{"id":181,"date":"2011-02-04T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-02-04T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/?p=181"},"modified":"2011-02-01T23:53:39","modified_gmt":"2011-02-02T07:53:39","slug":"mark-reads-mockingjay-chapter-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/2011\/02\/mark-reads-mockingjay-chapter-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Reads ‘Mockingjay’: Chapter 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the sixth chapter of Mockingjay<\/em>, THIS IS SERIOUSLY HAPPENING ALREADY<\/em>?!?!?! If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re intrigued, then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to read Mockingjay<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For all the grandstanding District 13 is trying to earn, for all their attempts at coming off as hyper-organized and prepared for the oncoming war, these people seriously have some god-awful ideas. Who on earth thought a bunch of poorly written slogans and flashy imagery was going to shift the tide in the uprising against the Capitol? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not criticizing this because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a bad turn for Collins; on the contrary, I think she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brilliant for this. It goes to show that they can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be good at everything<\/em>. It continues the parallel to the Capitol, only this time, their propaganda isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t working.<\/p>\n

I understand Katniss\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s anger at Haymitch and I also believe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s entirely validated. Besides the HOLY SHIT WHAT direction this chapter takes, I like to think that chapter six is about re-introducing Haymitch to the narrative and beginning to plant the seeds that might<\/em> involve eventual forgiveness. Might<\/em>. I am not sure it will happen and I would support Katniss if she chose not to. But I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a big fan of where Collins takes this story and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m intrigued to see more.<\/p>\n

This is the first time we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been in a room together since I clawed him. I avoid looking at him directly, but I catch a glimpse of his reflection in one of the shiny control consoles along the wall. He looks slightly yellow and has lost a lot of weight, giving him a shrunken appearance. For a second, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m afraid he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dying. I have to remind myself that I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Ouch.<\/p>\n
Haymitch moves right into his meeting, called the next day after Katniss stormed off the soundstage upon hearing Haymitch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s voice. He makes it very clear that what happened the day before is entirely pointless. No one would ever feel motivated to revolt against the Capitol after seeing that.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I want everyone to think of one incident where Katniss Everdeen genuinely moved you. Not where you were jealous of her hairstyle, or her dress went up in flames or she made a halfway decent shot with an arrow. Not where Peeta was making you like her. I want to hear one moment where she<\/em> made you feel something real.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Well, goddamn, Haymitch. Always full of surprises. And the answers start flowing: When she volunteered to take Prim\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s place. When she sang when Rue died. When she drugged Peeta. (Ok, Octavia, no more from you.) When she made Rue her ally, tried to carry Mags, and, most importantly, when she gave those berries to Peeta.<\/p>\n
And again and again when I held out those berries that meant different things to different people. Love for Peeta. Refusal to give in under impossible odds. Defiance of the Capitol\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s inhumanity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s true. It meant something completely different for me, as I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure it did for each of you, too.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all very nice but not very helpful,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Fulvia peevishly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Unfortunately, her opportunities for being wonderful are rather limited here in Thirteen. So unless you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re suggesting we toss her into the middle of combat\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s exactly<\/em> what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m suggesting,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Haymitch. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Put her out in the field and just keep the cameras rolling.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. HAYMITCH. WHAT. ARE YOU SERIOUS.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But people think she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pregnant,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Gale points out.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll spread the word that she lost the baby from the electrical shock in the arena,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Plutarch replies. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Very sad. Very unfortunate.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Hahasdhjfldjkashfsadljkf holy shit. Really. Are they really going through with this? ALREADY? IT\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S CHAPTER SIX. WHAT.<\/p>\n
Katniss volunteers herself to go while people argue over what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s best for her. (THANKS, EVERYONE. LET\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S NOT EVEN ASK HER.) And Coin AGREES TO LET HER GO.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Take her into eight this afternoon. There was heavy bombing this morning, but the raid seems to have run its course. I want her armed with a squad of bodyguards. Camera crew on the ground. Haymitch, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be airborne and in contact with her. Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s see what happens there. Does anyone have any other comments?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wash her face,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Dalton. Everyone turns to him. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153She\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still a girl and you made her look thirty-five. Feels wrong. Like something the Capitol would do.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
OH MY GOD THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING. IN CHAPTER SIX!!!! <\/em>Collins, you are seriously repeatedly punching my face with unexpectedness<\/em>. This is FANTASTIC. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s weird, because I still feel the opening to Catching Fire<\/em> is far too quick for my liking. Things are moving quick here, and I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t place my finger on why it is, but I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think I want to complain about it. It makes sense. It feels right. The urgency of the uprising added as a context to all of this certainly helps. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no need to wait around for shit to happen, as it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s already going on all around the country.<\/p>\n
After the meeting adjourns, Haymitch makes a point to speak with Katniss privately:<\/p>\n
Haymitch takes the seat across from me. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to have to work together again. So, go ahead. Just say it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
OH BOY. This is going to be fun, right?<\/p>\n
But all I say is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t believe you didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t rescue Peeta.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he replies.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Oh. Not awkward. Just really sad<\/em>.<\/p>\n
There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a sense of incompleteness. And not because he hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t apologized. But because we were a team. We had a deal to keep Peeta safe. A drunken, unrealistic deal made in the dark of night, but a deal just the same. And in my heart of hearts [AUTHOR\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S NOTE: WHO THE FUCK SAYS THAT<\/strong>], I know we both failed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Endless sad. I still think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s terribly messed up that Plutarch and Haymitch did so much to help the uprising by keeping Katpee in the dark, but I do understand what it means to Katniss for her to admit that she also failed to help Peeta in her own way.<\/p>\n
