Chapters 7-9

What a doozy of a section! I honestly think we could have a good hour (at least!) talking about everything that happened. This is just the quick recap, plus a few of the things I noticed in the chapters.

Chapter 7 - All about training before the games.
Breakfast before training, discussing skills and lifting each other up, Peeta says"she has no idea. The effect she can have," training sessions, little Rue, the sessions with the Gamemakers
Chapter 8 - Kat worries about what she did at the private session, scores revealed; flashback to Gale
Chapter 9 - Training for the interview and the interview; Haymitch vs Cinna; Her meltdown after talking with Haymitch; <3 Cinna <3
"But I don't want them to! They're already taking my future! They can't have the things that mattered to me in the past!"(page 117?);

I love the development of Katniss's character. It's something that I normally wouldn't notice in a book. We're only a third of the way into the book, and she is such a strong but vulnerable, complicated young woman. I believe that much of her impulsivity and ferocity is natural to her character. Some of it comes from the way she grew up: always had to be a survivor, always the underdog. I think that some of it comes from the desperate situation of the games. And just a teensy bit comes from those crazy teenage hormones.

She is not really insecure, but like Peeta implies: she really doesn't know her strength. I get the feeling that she just sees everything she does as having to survive. She doesn't see her own talents, strength, determination, and will to survive. Kat is so fiery. I loved what she did to the Gamemakers. My little note right there says "Atta girl!" She has got rebellion written all over her. She wasn't putting on for the judges, faking anything to make herself look better or worse. Katniss just a completely honest reaction. While I was celebrating her 'victory' there, I hadn't even considered the consequences that she thought of later in her room. That she might have put her family in danger, or that she had broken her promise to Prim.

I'm conflicted with Katniss on Peeta. I feel like he might have honestly been trying to be friendly with her the whole time. Honestly friends. I think that he was hurt and could tell that she already had her mind on the game ("Don't. Don't let's pretend when there's no one around."   "All right, Katniss," he says tiredly. After that, we only talk in front of people.) Because of the way it's written though, you are left to wonder just as much as Katniss wonders. After all, it is from her point of view. That seems to be a huge part of Kat and Peeta's story. Can you really trust someone that you've been thrown into a game to kill each other? It leaves me wondering: why not actually team up with the person you've been sent with. Work together. Katniss said (in her flashback to Gale) that hunting was easier once she had someone to watch her back. At least work together until the final two (like Survivor! make an alliance). Two together are stronger than 22 singles. But then you've got a whole game of paranoia ahead of you. Wondering when they might stab you in the back (literally).

Cinna. I just love him. He seems so good and honest. But I'm also thinking: what are his intentions? Does he genuinely care for Katniss and Peeta. Does he have a true affection for them? Or is he just trying to do a good job to get noticed. Or is he not trying to get noticed, but do what he thinks is right or that he just wants to succeed for himself. And here I am analyzing a secondary character. ;)

Last thing I'll put down here now (though, like I said I could talk about this for an hour or more) is this quote from when Katniss is having her session with Haymitch:


"But I don't want them to! They're already taking my future! They can't have the things that mattered to me in the past!"(page 117?)


That quote really struck me. I even have it virtually highlighted.

Your turns. :)