The Hunger Games

So.  I finished the trilogy.  I have so many mixed feelings ranging from amazement to disgruntlement. 

Let me start on the amazement side of the spectrum.  Loved, loved, LOVED the first book.  Seriously, I admit I neglected my boys until I finished it because I was so mesmerized.  I've heard many say that it was too violent for them.  I must be twisted because I couldn't get enough.  I think I was just so amazed at the idea that Suzanne Collins created- -it was so different and so intriguing and it just kept me hooked.  I quickly found that if I knew I had to stop reading for any reason it had to be in the middle of a chapter because I couldn't stand to put the book down at the end of one.  The reading was easy and enjoyable and I flew through The Hunger Games.

**Important side note to include here**

I finished the first book just the week before the movie came out.  You can imagine the anticipation I felt as I read the book, knowing I'd be able to see a theatrical version so soon thereafter.  Well I hated the movie.  H.a.t.e.d it.  Anticipating the book while reading kept me making mental notes of specific scenes and particular conversations that I wanted to see and hear.  Having those exact things so fresh on my mind while watching the movie totally ruined it because they weren't there!  Who's idea was it for Katniss to find the Mockingjay pin at the market??  And so much for portraying the struggle Katniss went through while trying to pretend to like Peeta- -if you hadn't read the book, you'd think she had no problem forgetting Gale!  And so many discussions that lacked the passion I felt from the book.  Especially between Katniss and Haymitch.  Really, I was quite disappointed in Katniss' character completely.  And Peeta's.  And others.  I just really felt like the misery and the fear and the distrust and all those other feelings were too muted.  I realize they can't do real justice to such an amazing book within the time of one movie, but c'mon!  I could feel the darkness as I read the book and the movie just felt a little too non serious for me. 

So with that......

I started Catching Fire.  It took me a little more time to get into it- -I think because I had all of my anxiously-awaited questions answered by the end of The Hunger Games and I didn't really see where it would go from there.  But again, Suzanne Collins started throwing curve balls that I never expected, stringing me along from chapter to chapter.  I really enjoyed the Quarter Quell.  Again, kind of sick and twisted, but very enticing.  I think it was probably my favorite section of the entire trilogy, actually.  But then I feel like it went downhill and I can't even pinpoint why.  I was really disappointed by the end of Catching Fire and it didn't put me in the best mood to start Mockingjay.

I hated Mockingjay.  I don't even know how long it took me to get through it.  At least a month.  Even then, the real motive at finishing it was to get it back to my friend Rachel- -I didn't enjoy it at all.  It was just frustrating.  Particularly the fact that Katniss doesn't choose Gale in the end!  Not only does she not choose him, but I feel like she pushes him away.  I realize that a tactic he created was responsible for the death of her sister but he didn't do it!  It's not his fault that someone with ill intentions got a hold of his idea!  That really just rubbed me the wrong way.  Gale loved her and understood her unlike any other man ever could.  Shoving him aside was stupid and selfish.  I just really disliked Katniss by the end of it all.

I could rant so much more, but here's the thing- -going back to the side note about the movie.  While discussing the trilogy with some friends I realized why it was so upsetting to me.  It's all the movie's fault.  Since I watched it before I finished the 2nd and 3rd books the movie characters are the characters I saw in my mind as I read and I hated most of the movie characters.  Especially Katniss.  I don't feel like Katniss' movie character in The Hunger Games is strong enough to carry out the role of Mockingjay.  I just don't see it happening.  I feel like she is too submissive and mild.  I don't feel like she portrayed the true passion and frustration and hatred that the book's character so clearly feels.  I shouldn't have watched the movie until I finished all three books.  It ruined everything.  I might have to try rereading the books in another ten years or so after the movies have come and gone and I can start with clean slate again.  They had such potential and I shot it all down a hole.