Everyone loves Cinna. You all know that. So I'm just going to say a few reasons I thought one day, "Wow, Cinna is really great." (Spoilers for the Hunger Games Trilogy.)
Cinna isn't like the rest of the Capitol. He's almost like a person from District Twelve. He's really normal, for lack of a better word. He even understood Katniss's thoughts when she was thinking about how horrible the Capitol is for trying to make her look all pretty while they send her off to her death. I think he genuinely understood what she meant, not just knew, but understood.
Of course he's also a great designer. When Katniss describes the dresses Cinna makes, can't you always see how pretty they are in your head? Gorgeous. The first interview dress in Hunger Games, though. Beautiful. The candlelight dress? That pink one she wore to the dinner in District Eleven? I could die.
Then Cinna has a rebellious side too. He designed those clothes for Katniss to lead the rebellion before his death, before there even was a big rebellion. He made Katniss a Mockingjay dress and risked his life to do that, and that eventually got him killed. He was probably even in on the plan to get Katniss out of the Quell alive. He was the designer of the rebellion. Cinna, you are so cool.
Friday, January 24, 2014
I'm Sorry, Guys
(I guess there are spoilers for The Hunger Games and Catching Fire.)
You guys know I love Katniss. I used to not. It irritated me how she treated the people she loved sometimes, and I especially disliked how she wouldn't forgive her mother. Now I realize she loved her and eventually she tried to forgive. Now I know that it's her personality, and honestly, I love Katniss's personality. But today looking at Catching Fire I realized how long ago I should have recognized this. Way long ago. I read Catching Fire for the first time two years ago. So two years ago I should have realized this. Listen to this from the book.
"Since I've been home I've been trying hard to mend my relationship with my mother. Asking her to do things for me instead of brushing aside any offer of help, as I did for years out of anger. Letting her handle all the money I won. Returning her hugs instead of tolerating them. My time in the arena made me realize how I needed to stop punishing her for something she couldn't help, specifically the crushing depression she fell into after my father's death. Because sometimes things happen to people and they're not equipped to deal with them."
She even admitted it was depression and not her mother's own doing! It's like she was apologizing to me personally for what she did. I feel really bad I ever felt that way about Katniss. She's awesome. I love her personality and what she became throughout the books, she learned how to love people and even became smarter almost. Katniss, you're awesome. I'm sorry I thought that about you.
You guys know I love Katniss. I used to not. It irritated me how she treated the people she loved sometimes, and I especially disliked how she wouldn't forgive her mother. Now I realize she loved her and eventually she tried to forgive. Now I know that it's her personality, and honestly, I love Katniss's personality. But today looking at Catching Fire I realized how long ago I should have recognized this. Way long ago. I read Catching Fire for the first time two years ago. So two years ago I should have realized this. Listen to this from the book.
"Since I've been home I've been trying hard to mend my relationship with my mother. Asking her to do things for me instead of brushing aside any offer of help, as I did for years out of anger. Letting her handle all the money I won. Returning her hugs instead of tolerating them. My time in the arena made me realize how I needed to stop punishing her for something she couldn't help, specifically the crushing depression she fell into after my father's death. Because sometimes things happen to people and they're not equipped to deal with them."
She even admitted it was depression and not her mother's own doing! It's like she was apologizing to me personally for what she did. I feel really bad I ever felt that way about Katniss. She's awesome. I love her personality and what she became throughout the books, she learned how to love people and even became smarter almost. Katniss, you're awesome. I'm sorry I thought that about you.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Hunger Games Stories I Want to Know
There are some things that we don't know about in the Hunger Games. There are a few people's stories that I really want to know, though. I wonder how they got where they are, and I made up some stories about them of what I think might have happened. (Spoilers for the Hunger Games Trilogy.)
