Challenge Corner discussion

When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

**This BOTM thread will be open until May 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

I'm very excited that this won! I really want to reread this series and just need work to let me do that.

Same Alaina though at this rate I probably won't start until this thread has expired lol

Jessica wrote: "Same Alaina though at this rate I probably won't start until this thread has expired lol"

RIGHT? I have them all on my kindle because I figured that would be the easiest way for me to read during the week and I've been distracted by ARCs! Wait, is there an active series thread for this as well? If not, maybe that should be a thing lol

There isn't but yes we should do that.

yeeeeeees lets revive that!

Ok i am starting this one now. Ready for heartbreak

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[well this starts right off doesnt it? His name most likely wasn't even going to be called. Its all because he intervened. And its his birthday! His little brother broke my heart. I know Haymitch survives but still. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[ Mags and Wiress are his mentors?! Why am i crying at this?? (hide spoiler)]

End of part 1: (view spoiler)[ Beetee too?? Hes a mentor to his own son? This is so horrible. I cant. Collins just ripping out all of our hearts by bringing these characters in.

And also Louella's alive?? (hide spoiler)]

End of part 2: (view spoiler)[ i was not looking forward to Amperts death and while we were spared most of it, it still really hurt. Poor Betee. To know his son wouldnt make it out. Fuck President Snow (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ oh my gosh, snow had his mother and brother killed?? I cant even imagine. And then he poisons his love. Snow is evil. Pure evil.

But also that connection haymitch has to katniss - shes his beat friends daughter. How hard for him to have to mentor her. No wonder this man was a wreck (hide spoiler)]

Okay, starting this one! Ready for heartbreak, but also an easier read than my last one lol.

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ Poor little Haymitch :( And gosh about the death before The Games have even blinking started! Their stylish is pants.
It's interesting reading this knowing that Haymitch survives and goes on to be the adult he is... (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

Yes! (view spoiler)[ I was pretty emotional about Mags and Wires being their mentors too - it's nothing wrong with you! And then Beetee being a mentor to his son?? Gah!! It's weird reading it and getting attached to the kids knowing they'll all be dead by the end... *sobs* (hide spoiler)]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

Yes! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Beetee's backstory killed me. It definitely hits harder because we know them in the later books and are attached to them there and what they did for Katniss. Glad im not the only one who got emotional! (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "End of part 1: Beetee too?? Hes a mentor to his ? "

End of part 1 (view spoiler)[ Seriously, knowing that all these kids are gonna die... it's CRUSHING. I'd usually be reading this super fast, but I have four books on the go to finish before April ends (I know...) and I kinda just wanna get back to this, but I don't know what to prioritise!!

Louella being back is certainly a surprise... nothing good, I can imagine :( (hide spoiler)]

Gah, I'm listening to this on audiobook and I've been having problems with my ears for about 9 months and I had some treatment today that has left me (temporarily *touch wood*) deaf! I can't continue it for now which is killing me!! (Hence starting, like, four other books instead lol.)

Jenn wrote: "End of part 2: [spoilers removed]"
My ears are recovered enough to listen with the volume at absolute max - not exactly what I've been told to do after the treatment, but need's must!

End of part II (view spoiler)[ Yeah, wasn't looking forward to ANYONE's death, but particularly Ampert's... And LouLou, even though she wasn't the real one.

This is definitely a good read (or listen in my case), but... trying to break the games? I feel like it's not as dramatic because we've had SO much drama from the original trilogy. I don't know. It's hard to beat the OG.

But it's pretty horrible just knowing that everyone has to die... and Haymitch SUREly has to kill someone. I mean, it's incredible he hasn't already. And we know how broken he is after. I don't know; it feels like something this big would have got out somehow - but maybe not as the Capitol does control everything.

I guess I just somehow wanted more... (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Finished: - shes..."

HEARTBROKEN and finished (view spoiler)[ God, that was such a cruel, horrible ending. Gah. Indeed, no wonder that Haymitch is a mess... yep. Evil indeed. Sleep syrup replaced by alcohol, makes total sense. Poor, poor Haymitch :( (hide spoiler)]

How did you think it compared to the other ones? Hard question I know!

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Finished: - shes..."

HEARTBROKEN and finished [spoilers removed]

How did you think it compared to the other ones? Hard question I know!"

Ugh (view spoiler)[the ending was just horrible and gut wrenching. To kill his family like that! And then his love. No wonder Haymitch is the way he is when we see him. (hide spoiler)]

As for how it compares to the other books. I liked it much better than the Snow book. And probably better than Mockingjay. My favorite of the original series is Catching Fire and I don't think it beats that haha. What do you think?

