(SPOILER ALERT - Do not continue to read this if you have not already read Chapter 3 of The Hunger Games)
"My voice has risen to a shout. In it is all the anger, all the fear I felt at her abandonment." --Katniss (Page 35)
In Chapter 3, the relationship between Katniss and her mother is slowly becoming clearer. We also find out that the golden bird on the cover of the book is Madge's pin, which she gives to Katniss. The bird is not an egret or a heron, but a fictional "mockingjay." We also find out about the other tributes from other Districts.
Questions that I have after Chapter 3 (SPOILER ALERT):
1) Is it possible for an apothecary to make Prozac from medicinal herbs? (because that's what Katniss' mother should be on)
2) What did Gale want to say before the Peacekeepers dragged him away from Katniss ("Katniss, remember I-")?
Some possibilities:
Gale: "Katniss, remember I...will always love you." (À la Whitney Houston)
Gale: "Katniss, remember I...only have basic cable so I can't actually watch you in the Hunger Games."
Gale: "Katniss, remember I...have a girl's name, but I'm actually quite manly." (as he alternately flexes his pectoral muscles)
Gale: "Katniss, remember I...just wanna tell you how I'm feeling. Gotta make you understand. Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you, never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you..."
3) Besides reminding Katniss of her father and giving her confidence, does the mockingjay pin have any special powers?
4) Will Haymitch ever become sober enough to actually be of any assistance to Katniss?
Predictions:
1) The boy with the crippled foot from District 10 will be the first person to die in the Hunger Games.
2) Katniss will have some difficulties killing the 12-year-old girl from District 11 because that girl is similar to Katniss' sister, Prim.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Hunger Games: Chapter 2 (Reaction)
(SPOILER ALERT - Do not continue to read this if you have not already read Chapter 2 of The Hunger Games)
Chapter 1 was left on a cliffhanger...Katniss' beloved sister is selected as the female tribute for the Hunger Games (what are the odds, eh?). I enjoy the plot so far, but it seems predictable in a sense that Collins says "___ will never happen," which translates to "Hell yeah, you betcha it's gonna happen." I'm hoping for more unexpected twists and turns.
Questions that I have after Chapter 2 (SPOILER ALERT):
1) Will we find out more about Haymitch Abernathy, the drunk who has previously won the Hunger Games as a District 12 tribute?
2) Who was the other District 12 tribute that won the Hunger Games in the past?
3) More is revealed about Katniss' mother. It seems that she may have become depressed after the death of her husband and neglected her children. Katniss then took over her mother's role and began to look after the family at the age of 11. How would Katniss and Prim's life be different if they were placed in the "community home"? Is a "community home" similar to a foster home?
4) Will we ever find out if Peeta Mellark burned the bread accidentally or on purpose?
5) What's the symbolism behind the dandelion? Dandelions spread their seeds everywhere and survive. Is it a symbol of longevity and survival? They're also weeds and steal water from other nearby plants. Is a symbol of surviving by stealing other people's resources?
6) Peeta Mellark's mother sent him to school with a black eye. Are there no mandated reporters in District 12?
Predictions:
1) Katniss will end up killing Peeta Mellark...brutally.
2) There will be some kind of flashback of Katniss, her father, and the dandelion.
Chapter 1 was left on a cliffhanger...Katniss' beloved sister is selected as the female tribute for the Hunger Games (what are the odds, eh?). I enjoy the plot so far, but it seems predictable in a sense that Collins says "___ will never happen," which translates to "Hell yeah, you betcha it's gonna happen." I'm hoping for more unexpected twists and turns.
Questions that I have after Chapter 2 (SPOILER ALERT):
1) Will we find out more about Haymitch Abernathy, the drunk who has previously won the Hunger Games as a District 12 tribute?
2) Who was the other District 12 tribute that won the Hunger Games in the past?
3) More is revealed about Katniss' mother. It seems that she may have become depressed after the death of her husband and neglected her children. Katniss then took over her mother's role and began to look after the family at the age of 11. How would Katniss and Prim's life be different if they were placed in the "community home"? Is a "community home" similar to a foster home?
4) Will we ever find out if Peeta Mellark burned the bread accidentally or on purpose?
5) What's the symbolism behind the dandelion? Dandelions spread their seeds everywhere and survive. Is it a symbol of longevity and survival? They're also weeds and steal water from other nearby plants. Is a symbol of surviving by stealing other people's resources?
6) Peeta Mellark's mother sent him to school with a black eye. Are there no mandated reporters in District 12?
Predictions:
1) Katniss will end up killing Peeta Mellark...brutally.
2) There will be some kind of flashback of Katniss, her father, and the dandelion.
The Hunger Games: Chapter 1 (Reaction)
I just finished Chapter 1. I have come to the conclusion that Panem is similar to Burma (aka Myanmar, for those that support the government), so here we go:
From Irrawaddy.org (http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=23010):
"Burma is notorious for power blackouts and hundreds of businesses from backyard enterprises to major hotels and factories have to use their own generators fueled by expensively imported diesel..."
Burma also has wild dogs and venomous snakes, however instead of being kept out of villages by fences, they freely roam the streets.
#2. Both Panem and Burma have societies with large disparities between social classes
In Burma there is an extremely large gap between the rich and the poor. In Yangon (or Rangoon, Burma's capital), it is not uncommon to see a Mercedes Benz being driven past a street filled with malnourished beggars. You may also see dilapidated, tin-roof houses around the corner from large opulent mansions.
From The Hunger Games: "...this is the Capitol's way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy. How little chance we would stand of surviving another rebellion. Whatever words they use, the real message is clear. "Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there's nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you. Just as we did in District Thirteen" (Page 18-19).
