-related names, considering their job is mining. Maybe mining = being close to the earth = being in touch with nature? I DUNNO
Dude, we've met someone named Twill. In this world, Carbon, Anthracite or Graphite would be a perfectly acceptable name, just off the top of my head. And hell, since someone thought 'Chaff' was an okay thing to name their kid, why not 'Slag?'
Slag Heap.
My last straw was "Woof." Wow that's unfortunate.
people from the Seam tend to have nature related names, and people from town tend to have biblical names. For 12.
Well, Peeta is a baker's son. 😛
And Katniss' and Prim's dad liked plants and stuff, right?
I bet Enobaria regretted getting that sweet custom grill the first time she accidentally bit her cheek or tongue. OMG what a poor life choice.
Even after I remembered who Seneca Crane was, I wasn't feeling the badassery here. "Hey! Gamemakers! You think you're better than me? Well, look what happened to the last guy who let me and this guy I'm trying to protect live! You'd better not make the same mistake that he– oh. Crap."
I think she meant it as "you're as vulnerable as I am," but yeah, it was an odd message. It's like, Katniss, maybe you shouldn't imply that you helped bring about Crane's death or that you're intentionally screwing with the Gamemakers. It's not a good statement if everyone is nonplussed.
Well, she's showing off her special skill: fucking with people!
Not to mention her special skill of being completely unable to make a plan or think things through.
Heh. Point. Although Katniss doesn't expect to live through this anyway, so I think the statement she's trying to make is, "You Gamemakers work for the Capitol, and this is what the Capitol does to you. Think about it."
I don't think that Katniss cares about living going into this, so she just showed them that they are just the capitol's pawns and that they are dispensable.
Oh, Katniss has already written her life off. But pissing off the Gamemakers is really not a wise step in her 'keep Peeta alive' plan.
Katniss is a gryffindor. She immediately jumps into action, bravely. But thinking things through is for ravenclaws and slytherins.
But she did it because she thought Peeta had just upset the Gamemakers; she was trying to make them angrier at her so they would forget about whatever Peeta had done.
OMG, I went from "WTF" to "ROFL!" in the two seconds it took me to read that.
Seriously. I know it’s silly, but I expected myself to be bored with things like interviews, allies, and training sessions, since we’ve already seen them, but the dynamic that Collins has created makes these scenes even better a second time around.
I agree! I was reading the io9 review of Mockingjay last night, and Charlie Jane said that Catching Fire stayed too close to the Hunger Games structure, which confused me because, first, no, since the Games don't start until much later, and, second, what you just said.
Did Peeta paint a poisonous cake or something?
Ha ha ha, how can…oh, you mean he made them a poisonous cake and painted it, not that he painted a "poisonous cake" on the floor. Because how do you do that? Paint a cake and then draw a skull-and-crossbones symbol on it?
;ASDFJ;LASDHF ;AHSJF; ALSDFUH;ASDF@#$%#^@^RTHSDFW$%$%
HOLY SHIT. HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!
This will not be the last time you say this during this book, but, awesome! Katniss is such a badass. Such a doomed, marked-for-death badass.
"…oh, you mean he made them a poisonous cake and painted it, not that he painted a "poisonous cake" on the floor."
…I didn't even realize that was what he meant until you mentioned it. I was for sure picturing a "poisonous" cake on the floor…maybe with green fumes coming out of it?
I had no problem remembering Seneca Crane's name (I think he'd been brought up in this book too, not just the end of the first), but I did have to go back to confirm who the hell Darius was with that reveal.
Oh man, we both forgot characters!? If only we had collected all three books and read them in one sitting––like we're obviously supposed to do––we wouldn't have this problem! 😉
I did read them one after the other, but Darius is not as memorable a name as Seneca Crane, nor did he have any sort of memorable role.
One thing I noticed when reading both this chapter and the last one, is the main difference between Johanna and Finnick's nakedness.
Finnick is half naked, because that's how his stylist dressed him. it's done intentional, for him to be ogled at, to catch the eyes of the spectators. In a way it makes him vulnerable, it's something done to him that he's come to accept.
With Johanna on the other hand, she owns her nakedness. She's not naked because someone makes her so, but because she chooses it. She doesn't care about her nudity, and though some might enjoy it, in fact it's something for her, something so matter of fact that it gives her strength, that shows she doesn't care what others think.
I love the point you make here. Yes, they're both naked (at least mostly), but it's the guy who's made into a sexual object in that way; he's the object of the gaze. Whereas Johanna's absolutely owning her own body, there's no self-consciousness, and she doesn't give a shit about other people's judgements. A++ to Collins for kicking the arse of enforced gender stereotypes! It's such an interesting reversal of the expectations of (most of) our society.
Hear! Hear!
I was just pointing this out to Mark over AIM! Agreed wholeheartedly. It's Finnick, not Johanna, who's naked primarily to serve as a Mr. Fanservice.
