In the fifteenth chapter of Catching Fire, Katpee prepare for their chariot ride into the Capitol, where they, once again, blow the minds of everyone around them. They get to size up their opponents before they see a familiar face at dinner…and not in a context that is pleasant. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Catching Fire.
I was impressed that despite Collins revisiting some of the exact same locations (and people) as before, she still managed to keep things interesting for the reader. Honestly, I was concerned that we’d have to cycle through the chariot entrance, interviews, trainings, etc., from the first novel and that we’d all be bored. But providing a different context and group of competitors for the Games does wonders for the story.
At some point during the prep, each of them bursts into tears at least twice, and Octavia pretty much keeps up a running whimper throughout the morning. It turns out they really have become attached to me, and the idea of my returning to the arena has undone them. Combine that with the fact that by losing me they’ll be losing their ticket to all kinds of big social events, particularly my wedding, and the whole thing becomes unbearable.
Basically, it’s Awful Town, USA for Katniss right now, and I understand that while it is sort of sad that her prep team is so torn up about this, it’s getting to be kind of irritating that the center themselves in virtually everything concerning her. I don’t hate the trio, for what it’s worth, but it’s still something that is frustrating to read about.
It’s interesting, though, when I think of what Peeta said about the victors having to fight again. About people in the Capitol not liking it. I still think all of that will be forgotten once the gong sounds, but it’s something of a revelation that those in the Capitol feel anything at all about us.
I still am failing to understand President Snow and the more I think about the Quarter Quell, the less sense it makes to me. In a way, the existence of the victors directly supports the kind of oppression the Capitol hands down to Panem. It’s that hero worship, that celebrity obsession many of us are familiar with, that proves to be so distracting when needed. This is certainly the case in the Capitol and probably to an extent in the other districts.
President Snow has to be aware of this. (I’m still sticking to the notion that this Quarter Quell was intentional.) Does he think that the Capitol’s taste for violence as entertainment will even extend to the people they desire to be around? I was under the impression that victors were very much like celebrities there, so how does murdering them help?
Standing there in my thin robe with my stinging skin and hear, I know I can’t bear even one look of regret. So the moment he walks in the door I snap, “I swear if you cry, I’ll kill you here and now.”
Cinna just smiles. “Had a damp morning?”
“You could wring me out,” I reply.
Cinny puts his arm around my shoulder and leads me into lunch. “Don’t worry. I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don’t hurt anyone but myself.”
Seriously, Cinna just gets it. Can we have some Cinna backstory, now? I want more of him. The thing is, he even calms me because his certainty is so infectious. I’m intrigued as to why he’s so calm all the time and why he is so dedicated to making Katniss look good.
Thankfully, he’s the only person that helps Katniss get ready for the chariot ceremonies; she doesn’t have to deal with her weepy prep team. Cinna’s style for this appearance is drastically different not only from the previous year, but from anything he’s styled for her before.
But now my face is almost obscured by the dramatic highlights and dark shadows. High arching eyebrows, sharp cheekbones, smoldering eyes, deep purple lips. The costume looks deceptively simple at first, just a fitted black jumpsuit that covers me from the neck down. He places a half crown like the one I received as victor on my head, but it’s made of a heavy black metal, not gold. Then he adjusts the light in the room to mimic twilight and presses a button just inside the fabric of my wrist. I look down, fascinated, as my ensemble slowly comes to life, first with a soft golden light but gradually transforming to the orange-red of burning coal. I look as if I have been coated in glowing embers–no, that I am a glowing ember straight from our fireplace.
Bless your heart, Cinna. You are a genius. In any case, I expect Cinna’s outfit for Katniss to do a couple of things: piss off the other victors or piss off the Capitol. Somehow, that feels right to me. Cinna is not designing for his bosses anymore. (Was he ever, though?) This is one bold statement to make and I really respect Cinna for doing it without fear.
To add to such a ~fierce~ design, Cinna also tells Katniss to do the following:
“When you’re on the chariot this time, no waving, no smiling. I just want you to look straight ahead, as if the entire audience is beneath your notice.”
“Finally something I’ll be good at,” I say.
I feel like Cinna is banking on most of the members of the Capitol being disappointed behind the idea of this Quarter Quell. I feel it’s all but outright confirmed that the rest of Panem isn’t happy with a Game filled with victors, but here, this performance is specifically for the Capitol. It’s a statement of fury and purpose, and it’s the perfect thing to do.
Team Cinna forever.
The scene at the Remake Center, where the victors and their mentors will appear before heading out on their chariots, was not at all what I expected. Instead of a tense group of frightened teams, it’s more like a high school reunion. I suppose that is probably the most sensical development, but it never even crossed my mind. Some of these people know each other and have for years. Most of them, it turns out, are also very interested in getting to know Katniss.
One of those people is Finnick Odair, who won the Games when he was just fourteen. He was a Career from District Four, disgustingly beautiful, and (I’m not sure of this) may have won the Games in the quickest amount of time.
When he received a silver parachute with a trident–which may be the most expensive gift I’ve ever seen given in the arena–it was all over. District 4’s industry is fishing. He’d been on boats his whole life. The trident was a natural, deadly extension of his arm. He wove a net out of some kind of vine he found, used it to entangle his opponents so he could spear them with the trident, and within a matter of days the crown was his.
The citizens of the Capitol have been drooling over him ever since.
Well, it the Games happen on schedule and with no complications (and I’m beginning to get a sense that something is going to disrupt them), then this sounds like the Katpee vs Cato fight from The Hunger Games. He’ll survive until the end and they’ll have to fight. JUST SAYING.
Also this is what he is wearing:
He’s draped in a golden net that’s strategically knotted at his groin so that he can’t technically be called naked, but he’s about as close as you can get.
How Katniss is able to have any sort of conversation with him dressed like this is beyond me, but so it goes. Thank you for the terrifying mental image, Collins. The way Finnick acts doesn’t help, either, and it makes me like Katniss more because she’s so revolted by who he has become since he won the games.
Still, there’s something up with Finnick and I’m not sure what it is. And that’s what is contributing to me thinking that the Games will be…derailed in some way.
“Then how do they pay you for the pleasure of your company?” I ask.
“With secrets,” he says softly. He tips his head in so his lips are almost in contact with mine. “What about you, girl on fire? Do you have any secrets worth my time?”
For some stupid reason, I blush, but I force myself to hold my ground. “No, I’m an open book,” I whisper back. “Everybody seems to know my secrets before I know them myself.”
He smiles. “Unfortunately, I think that’s true.”
Ok, so it could be very easy to write this off as Finnick simply hitting on Katniss, but something else is at work here. Is he spying for the Capitol? Does the Capitol think there’s more to Katniss’s plans for an uprising? Or is he doing something more noble?
I AM INTRIGUED.
Katpee head off to their chariot ride after this, which goes off flawlessly because Cinna is a goddamn genius and plays off of Katniss’s hatred and cynicism so well.
We star-crossed lovers from District 12, who suffered so much and enjoyed so little the rewards of our victory, do not seek the fans’ favor, grace them with our smiles, or catch their kisses. We are unforgiving.
And I love it. Getting to be myself at last.
Katniss hate fuels my love for her. I cannot wait to see this moment on screen. WE ALL BETTER WATCH THE FIRST MOVIE AND MAKE SURE IT EARNS A TON OF MONEY SPECIFICALLY SO THIS SCENE CAN BE FILMED.
I found it humorous that other designers tried to copy Cinna’s illumination idea from the year before:
The electric-light-studded outfits from District 3, where they make electronics, at least make sense. But what are the livestock keepers from District 10, who are dressed as cows, doing with flaming belts? Broiling themselves?
You cannot imitate Cinna. HIGH FIVES FOREVER.
After the ceremony, Katpee head inside and meet the victors from District 11, one of whom is Haymitch’s friend Chaff, the other an older woman named Seeder.
Before either of us says a word, she embraces me. I know it must be because of Rue and Thresh. Before I can stop myself, I whisper, “The families?”
“They’re alive,” she says back softly before letting me go.
Well, that’s unexpected. Good news, but still a surprise. So is the moment when Chaff kisses Katniss on the mouth. Was he drunk at the time? Probably. Nothing like an unwanted kiss! Will there be more Chaff shenanigans in the future? Who knows.
It’s interesting to me that we learn so much about the other victors, especially since we still know next-to-nothing about the tributes during the last book. We meet the sole victor from District 7, a girl named Johanna Mason, who happens to be the only person we’ve been introduced to so far with a normal name. She is from a district that specializes in lumber and paper, and she won her Games by pretending to be weak and helpless, thereby getting ignored.
She is…well, she’s feisty. That’s a good word. She greets Katniss in an elevator by tearing off her costume in anger and standing naked alongside her. REALLY.
“That strapless number you wore in District Two? The deep blue one with the diamonds? So gorgeous I wanted to reach through the screen and tear it right off your back,” says Johanna.
