{"id":193,"date":"2011-02-11T07:00:52","date_gmt":"2011-02-11T15:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/?p=193"},"modified":"2011-02-11T09:19:01","modified_gmt":"2011-02-11T17:19:01","slug":"mark-reads-mockingjay-chapter-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/2011\/02\/mark-reads-mockingjay-chapter-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Reads ‘Mockingjay’: Chapter 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the eleventh chapter of Mockingjay<\/em>, the pressure that surrounds Katniss finally overwhelms her and she breaks down while trying to film another propo. And then WHAT. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to read Mockingjay<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m curious to know how many of you have ever reached a breaking point in your life. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had a few of them over the years. Unfortunately, two times it involved suicide attempts. The third time I felt \u00e2\u20ac\u0153broken\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I ran away from home. And then it didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t happen again until last summer, and the result of that inspired me to quit my job at Buzznet and move to Oakland.<\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s weird, thinking about it now, how literally running away actually helped<\/em>, especially since many of us have been told that running away from problems never solves them. YEP. TOTALLY DOES. (For me. Obvs my experience is not your experience.)<\/p>\n

I want Katniss to get away from all this. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s overwhelming me<\/em> and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m just reading the story. The fact is that both<\/em> sides in this battle are using her, unaware and uncaring of her mental state or her emotional well-being. I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s simply awful, straight up, and now they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re all seeing the effects of treating Katniss like a product, like a message to be consumed. And I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m really, really glad that Collins has the foresight and respect to frame all of this in such a negative way, as a form of commentary about District 13 and the Capitol. This could not have been an easy story for Collins to write, either, but she chose to take a route that criticizes tyranny and oppression in multiple forms and I love it.<\/p>\n

Four missiles fall over the next four days, creating a situation of unending, uncomfortable dread, as no one knows when the next missile will fall and if any of it will ever end any time soon. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re all left in the dark, literally and metaphorically. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no information shared by Coin with any of the citizens. So it becomes a waiting game.<\/p>\n

I am not completely in love with this chapter, as Collins writes a section about a self-defined metaphor about a game Katniss plays called, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Crazy Cat,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which entails her shining a flashlight around and Buttercup plays with it. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s seriously one of the strangest things I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever read:<\/p>\n