So it seems that the two of them are willing to work together for the time being, both at least with the understanding that Peeta was captured because of both of their actions.<\/p>\n
It all happens so fast. Katniss gets dressed with Beetee\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s help, and Cinna\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s outfit proves to be both stunning and amazingly functional. On her way to Airborne Division, Finnick shows up, half naked and possibly only <\/em>wearing a hospital gown, upset that he can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t come along. Katniss takes the opportunity to mention that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153trident\u00e2\u20ac\u009d that Beetee was making for him; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a perfect distraction to keep him away, and it also provides one of the best moments in the whole series.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Finnick?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I say. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Maybe some pants?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He looks down at his legs as if noticing his outfit for the first time. Then he whips off his hospital gown, leaving him in just his underwear. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why? Do you find this\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhe strikes a ridiculously provocative pose\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u0153distracting?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Good god, Finnick is spectacular. Thank you for this, Suzanne Collins.<\/p>\n
In the Hangar, Boggs and Katniss have an interesting conversation about why District 13 never did anything for the 75 years they existed underground, despite having so much weaponry and technology.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We were in no position to launch a counterattack until recently. We could barely stay alive. After we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d overthrown and executed the Capitol\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s people, only a handful of us even knew how to pilot. We could\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve nuked them with missiles, yes. But there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always the larger question: If we engage in that type of war with the Capitol, would there be any human life left?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That sounds like what Peeta said. And you called him a traitor,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I counter.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Because he called for a cease-fire,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Boggs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll notice neither side has launched nuclear weapons. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re working it out the old-fashioned way.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I suppose I understand this on some level, but then on another, it still doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make sense to me. Surely District 13 must realize that the possibility that Peeta was ruthlessly tortured is entirely real, right? Who are they to assume that Peeta is helping them out willingly?<\/p>\n
(Side note: Where\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s family? No one mentioned if they were in District 13. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t answer that if it is answered later. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rhetorical.)<\/p>\n
She [Fulvia] snags Gale, who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in a conversation with Plutarch, and spins him toward us. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t he handsome?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Gale does look striking in the uniform, I guess. But the question just embarrassed us both, given our history. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to think of a witty comeback, when Boggs says brusquely, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect us to be too impressed. We just saw Finnick Odair in his underwear.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I decide to go ahead and like Boggs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Remember when I mentioned that the Kindle app I use has social highlighting? 542 other people highlight that last part. And all 542 of those people deserve a high five.<\/p>\n
We haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t had an info dump in a while and onboard the hovercraft, Katniss and Gale get an update on what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been going on in the war. Every district is at war except for 2, which historically is a favorite of the Capitol; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s now the home of their defense center, though Katniss mentions \u00e2\u20ac\u0153it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s publicly presented as the home of the nation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stone quarries.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I have no idea where that could be, honestly. We also learn that District 2 supplies Peacekeepers to the Capitol, as the Capitol itself could never sustain an army force that size.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153So District Two is where we turn for additional troops. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a way for their people to escape poverty and a life in the quarries. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re raised with a warrior mindset. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen how eager their children are to volunteer to be tributes.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I get it!<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our goal is to take over the districts one by one, ending with District Two, thus cutting off the Capitol\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s supply chain. Then, once it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s weakened, we invade the Capitol itself,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Plutarch.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
That seems like a sensible plan, yes? I assume they would start with what is geographically closest to them and head west, right?<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153If we win, who would be in charge of the government?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Gale asks.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Everyone,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Plutarch tells him. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to form a republic where the people of each district and the Capitol can elect their own representatives to be their voice in a centralized government. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look so suspicious; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s worked before.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153In books,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Haymitch mutters.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Which is precisely where that definition came from. It sounds so insincere because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so precise. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not sure I buy it. Would District 13 give up their rule of law to anyone else?<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153And if we lose?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I ask.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153If we lose?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Plutarch looks out at the clouds, and an ironic smile twists his lips. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Then I would expect next year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Hunger Games to be quite unforgettable.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
THAT\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S CERTAINLY COMFORTING. But it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not less comforting than the final moment of this chapter: Plutarch remembers that they developed a pill, named after the berries that she and Peeta nearly consumed, to prevent any person from being captured by the Capitol from being\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6well, captured. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll induce suicide.<\/p>\n
I take hold of a capsule, unsure of where to put it. Plutarch taps a spot on my shoulder at the front of my left sleeve. I examine it and find a tiny pocket that both secures and conceals the pill. Even if my hands were tied, I could lean my head forward and bite it free.<\/p>\n
Cinna, it seems, has thought of everything.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
FUCK. Ugh, Cinna, WHERE ARE YOU.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the sixth chapter of Mockingjay, THIS IS SERIOUSLY HAPPENING ALREADY?!?!?! If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re 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-181","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":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}