You’re a pleasant one, aren’t you, Johanna?
I don’t really understand the fight that Katpee have after this, where Peeta says that everyone is treating Katniss strangely because she’s so new and, as he says, “pure.” She feels like the butt of a huge joke that I apparently do not understand at all because none of this section makes sense to me. Hmmm. It will probably make sense in the future, so I’ll refrain from saying much more about this until I know what the other victors are up to.
They reach the dining room, ready for dinner, and that’s when Effie tells Katniss that they got a “matched set” this year, referring to two Avox that will assist them during their meal.
Then a chill runs through me. Because I know him, too. Not from the Capitol but from years of having easy conversations in the Hob, joking over Greasy Sae’s soup, and that last day watching him lie unconscious in the square while the life bled out of Gale.
Our new Avox is Darius.
WHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?
Before I move on to the next chapter, I just want to say there’s an obvious parallel here that is so sad: this is another person that Katniss didn’t prevent from being saved, at least indirectly. OH, HELLO THERE, VISUALIZATION OF MY GUILT.
Good lord, this is depressing.
Love the makeup, Cinna.
<img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/ormskz.jpg">
Okay, I just figured that Finnick, Chaff, and Johanna were being themselves, and that understandably made Katniss uncomfortable. But when Peeta says that they were only doing it to upset her, and he laughs about, it really fucking bothers me. It's one thing to be free and open, and another to force yourself on strangers. Maybe I'm sensitive because of catcalls, strangers offering me rides, and creepy dudes standing way too close on uncrowded trains, but no. Not cool. And especially not cool for Peeta to laugh about it.
Peeta, Haymitch, and everyone else:
<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/11j920o.jpg">
<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/3zl15.gif">
This would be one of those moments where we learn that Peeta, just like everyone else, has flaws.
Pff, realism.
This is irrelevant to your serious and very good point, but I have to post it because you posted that Ursula picture:
<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3lVOb8wvDlE/TMuz56fQYXI/AAAAAAAAAps/qIlfzQ-fKXg/ursula.gif">
Whatever, body language is always relevant! I only regret that I have but one thumb to give.
Wow, even the old lady from Finnick's district is provocative
Completely off topic, but that last GIF of the tea drinker is just…. creepy. Wow. I think it might give me nightmares.
I think that Johanna was completely being herself. Finnick threw me off a bit because of him mentioning that he gets paid in secrets. What kind of secrets? From who? And if he's getting these secrets, is he telling them to someone? And to who, President Snow?
Just off the top of my head, I think at least one explanation is that Finnick is trying to hold onto some power for himself. He schmoozes with the Panem peeps (btw is anyone else imagining him like Aquaman? I am), learns secrets, and can hold that leverage. The Capitol must run on gossip, after all, and that would give Finnick an edge.
Finnick as Aquaman = genius.
TEAM CINNA!! I dearly love and I seriously want MOAR of him. Can we have some back story of why he picked discrit 12 and understand why he's so frickin' awesome.
I would be acting the same as Katniss talking to Finnick…so embrassing. Sugarcube, haha I find that funny.
" He offered me sugar and wanted to know all my secrets." oh I find that part endearing between Katpee.
I did love how Peeta wasn't all jealous, even though he probably knows that Finnick is a huge heart-throb in the Capitol.
Cinna is not only the best, but he is also the best. Just to clear things up.
…I think about the Quarter Quell, the less sense it makes to me.
the Games aren't just for the capital (that is a very far secondary), they are a harsh REMINDER to the districts to not eff around and revolt. it is to SHOW them that no one is safe from the Capital, not even their children. i personally think that the quarter quell was also just a president snow recent concoction to go hand in hand with what the times are going thru: rebellion & too much attachment to the victors. *now* this is a reminder to the Capital to remember these Games exist to keep a population in control and to remind the districts that even their Victors are not safe. NO ONE IS SAFE.
All it seems to do though is make everyone more upset. Snow's reaction to the uprisings and the Peacekeepers seem to do a better job of keeping the citizens in line than the Hunger Games do. The more I read, the less Snow's actions seem to make sense in respect to what's actually going on in Panem.
but that is the whole point: making people upset. it's to show that the Capital can do anything: kill children and kill victors, it doesn't matter. and bottomline, the people of the capital maybe upset but they still tune in to watch the games. further, this heigtened upset-ness will only make them all the more fanatical with sending their fave victors tokens, which brings in more $$ for the capital.
this is supposed to make people feel bleak, MARK SEEMS TO BE FEELING PRETTY DAMN BLEAK over it. the capital is banking that this quarter quell will banish any thoughts of rebellion.
agreeing hundred-fold with what you say about making people upset and proving their hegemony by taking away awards they've given (that is, life and security) to the victors.
I actually think that this Hunger Games isn't intended to crack down on the districts: it's to get rid of Katniss (and maybe Peeta, but Snow's more worried about Katniss). Once Katniss is gone and he doesn't have to worry about her sparking a rebellion, he can handle the districts with his Peacekeepers.
Still may not be the best strategy ever, but no one accused Snow of being a genius.
She's the sole female victor, not the sole victor. I kind of love how Katniss isn't the only super-special lone-gender tribute.
Which made me wonder, what if Katpee hadn't won last year, or if Peeta had been the only winner? This Quarter Quell wouldn't work. Which is just further evidence that it was rigged.
They'd dress up Haymitch in drag. Totes.
I also thought that revisiting the games may be boring, but Collins wrote this all in such a way that I just couldn't put it down…1, 2, 100 games! I could just keep reading about them forever. I think because each game generally has a different pool of tributes and different circumstances, it's just, well, intriguing.
I don't think this movie will have any problems gaining enough revenue to ensure Catching Fire will also be made. I'm pretty sure this will be bigger then Twilight (IMO, Twihards don't kill me) and maybe it will be up there with Harry Potter? Time will tell though. But I personally have never seen so much excitement surrounding a book to movie adaption.
I am curious since you are reading these for the first time and probably haven't been following all the "who should be cast as who" polls and forums, etc..who YOU think should play KatPee, Haymitch, Cinna, Snow, etc…
It would be interesting to get your opinion =)
Also, I've been inspired to start my own little review blog, nothing big will probably come of it, but I figured it's a way for me to talk about all these books I've been reading. If you or any of your lovely followers would like to check it out, it's at:
http://thelifeofmandii.wordpress.com/
Any criticism, comments, etc..would be helpful! Thanks! ^^
Team CinHay forever!! (Or HayNa, CinMitch, HayCin?)
~Mandii
I'm not worried about the movies either. Gary Ross is a fan himself of the books and he really understand them, especially Katniss. I can not wait to see who's going to play her!
The series is getting wildly popular real quick. I just hope the media isn't only concern on Team Peeta or Team Gale because that is the very last thing these books deal with. Also, I do hope Hunger Games gain more popularity over Twilight, but I don't think it could be as popular as Harry Potter.
I just read an article that quoted Gary Ross talking about the movies and it sounds like he has the right things in mind. I'm really excited about what he'll do with them.
DO you have a link to that? Because I am intrigued about what he has to say.
Here.
The producer, Nina Jacobsen, says, “There was a version of the movie that could be made that would in fact be guilty of all of the sins of the Capitol and portray this violence among youth irresponsibly. If you put the visual wow as your priority over the character of Katniss, you risk making junk food out of something which is anything but. And Gary had a real feel for the balancing act between the epic adventure and the intimate love story.”
And Ross says, “As much as the firestorm or the final action sequences are incredibly riveting and enormous, it’s the relationships in the books that are the most moving to me.” They also talk about how they want to cast an unknown actor for Katniss and the letters they've gotten from fans pleading with them not to lose the heart of the story. I'm really reassured by this.
Wow- this makes me a lot more excited about the movie than I initially was!
I initially speculated the movie was going to be turned into something like Airbender was, or the Golden Compass. All the money spent on a big bunch of graphics, with the substance filtered out.
Yeah I don't have too much in movie makers ability to adapt the books I like. =/
That sounds really great to me. He's right; if they just make the movie "Oh, wow, kids fighting to the death! Action! Fire! Explosions!" it loses its point. They'll need to ground it in the character, and really show the fear and disgust they have for the whole thing.
Not sure if that's the same article or not, but I was reading also where he said he was looking for a generally unknown actress to play Katniss, which I agree 100%. I think it shouldn't be about big names but big talent…oh god, that sounded sooo cheesy.
Yup. I also really hope there's not a significant age gap between the actors of Katpee, that would be bad. Imagine a 22 year old man kissing a 15 year old girl. DNW. Gale shouldn't be too too old either, he's only two years older than Katniss.
I had actually read that it wasn't going one way or the other (on whether the actress was going to be known or unknown) because they didn't want to narrow their search too much. He had said (in the article from Entertainment Weekly) that he just wanted the actress to be right, known or unknown, doesn't matter, as long as she IS Katniss. Regardless of which way it does end up going, it's obvious not everyone is going to be happy about it, but I'm sure they'll get it right.
