Reading for Intermediate and Advanced Learners, Fall, 2011

Hi Group!
We decided to read the first 7 chapters before we meet next. I don't know about you all, but I am loving it.

Yes Becky we are reading to chapter 7. The book is off to a great start.

Ok, don't read this until you have read the first 7 chapters.
WOW. I thought it started off kind of weird but then I got into it. I really admired Katriss for taking her sister's place. That was the hook for me to want to continue reading. Did anyone else hope Gale would get picked along with Katriss? The ceremony where they introduce the competitors was like a gladiator contest. I want #12 to win, but doesnt' that mean the contest will always continue? I think Peeta is not being a calculating person when it comes to Katriss. I think he loves her and wants her to survive. I wonder if this will be a little bit of a love and the young will conquer the world type of story. I am off to go read the next 7 chapters.

Becky, I agree with you the beginning was off to a slow start, but now wow. The author Suzzane Collins wrote with great detail. You can invision yourself right there as part of th story. Her writing draws you in leaving you wanting more to read.

She writes of a strong young girl named Katriss who shows great will and determination through taking her sisters place in the hunger games. I think as young youth read this book they can identify with Katriss character. Most of our students have siblings that they are willing to stand up for and defend. I can't wait to keep reading.

Before this class I had heard really great things about this book and so far I have really enjoyed reading it. I just knew that either Katriss or someone in her family would be picked to compete in the games, but I didn't suspect that Katriss would jump up to take her sister's place.

On another note... I'm thinking like you Becky... I feel like there is a love connection between Katriss and Gale! Can't wait to see what happens.

Katniss is the kind of sibling that we would all love to have. There was no question about her loyalty and love for her sister Prim after she stepped up to take her place in the Hunger Games. From the beginning you could tell the Katniss was a fighter. She was determined to provide food for her mother and sister despite the danger involved. After Katniss took her sister’s place in the Hunger Games, I thought that Gale would get picked next. In a way, I was relieved that he didn’t get chosen because I did not want them to have to fight. As Gale was saying his good byes to Katniss, the last thing he told her was, “Katniss, remember I-”. What do you think he was going to tell her? I could not stop wondering what he wanted to say. After Katniss realized that she knew the boy from her district, Peeta, I thought that this would have made things a little easier on her. Instead, I believe that getting to know Peeta will make the process more difficult and confusing for her.

Ok ladies,
We agreed to finish the book by the next time we meet. We all also agreed to certain jobs in order to get out book talk ready. Good luck finishing the book!

We agreed to read to the end of the book. We also agreed to certain jobs in order to do the book talk. Happy Reading!

Chapters 8-14
Peeta, Peeta, Peeta. What is he all about anyway? This author really has written the unexpected with this character. I think he really does love Katniss. I think somehow he will help her to win. He keeps saving her life. I also think that Haymitch does hat Katniss. I think he does like to see her suffer. Does anyone else think this is like Big Brother and Survivor on speed? The whole sponsorship idea was genius. Unfortunately I can see man thinking up this horrible idea of the games. Chapters 15-21 Rue represented Prim. Poor Katniss when Rue died. I felt so sorry for her. She loved her sister so much and had such a need to take care of her sibling. I thought that flower tribute was beautiful. When the rules changed for the district people to partner together, the first thing I thought was that if the rules changed once, they may change again. Peeta worries me. I’m not sure he will survive even if he get the medicine in time. Do you all think Katriss is really in love with Peeta and is not willing to admit it yet? I wonder how this contest will end with the terrible deaths of Cato and Clove? Chapters 22- the end I just finished. The book was amazing. I knew that Katniss would win but I wasn’t so sure about Peeta. Katniss really does love him but won’t admit it to herself. She is willful and doesn’t like to be ordered. She was ordered to care about Peeta and now that she does she has all these conflicting emotions. I wonder what will happen to Katniss’ family now that she has won. Will they really be treated well? Will they still punish Katniss for her obvious distaste for the games? I wonder if Peeta will still end up with Katniss. I think I will read the sequel. I liked how original this book idea was. I imagine it does hook the young adult reader. I think it would hook adults too.

Okay I just finished the book today!! I don't want to say too much and give away the ending for those of you who have not finished yet, but I didn't expect things to end the way they did. Now I can't wait to read the next book because I want to find out what will happen with Peeta and Gale. As I read the last chapters I found myself wanting Peeta and Katniss to be together! I also find myself feeling sorry for poor Peeta. I was so relieved when the announcement was made that contestants from the same district could work together.

I just finished the book and I loved it. The Hunger Games was definitely an unusual and interesting book. Katniss did well in the games and I thought that she would win from the beginning. At one point I thought that Clove was going to kill Katniss. Clove would have killed her but Thresh came to her rescue. I also began thinking that Thresh would kill her but he did not. To show Katniss that he appreciated her kindness to Rue, he let her run away. I surprised that there was so much feeling involved in several of the players. I thought that this book would be about adolescents that were turned into heartless killing machines. Fortunately, I was wrong. Katniss and Peeta both stayed leveled headed and did not seek out murder. Katniss was fully aware that she would have to live with those decisions for the rest of her life. However, she and Peeta were ready to kill when it meant saving their own lives. The Hunger Games was so unique, I really had no idea what was going to happen next. I enjoyed this aspect of the book. There was one moment that seemed to come straight from Romeo and Juliet. When Katniss and Peeta were told that there could only be one winner of The Hunger Games. They both decided that they were just going to eat the poisonous berries and commit suicide instead of killing each other. Thankfully the game makers intervened and they both survived as winners. I have to get the next book to find out what happens to Katniss and Peeta. Haymitch informed Katniss that the Capitol was angry about her double sucide idea. Everything in the games is supposed to revolve around their plans. I am afraid that the Capitol will punish Katniss for tampering with the game. Overall, great book! I would recommend it to anyone.

The “Hunger Games” was an absolutely phenomenal book. I don’t usually get into books we are required to read for courses, but this one kept me wanting more and I would enjoy reading the next book in the series. Katniss is such an independent and strong female character. When the hunger games began I thought how can a young girl compete in a competition such as this, but her strong survival background combined with her determination made it all work. I felt relief when they announced that they could work together and not independent. This left me hope that Katniss and Peeta would come together and experience love, not have a bad suicidal ending to tamper with the game. I wonder now that the book has ended and Katniss has won what will happen with her and Peeta? Will they remain and experience love or will everything change when they return home to their families and Karniss is the official winner? I would recommend this book and can’t wait to seek out some answers that I had at the end of Hunger Games by reading the next Collins book in the series.