I am Buttercup. Peeta, the thing I want so badly to secure, is the light. As long as Buttercup feels he has the chance of catching the elusive light under his paws, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bristling with aggression. (That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s how I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been since I left the arena, with Peeta alive.) When the light goes out completely, Buttercup\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s temporarily distraught and confused, but recovers and moves on to other things. (That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what would happen if Peeta died.) But the one thing that sends Buttercup into a tailspin is when I leave the light on but put it hopelessly out of his reach, high on the wall, beyond even his jumping skills. He paces below the wall, wails, and can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be comforted or distracted. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s useless until I shut the light off. (That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what Snow is trying to do to me now, only I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know what form his game takes.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
THIS IS REALLY AWKWARD, RIGHT? I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t quite place my finger on the reason this rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s because Collins creates this metaphor and then meticulously explains it to us. Maybe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s because the part about Peeta dying doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even make sense. If she cares about Peeta so much, why would she just \u00e2\u20ac\u0153move on to other things\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/p>\n
I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know, am I alone in this?<\/p>\n
There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s more Finnick in this chapter as well, as Katniss tiptoes to his space that night while everyone is asleep. She needs to talk to someone else besides Prim about what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s happening to her, and hopefully someone who understands.<\/p>\n
As I whisper my discovery of Snow\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plan to break me, it dawns on me. This strategy is very old news to Finnick. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what broke him.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is what they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing to you with Annie, isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I ask.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well, they didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t arrest her because they thought she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be a wealth of rebel information,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They know I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d never have risked telling her anything like that. For her own protection.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
So Snow continues to prove that his main weapon is actually psychological warfare. We saw what he did to Katniss during Catching Fire<\/em> and it breaks my heart to learn the same thing is happening to Finnick.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just that I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t understand when I met you. After your first Games, I thought the whole romance was an act on your part. We all expected you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d continue that strategy. But it wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t until Peeta hit the force field and nearly died that I\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 Finnick hesitates.<\/p>\n
I think back to the arena. How I sobbed when Finnick revived Peeta. The quizzical look on Finnick\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face. The way he excused my behavior, blaming it on my pretend pregnancy. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That you what?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That I knew I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d misjudged you. That you do love him. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not saying in what way. Maybe you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know yourself. But anyone paying attention could see how much you care about him,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says gently.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Turns out that Finnick and Katniss have much more in common than we could have ever imagined. I guess I never really thought about their relationship; it was so strange during Catching Fire<\/em>, since I couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t figure out what he was doing in that book. What little we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen of him in this book has been alternately depressing and hilarious, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s clear that we are definitely seeing their friendship grow.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Amen to that, Finnick.<\/p>\n
Coin finally allows everyone to leave the bunker and head to their new compartments, as the old ones have been destroyed. But before Katniss can head upstairs, Boggs pulls her, Gale, and Finnick aside and takes them to the new Command center. Guess what? No time to wait for these folks; they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going back out into the world.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not too far; Coin just wants them to spend a couple hours aboveground to get shots of the bombings for the next set of propos. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a cute scene where Finnick offers Katniss a sugar cube for her coffee, which spawns this:<\/p>\n
As I turn to go suit up as the Mockingjay, I catch Gale watching me and Finnick unhappily. What now? Does he actually think something\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on between us? Maybe he saw me go to Finnick\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s last night. I would\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve passed the Hawthorne\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s space to get there. I guess that probably rubbed him the wrong way. Me seeking out Finnick\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s company instead of his. Well, fine. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got rope burn on my fingers, I can barely hold my eyes open, and a camera crew\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s waiting for me to do something brilliant. And Snow\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s got Peeta. Gale can think whatever he wants.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Good for you, Katniss. Also, the second thought that popped in my head: WILL THIS TURN INTO A LOVE SQUARE. Other shapes are so<\/em> underused for relationships. WHERE\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S THE POLY LOVE?<\/p>\n
We emerge into the woods, and my hands run through the leaves overhead. Some are just starting to turn. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What day is it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I ask no on in particular. Boggs tells me September begins next week.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
HOLY SHIT SERIOUSLY. <\/em>It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s already September??? Man, I seriously thought it was still summertime at this point. Oh god, I feel like I can barely remember the beginning of The Hunger Games<\/em>.<\/p>\n
The group begins to survey the damage. There are four craters aboveground, debris littering everything, and the remains of the top levels sticking out of the ground. Katniss asks if the ten minutes Peeta gave them helped at all, and Boggs is quick to confirm that Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s actions literally saved lives.<\/p>\n
Prim<\/em>, I think. And Gale.<\/em> They were in the bunker only a couple of minutes before the missile hit. Peeta might have saved them. Add their names to the list of things I can never stop owing him for.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Oh, Peeta. I have a bad feeling about him, but I hope he makes it out alive.<\/p>\n
Katniss\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s problems with today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mission start happening almost immediately and no thanks to President Snow for that. As they come upon (what used to be) the entrance to District 13, they find that the ground is covered in fresh pink and red roses. A gift (and a very creepy one) from President Snow. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m of course reminded of Snow\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gift back at the beginning of the book. (Which now I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m wondering\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6will it ever be explained why he smells like blood? Just thinking out loud.)<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just the start. The coffee Katniss consumed earlier is giving her the jitters. As Cressida tries to get Katniss in the moment, she is visibly upset by all of this. Even though she just needs to give a few short lines (\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thirteen\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s alive and well and so am I\u00e2\u20ac\u009d being one of them), she still struggles with that.<\/p>\n
I swing my arms to loosen myself up. Place my fists on my hips. Then drop them to my sides. Saliva\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s filling my mouth at a ridiculous rate and I feel vomit at the back of my throat. I swallow hard and open my lips so I can get the stupid line out and go hide in the woods and\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s when I start crying.<\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s impossible to be the Mockingjay. Impossible to complete even this one sentence. Because now I know that everything I say will be directly taken out on Peeta. Result in his torture. But not his death, no, nothing so merciful as that. Snow will ensure that his life is much worse than his death.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. I feel so awful for Katniss, I really do. She has been so utterly selfless for so long and she really needs a chance to be selfish and take care of what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on with her life, but the people surrounding her won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let her.<\/p>\n
At first, I was surprised that Haymitch comforted Katniss, but it really does make sense. If there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s anyone in this group uniquely attuned to who she is and what she feels for Peeta, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s him. He still has some apologizing to do, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m glad that he reached out to Katniss and helped her.<\/p>\n
What I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like is how quick she is drugged and lead away, only to wake up A FULL DAY LATER. Ok, yes, she needs rest and she needs time to take care of herself. LET HER CHOOSE THAT INSTEAD OF DRUGGING HER INTO UNCONSCIOUSNESS. Fucking hell, District 13, THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS I LIKE ABOUT YOU.<\/p>\n
When Katniss awakes, Haymitch is by her side. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a direct parallel from the last time this happened, because he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s here to support her, not threaten her. And that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s when he tells her that THEY ARE GOING TO RESCUE PEETA FROM THE CAPITOL<\/em>.<\/p>\n
What? WHAT? <\/em>Plutarch is sending a rescue team to get Peeta out alive. WHAT.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t we before?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I say.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s costly. But everyone agrees this is the thing to do. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the same choice we made in the arena. To do whatever it takes to keep you going. We can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t lose the Mockingjay now. And you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t perform unless you know Snow can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take it out on Peeta.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
WELL FINALLY. I just wish it didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take a NERVOUS BREAKDOWN for these people to realize this.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do you mean, costly?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Covers will be blown. People may die. But keep in mind that they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re dying every day. And it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not just Peeta; we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re getting Annie out for Finnick, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
!!!!!!!! oh my god FINALLY DISTRICT 13 IS DOING SOMETHING GOOD. We learn that Boggs will lead the mission made up of volunteers.<\/p>\n
Something\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wrong. Haymitch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s trying a little too hard to cheer me up. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not really his style. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So who else volunteered?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think there were seven altogether,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says evasively.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
OH NO. OH NO. I KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING.<\/p>\n
Haymitch finally drops the good-natured act. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know who else, Katniss. You know who stepped up first.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Of course I do.<\/p>\n
Gale.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
GREAT. So let me guess: Katniss is going to beg him not to go, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll refuse, and then she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll tell Coin she should come along with the mission. RIGHT? RIGHT?<\/p>\n
Oh god, shit is about to get realer right right right right<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the eleventh chapter of Mockingjay, the pressure that surrounds Katniss finally overwhelms her and she breaks down while trying to film another propo. And then WHAT. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to read Mockingjay.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,5],"tags":[28,39,24,27],"class_list":["post-193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mockingjay","category-hunger-games","tag-katniss-everdeen","tag-mark-reads-mockingjay","tag-mark-reads-the-hunger-games","tag-suzanne-collins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}