I would agree, if it wasn't for the fact that Saoirse Ronan is so perfect for the role that she's been Katniss in my head since I read them. Happily, she is big talent. 😀
Blonde Katniss? Do Not Want.
Johanna is the sole female tribute, not the only tribute. I kind of love how Katniss isn't the only super-special lone-gender tribute.
You just reminded me of a thought I had back when the Quell 'twist' was revealed – what if there was a district that didn't have one victor of each gender? If that had been the game plan all along (rather than Snow's meddling as we're all pretty sure it is) and Katniss hadn't won the previous games, District 12 wouldn't have had a female victor to send. Then what? Just send Haymitch by himself or throw in a regular tribute as well?
"I still am failing to understand President Snow and the more I think about the Quarter Quell, the less sense it makes to me"
Here's my take on this. It's obvious an uprising is "sparking". For the Capital to outright kill a victor- I think that would just add fuel to that spark. But to rig a bogus quarter quell so said victor now can be killed "legitimately"? Well, I think this is Snow's thought. He planned to kill Katniss one way or another. This way he has control over it and maybe can reign in those people with any special ideas.
Team Cinna Forever x 1000!!!!!!!
How awful is it that Snow doesn’t give a damn about who else has to be sacrificed to get Katniss? Especially that poor woman with 3 children.
Well that is Snow for you. His main goal right now it to use Katniss as a pawn and basically an example. No one goes against (or shows up) the Capital!
I don't know. I still think that one way or another, if Katniss dies before her time, folks are gonna be pissed.
At last you have met Finnick and Johanna.
And the purity suggested by Peeta? Maybe because she is the newest victor, and compared to the rest of them she is probably the most sane (except Peeta, of course), since she hasn't lived with the horrible experience of being in the Games as much.. Does that make sense? I mean, Finnick and Johanna are stripped and provocative, Chaff is very impulsive. Reminds me of Haymitch really. But the funny thing is that you can see some sort of connection between them – which is absolute proof of the Games' consequences on a personal level.
Huh. I really thought they mostly meant 'pure' in terms of sex and propriety on screen, especially as celebrities, who are expected to act out and have their bodies put on display. I think there's an implication that the other victors have spent some time in the Capitol and Katniss – and Peeta – are more provincial, in comparison. But Katniss especially, and that may just be a personal thing; she was nervous about his nudity in the arena, and she has a harder time letting go of boundaries than him or most people. It makes her stand out, and I think the others may feel intimidated by that, or just want to pick on her because she's different.
And at least to the victors, who can probably tell when people are playing the camera, she really hasn't given in to the Capitol at all, mentally, which they may be jealous of (back to your statement of her being 'sane,' or at least untouched).
Oh Finnick. I didn't think he seemed suspicious (maybe a little secretive and intimidating as anything) in this chapter. I just think he's a really self assured person and he doesn't show the same signs of PTSD as the others.
Actually, he reminds me of many handsome men from the military. They're well aware that many heterosexual women desire them. So it makes them cocky and kinda asshole-ish.
He reminded me of Captain Jack Harkness, so as soon as i "met" him, i liked him 😀
I love Cinna forever. It's nice to have one sane person in this series of madness, it grounds the story in reality. And I love that Collins is letting us meet the other players this time around! I'm still mad about not knowing more about Foxface.
I agree! I found Foxface more intriguing than Katniss, tbh.
I can't wait for this scene in the movie. Also, good luck to the casting director: Katniss is portrayed as a horrible actor; so whoever gets chosen to play her needs to know how to act like she doesn't know how to act.
So Kristen Stewart then.
Oh no, she doesn't know how to act like she doesn't know how to act, she just doesn't know how to act period!
Wow, that's a confusing tongue twister!
And they need to do it /properly/. In most shows/movies, when you have characters who need to act as though they can't act, its really obvious, filled with exaggerated speech and bumbling and basically junior school play. We can't have that here. It needs to be a more subtle brand of acting.
I wish Cinna was my roommate. That way he could help me decide what to wear and be my friend at the same time. Instead I have roommates who steal my food and my boyfriend. Not fair.
Seeing Darius was the most unsettling moment of the books for me thus far. You think I would get used to really terrible things happening (kids dying, people being whipped almost to death etc.) but for whatever reason, this scene is so twisted and made me sick to my stomach.
INTENSE DEBATE IS NOW EATING ALL MY COMMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT
Sirusly, I just lost one of mine a minute ago ????
Hmm…I just posted quite a long comment as well and do not see it either. I figured I will give it like 10 minutes to see if it shows up =/
I had the very first post for the first time ever and it disappeared too. I went to show my friend and it was gone. Whyyyyyyyy?
Apparently Mark said that a bunch of comments are being sent to moderation for some unknown reason? So be patient, your comments may show up.
that's so queer. I had one disappear and it didn't reappear, but I don't recall it having anything offensive in it. :/ Maybe it got lost in the shuffle.
there's a lot of setup in this chapter and you have to ask yourself, "What for?"
The mind melting thus far? only a tease. Your brain will be obliterated. Can't you just feel that coming? You're not prepared. 🙂
I think that is the single most heartbreaking moment Collins has given us so far… oh I am so sad :(((((((((
I don't think that it was the most ~mature thing for Peeta to do to tease Katniss like that, but idk. I don't think it's that big of a deal. I am probably not the right person to ask. I tend to poke at my friend who is similarly "pure" like Katniss, so I guess I'm an asshole too. He wasn't being mean about it. He thought he was just teasing her good naturedly and he even tried to say that she was "perfect for him". Katniss is just letting her insecurities get the best of her and letting Peeta's teasing affect her more than it should, so she got all huffy when I really don't think it was a big issue at all.
I do like that moment in the chariots though when they almost instinctively decide to grab hands. They really have become each other's source of stability. Idk. I just think it's a good reflection of their partnership.
Seriously you're totally unprepared for the next chapters.
The fight between Katpee (by the way….I *heart* name LOL) I think it's cause everyone wants to know katniss better. She is so "herself" and people admire that, the other victors just feel intriged by how pure she is and how she doesn't sell for the capitol's entretaintment. Peeta knows this and is mad at her cause Katniss doesn't realize it….She's so naive sometimes…..PD: Team Cinna 4rever ^^
I always assumed by pure peeta meant prude…like not in a bad way but just like the example he gives (not looking at him naked) and the whole naked johanna, creepily close almost nude finnick, and chaff kissing her on the mouth is way more ~lol teasing you about sex~ then getting to know you better. you know? idk just my opinion!
also I like this pregame stuff way more than the first book! its interesting to learn about the different victors and the like tidbits about how they played their games and stuff! yay!
That is what I took Peeta to mean as well. Also, since they are both the youngest competing, I imagine some of it is like hazing the new kids.
This chapter was when I really started to like this book. I loved to learn more about other victors, finally. Why couldn't we get more of this stuff sooner?Collins is not very good at fleshing out her world. JK Rowling could almost make you believe you were there. The comparison between the two authors in creating a world we can imagine is amazing. The food alone in Harry Potter makes you drool.
Can you tell which book series I like better. 🙂
The food alone doesn't make you drool in Hunger Games???
I really like this chapter until the very end (so many details!), but I'll come back to that later.
Hi, Finnick.
<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lefthfdef11qf8yek.gif">
What are you wearing? For some reason I imagine a gold speedo with a net. Which worries me.
Why did Chaff get the option to not get a prosthetic arm? I'm sure the Capitol's image of beauty includes all extremities, even back whenever he won. I doubt Peeta got the option since he was unconscious. I feel pretty sure he would have agreed in any case, but that's not the point. Katniss wasn't given the chance to say no to the erasure of her scars or to breast implants. Only Haymitch fighting the Capitol tooth and nail prevented the latter from occurring. It doesn't seem in character to give Chaff a choice.
Johanna Mason is the only surviving female Victor from District 7. Katniss says each District managed to find a male and female Victor Tribute. Johanna was actually mentioned in the first book in passing, when Katniss was wondering if Peeta not hiding his tears was done on purpose to seem weak, the way Johanna did back then. It's almost like when Sirius was mentioned in Chapter 1 of Sorcerer's Stone but didn't appear until PoA.
I now place District 10 in Texas or thereabouts since they raise livestock and are dressed as cows.
The Capitol is so sick. Katniss was feeling somewhat comforted that the same girl Avox was there, but then there was somebody she actually considered a friend beside her. You know Snow ordered this personally.
A+ use of Jamesvandermeme.com
Finnick is not EVEN wearing a Speedo. JUST A NET. STRATEGICALLY KNOTTED.
<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3lVOb8wvDlE/TSd0wpH4ZjI/AAAAAAAAA5A/7G5e6MbU8DA/friends_yeahbaby.gif">
It made me think of Beyonce's outfit on the cover of Dangerously in Love.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/Dangerously_In_Love_Album%282003%29.png">
EXACTLY.