I really wonder about the redheaded Avox girl. I wonder why she was a traitor. Katniss said she looked like she was from the Capitol. She was a traitor to them. Well what did she do? This is a theory I have. She had the boy with her. Well the boy died but she didn't. So I'm thinking he must have done something worse than her. They were probably friends then he did something really bad and was going to get punished for it, maybe he was in jail or he was going to get executed, but he did something against the Capitol because he knows it's bad and she knew it a little bit but now she knows they're really bad because they locked up her friend just for a bit of rebellion. But somehow she finds out about District Thirteen. How it's still around. So she tells her friend. This is the perfect way for him to escape. So they get him out of the Capitol and they get really far. The get all the way to District Twelve. They're almost to Thirteen. Then the hovercraft finds them. He dies and she gets turned into an Avox for helping a rebel escape. That's my theory.
Then this one we don't have to think about as much, but still. How did Cinna get to where he was? Well Cinna doesn't really dress like the rest of the Capitol. And he helps Katniss with the rebellion. Maybe he wasn't a rebel, but he had rebellious thoughts. He just knew how to keep them in. He had some great fashion ideas, and when he got asked to be a stylist for the Hunger Games, he had great ideas for District Twelve. He finally got to show his rebellious thoughts when Katniss and Peeta won the Games and he could use his designs to help them rebel. Maybe that's how that went down.
Do you have any other unknown stories of other characters? I would love to hear it. Comment :)
I really wonder about the redheaded Avox girl. I wonder why she was a traitor. Katniss said she looked like she was from the Capitol. She was a traitor to them. Well what did she do? This is a theory I have. She had the boy with her. Well the boy died but she didn't. So I'm thinking he must have done something worse than her. They were probably friends then he did something really bad and was going to get punished for it, maybe he was in jail or he was going to get executed, but he did something against the Capitol because he knows it's bad and she knew it a little bit but now she knows they're really bad because they locked up her friend just for a bit of rebellion. But somehow she finds out about District Thirteen. How it's still around. So she tells her friend. This is the perfect way for him to escape. So they get him out of the Capitol and they get really far. The get all the way to District Twelve. They're almost to Thirteen. Then the hovercraft finds them. He dies and she gets turned into an Avox for helping a rebel escape. That's my theory.
Then this one we don't have to think about as much, but still. How did Cinna get to where he was? Well Cinna doesn't really dress like the rest of the Capitol. And he helps Katniss with the rebellion. Maybe he wasn't a rebel, but he had rebellious thoughts. He just knew how to keep them in. He had some great fashion ideas, and when he got asked to be a stylist for the Hunger Games, he had great ideas for District Twelve. He finally got to show his rebellious thoughts when Katniss and Peeta won the Games and he could use his designs to help them rebel. Maybe that's how that went down.
Do you have any other unknown stories of other characters? I would love to hear it. Comment :)
The Things You Don't Know
Of course there are things like this in every book. But right now I'm going through a Hunger Games phase, and right now Hunger Games is my second favorite. (Hunger Games and Percy Jackson are always competing for second in my head.) But there are a lot of crazy things that we find out in the Hunger Games books that looking back, you don't only feel a little superior to Katniss like "Oh my gosh oh my gosh I know what's going on and you don't!" but you also realize the things that didn't make sense to you when you experienced them for the first time. And now you get all the things she's talking about. Here are a few things I noticed. (Spoilers for the Hunger Games Trilogy.)
1. When Katniss is leaving District Twelve in Catching Fire. On page 188, Katniss is pretty upset because she does not get to say goodbye to her friends and family. She has decided she will die in that arena to save Peeta, so she knows she will never see them again so she's pretty distraught about it. But Peeta tells her they can write letters of what they want to say. Katniss knows this idea won't work because she can't write what she wants to say. So she will never get to tell her family her last words because she knows she isn't going home. It says, "Before my first Games, I promised Prim I would do everything I could to win, and now I've sworn to myself to do all I can to keep Peeta alive. I will never reverse this journey again."
