post #5...finally!

This reading was definitely the fastest reading of the book, probably because it was packed with action and getting really intense. In this chapter the teamwork between Peeta and Katniss really shows when they work together to set traps to kill other opponents, One of which is a well hidden leg snare that catches an enemy the next day and lifts him high into the branches of a tree. Then human side of Katniss that I thought had been long gone shows when she is forced to execute a boy that had been very nice to her and had admitted to having a crush on her. SHe tells about the tears running down her cheeks when she has the gun up to the boys head. Eventually, Peeta comes and kills him with little problem. I was very frightened when The mutated wolves were put into the game. I was sure they would kill Peeta as he had fallen between some rocks and injured his leg as the mutated wolves chased him. Katniss says, "even if I could make it to the trees, it would be impossible for Peeta to outrun them on that leg."(p.331). Finally while running away from the wolves and nearly escaping, Peetah and Katniss receive the news that all of the other competitors were dead Katniss and Peeta rejoice the victory with a kiss that makes Peeta fall completely in love with Katniss. At this point I almost put the book down and just assumed that they would live happily ever after but then the announcer for the game declares the the rule letting two people win will be be repealed and that Katniss and Peeta will have to fight till the death. That change of rules really rattled me because I had fallen in love with both characters and thinking that after all of their work together they would have to kill each other was really sad to me. In an act of desperation they both threaten suicide and the trick works so they both win the games. I think the threatening of suicide really shows how well Peeta and Katniss can manipulate the crowd as they had with their fake love before. It really shows how much they have grown during the book. As a prize both Katniss and Peeta are allowed to live in the biggest mansion in the capitol with their families. I was really glad that neither of the main characters died because I felt that I had really got to know both of them. At the end Peeta and Katniss do form a bond and end up getting married. This ending was kind of disappointing because none of the economic problems were solved for the people in the poor districts and winning did not really effect anyone other than Peeta and Katniss so it seemed kind of selfish. Even though the ending was not stunning this book was really interesting and shows how gruesome civilization can be.

correction, my last post was post #4 not #3

Post 4 is pages 245-320 (look at post below).

Post #3, pages 245-320

This reading was full of action and is defiantly bringing me to the climax of the story. Katniss changed a lot in these chapters, she becomes even more ruthless, more cunning and more much more decisive. In the begging of the story she was just a harmless little girl but throughout the games she has evolved into a heartless killing machine. In this reading she killed over many opponents in many different creative ways, one of which was a carefully devised explosion. I found out that audience members are allowed to send items to their favorite players in the game and that is how Katniss got the explosive. she also becomes very sly by making traps for opponents most of which are covered pits that have proven to be effective for her. One aspect of her that I did not expect was for her to use her alliance with Peeta to more than just the advantage of teamwork. Her and devise a plan go get as many items from the audience as possible by pretending to be in love. This works out because the reader finds out that they receive by far the most items. another skill that Katniss implements is hunting, she thinks " Momentarily, i'd felt the pang of killing something so innocent. And then my stomach rumbled at the thought of all of that fresh innocent meat"(P.269). This quote shows us that Katniss is getting much more comfortable in her new setting and that she is beginning to thrive. Something that i noticed was that Peeta was beginning to get some real feelings for Katniss and Katniss is just faking the relationship for the sake of the game and survival. I think this could cause a conflict between Katniss and Peeta later in the book. The action and suspense of this book is keeping me up reading on school nights so if i get bad grades this quarter it is because this book is so freaking good!

Blog post #3 pages, 161-245

This book got really intense during these chapters! Katniss is removed from the competitors house and placed on a national stage. at the beginning of this section I was surprised to find out that other alliances were made besides the one formed by Peeta and Katniss. Katniss tells the reader when she hears a a young girl scream before she is killed and she hears the voices of many other competitors talking to each other and showing that they are in an alliance, she says "Often alliances are formed in the early stages of the games. The strong band together to hunt down the weak"(P. 182) This reminded me of a reality television show where alliances are formed to eliminate strong opponents. I think the author uses all of the fighting and killing action in this section to put on display her great descriptive writing style which at times seems to descriptive as i find myself being slightly disgusted by some of the images that are conveyed. This section also shows that Katniss and Peeta's alliance is working out well for them as they have worked together to avoid being killed by taking turns sleeping and guarding and also working together to solve every day problems like getting food and water. I was surprised that the alliance worked out so well and I thought that they would turn on each other very quickly due to all of the pressure that they would have to face. A barbaric side of Katniss is shown in this section when she comes face to face with a much larger opponent and she outsmarts him by offering him a fake alliance and killing him. Katniss and Peeta are overjoyed when they get the news that two people can win the tournament if they are from the same district. this means that they could both live. This section was filled with action and the author Suzanne Collins is doing a great job keeping the reader interested.

Post #2, pages 86-161

This book blows my mind on every page with its stories of neglect and terror. It was not always this bad though. At the beginning of this reading all was fine. It started off at the mansion at the capitol where Katniss and the other hunger games competitors were getting beefed up for the life or death competition. At the mansion Katniss tries not to befriend any of the other competitors seeing as she would have to try to kill them eventually but there is one boy she cannot help staying away from, his name is Peeta. He is from the same district as Katniss and they had met years before. the two of them decide on a trues for the games. The two of them find a strategy the last night ant then the games begin. I thought that this couple is very cute together. Much cuter than timmy and jimmy. I also think that the alliance between them will defiantly be an advantage because there were no other alliances in the group that were explained. The other good thing about having two people is that they can keep each other sane because it is revealed to the reader that a leading cause of death in the games is suicide because kids will go crazy from isolation. Finally on page 147 I heard the words I had been waiting all book to hear "Ladies and gentlemen, the 74th Hunger Games begin!"(p. 174).It really surprised me to find out that there had been 73 of these barbaric tournaments and no one had stopped them. Katniss becomes very introversive in this chapter as she tries not to communicate with the other competitors but I could tell that it was hard for her not to be friendly to everyone. If this sort of tournament were happening in the world today i am sure that it would be shut down the one second after someone were killed. This book really interests me and I cannot wait to keep reading.

Post #1, chapters 1-7

I read the first 84 pages of the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Up to this point in the book i am very surprised by the twists and turns that the plot has taken and the difficulty i face every time i try to put this book down. At the beginning of this book I was introduced to a futuristic city called Panem. The book talks about the social structure of this society, the Capitol is the aristocratic section and the districts surrounding it are very poor. The author introduces a young girl named Katniss Everdeen at the beginning, she speaks of her sister Prim who she loves very much. I could relate to this love as I have both a brother and a sister whom i love. When Katniss is introduced she is a content young girl living in a poor neighborhood in her tinny yet sufficient house. I was suprised to learn that Katniss was happy with these living arrangements even when she was so used to a much nicer life before her father died. The Everdeen family is horrified when they learn that Prim, Katniss's sister is picked to be a contestant in the annually televised hunger games. In these hunger games they rich people of the Capitol choose 2 kids from each district to fight to the death. I find it crazy that the rich people could do such a thing as sentence 23 kids to die. I was also surprised to see that Katniss decided to volunteer for the hunger games in the place of Prim. Katniss was taken to the Capitol to be fed well for some days to come so they would be in good shape to fight. At this point katniss looses all hope for her life. This is shown when she says "I wonder if she will enjoy watching me die"(p. 85). She says this speaking of a girl back in her district that she did not get along with. This shows a huge change in Katniss's attitude because she was very positive back at her house and in the capitol she is just hoping her death is quick. So far this book is very intense and I look forward to reading on to the next section.