It's yet another example of Collins tendency towards genderbending the character stereotypes.
think about it, person who uses their beauty to get people to give them what they want. The pretty one, who get where they are, mostly because of how they look. And that's just what's in this chapter.
Written by most other authors, Finnick would be the hot sexy girl fatale. Yet here, and I love Collins for it, it's the guy who plays the homme fatale*eg* (you know, for lack of a better word)
And it just made me think about the people of walmart. I would post a picture of an old lady wearing mesh, but it would just wind up making everyone sad.
Do it. You know you want to do it.
But…but…wouldn't the back be completely exposed? Or does the net also strategically run down his butt crack?
That's where I put District 10, assuming that they're talking mostly of beef cattle and not other livestock. Someone needs to do a hastily drawn map of where we've placed everything.
Hahahaha, that is a stellar gif!
…Apparently Chaff was the only Victor still conscious at the end of his Games. That, and the people on his hovercraft were so scared of him that they never worked up the nerve to knock him out! Seriously though, it is definitely out of character for the Capitol. I guess if we're looking at it in a HI MY NAME IS SUZANNE COLLINS HAVE SOME SOCIAL COMMENTARY kind of way, it would reflect the life Victors get once they leave the arena, since it makes sense that Chaff would have wanted/needed two hands to continue working in the orchards. NOT THAT THAT EXCUSES THE CAPITOL'S LAPSE HERE.
You know, I remember Johanna being vaguely mentioned, maybe, somewhere in the first book, but I couldn't remember where. Sad, considering I've read these books/parts of these books multiple times in the last few months…
Page 41. I mean, what? *cough* Haha, I CTRL+F'd Google books and they found it for me.
But Chaff seems so likable! I think we'd be friends. It might be because he reminds me of this guy I studied abroad with who I call my fake brother. Once he starts drinking, so many filters disappear. Back to Chaff, I can't imagine him being so vicious. I have already adopted him into my circle of people I don't want to die (a very bad thing to have in these books). Maybe they gave him a fake hand but he doesn't like it, so he keeps taking it off.
YOU ARE TOTALLY RIGHT ABOUT CHAFF. I must have had a temporary lapse of sanity there, because it sounds like I was dangerously close to defending the Capitol or something. What?
It's still out of character for them to give him a removable hand. I bet they would have soldered it directly to his bones. 🙁
Finnick lives in District 4…and they fish…and his name is Finn…ick.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2834305343_4dbbf7fff7.jpg">
Come on Collins, couldn't you have named him Pike, walleye, Hey Look at me I'm from the ocean. Something more subtle.
Oh Katpiss, never stop being fierce kay?
<img src="http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae272/devenlane66/MOVING%20GIFS/AMAMOVINGGIF11-22-09.gif">
Don't forget the Mark's Prepardness Theorm that prepardness is inversly porptional to shit getting real.
<img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/dazzle_me90/GIF/surprisedkitty.gif">
the cat gif cracks me up. i must steal it immediately.
I only got the impression that Finnick Odair was supposed to be really faux-Irish name. He sounds Irish to me.
Like Finnegan? That makes sense.
I got it like Finnick, finnicky…
Because he can't stay with one girl
That's what I thought, too. I really didn't think that his name was that obvious, actually even less obvious than pretty much every other character's name.
Really? You're upset with Finnick (which, by the way, I didn't notice) but not SEEDER?
I sorta forgot about Seeder. But good point. I mean really collins.
I don't…uh…The naming thing is very on purpose. I don't think she's doing it to be lazy or an in-joke or something. Nearly all the tributes (and other characters) have names that relate to things they find important within their district.
The Capitol does it with Roman names..Katniss, Prim(rose), Peeta (Pita)–All plants & food–Glimmer, Gloss, Cashmere–All thing only seen/valued in products as opposed to raw materials. It's not that Collins is trying too hard or anything, she's creating a cultural practice.
That cat has the same expression as the Grudge!
*I actually went to find a picture, but I didn't want to see any of them full size so I could copy the image address. This worries me.*
Major sad. But I really love that we get the chance to meet all these other Champions. Seeing how each of them won and how they've spent their lives dealing with that past…I likes it.
It really makes me wish that we knew more about that whole universe. There are some lovely complex stories to be told.
more surprises on familiar scenario.finnick looks like a pervert.katpee is openly revolting against the capital.and darius.WTF?
I know! The names are a little too weird for me. Im okay wih weird names, obviously mine is Phoebe, but them all being weird? i think she trying too hard.
Personally speaking, I don't think the names are that weird given the setting. Who knows how many years into the future these books are? Customs for naming heavily depend on the time period. Some names that are normal to us now would be found weird in the past and vice versa. It's like a fashion style. One that is popular now will be outdated in a few years.
true, but we still have names from many years ago. look at the bible, for example. plenty of pauls and marys and johns. i think at least some of our names would have survived.
the thing is, collins frequently chose the names for a particular reason. katniss is the name of a plant, and all of the people in the capitol have roman names because she wanted to bring to mind the roman gladiator games (death as entertainment and all that).
Also the people we know from District 11 now: Thresh, Seeder, Chaff and Rue. They're all agricultural/farming terms, and that's their industry.
And let's not forget the book of MARK:
Teacher, which commandment is the greatest? And He answered, "No spoilers please."
I MIGHT be paraphrasing a little, there. 😉
This may be the greatest comment of all time.
Those are their English names, not the names from the original, untranslated Bible. JUST FYI 🙂
"Bonnie" survived 😉 (Escapee from8, remember? And that means Johanna wasn't the first person with a "modern" name!)
Not to mention that even most current names used to have a specific meaning.
It's just that right now, we've mostly forgotten the meaning of most names, but there's no reason that people wouldn't go back to giving children names based on specific meanings in their own language.
OKAY I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't really understand the whole 'pure' conversation between Katpee. It felt very.. out of place? I don't know. Like I just don't get it, I guess, and I feel like it added nothing to anything. Peeta could have just said something like, 'You're really young, so everyone just thinks you're innocent' (instead of her being all ~pure~) and left it at that. Idk idk I just didn't get it no matter how many times I re-read it.
BUT WHATEVER. CINNA IS THE TRUE HBIC HERE. BOW DOWN, BITCHES.
i know, she killed a bunch of people but is still pure
I think prudish would have been a better word, because if anyone is pure of heart, soul etc., it's Peeta.
I think he meant to call her a prude and then realized she might be insulted by it so he tried to use a nicer sounding word.
I agree. I don't think it was her youth. Not all teens would be uncomfortable with random nakedness or people getting in your personal space, but Katniss is.
Can I just say thanks for the review? I love reading your take on the book, especially because it makes me look at it differently.
I'm of two minds about the other winners. At first I thought the crazy stuff they're doing was all strategy on their part. (What happened to Katniss thinking everyone was motivated by trying to win the Games?) It seemed to me like some of them (Finnick, Joanna, Chaf) were trying to intimidate her in a weird sort of way. She's already faced brutal people in the last Games, so maybe crazies will seem even scarier?
But I can see Peeta's teasing argument too. Katniss has been playing off this very affectionate girl, and maybe the other winners don't buy it and are making fun of her act. I can't think of anything that would make Katniss (or anyone!) more uncomfortable than overtly sexual, nearly naked man.
Snow is an idiot if he thinks putting the victors in the Games will stop the uprising. if anything it will ignite more riots against the Capitol. And i didn't get Katniss and Peeta's fight either.
I think that it's meant as a punishing tool, and to scare people into submission. Some rebels might be urged on and pissed off, but I think Katniss was right in her assessment about it destroying hope and reminding people, even if unpleasantly, that the Capitol is in control.
All the sad faces forever for poor darius. Snow obviously did this on purpose. However yeah for actually getting to know the tributes. I have always liked this games better just for that fact.
Oh and you are unprepared, yada yada, etc.
I think President Snow went out of his way to show that Tributes are no more than extensions of their District. To show that he has ultimate control over the Districts, their rights to live or die, eat or starve, marry/love who they want, that he missed the big picture. The lie he and Panem's government in general have told for 75 years is the lie that The Hunger Games are a privilage to compete in and winning brings honor to themselves and their District and the citizens of the Capitol bought it. So even though he is putting the Tributes and the Districts in "their place" the actions of the prep trio show that the citizens even feel how cruel it is. I think his power trip went to his head and he forgot what the repercussions would be. This isn't like when the Games began and the citizens still remembered the uprising and the cost they had to pay. They have been partying for too long and don't understand why the party got so weird all of the sudden.
I understand what Snow was going for, but I think this is going to wind up being a giant failure for him. And yes, there is no doubt in my mind that he arranged these Games. It is just too convenient.
Very well said!
Well-put. (Snow, might want to glance at your copy of The Evil Overlord List again.)
Cinna's reaction to the crying prep team pretty much makes me just LOVE HIM FOREVER!!!!