That last sentence, though. Katniss knew she wouldn't. We were sad that she felt this way and were determined there had to be a way that she would get out. But what happens? Katniss is right. She doesn't reverse this journey again. After her Games, Peeta is safe, like she wished. But so is she and a few others. But just because she made it out of there alive, doesn't mean she reversed that journey. She didn't go back on that train home. She flew to District Thirteen on a hovercraft. It's amazing how much she, and we, didn't know. Ugh! It's just crazy rereading that and thinking "Oh my gosh! She won't! She won't reverse this journey again!"
2. How Katniss has a feeling she will have to kill Peeta. Katniss is thinking back to the days when she was eleven years old and starving, and then eventually when Peeta saved her. On page 33, it says, "Oh, well, I think. There will be twenty-four of us. Odds are someone else will kill him before I do. Of course, the odds have not been very dependable of late."
I'm sure you guys have caught on now. Before you may have been thinking, "But she was right! She didn't have to kill Peeta!" Correction. She didn't kill Peeta. Did she have to? Oh yeah. The rule about having to victors was taken away. She had to kill Peeta to keep her promise to Prim and Rue to win. But then she pulled out the berries, which in the end we are thankful for because it continued on the series. Dang! She did have to kill Peeta in the end! But she got out of that one that time.
3. Finnick flirting with Katniss. Now this isn't something that came true. But it's something that happened that we have to think about. All through the beginning of Catching Fire, before they get thrown into the Games, he is flirting with her like crazy. The sugar cubes thing before the Opening Ceremonies, him helping her tie knots and stuff in the Training Center, all sorts of ridiculous stuff. Well we all know that Finnick didn't really like Katniss, he loves Annie. But at the end of the book we know that Finnick was trying to get Katniss out alive to lead the rebels. Now we know that that whole time all Finnick was trying to do was be Katniss's friend and get her to trust him.
4. Pretty much everything about Peeta in The Hunger Games. Looking back it's so obvious that we just want to scream at Katniss "Ak Katniss he's just genuinely a sweet guy!" The funny thing is Peeta is completely honest. He feels all the things he says. There may be a thing or two he says for the Capitol and the cameras, but other than that, there is nothing he says that he doesn't mean. And Katniss is totally oblivious to it all. His tears when he finishes saying goodbye to his family. When he smiles at Katniss all shylike after the Opening Ceremonies. He was telling the truth about having a crush on Katniss and when he started liking her. If it happened, he meant it.
Whaaaat? Ah well sweethearts. I hope you enjoyed that.
1. When Katniss is leaving District Twelve in Catching Fire. On page 188, Katniss is pretty upset because she does not get to say goodbye to her friends and family. She has decided she will die in that arena to save Peeta, so she knows she will never see them again so she's pretty distraught about it. But Peeta tells her they can write letters of what they want to say. Katniss knows this idea won't work because she can't write what she wants to say. So she will never get to tell her family her last words because she knows she isn't going home. It says, "Before my first Games, I promised Prim I would do everything I could to win, and now I've sworn to myself to do all I can to keep Peeta alive. I will never reverse this journey again."
That last sentence, though. Katniss knew she wouldn't. We were sad that she felt this way and were determined there had to be a way that she would get out. But what happens? Katniss is right. She doesn't reverse this journey again. After her Games, Peeta is safe, like she wished. But so is she and a few others. But just because she made it out of there alive, doesn't mean she reversed that journey. She didn't go back on that train home. She flew to District Thirteen on a hovercraft. It's amazing how much she, and we, didn't know. Ugh! It's just crazy rereading that and thinking "Oh my gosh! She won't! She won't reverse this journey again!"
2. How Katniss has a feeling she will have to kill Peeta. Katniss is thinking back to the days when she was eleven years old and starving, and then eventually when Peeta saved her. On page 33, it says, "Oh, well, I think. There will be twenty-four of us. Odds are someone else will kill him before I do. Of course, the odds have not been very dependable of late."