Starting this now!

Ch 1-6: (view spoiler)[Omg Mags AND Wiress?!?! Those two sound like amazing mentors. Oh, my eyes! Also, was the little boy Finnick? Or... no... it can't be. Has to be someone else, right? Finnick's not that much older than Katniss right? So, his game would be after this one. But still! Seeing these two and learning how smart Wiress truly is still amazes me. I can't wait to see the mentoring happening.

I'm also really sad he already lost his ally. Oh, poor Haymitch.

OH and before I forget, I absolutely do not like Drusilla or Magno. They are horrible. (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 2: [spoilers removed]"

So sad!! I hate that it happened that way

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

RIGHT?!

Jenn wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Finished: - shes..."

HEARTBROKEN and finished [spoilers removed]

How did you think it compared to the other ones? Hard question I know!"

Ugh [spoilers removed]

..."

Sorry, I missed this but got reminded when Alaina hopped in!

I wanted to like it more than I did? If that makes sense... And there was more excitement for me in Ballad actually, although I was more interested in Haymitch than Snow. I would be interested in more of Snow's journey though.

And yes, can see how Haymitch is as he is... *cries*

Catching Fire for me is the best one too! Are you wanting to reread the series? The series thread is open and Alaina started with Ballad, but I've missed her already (lol), and would like to start with the first one if you're interested...?

Ch 7-12: (view spoiler)[THE WAY MY JAW DROPPED WITH THE BODY DOUBLE OF LOUELLA SHOWED UP. I immediately thought she must've been a mutt of some kind. Now I just feel bad for the girl who is pretending to be her. As for Beetee, omg. His son? I love Ampert and now I know I'm going to be so sad if/when he dies.

I'm not going to be okay one freaking bit.

ALSO OMG EFFIE? (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "End of part 1: "

I FEEL SO BAD FOR HIM

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Okay, starting this one! Ready for heartbreak, but also an easier read than my last one lol..."

I'm not prepared one bit

Ch 13-18: (view spoiler)[OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG. These games. This arena sort of feels familiar, like the shield or whatever. The mutts? Terrifying. I'm so sad about Ampert. Freaking devastated. Also, Lou Lou deserved a better death than that. Poor girl. Ugh, Snow - I wish the poison killed you sooner. (hide spoiler)]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "End of part 2: [spoilers removed]"..."

I mean trying to break the games does match the plot of catching fire, right? Still, it's a lot to process right now. I had to keep going back and forth to make sure I was keeping track of all the different things - like mutts, the water, the food.

Jenn wrote: "End of part 2: [spoilers removed]"

I'M SO FREAKING SAD ABOUT AMPERT.

Just started and I'm excited to finally be able to read the spoilers

Chapters 1-5
(view spoiler)[ Okay when Haymitch's name wasn't called I did a double take and damn the way he was selected is even worse. There have been so many deaths already. Poor Luella, she deserved better. I can see Maislie growing on Haymitch and I'm excited for that partnership. Also how interesting that it's Plutarch, this must be the start of his and Haymitch's scheming, I had no idea they went back this far. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Six
(view spoiler)[ Wiress and Mags, hell yes!!! Super interesting to learn how Wiress won. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Eight
(view spoiler)[ Omg poot Bettee, I didnt know he had a son. Ampert must die and ouch. I really like him. The station they stuck Beetee at is interesting. I believe Haymitch weaponized the forcefield for his games so I'm wondering if this is how he learns about it. (hide spoiler)]

End of Part One
(view spoiler)[ I didn't get a chance to read Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds before this but thankfully I watched the movie when it came out and remember some things. It's so interesting hearing Snow talk about the Covey and twelve. I had a feeling they were going to put in a Louella look alike but yikes. The nostalgia is so real reading this. I both want to blaze through it to know what happened and to slow down and savour it. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "End of part 2: [spoilers removed]"..."

I mean trying to break the games does match the plot of catching fire, right? Still, it's a lot to process right now. I had ..."

Yeah, there was still a lot of cool things - the arena was awesome! (And obs the whole thing was heartbreaking). I guess I was comparing it too much with Catching Fire, which has to be one of my favourite books ever, y'know?

Jessica wrote: "Chapters 1-5
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes, I love how we got Plutarch's backstory too - I didn't expect it! (hide spoiler)]

Jessica wrote: "Chapter Eight
[spoilers removed]"

*cries*

Jessica wrote: "End of Part One
[spoilers removed]"

Ooh, I didn't know you hadn't read Ballad; I haven't seen the film - is it good? (view spoiler)[ Loulou's/Louella's plot line is tragic :( (hide spoiler)]