Cinna pwns all other stylists. PERIOD.
God that conversation with Finnik must have been so embarrassing. If I were in Katniss shoes at that moment, I don't think I would get a single sentence out.
And oh god. I feel so bad about Darius. Being turned to an Avox just for interfering in a punishment? That's just to cruel and sad. I find it scary to think about, but I think if Katniss wasn't so untouchable as a victor this could have been her fate too. 🙁
yes my screen is only showing 2 comments but the site says there are 5??
why are none of the comments showing up?
I've tried to post mine three times….I give up 🙁
they've been going to moderation. Mark is working on it and it might be fixed by now.
I always think Finnick is old because he won the games so long ago, when Katniss was a little kid. Then I use math and realize he's younger than I am! I saw someone online suggest that Jared Padalecki play him in the movie, I think that could work really well.
Johanna is so scary to me! I don't like randomly-naked people.
OMGoodness Paddywhack would be so perfect for this part! Excellent casting!
I always pictured Jake Abel (Luke in The Lightning Thief) as Finnick.
Nah, Jared is handsome, but not pretty. Finnick has to be pretty, if this were about ten years ago, I'd have suggested Leonardo Dicaprio, unfortunately, he's too old. Same for Jensen who would have been perfect seven or eight years ago, but even though he's still hot, he wouldn't look young enough for it.
Yeah, all my TV boyfriends are too old for the part. I guess I need to watch more shows about high schoolers, because those actors are mostly early 20s.
Exactly. He can't just be all buff and super dude-like. He's also a little campy and mysterious and pretty. So beautiful that everyone in the Capital wants to #^$& him.
I think that Finnick should totally be buff (not like a body builder but definitely someone who works out and could kill you with his bare hands). Just, you know, also pretty and sort of feminine about it. Which Jared is not.
Exactly, Jared's hot, but in a 'somewhat scary' way. Well he is these days. Maybe three or four years ago, he could have been pretty, at the very least his face was softer in the first few seasons of spn, but even then Jensen was the pretty one of the two.
For me the biggest problem is that Jared's jaw is too broad. See, I could go with the buff and the bodybuilding. But it should go with a face that makes him look younger, somewhat vulnerable. If that makes any sense.
I've always pictured Ryan Reynolds as Finnick. And Garry Shandling as Snow.
I have always pictured a younger Jensen Ackles playing Finnick actually, because of the green eyes and also, the man is pretty.
J2 CASTING = ALMOST!TELEPATHY OR SOMETHING?!?!?!
:O
Since I think Jensen should be in everything, maybe they could just change the character's timeline a little – he won it at 18 ten years ago, or won it at 14 fifteen years ago, etc etc. Problem solved, win-win all around.
I picture him as James Franco-ish, but JF might be too old for the part by now. (He's 33, while Finnick is supposed to be 24.)
oh, god no, NO not Jared. I've never found him attractive.
CINNAAAAAAAAAAAAAA…
Cinnabar. WHAT?
A deep red color and also a mineral of the same color. Mineral. District 12. Deep red. Fire. What, what, what. Why do I realize this only now? >.>
Collins, y u so creative? ;3
Cinna was a Roman politician who plotted against an emperor
Wonky comments are wonky! Something weird is going on here.
I'd love to hear Mark's dream casting for the movie!
Yes! We are seeing more of the opposing tributes pre-game! And naked girls! Oh Collins, how can I get mad at you for repeating the same story when you've gone through such lengths to read my mind!
::Concentrates:: Haymitch breaks into the ring with a tank! Acidic bunnies! Deanna Troi gets warped into the cornucopia due to a transporter malfunction! xD
Do you mean beamed into the cornucopia?
well, long as us girls can be happy about the half naked Finnick:-)
mmmmmmmmmmm Finnick
LOVE Cinna =)
This is the one part of the novel where I wanted to hit Effie over the head. Even if she doesn't know better, a "matching set"? wow.
You accidentally wrote cinny instead of cinna. Am I immature for laughing?
Perfect gif is perfect! Hello fivehead! (Dawson does not have a forehead, he has a fivehead, clearly! 😉 )
I absolutely love your love of Cinna. Mostly Because I'm right there with you.
I was a bit confused about Peeta's remark after Johanna removed her costume, though. Idk. Lawd, I just finished these series but going back through and reading your reviews is THE BEST. Just saying I'm in love with this site.
I love Finnick! He's one of my favorite characters in the book.
I really like Johanna, too. I think she's a bit of a shadow Katniss.
Finnick is awesome 🙂 And yeah Johanna reminds me of Katniss in a way.
I wish Cinna was my roommate. That way he could help me decide what to wear and be my friend at the same time. Instead I have roommates who steal my food and my boyfriend. Not fair.
Is my computer glitching or was there no cut for this entry?
Anyways, Cinna is flawless, amazing, beautiful, wise, etc. You think his name is supposed to be a weird, capitol shortened version of cinnamon?
Nope, no cut this time and the comments are being totally bizarre – expect yours to disappear shortly. Clearly some webmaster needs to fix something here.
I think all the Capital names have a Greek/Roman theme, so Cinna is probably just Cinna. Maybe? Iunno.
Cinna's an actual Roman name, though it was (I think) more of a family name than a given name. Wikipedia has a list of famous Cinnas. (Cinnae?)
there's a famous French play about a particular Cinna who was a conspirator
I will from this moment onwards always assume that that is Cinna's real name because Cinnamon's the most awesome name in the world ever and I love it so much it hurts.
Seriously. Your brain is so beautiful for going there.
I fully expect you to name your first born Cinnamon.
There a lots of names from the play "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar". There were actually two Cinnas in that!
Names from that play used in the Hunger Games include : Caesar, Cato, Portia, Flavius, and Octavius, if you were wondering. Octavius was changed to Octavia to sound more feminine, probably, if Collins did get the names from JC. There were a few more names I can't remember atm, too
My thoughts on Finnick:
<img src="http://th06.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2010/344/0/2/finnick_odair_by_elontirien-d34kuie.jpg">
<img src="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/106/a/e/And_you_____by_graysee.jpg">
<img src="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/012/c/c/the_Men_of_Hunger_Games_by_burdge_bug.png">
…yeah, I think that about sums it up.
Also, the Darius reveal socked me in the gut. Hard. OW, Capitol. OW.
*obligatory TEAM CINNA FOREVER*
LOL @ Katniss' chest in that second pic…
Yeah, Finnick's all "o hay convenient boob! PERFECT FOREARM CUSHION."
Do the outfits count as spoilers?
Yes. For sure.
…fuck, completely slipped my mind. *facepalm* Is there any way for me to delete comments if I don't actually have an account?
I guess someone can report it. And I don't think you'd get in trouble since you don't have an account.
I don't think so. I've read the books, so I know what to look for, but there's nothing about the outfits that screams giveaway, in my opinion. They're just jumpsuits. In blue. That's it.
It’s only a spoiler if your point it out to be one. People who haven’t read the books wouldn’t know if it was or wasn’t, because it would just look like blue suit things.
First one looks like Ian Somerhalder.
He's another one of my TV boyfriends who's too old for Finnick 🙁 Isn't there some kid on Gossip Girl who looks similar (dark hair/blue eyes/giant eyebrows)? Alternatively, they could say he won the Games 10 years ago at 18 and then it wouldn't be as much of a stretch.
Which guy from Gossip Girl? This guy?
<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_leme3xtBjw1qfw326o1_500.jpg">
BTW- How old is Finnick supposed to be?
Maybe/probably? Chase something?
It said he won the games 10 years ago at 14 so he'd be 24.
The only casting decision I would be truly against is if they cast everyone Katniss, Gale, Finnick, Johanna, Rue, Haymitch, Peeta etc. as 22-28 year olds. Obviously that will be some of their ages, but if I can't tell which one is supposed to be older, I will be pretty upset.
lol FINNICK IS A MERMAN.
I think Katniss just gives off the impression of being wound so tight, and she’s so put together, that they’re enjoying trying to unhinged her. It’s fun making the uptight girl uncomfortable.
Finnick. Johanna. <3
You're right, I think that's what they meant when they were teasing her.
Shit. I completely forgot about Darius becoming an Avox. DDD: JUST DIG THAT KNIFE IN DEEPER, PRESIDENT SNOW.
Also, love for Cinna forever and ever.
I do like that we finally get some idea of the other districts' specialties, even if it's only brief descriptions. I'm guessing District 10 is Texas? I can't decide if District 4 is the Gulf of Mexico or New England, though. It could even be the Pacific Northwest since the districts seem to be numbered west to east? Hard to say. It's fun to try figuring out, though.
*cleaning up my reposts* lalalalalalatida
And a whistle *tootoodidoo*
I don't get the "pure" thing either. Peeta says it's because Katniss was so embarrassed by the thought of seeing Peeta naked even in the games when they were just trying to survive. So… everyone is poking fun at her by showing up naked? I don't get it. I thought Johanna had to have been hitting on Peeta by getting naked and then getting in the elevator with them, but Peeta's reaction makes me think that wasn't the case.