I'm sure you guys have caught on now. Before you may have been thinking, "But she was right! She didn't have to kill Peeta!" Correction. She didn't kill Peeta. Did she have to? Oh yeah. The rule about having to victors was taken away. She had to kill Peeta to keep her promise to Prim and Rue to win. But then she pulled out the berries, which in the end we are thankful for because it continued on the series. Dang! She did have to kill Peeta in the end! But she got out of that one that time.
3. Finnick flirting with Katniss. Now this isn't something that came true. But it's something that happened that we have to think about. All through the beginning of Catching Fire, before they get thrown into the Games, he is flirting with her like crazy. The sugar cubes thing before the Opening Ceremonies, him helping her tie knots and stuff in the Training Center, all sorts of ridiculous stuff. Well we all know that Finnick didn't really like Katniss, he loves Annie. But at the end of the book we know that Finnick was trying to get Katniss out alive to lead the rebels. Now we know that that whole time all Finnick was trying to do was be Katniss's friend and get her to trust him.
4. Pretty much everything about Peeta in The Hunger Games. Looking back it's so obvious that we just want to scream at Katniss "Ak Katniss he's just genuinely a sweet guy!" The funny thing is Peeta is completely honest. He feels all the things he says. There may be a thing or two he says for the Capitol and the cameras, but other than that, there is nothing he says that he doesn't mean. And Katniss is totally oblivious to it all. His tears when he finishes saying goodbye to his family. When he smiles at Katniss all shylike after the Opening Ceremonies. He was telling the truth about having a crush on Katniss and when he started liking her. If it happened, he meant it.
Whaaaat? Ah well sweethearts. I hope you enjoyed that.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Katniss's Relationships with Men
Fangirls, I know that when you read books and you see how Katniss has a really cute relationship with Peeta or Gale or whoever she decides she's with at the time and you're like "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII want that to happen to MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Well fangirls, I have some pretty interesting news for you. Katniss's relationships with men are not that different from yours. Don't believe me? I promise you, it's true. (Spoilers for the Hunger Games Trilogy.)
Well, my sister told me about this one. When Katniss is trying to be in love with Peeta in the Games or any other time, who does she think of nonstop? Gale. And when she kisses Gale or is being in love with him she can start to feel a little guilty about Peeta. Does that ever happen to you? You have a thing for two guys and they both have a thing for you so when you're with one for some reason you can only think about the other? And you guys are probably thinking "I'M A FANGIRL THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO US." Well, don't worry. It's never happened to me either. It was just an example. But this one we can probably all relate to.
So when Peeta's in love with Katniss, Katniss just prefers to stay away from the whole thing. She doesn't want to think about it. She doesn't want to feel guilty that Peeta loves her and she doesn't love him. But when Peeta gets hijacked, he hates her. A lot. And Katniss realizes that now he can see all the bad things about her. And she hates that about him. It makes her really mad. But when Peeta is still trying to calm himself down and learn the truth about himself, and he still can't love Katniss 'cause it's really hard for him, Katniss really wants him even if she doesn't know it or can't admit it to herself some of the time. But come on. This one has to make sense to you. Doesn't it seem when you like someone they don't care about you, and then the absolute last person you would want to like you does? You can't tell me this hasn't happened. Think about it. It has, fangirls. Don't deny it. You know it's true.
Well, my sister told me about this one. When Katniss is trying to be in love with Peeta in the Games or any other time, who does she think of nonstop? Gale. And when she kisses Gale or is being in love with him she can start to feel a little guilty about Peeta. Does that ever happen to you? You have a thing for two guys and they both have a thing for you so when you're with one for some reason you can only think about the other? And you guys are probably thinking "I'M A FANGIRL THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO US." Well, don't worry. It's never happened to me either. It was just an example. But this one we can probably all relate to.