With regards to Burma: Use the same statement above, but replace "Capitol" with "Myanmar government" and "District Thirteen" with "8-8-88 Uprising" (More information on 8888 Uprising: http://www.abitsu.org/?p=32 )
Questions that I have after Chapter 1 (SPOILER ALERT):
1) It seems that Katniss does not have a good relationship with her mother. What is the back story behind this?
2) Katniss' father died when she was 11. How was her relationship with her father?
3) Is there symbolism behind the section of District 12 that is nicknamed "the Seam"? A seam is the line where two pieces of fabric are stitched together. Does "the Seam" in District 12 somehow hold it together?
4) Does Katniss and Gale have a strictly platonic relationship? Or is there something more going on between the two of them?
5) How did North America eventually become Panem? What year does this book take place?
6) Are computers and advanced technology still around? Why are tributes chosen with scraps of paper instead of with a digital program?
7) If Panem is anything like Burma, perhaps the tribute selection process may be rigged? Can we trust that the Capitol selects the tributes fairly?
Top 5 Reasons Why Panem is Similar to Burma
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| Map of Panem |
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| Map of Burma (Myanmar) |
#5. Both Panem and Burma have problems with electricity
From The Hunger Games: "...a high chain-link fence topped with barbed wire loops. In theory, it's supposed to be electrified twenty-four hours a day...but since we're lucky to get two or three hours of electricity in the evenings, it's usually safe to touch..." (Page 4-5)From Irrawaddy.org (http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=23010):
"Burma is notorious for power blackouts and hundreds of businesses from backyard enterprises to major hotels and factories have to use their own generators fueled by expensively imported diesel..."
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| A Burmese generator |
#4. Both Panem and Burma have similar types of wild animals.
Collins describes District 12 as having "packs of wild dogs" and "venomous snakes," and the fence is "successful at keeping the flesh-eaters out of District 12" (Page 5).Burma also has wild dogs and venomous snakes, however instead of being kept out of villages by fences, they freely roam the streets.
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| Pack of wild dogs hanging out in Burma |
#3. Both Panem and Burma take advantage of children
While some children in Panem are forced to become "tributes" and participate in the Hunger Games. Children in Burma are often forced to join the Tatmadaw (Burmese army) and are trained to become killing machines. |
| Children are forced to be soldiers in Burma |
#2. Both Panem and Burma have societies with large disparities between social classes
From Chapter 1 of The Hunger Games, we see how families are struggling to survive and often depend on children as a means of receiving tesserae (supplies of grain and oil). Madge, the mayor's daughter, does not need tesserae because she is well off compared to Katniss and Gale. Katniss comments that Gale might say, "It's to the Capitol's advantage to have us divided among ourselves" (Page 14).
In Burma there is an extremely large gap between the rich and the poor. In Yangon (or Rangoon, Burma's capital), it is not uncommon to see a Mercedes Benz being driven past a street filled with malnourished beggars. You may also see dilapidated, tin-roof houses around the corner from large opulent mansions. |
| Rich vs. Poor |
#1. Both Panem and Burma have oppressive governments that enjoy showing off their strength
It is evident from Chapter 1 that the Hunger Games are a way of instilling fear and controlling the masses. Similarly, the Myanmar government use fear as a way of controlling the Burmese people. The name "Myanmar" translates to "fast [and] strong," which is the image that the government wants to project to the rest of the world.From The Hunger Games: "...this is the Capitol's way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy. How little chance we would stand of surviving another rebellion. Whatever words they use, the real message is clear. "Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there's nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you. Just as we did in District Thirteen" (Page 18-19).
With regards to Burma: Use the same statement above, but replace "Capitol" with "Myanmar government" and "District Thirteen" with "8-8-88 Uprising" (More information on 8888 Uprising: http://www.abitsu.org/?p=32 )
 |
| Burmese soldiers keeping civilians under control |
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| During the 8-8-88 Uprising, the government opened fire on Burmese students |
Questions that I have after Chapter 1 (SPOILER ALERT):
1) It seems that Katniss does not have a good relationship with her mother. What is the back story behind this?
2) Katniss' father died when she was 11. How was her relationship with her father?
3) Is there symbolism behind the section of District 12 that is nicknamed "the Seam"? A seam is the line where two pieces of fabric are stitched together. Does "the Seam" in District 12 somehow hold it together?
4) Does Katniss and Gale have a strictly platonic relationship? Or is there something more going on between the two of them?
5) How did North America eventually become Panem? What year does this book take place?
6) Are computers and advanced technology still around? Why are tributes chosen with scraps of paper instead of with a digital program?
7) If Panem is anything like Burma, perhaps the tribute selection process may be rigged? Can we trust that the Capitol selects the tributes fairly?
The Hunger Games - Cover
With the movie recently being released, there's a lot of hype over The Hunger Games right now. My co-worker said, "This book will change your life." My cousins can't stop talking about this book. My girlfriend is urging me to read this book. Yes, I'm a cynic when it comes to popular franchises (whether it's Jamba Juice or Harry Potter), but I'll give this book a try.
My girlfriend's copy of The Hunger Games is in my lap right now. Time to judge this book by its cover. From the description on the back, the premise of the book reminds me of Battle Royale or Lord of the Flies, children becoming tainted and killing each other. Tim O'Brien's golden heron/egret/bird-thing holding an arrow on the front cover isn't a useful hint to the plot of the book. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm ready to enter this dystopian world...
#JulianTriesThings
I don't like things that are popular. I usually wait until the hype dies down before trying things (i.e. Lost), so from the producers of #JulianWatchesLost...here is #JulianTriesThings, a blog that documents the various things that I watch, listen, eat, read, feel, smell...
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| Lost: Jack Shepard waking up in the bamboo field |
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