Maybe everybody just thinks Katniss is awesome and wants to be around her. Naked. …?
INTENSEDEBATE WILL PROBABLY EAT THIS COMMENT 🙁
I think that Johanna was totally hitting on Peeta, partially to piss off Katniss (as a fellow tribute and competitor, and the current 'it' girl), and that Peeta in a way is even more innocent than Katniss. He acted like nothing had happened, seriously, and didn't really cotton onto Katniss's mood until after, which makes me think he was just worried Katniss might be jealous (hence the whole, "oh no, to me, you're perfect").
I found Darius as an Avox to be really chilling and upsetting. It effected me much more than the girl we are introduced to after it's already happened to her. I didn't have a strong impression of him from before, but the idea of being served by him is nauseating. It would be so horrible to not be able to talk to him; just being in his presence would be like his torture is still going on. This is one of those instances where the Capitol comes off as being diabolical, but at the same time a bit over-the-top cartoonish in their callousness.
I think the Avoxes are kind of a warning to the people from the Capitol itself. In a, don't make a fuss, don't complain and enjoy all the benefits you get, or you can lose everything. Remember that Effie called the redheaded girl a traitor, so I'm guessing that most Avoxes are those people from the Capitol who realized that what the Capitol was doing and dared to speak up against it
And by having them serve as slaves, rather than just killing them, they're a constant reminder to everyone else not to step out of line.
Also I laughed when you said Johanna Mason is the only one with a "normal" name that we know so far, because that's true and I didn't even realize it. What does District 7 specialize in? Antiques?
lumber and paper.
I know, I was just making a joke about how her name sounds normal to us, which probably means it's really old-fashioned in the future… so… it would be an antique… NEVER MIND
It was funny! At least it made me giggle.
It was funny, just me being annoyin 😉
I got it
Ok, so IntenseDebate is sending all comments to moderation for some reason. Please don't make the same comment 40 times. I will make sure to check it and have my moderator check it multiple times an hour to approve any that get sent there in the meantime!
Oh, thanks! Good to hear! Reading the comments is half the fun and I (and I suspect many) thought we were doing something wrong. I'm sure it'll all be cleared up soon!
Katniss's reaction to nudity is more or less the same one I have if I'm not expecting it. I advert my eyes and try to ignore it and it flusters me.
It's kind of funny because I'm known with my friends and family to be the first to crack "that's what she said" jokes and find innuendo.
President Snow's spirit animal:
<img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/21deo1j.jpg">
(why are the internets lacking in photos of Commodus with rose petals?)
upvote times a million
In my head, the film-makers should age up Johanna Mason to Christina Hendricks' age, so that Christina Hendricks can play her. Also, Johanna sounds kinda like Joan, another character played by Christina Hendricks. But yeah, CHRISTINA HENDRICKS AS JOHANNA MASON Y/Y?
OMG can this please happen? That would be fantastic.
<img src="http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/667/joanbitchface.gif">
(Never posted images before; sorry if this fails.)
I'm torn. On one hand, she is not at all how I see Johanna, so I say no. On the other hand, putting Christina Hendricks in a movie is NEVER going to be a bad thing, so I say YES YES YES.
I picture Johanna with red hair, I'm not sure if that's canon but that's how I see her.
Same. Also, Joan Holloway has a similar personality to Johanna Mason. And hence, age her up by eight years or so, and Johanna can be played by the actress who played Joan Holloway.
Yes and no.
Yes because if I ever saw Christian Hendricks naked (which they prolly won't do for Johanna anyway) I would die of happiness and go to heaven.
But no because I actually see her as pretty young, somewhere between Katniss and Finnick's ages, dirty blond hair (who knows why) and a more mocking+menacing expression on her face. But mostly I think she really needs to be younger that Hendricks.
Ugh, I am ~choking~ on spoilers.
Me too!! I was going to respond to this chatper, but everything risks spoilers!!
Same. so much I can't say.
I wonder if in Panem, Johanna actually has a really weird-sounding, old-fashioned name. Like her parents didn't want her to be one more "Twig" or "Leaf" or "Timburr" and went all ~*unique*~ instead.
LOL I'm not a big fan of the names. This makes sense, though.
TIMBURR
Or "Willow", "Birch", "Aspen" and "Hazel"
I've seen all those as names.
Off topic alert: I've been pawing through some old British Woman's Weeklies from the 50s recently, and there was a short story in one about a man who ran a timber plantation. His name was Timber.
Seriously though. Seriously.
I read a story in which someone could shape-shift into a dog. His name was Sirius. Sirius is the dog star.
Siriusly though. Siriusly.
It looks like the cut isn't there on the front page, and that there's something wrong with the comments section. First, it said that there were four comments but only showed two, so I refreshed the page and then it said there were three comments, but it only showed one. Weird.
Maybe it's just me, but it really does seem like quite a few of the people Katniss doesn't like (outside of maybe Cray and Thread) are described in feminine terms. Octavia, Flavius, and Venia: "histrionic," "shrieking," "wailing." President Snow? Has full, feminine lips (though if I remember correctly, Katniss thinks it's to make himself seem less threatening). Finnick: "sensuous" and "too pretty" (words that can be applied to both genders but almost always have a feminine connotation when applied to a person, though I understand that the fact that he's something of a prostitute might play into it, as well). Even the Capitol accent she mocks and likes to mimic as a joke is described as high-pitched and lispy.
Peeta at his best is described using feminine terms too though.
Hmm…do you have any examples, off hand, because the only time I can remember Peeta being described in feminine terms was when Katniss was being rough with Haymitch and she said something like "If you want to be babied, you should have called for Peeta," which to me sounded more like an insult. I suppose I'll have to look into that further.
Any reference to his skills at baking, calling him "the boy with the bread", and the way she describes him as gentle and kind. IDK, I don't have anything concrete, but the general characterization of Peeta involves stereotypically feminine, albeit positive this time, traits.
You could argue that Collins is being vaguely sexist with these descriptions. Orrr we could say that society is vaguely sexist, because why should these words have feminine connotations in the first place? "Shrieking" and "wailing" have nothing at all to do with women as a whole, except when people (men, usually) want to make sweeping generalizations about why their female couterparts are a pain in the ass. Shrieking and wailing is not feminine behavior, it is annoying behavior, hence Collins' description of the stylist trio.
I don't think the fact that those terms shouldn't have a feminine connotation excuses an author from using them in ambiguously sexist ways, especially (as is the case with Octavia, Flavius, and Venia) when they're being used to describe people who're largely depicted as having stereotypical feminine traits (gossipy hens; fashionista; Valley girl, with a small twist; spoiled rich girl, though there are different aspects of this and it's kind of hard to tell so far which one they embody…while they aren't really fleshed out enough for the tropes to fully apply, it's kind of alarming how many of these negative female-specific tropes Collins apparently draws on) .
The word "uppity" shouldn't have a racial connotation, but it undoubtedly does, and it would be naive of an author to use the word to describe a black character (one who just happens to have other negative traits stereotypically associated with black people) thinking it won't be problematic.
I think the reason behind the weirdness, and the resulting "pure" conversation is this:
I think that the other victors have largely viewed Katniss' display in the arena as a successful, and scorn worthy, strategy. Finnick is supposed to be the epitome of golden boy beauty. If he can't trip her up, then no one else is likely. And what an awesome statement of character for Katniss. She's not attracted to the physical perfection of Finnick at all. She's actually repulsed by it! so, she either digs ~ugly~ guys, or she's attracted to all of the qualities that comprise a person. I'm kinda starting to like her, for this alone.
Yeah, but Gale's insanely good-looking too, and Katniss has conflicted feelings for him and Peeta, who has also been described as good-looking.
Yeah, I think the point is that she cares about Gale and Peeta for who they are, not what they look like. All the Capitol women might fall all over Finnick for his looks, but she doesn't trust anyone, let alone think about loving them, unless she knows them.
Darius?
“Dear Katniss,
I must say that I really should invite you here to the Capitol more often (perhaps we can pull you through so you can be in the 76th Games, hmmmmm?) because this is just too funny to me!
XOXO, President Snow”
The Capitol has a sick, twisted sense of humor and/or ways to tell Katniss we’re watching you.
Ending was such a cliff hanger and a shock.
Loved Cinna and so wish that there was just a book about his character.
Reaction to the victors
Finnick:
<img src="http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa300/kawbaby/timgunnomg.gif" border="0" alt="Tim Gunn is like Ahhh OMG Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
Johanna:
<img src="http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u86/branwyhn/GIFs/001a9xwk.gif" border="0" alt="project runway Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
Chaff:
<img src="http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb150/TOTO-LERO/gifs/14kwdpljpg.gif" border="0" alt="nina garcia gif Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
BUT OMFG CINNA!!!!
