Eclectic Readers discussion

Collins captivates with the dystopian story of Katniss, who fights for her life - and a lot more - in the 74th annual Hunger Games. I'd add more, but seriously, has anyone even heard of this book?

Kidding!

(Yes, film comments are welcome too!)

I reread this series because the movie is coming out. I can say for certain, I am not a fan of Katniss. I understand that she had home through extraordinary circumstances but I just couldn't agree with a lot of her thoughts and decisions

I think that's an interesting comment, Susan, just considering that a lot of Katniss's actions were done (at least in her mind) out of necessity, and that seemed to be kind of how her thought process flowed. Which ones particularly bothered you?

Definitely, starting at the end of Hunger Games. I understand that she thought it was out of necessity, but that's what gets me. What SHE thought. She completely disregarded those around her and that frustrated me. It was actually hard for me to not like her. Some of the decisions she had made wasn't really her fault, people left her out (for good reason), used her, and she had a hard upbringing. However, it shows me she wasn't growing and the decisions seem to make sense but she lacked maturity and refused to see the whole picture. I understand that she is stubborn, but she was stubborn to the point that is was detrimental to her.

Like I said, I didn't want to not like her. I felt really bad for her but she really frustrated me.

Hmm... I'm going to have to go back and re-read, because the time I really remember feeling that Katniss's stubbornness really irritated me was in the last book, I think. That's when I remember thinking that she wasn't as likeable as I wanted her to be, although you might be right and it might have started before that. Of course, by then, she's so exhausted that I actually felt tired. Anyway, I think part of the problem is that for all she's been through, she's still a kid, and a stubborn one. That's the problem with seeing everything from her perspective, I think. Though I don't think it would have been quite as powerful a story if it had been written from a different point of view. But does she grow? I would have said yes, by the end she does. It's maybe not the way I would have wanted to see her go, but I do feel like she does by the very end.

She was definitely frustrating in the last book. She certainly did grow by the end of the series or she wouldn't have married and had a child with Peeta. But, I think she may have been better off living as a hermit in the woods.

David and I were actually having a conversation about Katniss' age/maturity. Before I reread the series and David was reading it for the first time, I imagined her to be around 14 in Hunger Games. She's actually 16 and is 18 by the end of the rebellion and what not. At that age you aren't a kid. Yes, we say it's young but you should be able to make certain decisions under normal circumstances. Katniss did not have a normal childhood but I feel that she resisted growing and changing and continued to be stupidly stubborn. I really wanted her to come to her senses and realize that there were people around her who loved her and wanted her to be safe.

I get your point Sue, but when you grew up at age 11 or 12 - you never become "normal" or socialized. She saved her entire family by doing only what she knew how to do. She waited for her mother to wake up and it almost killed them. She isn't used to 1. caring for more than three people and 2. caring about the repercussions of her actions.

She is used to acting and reacting immediately to situations because if she doesn't Prim might die. It's been her life for 5 or more years and she simply doesn't know better.

The books are about her breaking out of that mold and trying to shape herself into this "other" person, this MockingJay. It's exhausting and very difficult for her to achieve.

Sure you never become normal and I really wasn't expecting her to be. And I agree with your last paragraph, Tara. It doesn't mean I have to like it. If she was willing to be a little more receptive, I think she wouldn't have as hard of a time.