The Hunger Games Trilogy

[anthony]

Nicolette was sniffling during the second book, whilst in bed... I looked after and said something like, "Are you seriously crying to a book?" She wanted to slap me. She also found some parts very sad.

 

[Loloma]

Well I understand her Anthony. Like I said it has been so well written that you get caught up in it. That's what I was trying to learn when whilst doing Creative writing in Uni seven years ago. Because of the PTSD I wasn't able to express emotions. I will finish it off when I return to Perth, probably start 2013 to complete my BA.

 

[Loloma]

I liked the very end of MockingJay.

*** Do Not Read If You Have Not Read Third and last Book - Plot Divulged ***

When they finally reached the Capitol everything heated up in more ways than one. It was sad when Finnick died the way he did after finally getting Annie out and getting married to her. He turned out to be a good friend to Katniss. Then the revelation of how he was used for sexual favours by the rich in the Capital really opened Katniss's eyes. They had all become victims and were exploited in the worst possible way.

Peeta had his mind poisoned by President Snow and turned against Katniss. Everything spun out of control, without them fully knowing who was their enemy. The shock of seeing the babies and toddlers blown up by the silver parachutes was unbelievable. Then Prim showing up on the battle field with the medical team out of nowhere and the second wave where all the infants and Prim died was too much for Katniss to bear.

It took her months to come back to some kind of normality where she could function. Badly burnt and recovering she began to question in her mind what had happened. Her meeting with President Snow only confused her more. The final straw was when President Coin made them vote whether there should be one more Hunger Games using the children of the elite from the Capital. Katniss and Peeta vote against it, Gale votes with President Coin as his prime motive is revenge.

This was Coin's final attempt to show who was in power. Katniss knew what she had to do. What Coin didn't realise was that Katniss was not as mentally disturbed and broken as she thought. Some people are pushed over the edge and never to recover. Others find inner strength to fight back. Katniss finally understand the evilness of President Coin. She was responsible for the killing of the infants and her sister. The reason was two fold, firstly to turn all Divisions against President Snow and secondly to subdue and break Katniss. When Katniss shot the arrow at Coin instead of Snow, she was clear headed and knew there was no other alternative left to her.

 

[Sammy]

I just attended another book club from my church. It was interesting to hear the responses from people who have not experienced serious trauma. The one that got me was someone was mad at Katniss' mother for not being there. They were seriously judgmental. As for me, I felt sorry for her. I have had to check out to survive. I didn't blame her. I couldn't listen to a lot of the discussion because they were completely clueless about so much that I found it irritating. At one point I pointed out a trauma theme they looked at me like I am clueless. I actually said I have PTSD (:eek:) and I think it freaked some of them out. It kinda pushed me to the "Fine. You all can go to h@ll." i just stopped talking. There was one person who
"gets it" a bit because she has some psychology degree/experience/classes. I do like my church. I just have to remember that the people aren't perfect. It was my second attempt at the book club and I think it is something I need to pass on. Just can't cope with the happily clueless judging. As I have been told many times, I am not terribly patient with ignorance. :O_o:

 

[anthony]

I loved the ending... then the prologue (or whatever its called), outlining the future of their lives, found that interesting as well. It was a good closure, brief, yet enough to close it all of.

 

[Sammy]

I read a review of the series and someone hated the ending and thought it was a copout. I liked it. It made sense to me and there was enough information to imagine their future without just stopping. I thought it provided good, realistic closure.

 

[NIKI]

I'm jumping up and down waiting for the movie tomorrow! I can't wait to see it. I have never been this excited about a movie.:p

 

[anthony]

Nicolette opened Pandora's Box last night when she came to bed... the final book. Doh!

I now envisage my Saturday morning with me doing the shopping, Nicolette perching herself on a chair in the shops whilst I do the groceries and she reads.

 

[NIKI]

Anthony, thats funny because I remember when you said she rolled her eyes at you when you couldn't put the book down when she got a massage.:rolleyes:

 

[anthony]

Yep... I expect payback, as I took the second book with me and perched on a soft sofa in the shops reading it whilst she was off getting a massage. Then I struggled to move to do groceries with her... just wanted to keep reading.

 

[Nicolette]

I now envisage my Saturday morning with me doing the shopping, Nicolette perching herself on a chair in the shops whilst I do the groceries and she reads.

Today is Saturday and the book is finished.

Went to bed last night and couldn't put the third book down until I couldn't see the words anymore. I then read all but the final 2 chapters driving to and from grocery shopping and could not let the final chapters wait until tonight.

I found the 3rd book a little less 'exciting' than the first two but more 'captivating' as it pieced together all the answers. I concur with others that it touches on PTSD being the causes, the symptoms and living life with it. It also demonstrated how ever lasting the effects of some of humanity's actions can be by impacting on human lives for years and years after an event.

Except for Prim, given the time, the attitude of the people and humanity as it stood in the book I liked the outcome.

Brilliantly written - bad for your lifestyle though as you seriously become so engrossed that anything else important fades into the distance.

 

[ClairBear226]

Some people are pushed over the edge and never to recover. Others find inner strength to fight back.

One of my favorite themes throughout this series. She's a survivor.

I couldn't listen to a lot of the discussion because they were completely clueless about so much that I found it irritating.

I've thought several times that it's been really nice to discuss this series with people that "get it". I've talked to others that have no major trauma in their life's experience, and they just don't seem to get out of it what the people here have. I wanted my husband to read these too, and we often buy or rent a book on tape to listen to during a long car trip. We just came back from Tennessee on Monday, and I had my chance to introduce him to this series. The best part was when we were somewhere in Kentucky, and we were getting to the part where they pulled Katniss out of the arena. He reached for my hand, and gave me a look, and I realized. Aha - he gets it. Collins does such a good job of detailing the experiences of a trauma victim that, after 19 years, I finally saw that look of understanding. It's a shame more people can't see it from the same level. It would be a good opportunity to better understand a whole segment of our population that otherwise are completely off their radar.

Has anyone seen the movie yet? I think the Hubs and I are going to go next week when our little one is back in school after spring break. But I'm not sure I can wait that long, lol!