{"id":46,"date":"2010-12-03T09:56:20","date_gmt":"2010-12-03T17:56:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/?p=46"},"modified":"2015-02-07T21:11:23","modified_gmt":"2015-02-08T05:11:23","slug":"mark-reads-the-hunger-games-chapter-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/2010\/12\/mark-reads-the-hunger-games-chapter-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Reads \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThe Hunger Games\u00e2\u20ac\u2122: Chapter 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the tenth chapter of The Hunger Games<\/em>, Katniss is shocked into silence and then anger over Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s revelation during his intervew. When he reveals that it was just ploy to gain her sympathy (IT WASN\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T), she erupts in anger and injures him. OH AND THE GAMES FINALLY START<\/strong>. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to read The Hunger Games<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Dudes, it is so obvious now. I mean\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.DUH, PEETA LIKES KATNISS. I actually feel pretty dumb that I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pick it up sooner. So let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s turn this review into MARK CALLS PEETA OUT FOR HIS BULLSHIT. \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcCause there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s some bullshit a brewin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 here.<\/p>\n

For a moment, the cameras hold on Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s downcast eyes as what he says sinks in. Then I can see my face, mouth half open in a mix of surprise and protest, magnified on every screen as I realize, Me! He means me!<\/em> I press my lips together and stare at the floor, hoping this will conceal the emotions starting to boil up inside of me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
SO. AWKWARD. Right? Right??? I mean, SERIOUSLY DUDE WHAT ARE YOU DOING.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t you love to pull her back out here and get a response?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Caesar asks the audience. The crowd screams assent.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
YEAH, NO. NO. THIS IS A BAD IDEA. Thankfully, Caesar was only saying this to get a response from the crowd, as Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interview ends just after this. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a moment of absolute victory for Peeta. Or, as Katniss puts it, he \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wiped the rest of [them] off the map with his declaration of love.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Katniss, ever the sensitive and calm person, reacts to this in one of the stupidest ways imaginable:<\/p>\n
Peeta has only just stepped from his car when I slam my palms into his chest. He loses his balance and crashes into an ugly urn filled with fake flowers. The urn tips and shatters into hundreds of tiny pieces. Peeta lands in the shards, and blood immediately flows from his hands.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know if Collins is trying to make me feel like Peeta deserves this; if so, this part has the exact opposite effect on me. It makes me hate Katniss (if only temporarily) because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not only out of character for her, but unbelievably rude towards Peeta. I mean\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6she just damaged his hands on the night before the Hunger Games begins!<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What was that for?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says, aghast.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Even though I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think Peeta deserved this sort of treatment, I still laughed at this. What did you think<\/em> she was doing that for???<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You are<\/em> a fool,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Haymitch says in disgust. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do you think he hurt you? That boy just gave you something you could never achieve on your own.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
WHAT?<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He made you look desirable! And let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face it, you can use all the help you can get in that department. You were about as romantic as dirt until he said he wanted you. Now they all do. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re all they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re talking about. The star-crossed lovers from District Twelve!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Haymitch.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I seriously hate everything about this. First of all, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t believe this was a technique to win Katniss favor, at least not entirely. I think Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s idea was genuine and Haymitch turned it into a technique. I hate that these Games for a person to become romantic in the first place (or at least appear to be) even though SHE IS GOING TO FIGHT TWENTY-THREE PEOPLE TO THE DEATH THE NEXT DAY. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s vile. I hate how ridiculous this seems and I hate Katniss\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s anger over all of it and then I hate Haymitch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s disgust too and I HATE HATE HATE HATE.<\/p>\n
Ok, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m done. But I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t believe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all a big show. Peeta really, truly likes Katniss. It makes way too much sense for that not<\/em> to be true. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122M STICKING TO IT. TOO BAD.<\/p>\n
The words are sinking in. My anger fading. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m torn now between thinking I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been used and thinking I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been given an edge. Haymitch is right. I survived my interview, but what was I really? A silly girl spinning in a sparkling dress. Giggling. The only moment of any substance I had was when I talked about Prim.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m glad Katniss is thinking twice about this, but I have to admit that she does have a point: the interview was pretty dehumanizing to her, reducing her to a stereotype of a woman. She does<\/em> have every right to be upset at that and I can understand her anger at Peeta turning her into something to be desired romantically, which so many men do to women anyway. BUT STILL. PUSHING HIM INTO GLASS SHARDS WAS A BIT MUCH.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re golden, sweetheart. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to have sponsors lined up around the block,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Haymitch.<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m embarrassed about my reaction. I force myself to acknowledge Peeta. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry I shoved you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m glad she says that, but that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not going to help PEETA\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S RUINED HANDS.<\/p>\n
Effie takes both of us by the hand and, with actual tears in her eyes, wishes us well. Thanks us for being the best tributes it has ever been her privilege to sponsor. And then, because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Effie and she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s apparently required by law to say something awful, she adds, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be at all surprised if I finally get promoted to a decent district next year!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Oh, Effie. I am not excusing her dumb comments, but sometimes I believe she is genuinely clueless to how awful she sounds. THANKS, PRIVILEGE.<\/p>\n
The night stretches on and on for Katniss after she bids goodbye to Effie and Haymitch. (I love that Haymitch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s last words are, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Stay alive.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d VERY COMFORTING.) Understandably so, she cannot sleep. Could you? Look, I can barely sleep if I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m flying on a plane the next day<\/em>. I could not sleep if I was participating in Murder Fest Extravaganza 2010 either. (Or whatever year it is.)<\/p>\n