I think Johanna mostly does it for shock value. And while it might not have been Finnick's idea to dress like that, you know he would have if it meant a better shot at winning the games. He's not exactly self-conscious
Yeah. I think that Johanna cares deeply about what others think – she just hates other people, and so she does things she think might upset them.
But even then she owns it. It's her decision to piss them of and how she does it and she feels no embarrassment whatsoever in doing so.
With Finnick I get the feeling that he's kind of accepted that people are going to ogle at him, so he might as well let them and see what he can do with it..
Yes, both me and the artist realize that it was HAYMITCH and not Peeta, but this is still funny, regardless:
…I don't want Brutis by Peibee-an-jay
<img src=http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/082/9/b/___I_don__t_want_Brutis__by_Peibee_an_Jay.png>
Darius gets all the sad-faces 🙁
At the end of this chapter, my love for Katniss went up a LOT! She is such a BAMF!
*i hate mondays*
I hate mondays, too.
I LOVE BEETEE!!!!!
1. FUCK YEAH KATNISS!
2. Is that a tumblr? Cause if it's not, someone who actually uses tumblr should MAKE IT HAPPEN.
3. Finnick/Johanna naked party tiem nao?
4. Katniss really does have terrible ideas for allies. Just because you like someone, doesn't mean they're the best person to help keep you alive.
Or to keep Peeta alive. But if you team up with someone who's powerful but likely to stab you in the back…
I find the two morphling tributes adorable with them playing with finger paint and Mags and her toothless grin and oh my gosh how can Katniss kill these people!
When I first read about the ripping-out-the-throat-with-her-teeth thing, I was just like
<img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x374/eeshannon/Gifs/pirates.gif">
diddo
Things are getting more and more interesting
Poisonous fish. Poisonous cake.
Oh, Mark.
such a great chapter.
I love so much about this chapter. First of all, Johanna is naked again just because she feels like it. Don't ever change. Wiress and Beetee are Ravenclaws so I instantly loved them. And the shit about the force field and the chink in the armor. KADNFOIUHEOHOSDVNO)AEFHVOSVOUISDHF. It just filled me with so much hope. And I love that Wiress just throws out extremely important information in just a few words. Mags taking a nap. I just love the don't-give-a-fuck in that.
And Katniss. My favorite character even before this chapter. Seneca Crane. Hanged. In a room of gamemakers. To remind them they're just a bunch of fucking Capital slaves. Easily replaced. I was like "YOU GO GIRL! FUCK THEM FUCKING GAMEMAKERS! SHOW THEM. " I was actually yelling encouragement to my book!
Is anyone else really creeped out by the morphling addicts?
I think you need to review Chapter 17 today as well. Just because. =) Hehe.
*zips mouth to keep from spoiling*
Nah, it's better if he does 17 and 18 tomorrow.
But I wouldn't say no to another reveiw 😉
Collins mentioned him in the second chapter of Catching Fire. Not her fault you forgot.
So the name mentioned once was FIFTEEN chapters ago instead of ten? My powers of exaggeration must be waning; please forgive me. 😉
Again: it's not Collins's fault readers didn't bother to remember Seneca Crane's name. J.K. Rowling did this sort of thing all the time and people relished it.
And this is why Catching Fire is my favorite in the series.
TEAM JOHANNA. Jus' sayin'.
I decided to make a table after the massive name-dropping going on in this chapter. I'm wondering if I've missed anyone or gotten anything incorrect. Maybe it's just because of the massive gaps in the info provided, but it kinda feels a bit off.
<img src="http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m593/the_mauve_avenger/CatchingFireGames.jpg">
A poisonous cake? Oh Mark. You and your imagination.
Katniss is all kinds of fierce. I would want her on my team, even with a target on her back. I love how much she has grown since the first book. She's refusing to play along this time. Love love love! Also, I want to bake something with Mags. Possibly banana bread.
I was I could say it gets better, but.
I think there is so much comraderie between the victors. They are not taking the training seriously, and presumably, they are not taking the games all too seriously, rather they seem resigned to these games. They are adults, they have mentored so many kids, most of whom were then killed. They are over being expected to perform for the Capitol, to then be disposable. This being the case, why don't they just all become allies to work together to beat the arena, rather than playing by the rules of a system which has now failed them? (ie the rule that if at least you survive the horror, you get immunity). They could just try to survive as much as possible, so at least, even if and when they die, it's not at each others hands.
Its quite a change that mark key smashes not out of frustration from the writing (Twilight) but from the story itself.
My exact feelings at the end of this chapter! OMFG.
<img src="http://www.thecrapreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/John-Bender-300×286.jpg">Katniss Queen Of All The Badasses.
*waves a banner*
Go Katniss, you little miss badass! this is just… wow… I don't even.
LOVE MAGS AND SUPER-NAPS!
Shit got…something!
I know you mentioned Johanna had the most normal name in the story so far but what about Bonnie? That's pretty damn normal.
Ashamed to say i read this chapter and my only thought was "Who the fuck is senneca crane????????"