So when Peeta's in love with Katniss, Katniss just prefers to stay away from the whole thing. She doesn't want to think about it. She doesn't want to feel guilty that Peeta loves her and she doesn't love him. But when Peeta gets hijacked, he hates her. A lot. And Katniss realizes that now he can see all the bad things about her. And she hates that about him. It makes her really mad. But when Peeta is still trying to calm himself down and learn the truth about himself, and he still can't love Katniss 'cause it's really hard for him, Katniss really wants him even if she doesn't know it or can't admit it to herself some of the time. But come on. This one has to make sense to you. Doesn't it seem when you like someone they don't care about you, and then the absolute last person you would want to like you does? You can't tell me this hasn't happened. Think about it. It has, fangirls. Don't deny it. You know it's true.
Edgar Allan Poe and a Series of Unfortunate Events
Edgar Allan Poe. Basically the writeriest writer out there. I mean seriously, once I understood "The Raven" I realized it was pretty cool. And "The Tell-Tale Heart"? Dang. He knows what's up. And then there's the Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket. (And Daniel Handler is a COMPLETE genius because he made his pen name a character in his stories with like a story of his own. Dang, that is AWESOME.) If you've read those books, you may have noticed a few Edgar Allan Poe references, probably because Edgar Allan Poe is known for writing some pretty grim things. So if you haven't noticed them, then here are a few things that you should know. (Spoilers for A Series of Unfortunate Events.)
Let's start with the Poe reference in our main characters, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. I had to do a school assignment on Edgar Allan Poe once, and so that's how I learned this. But there was someone that Poe knew named Baudelaire. I can't remember exactly how he was associated with Poe, but I do remember seeing his existence. When I read it, I just thought, "A man named Baudelaire had something to do with Edgar Allan Poe? Oh my gosh! Another reference!" So that was pretty cool.
Then of course there is Mr. Poe, the banker. His name is Poe. So that's an obvious enough reference. But there's also his two sons named Edgar and Allan. Aha! Well played, Daniel Handler. Well played.
Then there's another reference specifically in The Vile Village. Our orphan friends go to live in the town of V.F.D. in the hopes of uncovering a mystery. But what do they find instead? Crow-obsessed villagers. Now, crows are black birds. So what? Well, ravens are also black birds. You might think I'm stretching this one, because it sure sounds like I am. But then you have to remember the tree they find the notes in. What is that tree called? Nevermore Tree. And what does a pretty famous raven like to say? "Nevermore." I'm pretty sure that wasn't an accident.
If there are any other Poe references that I've missed, tell me. I want to know. Dang, they are pretty clever guys.
Let's start with the Poe reference in our main characters, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. I had to do a school assignment on Edgar Allan Poe once, and so that's how I learned this. But there was someone that Poe knew named Baudelaire. I can't remember exactly how he was associated with Poe, but I do remember seeing his existence. When I read it, I just thought, "A man named Baudelaire had something to do with Edgar Allan Poe? Oh my gosh! Another reference!" So that was pretty cool.
Then of course there is Mr. Poe, the banker. His name is Poe. So that's an obvious enough reference. But there's also his two sons named Edgar and Allan. Aha! Well played, Daniel Handler. Well played.
Then there's another reference specifically in The Vile Village. Our orphan friends go to live in the town of V.F.D. in the hopes of uncovering a mystery. But what do they find instead? Crow-obsessed villagers. Now, crows are black birds. So what? Well, ravens are also black birds. You might think I'm stretching this one, because it sure sounds like I am. But then you have to remember the tree they find the notes in. What is that tree called? Nevermore Tree. And what does a pretty famous raven like to say? "Nevermore." I'm pretty sure that wasn't an accident.
If there are any other Poe references that I've missed, tell me. I want to know. Dang, they are pretty clever guys.
