{"id":198,"date":"2011-02-16T07:00:46","date_gmt":"2011-02-16T15:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/?p=198"},"modified":"2011-02-13T15:49:05","modified_gmt":"2011-02-13T23:49:05","slug":"mark-reads-mockingjay-chapter-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/2011\/02\/mark-reads-mockingjay-chapter-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Reads ‘Mockingjay’: Chapter 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the fourteenth chapter of Mockingjay<\/em>, we spend time with Katniss as she does what she can to help around District 2. There, we find out just what lengths some people are willing to go to win the rebellion. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to read Mockingjay<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m very satisfied with this chapter because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s one gigantic info dump. I complained towards the beginning of Catching Fire<\/em> that Collins rushed through the Victory Tour and failed to give me any concrete sense about the different districts in Panem. (I do admit that, in hindsight, there was a very specific reason why<\/em> Collins did this.)<\/p>\n

I know there are many of you who love imagined worlds, so much so that you want to know everything<\/em> there is to know about them. How many of you read Harry Potter<\/em> and wanted to know the ins-and-outs of Gringotts, or deeply wanted a tour of the Hufflepuff common room? I just want to know everything IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK<\/em><\/p>\n

District 2 is a large district, as one might expect, composed of a series of villages spread across the mountains. Each was originally associated with a mine or quarry, although now, many are devoted to the housing and training of Peacekeepers. None of this would present much of a challenge, since the rebels have 13\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s airpower on their side, except for one thing: At the center of the district is a virtually impenetrable mountain that houses the heart of the Capitol\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s military.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I think we can all agree that District 2 is somewhere near or in the Rockies. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an interesting parallel to what often happens in our world: the rich and the privileged are generally living in a place that is literally<\/em> higher than other people. I live in California. In Los Angeles, rich, powerful people lived in the Hollywood Hills or Beverly Hills or in the hills above Brentwood, along Mulholland Drive, at the top of the hills in Los Feliz and Baldwin Hills. Even here in the Bay Area, the hills above Berkeley and Oakland have the nicest houses. Same with in San Francisco, too. Oh, rich people<\/em>.<\/p>\n
We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve nicknamed the mountain the Nut since I relayed Plutarch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153tough nut to crack\u00e2\u20ac\u009d comment to the weary and discouraged rebel leaders here.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Oh, man. Could you not call it that? Please? Oh well. I TRIED.<\/p>\n
The Nut was established directly after the Dark Days, when the Capitol had lost 13 and was desperate for a new underground stronghold. They had some of their military resources situated on the outskirts of the Capitol itself\u00e2\u20ac\u201dnuclear missiles, aircraft, troops\u00e2\u20ac\u201dbut a significant chunk of their power was now under an enemy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s control. Of course, there was no way they could hope to replicate 13, which was the work of centuries. However, in the old mines of nearby District 2, they saw opportunity. From the air, the Nut appeared to be just another mountain with a few entrances on its faces. But inside were vast cavernous spaces where slabs of stones had been cut, hauled to the surface, and transported down slippery narrow roads to make distant buildings. There was even a train system to facilitate transporting the miners from the Nut to the very center of the main town in District 2.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Well, shit. This is what they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re up against?<\/p>\n
But on the whole, leaving the exterior of the mountain largely unchanged. A rough, rocky tangle of trees and wildlife. A natural fortress to protect them from their enemies.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even have the slightest idea how this is going to work. While District 13 had the advantage of being able to descend far into the earth, protecting itself from the Capitol\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bombs, here the Capitol has the advantage of nature. How do you get inside of a mountain with only a few heavily-guarded and established entrances? And even if you get inside, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re at a complete disadvantage.<\/p>\n
Collins, through Katniss, continues to elaborate on the differences found here in District 2, aside from the mountain military base. The society here directly benefitted from having more support from the Capitol. As Katniss explains it:<\/p>\n
Just by looking at the District 2 rebels, you can tell they were decently fed and cared for in childhood. Some didend up as quarry and mine workers. Others were educated for jobs in the Nut or funneled into the ranks of Peacekeepers. Trained young and hard for combat. The Hunger Games were an opportunity for wealth and a kind of glory not seen elsewhere. Of course, the people of 2 swallowed the Capitol\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s propaganda more easily than the rest of us. Embraced their ways. But for al that, at the end of the day, they were still slaves. And if that was lost on the citizens who became Peacekeepers or worked in the Nut, it was not lost on the stonecutters who formed the backbone of resistance here.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It was never some big ~mystery~ to me why District 2 seemed to produce so many Careers. I always assumed that having the blessing of the Capitol in some way contributed to that. District 2 provided Peacekeepers, so it naturally seemed to me that they stood to gain something by willingly entering the Hunger Games. But I did like that Collins gave us just a little more context to this: it was about glory and fame. District 2 housed arguably the most important part of the Capitol\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s defenses and I think that rubbed off on the citizens. They were doing work for the Capitol by entering into the Games. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s where the glory came from.<\/p>\n
Anyway, back to Katniss. We learn she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been in District 2 for two weeks now. In the district, the outer villages are in rebel control, the main town is split, and the only remaining Capitol-held establishment is seemingly invincible. It leaves Katniss with few options to help out, but she appears to be throwing herself into work, probably as a distraction. But it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hard for her not to think about Peeta and what Snow has done.<\/p>\n
Snow has stolen him from me, twisted him beyond recognition, and made me a present of him. Boggs, who came to 2 when I did, told me that even with all the plotting, it was a little too easy to rescue Peeta. He believes if 13 hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t made the effort, Peeta would\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been delivered to me anyway. Dropped off in an actively warring district or perhaps 13 itself. Tied up with ribbons and tagged with my name. Programmed to murder me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Now that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s<\/em> a terrifying thought. What if Katniss had gone to District 8 again and Peeta came out of nowhere and tried to kill her? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s clear that President Snow still works a step ahead of the rebels, knowing how important Katniss is to the uprising. The outlook isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t too positive either, as Katniss gets updates from Haymitch about Peeta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s condition. Prim, always with her good ideas, gets the medical team to try to reverse hijack his memories, giving him positive drugs to reverse the effects of what the tracker jackers have done. But the progress is almost non-existent, just like the progress over in District 2.<\/p>\n