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v187/Eilonnwy/GIFS%20and%20Macros/Happy%20or%20Approving/excitement.gif" border="0" alt="Project Runway Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
My first comment disappeared so I can't edit it to add in more. DEAL WITH IT.
This is a major reason of why Catching Fire is my favorite book out of the three. Yeah, we've seen the Games before, but we actually get to meet the other competitors, who are just that much more interesting because they're all Victors, so they have to be introduced with some backstory. I absolutely love what Collins did in this chapter. Obviously I have comments and things I want to say about the people we've just met, but I can't because spoilers. I'll just say that I love this chapter, yay.
Team Cinna forever. He gets all of the love and thumbs up for being such an awesome person!
Finnick seems rather intriguing. Pity we probably won’t see anymore of him.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.
Substitute "prude" for "pure" and I think it'll make more sense. The Capitol is probably highly sexualized. I mean, look at Finnick. Look what he's been made to do after he won his Games. Peeta meant that Katniss is pretty innocent in that way, for the Capitol's standards. He says she's perfect for him, so I don't think it's something that bothers him, but rather something he wants to alert her to, because she seems unaware of how others are treating her. *shrugs* Idk.
I particularly loved this moment:
Our hands find each other without further discussion. Of course we will go into this as one.
I'm so glad they have each other. If they didn't, this story would be 100 times more depressing than it already is.
yes yes yes yes yes. I think there's an implication that the Capitol is a lot more …"freespirited" than Katniss is aware of, at least socially. She seems continually surprised by everything she sees whenever she visits. She's only been exposed to so much, and usually at superficial moments like dinners, or during the presentation ceremonies for the Games, where all the focus is on her and her 16 YEAR OLD FIANCE WHUT, not Capitol customs or culture or society.
"The electric-light-studded outfits from District 3, where they make electronics, at least make sense."
I can't be the only one who pictured this:
<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack – Image And Video Hosting' href='http://img257.imageshack.us/i/tronlegacyphoto.jpg/'><img src='http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1655/tronlegacyphoto.jpg' border='0'/>
Uploaded with <a target='_blank' href='http://imageshack.us'>ImageShack.us
Also, trying to say as little as possible about the characters in this chapter. Except Cinna. We can always talk about how awesome Cinna is!
No, you are definitely not. I was trying to picture what some of the district costumes might look like and could not get the Tron outfits out of my head to come up with anything else for D3. 😉
I'm sorry, whenever I see Tron all I can think of is Sam Flynn's angry butt.
<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ledqxjgDSL1qbyrv2o1_400.png"alt="Angrybutt"/>
AMAZING
Cleaning up my double posts. :: sweep sweep :: Buh-bye Dawson.
Sad realization: Katniss may have been thrown into the other two Quarter Quells too. 8C
The first, where they had to vote? Well, she obviously knows how to defend herself and is their only female victor. They may have thought she stood the best chance. (Unfortunately Gale may have been chosen, though, for his skill and hunting ability, but hopefully not.)
The second? Twice the amount of tributes, which means Katniss' already high chances for being picked were doubled.
Though this Quarter Quell can be nothing but a setup by Snow.
Why hi there Finnick 😉
<3 Finnick
I think Katpee’s fight is about Peeta noticing that people really react to Katniss. She is young and, even when she thinks she’s putting on a mask for the Capitol, she is being more natural than people are used to. I think this stems from Katniss’ first interview, when she said her favourite thing about the Capitol was the lamb stew, but was so poignant when she spoke about Prim. I think the others are acting in a way to try elicit one of those genuine reactions from her. Peeta commented in the first book, to Haymitch about her being unaware of the effect she has. But, by noticing, and putting it into words, Katniss thinks that Peeta is one of the group and that she is like an outsider and that they collectively focus their attention on her. She is annoyed that it is another instance of her not being aware of something that’s obvious to others. I found their argument cute, but a bit irritating, in that Peeta is again portrayed as something of a saintly, wise, all knowing, patient man. He is a 16 year old kid also. He has lost his leg, nearly died, and now is facing the prospect of probably dying at the hands of one of these experienced fighters. Instead of freaking out, even a little, he is so measured, and making social commentary. It was very endearing, but I guess I found Peeta’s maturity, at a time like this, a bit jarring. Maybe it reminded me of the creepy interactions of Twilight, when Edward had this patient superiority of an adult explaining things to a child. Except that Peeta is not really 100 years old.
yes. I'd love to get more of his POV just because his thought processes sometimes MAKE NO SENSE and he always seems to be holding out
I don't have much to say, except at this point in the book I was really confused at to how it would progress. It works out though, I guess.
Don’t know about who should play Finnick, but every time I watch Glee I see Puck and think Gale.
Everything I want to say is kind of spoiler-ish, so I’ll just say that you are still not prepared, and leave it at that.
Finnick!
<img src="http://gifs.gifmania.co.il/Animated-Gifs-Movies-Cinema/Animations-Zoolander/hansel.gif">
This story is just endless fucked up wrapped in more fucked up, sprinkled with unpreparedness.
I am holding your hand on the astral plane.
HANSEL
YES. I totally picture him when I read about Finnick.
"I wasn't like every other kid, you know, who dreams about being an astronaut. I was always more interested in what bark was made out of on a tree. Richard Gere's a real hero of mine. Sting would be another person who's a hero. The music he's created over the years, I don't really listen to it, but the fact that he's making it, I respect that. I care desperately about what I do. Do I know what product I'm selling? No. Do I know what I'm doing today? No. But I'm here, and I'm gonna give it my best shot."
He's so hot right now.
Cinna is
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee287/sammie1334/snape-awesome-wb.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
Even Severus Snape could not resist the charms of Cinna. (Mmmp, maybe I should say that. Look out Lily Potter, now here comes a crossover fanfic to make all our brains bleed!)
Oh my Rowling, I am so excited for you to read the rest of the book(s). No offense, but you are not prepared for the amount of shit that is going to get real.
Guys, guys
I imagine Finnick to look exactly like this
<img alt="" src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs22/f/2009/240/7/e/CORMAC_LICKING_HIS_FINGERS_by_PollyTheArtist.gif" />
100% agreed!!
YEEEEEEESS!
HBAHASLJKDHDFHJASDKJHSADFHLJKASFDHLJKSADFS
UPVOTED SO HARD
hahahaha so so true.
Longer hair, but otherwise yes.
thats fantastic! i now finally have an image! that is so perfect!
This has always been who I've pictured as Finnick! YES!
I'm calling it. Katniss befriends Finnick. This causes controversy in the Capitol, who think she's cheating on Peeta with him, and then Johanna will kill Peeta and Finnick. I have a messed up mind, but Collins obviously has no regret killing off characters.
"There are not enough tridents in today's 'Catching Fire' review, btw."
OKAY, OKAY, MARK.
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yof1nQsve0E/SqKgil-KrhI/AAAAAAAABjY/1r7jHHc6NuU/s400/trident.jpg">
/smartass
I LOVE YOU.
😀
This is the type of comment I can get behind
<img src="http://wherecanbuyu.com/aimg/517WDV2GC7L.jpg">
It's my favorite!
I like strawberry!
<img src="http://familywholesales.com/uploads/2-72_Trident_Strawberry_12_ct.jpg">
If Finnick is wearing a strategically knotted net, and the tributes from each District wear wearing matching costumes, what about the 80 year old victor from 4? is she wrapped up in a net too? Whilst it may be funny its also deeply sad and pathetic, having your dignity stripped away on the whim of some person from the capital.
I loved that Collins mentioned how ridiculous a lot of the adult Tributes looked in their costumes. That they're not the kind of clothing most grown men and women can get away with.
I agree. Althought I think the characters in this book don't care about showing their bodies/body image as much as current people. Obviously Katniss does, but apparently she's purer than the rest of them.
MORE IMPORTANTLY CAN BETTY WHITE PLAY HER IN THE MOVIE?
Ok not more importantly at all, because that's a very good point and adds to how the Capitol are horrible, evil people.
(Also this comment is not borne from some deep-seeded desire to see Betty White wearing only a net. I promise)
Prediction!: FINNICK IS AQUAMAN you can't make me believe otherwise.
APPROVE.
is it weird that i only see Finnick as Aquaman??? He can clearly talk to dolphins. CLEARLY
OMG I thought I was the only one!
He's fully Aquaman to me.
I WISH HE HAD A TRIDENT FOR AN ARM
I'M SORRY, THAT WOULD BE SO COOL
Ok but Finnick is my absolute favourite
I don't know if anyone has posted about this yet but here's some info about the movie (not much, but it's something): http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/01/07/hunger-game…
I do not appreciate it being compared to Twilight. WTF.
Completely agree. It's because people in Hollywood are incredibly stupid and have a compulsion to compare everything because god forbid something just stand on its own. (I say this as someone who's worked in Hollywood.)