Friday, January 17, 2014
It's Worth Reading Just to Read About the Food
First of all, guys, thanks for all the pageviews! That makes me feel pretty special :)
Secondly, I think we can all agree that food in books sound super good. Like, we could read book food all day. It drives you crazy sometimes. (Spoilers for The Lightning Thief, The Son of Neptune, Harry Potter and Hunger Games.)
We'll start with Percy Jackson. The way he describes his mom's blue chocolate chip cookies, it makes me want to make some myself. Who knows how we're celebrating Percy's birthday this year? And at Aunty Em's. Sure, she turned out to be Medusa, but she has the most delicious burgers, fries, and shakes in the universe. (And probably wax paper, but we'd have to ask Grover.) Seriously, I was reading The Lightning Thief one night and my mom went and got us some food because it gave me this huge craving for fries. Rediculous. And the food at the camps, the fruit and bread and barbecue at Camp Half-Blood, and the anything you want at Camp Jupiter. (I haven't read that book in a while. That's what it's called, right? I would look like a total idiot if that isn't what it's called.)
Then as for Harry Potter, there's the food at Hogwarts. Dang, house-elves, tell us your secret! We want to be able to cook like that. (At least I have The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: A Magical Christmas Menu on my Kindle. Time for me to be a house-elf ;) ) And the magical candies. Don't you want to try them all? And you can eat the floss mint candies after to make your teeth clean after all that candy-eating! And then of course there's the famous Mrs. Weasley! Don't worry Mrs. Weasley, we didn't forget about you, we just saved the best for last! Harry never fails to mention how much of Mrs. Weasley's wonderful cooking he gets to have when he visits the Burrow. She doesn't even deprive the kids of her amazing treats when they're at Hogwarts! She sends the kids treats at Christmas and Easter. Way to go, Mrs. Weasley. You're cool.
And I saved the most delicious for last. Hunger Games! Katniss gets to go and have many food adventures in the Capitol, and we're lucky that we're readers and not citizens of Panem (Power to District One), because that means we get to hear her talk about it! Do I need to say more? That Capitol food.
Sorry if you're hungry.
Secondly, I think we can all agree that food in books sound super good. Like, we could read book food all day. It drives you crazy sometimes. (Spoilers for The Lightning Thief, The Son of Neptune, Harry Potter and Hunger Games.)
We'll start with Percy Jackson. The way he describes his mom's blue chocolate chip cookies, it makes me want to make some myself. Who knows how we're celebrating Percy's birthday this year? And at Aunty Em's. Sure, she turned out to be Medusa, but she has the most delicious burgers, fries, and shakes in the universe. (And probably wax paper, but we'd have to ask Grover.) Seriously, I was reading The Lightning Thief one night and my mom went and got us some food because it gave me this huge craving for fries. Rediculous. And the food at the camps, the fruit and bread and barbecue at Camp Half-Blood, and the anything you want at Camp Jupiter. (I haven't read that book in a while. That's what it's called, right? I would look like a total idiot if that isn't what it's called.)
Then as for Harry Potter, there's the food at Hogwarts. Dang, house-elves, tell us your secret! We want to be able to cook like that. (At least I have The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: A Magical Christmas Menu on my Kindle. Time for me to be a house-elf ;) ) And the magical candies. Don't you want to try them all? And you can eat the floss mint candies after to make your teeth clean after all that candy-eating! And then of course there's the famous Mrs. Weasley! Don't worry Mrs. Weasley, we didn't forget about you, we just saved the best for last! Harry never fails to mention how much of Mrs. Weasley's wonderful cooking he gets to have when he visits the Burrow. She doesn't even deprive the kids of her amazing treats when they're at Hogwarts! She sends the kids treats at Christmas and Easter. Way to go, Mrs. Weasley. You're cool.
And I saved the most delicious for last. Hunger Games! Katniss gets to go and have many food adventures in the Capitol, and we're lucky that we're readers and not citizens of Panem (Power to District One), because that means we get to hear her talk about it! Do I need to say more? That Capitol food.
Sorry if you're hungry.
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