Haymitch tells Katniss that Beetee and Gale are on their way to District 2 to hopefully assist the rebels with some of the plans they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d come up with on their own. It kind of worried me because virtually everything they were designing in District 13 was so brutal, but then\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6this has to end, right? I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t foresee a method in which the rebels can take the Capitol without bloodshed, at least not yet.<\/p>\n
Gale\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.oh, Gale. I am still<\/em> really confused and weirded out by what happens in the midst of chapter fourteen. Gale\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not a perfect character. He may have some qualities and tendencies that work well with Katniss, so I understand why people ship them. But I also understand why Peeta and Katniss work, how their relationship seems a whole lot healthier and productive, and why ultimately I think they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be best together.<\/p>\n
But with Peeta out of the way while the medical team works to restore his memories, Gale and Katniss open up in a frank way about what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s left of the two of them.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I thought\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll never compete with that. No matter how much pain I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He spins the feather between his thumb and forefinger. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stand a chance if he doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get better. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll never be able to let him go. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll always feel wrong about being with me.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I find it strange that Gale frames the discussion around pain, especially considering how manipulating he was last time when he brought it up. But I think he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s being disingenuous towards what Katniss feels about Peeta because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s much easier for him to create a narrative that makes sense to him.<\/p>\n
And yet, Gale and Katniss end up together that night, comforting each other, and I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think they need any of my whiny voice interrupting that. While their relationship and interaction might be strange or problematic or weird, I get this: They are both incredibly lonely and it just feels right.<\/p>\n
Now, I am a dude, so I am going to excuse myself out of this next bit I want to bring up because no one needs a dude mansplaining the intricacies of consent to women. I could not find anything online from a woman (actually…anyone, for that matter) who may have had problems with this section, so I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like to turn it over to the fine women who comment on this blog and ask: DOES THIS MAKE YOU FEEL WEIRD?<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on in your head?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I whisper back.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like kissing someone who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s drunk. It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t count,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says with a weak attempt at a laugh.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
UM, I DON\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T KNOW IF THAT IS AT ALL CORRECT. Being confused about feelings is not the same as the inability to consent, right? Either way, I am NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS and would much rather read insights from women who actually experience this. TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES.<\/p>\n
Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s move on to some more weirdness. Katniss wants to know who else Gale has kissed because that conversation always ends well<\/strong><\/em>, but actually, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not so bad. We find out about how Gale came to discover that he actually liked Katniss! Turns out it was about six months before the first book, when Darius, the Peacekeeper who hung out in the Hob, teased Katniss about getting a kiss from him. It was the first time Gale felt uncomfortable with the thought of someone else kissing her. It is kind of adorable, but, like Katniss says, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a million miles away from where they are now. And everything is just so damned complicated.<\/p>\n
Our attention is turned to more planning the following morning, as Beetee and Gale join those in District 2 to help figure out their plan of attack on The Nut. We meet Lyme, the commander from 2, who is actually a previous victor from the Hunger Games long, long ago. She runs the lengthy and frustrating brainstorm session as plans regarding spies, computer overrides, and storming the entrance to the Nut are all brought up and dismissed. It seems there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s virtually to answer to how they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to deal with this until Gale, who hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t spoken the entire time, finally decides to say something.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Is it really so necessary that we take the Nut? Or would it be enough to disable it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That would be a step in the right direction,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Beetee. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do you have in mind?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Think of it as a wild dog den,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Gale continues. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not going to fight your way in. So you have two choices. Trap the dogs inside or flush them out.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Not that bad of an idea, Gale. But doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that involve getting inside of the Nut in some way? Either plan seems like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d put the catalyst inside of the structure, right?<\/p>\n
Gale\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brain doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t work that way, as he is already thinking of how to use the Nut\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s advantage against itself. He points out the avalanche paths that run down either side of the mountain and Beetee suddenly understands: trigger an avalanche with explosives and trap those in the Nut inside.<\/p>\n
While everyone considers the plan, Boggs flips through a stack of blueprints of the Nut and frowns. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You risk killing everyone inside. Look at the ventilation system. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rudimentary at best. Nothing like what we have in Thirteen. It depends entirely on pumping in air from the mountainsides. Block those vents and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll suffocate whoever is trapped.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Well, you could do it temporarily, right? Until they surrender?<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153They could still escape through the train tunnel to the square,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Beetee.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Not if we blow it up,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Gale brusquely. His intent, his full intent, becomes clear. Gale has no interest in preserving the lives of those in the Nut. No interest in caging the prey for later use.<\/p>\n
This is one of his death traps.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Well, goddamn, Gale. Is this how far he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s willing to go? Commit murder in the name of rebellion? And will the rest of them buy it? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s overkill, plain and simple.<\/p>\n
THIS IS GETTING SO REAL.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the fourteenth chapter of Mockingjay, we spend time with Katniss as she does what she can to help around District 2. There, we find out just what lengths some people are willing to go to win the rebellion. Intrigued? … 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":[31,5],"tags":[28,39,24,27],"class_list":["post-198","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\/198","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=198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}