I'm disappointed in the lack of possible Finnicks in these comments. These are people I've heard suggested:
<img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/14mtlox.jpg">
<img src="http://img.hunkdujour.com/blog/gay_blogger/530/taylor_kitsch_200808_4.jpg">
<img src="http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/images/2009/8/zac-efron-shirtless-1.jpg">
Hmm I always thought of Alex Pettyfer as Peeta.
I hate Alex Pettyfer as Peeta :(. I think he's too tough looking. I don't think he has the kind look that Peeta needs. But I know he's a popular choice. I much prefer Hunter, but I know he's too old now. Hunter when he was younger is how I picture Peeta, like this:
<img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/32zlt3b.jpg">
In general, I really hope the casting is age appropriate. I want Peeta and Katniss to look 16.
He would make a good Peeta ^_^ Yeah I agree they should look 16, how do you feel about Emily Browning for Katniss?
NO. No no no. Emily Browning is too innocent-looking and twee to be Katniss.
To be honest, I don't think Emily Browning looks ANYTHING like Katniss is supposed to look. She just gets fancast for everything. She's not even close to being Katniss.
I will be so mad if the actors are pushing 30 while playing teenagers. See: Vampire Diaries, Buffy, Dawson's Creek, Grease, etc…
Me too! I really want them to be young, because so much of the emotions of the story come from the age of the characters. It needs to be believable.
totally agree. i'm so anxious to start hearing the casting news. i always do this with books to films, because i create such an image in my head. i don't want the actor to shatter that image, ya know? i also think the people should be relative unknowns. i feel like if the actors are famous, or even well connected with a certain role, it will remove us from them playing katniss/peeta/etc. i want the characters to remain as if they almost belong to the readers, not some hollywood person playing a part. am i making sense?
Vampire Diaries has someone who's not yet 24 playing a 30 year old AUNT to Elena. They also have an older actor playing Elena's YOUNGER brother. Not a fan of TVD casting….or of the way Damon gets the Draco in Leather Pants treatment. Wish Mark would watch that series to take down the woobie-fication of Damon.
I know so many people who feel sympathy for Damon, and I get that the show tries to do that, but since he's acted like a total psychopath, oh, you know, killing all these people that Elena and Stefan care about, I can't ever root for him. So the woobiefication is lost on me. And I hate that it works on so many people, especially because Ian is so good looking. Ahem. I'm obviously Team Stefan.
Mr. Hunk du Jour scares the hell out of me. :O
Why is he wearing jeans on a beach?? AND THEY LOOK WET. SO MUCH HORROR. D:
Okay, Dude #1 looks almost exactly how I picture him. Approve!
Alex Pettyfer as Finnick = YESYESYES I LOVE YOU. He would even be the right age!
Taylor Kitsch = the hotness. I would cast him for Finnick in a second.
For the first picture, if his hair was darker/redder, he would be Finnick Odair.
there's always hair dye
Finnick…not going to comment on him, but will provide fanart!
Finnick's Bringing Sexy Back by Peibee-an-Jay
<img src=http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/052/3/c/Fennick__s_Bringing_Sexy_Back_by_Peibee_an_Jay.png>
Falling for Finnick by Muchacha10
<img src=http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/243/4/6/fallin___for_finnick_by_muchacha10-d2xqzur.jpg>
Also, Johanna is very feisty:
Johanna Mason by elontirien
<img src=http://data.rockyou.com/images/fbflair/pf_img/6/d/3/c/6d3cd42fea3274b5fc37c265bc49ce3335528db5.jpg>
Favorite lines of this chapter:
I turn and put my lips close to Peeta's and drop my eyelids in imitation of Finnick. "He offered me sugar and wanted to know all my secrets," I say in my best seductive voice.
Peeta laughs. "Ugh. Not really."
Outfit on the first one = spoiler, y/y?
I don't really think so. Unless you know, it just looks like a regular outfit.
I love Cinna so much, but talking about him taking his emotions out on himself, and him getting hurt makes me very, very nervous. CINNA BE CAREFUL or they might make you an Avox too. :(….. Darius, I hope you get some form of revenge.
Seriously, the image of someone having there tongue cut out, and all the blood and agony makes me feel physically sick. And knowing the Capitol, they likely didn't use anesthesia to cut the pain. They probably made them live through the pain so they would be mentally castrated as well. DARIUS!!! T_T tears forever…
Mark – I really hope you will come to Leaky Con 2011 and be a panelist – they opened submissions for programming today and my first though was:
MARK TALKS ABOUT HARRY POTTER 😀
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2011/1/7/leakyc…
The Capitol will not rest until ALL JOY HAS BEEN SUCKED FROM EXISTENCE.
FINNINK AND JOHANNA
AND THE OTHE VICTORS, OMG
This is my favourite chapter.
Hm, I think I was expecting some rant about oversexualizing child stars. I mean, he was 14 when he won the games! And she describes it as them counting down till her turned 16. *Shudder*
*Theory* Could he be a sex addict? A legit one, as a way to cope with the PTSD and being a victor and dealing with drooling woman. From what it sounds like, he would have killed the more people then most victors, and a trident brings you even close to their faces…
But also, BAMF much? I love the mental image of Finnick wandering away from the careers for a minute, getting the Trident, and murdering everyone.
Am I the only one who imagined Johanna and Finnick having some competition of who could make their target blush first? Johanna stripping in front of Peeta and then chatting with him, and Finnick, well, hitting on Katniss. WHILE SAYING THINGS THAT ARE TOTALLY RELEVENT. Seriously, I bet you we have not seen the last of Finnick and his secrets. 😉
I could seriously just sit here and watch that last AVPM gif for hours. He is just so happy to dance again, you guys.
He's been waiting all these years to dance again!
I LOVE that you are Team Cinna because Cinna is so incredibly awesome. I love that every time he appears he is a complete BAMF in an incredibly subtle way. Seriously, I would read an entire book series about Cinna.
Also, I'm Team Cinna because both Peeta and Gale can be supreme dickheads a lot. Seriously, the part where Peeta was all "oh lol the other victors are just messing with you, just chill out and don't take everything so seriously" made me so mad.
So, four for you Cinna! You go Cinna!
And none for Peeta Mellark bye.
Oh my god I bet Cinna's favorite movie WOULD BE Mean Girls.
That's why his costumes are so awesome. They're full of secrets.
And Peeta would be all, “why don’t I get a candy cane, Katniss?” and be TOTES DEPRESSED
Johanna Mason is my shit and you better not fuck with her. I don't know why, but a rude girl (woman I guess) who gets naked whenever the fuck she feels like it and would probably kick your grandma's ass for looking at her wrong is so interesting to read about to me.
And Finnick. I need to see him in a golden net. Whoever plays him in the movie better be an Adonis.
Peeta laughing at Katniss. At first I didn't think it was that big a deal, but when I think about how much I (and I'm sure most women and girls) have had to deal with men getting way too close and personal, or drunk assholes trying to kiss or grope me, I see why Katniss would be really pissed. It's funny when it never happens to you, but when it does it's humiliating.
Cinna = Fucking.Fierce
Watch him be played by RPattz. That man always plays guys who are supposed to be Adonis, even though he so totally isn't one.
don't judge Finnick…
re president snow. i agree with another commentor that he's looking for a legitimate way to kill a difficult person and show that he's still stronger.
also, people who believe in cruelty and oppression will always believe that being crueller and more oppressive will work even better.
fuckwhits.
also, &cinna;
You win so hard for Will and Skandar. Oh, and Voldy too. 🙂
I had a huge crush on Will as a teen and now that Will is ugly and Skandar is legal I have a bit of a crush on Skandar.
<img src="http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac156/cetati/GIF/highfive.gif">
Rock on.
Skandar did become pretty smokin'. what. i have become such a cougar omg
Yeahhh I am 23 and… yeahhh. I think this is basically how all Narnia fans feel at the moment.
<img src="http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac156/cetati/GIF/2yy1cmt.gif">
I am sorry Aimee, but Skandar is and always will be mine. But only in his King Edmund form. SO basically he'll have to stay in character all the time with me. Perhaps we can share him!!
and Panem, which means bread.
I really love the character of Finnick, which is odd, since I usually don't like that type of person, in real life or in fiction. I guess I find him intriguing. I like characters who appear shallow at first glance, but seem to have something more underneath, and I get the sense that Finnick will be one of these.
I'm with you on that. The only think that finnick fits into is my habit of latching onto secondary characters. Other then that, totally not the type of character I enjoy reading about to that point.
<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2a6jdcg.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
It had to be done, it's not Catching Fire but I don't even care.
Welcome.. TO WHEN THINGS START TO GET REAL.
Is it sad that I find myself thinking on a daily basis, "Oh man I can't wait until tomorrow/the day after/next week.. because that's when Mark gets to the part of the ________________ and OMG the ________________!!"?
Not as sad as me sneaking out of study hall and up to the computer lab today so I could read this reveiw. 😀