Katniss\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s thoughts wander to what sort of arena she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be placed in, if there will be any trees, and what kind of traps the Gamemakers will put in the game. WAIT. TRAPS? WHAT? Why would you also put traps? Oh, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s right, because the game is built by absolute savages<\/em>.<\/p>\n
With no sleep in sight, Katniss heads to the roof again, only to discover that Peeta is already there.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153My best hope is to not disgrace myself and\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He hesitates.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153And what?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I say.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know how to say it exactly. Only\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asks. I shake my head. How could he die as anyone but himself? \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want toem to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I find it strange that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s much easier to like all the peripheral characters in this story than it is to like Katnis. And I really like Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s idea that his identity is all he has left in this sort of absurdity. In fact, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m inclined to agree that this is the only dignity he can have left. The Games specifically try to homogenize people in order to provide entertained oppression for the masses. What else do you have but to turn yourself into the only weapon left to dismantle it?<\/p>\n
Katniss doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t agree with this at all. They are categorically a part of the system itself and there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no breaking from it.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I say. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153None of us are. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s how the Games work.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay, but within that framework, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still you, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still me,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he insists. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t you see?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153A little. Only\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6no offense, but who cares, Peeta?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I say.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I do. I mean, what else am I allowed to care about at this point?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asks angrily. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s locked those blue eyes on mine now, demanding an answer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
For the record, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m siding with Peeta on this.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Look, if you want to spend the last hours of your life planning some noble death in the arena, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your choice. I want to spend mine in District Twelve.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t surprise me if you do,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Peeta. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Give my mother my best when you make it back, will you?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Count on it,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I say. Then I turn and leave the roof.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Well, that was mature, Katniss. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t quite understand why this irks her so much; maybe she subconsciously agrees with Peeta but isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ready to admit it? I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know, I feel like Katniss is going to try to do just what Peeta suggested here: remain herself at all costs.<\/p>\n
(Also, how fucked up is the story she tells about Titus? First of all, HOW ON EARTH DOES SHE THINK PEETA WILL TURN INTO THAT? Secondly, isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the point of the Games to turn people into violent savages for entertainment? I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get why they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d intervene when someone turned into just that.)<\/p>\n
Finally, though, after little sleep, Katniss heads towards the arena where she will battle to the death against the other Tributes. She\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s injected with a tracker on her forearm while on the Hovercraft, and tries to enjoy her last meal before being dropped into the upcoming death match.<\/p>\n
Everything is brand-new, I will be the first and only tribute to use this Launch Room. The arenas are historic sites, preserved after the Games. Popular destinations for Capitol residents to visit, to vacation. Go for a month, rewatch the Games, tour the catacombs, visit the sites where the deaths took place. You can even take part in reenactments.<\/p>\n
They say the food is excellent.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Why is this more disturbing than most things in this book so far? The idea that these sites are celebrated<\/em> rather than revered is really odd to me. Of course, in this alternate universe, it makes total sense, but it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t compute in my brain.<\/p>\n
The unbearable wait begins after this. Thankfully for Katniss, Cinna is there to provide comfort in the only way he can.<\/p>\n
I shake my head but after a moment hold out my hand to him. Cinna encloses it in both of his. And this is how we sit until a pleasant female voice announces it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time to prepare for launch.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I like Cinna. A lot. I hope to see him again.<\/p>\n
Still clenching one of Cinna\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hands, I walk over and stand on the circular metal plate. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Remember what Haymitch said. Run, find water. The rest will follow,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says. I nod. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And remember this. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not allowed to bet, but if I could, my money would be on you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Truly?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I whisper.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Truly,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Cinna. He leans down and kisses me on the forehead. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Good luck, girl on fire.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d And then a glass cylinder is lowering around me, breaking our handhold, cutting him off from me. He taps his fingers under his chin. Head high.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s taken until this point for the dread to finally fill me. This is real. This is happening. I have not the slightest idea what is going to occur inside that arena.<\/p>\n
Bless Cinna, by the way. I don’t think Katniss would feel any sort of confidence without him.<\/p>\n
For a moment, my eyes are dazzled by the bright sunlight and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m conscious only of a strong wind with the hopeful smell of pines trees.<\/p>\n
Then I hear the legendary announcer, Claudius Templesmith, as his voice booms all around me.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Well, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s finally starting. And I have a bad feeling about this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the tenth chapter of The Hunger Games, Katniss is shocked into silence and then anger over Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s revelation during his intervew. When he reveals that it was just ploy to gain her sympathy (IT WASN\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T), she erupts in anger … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,488],"tags":[28,24,27],"class_list":["post-46","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hunger-games","category-the-hunger-games-novel","tag-katniss-everdeen","tag-mark-reads-the-hunger-games","tag-suzanne-collins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46","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=46"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}