Longstockings Roundtable: The Hunger Games

The Longstockings are all abuzz these days with Suzanne Collins' fabulous book THE HUNGER GAMES. Seriously. It's like all we talk about! So Coe, Jenny, Daphne and myself got together and had a rousing discussion about writing, the cover, and what might be in store for the sequel.

WARNING: PLOT SPOILERS APLENTY!!!

Siobhan: Okay, so Hunger Games absolutely blew me away...and I know you guys feel the same!

One thing that really, really impressed the writer in me is that I finished Book One without a firm sense of where the next book in this series will pick up. As far as series go, I can't remember that happening before! I am definitely a plotter, so I really appreciated that, while Suzanne left her readers a lot of clues, introduced many interesting characters, and left some big mysteries unresolved, she was still incredibly judicious in her storytelling and the building of Panem.

Coe: Yeah! When I was reading the book, I kept thinking there was going to be a BIG cliffhanger at the end. There are a lot of questions and things I want to know more about, but I'm so glad there was a resolution of some kind too, that I wasn't left holding my breath.

Jenny: I loved how solidly she built the world. It was all so vivid, so visceral. I was with Katniss every step of the way, holding my breath when they lit her on fire, swooning when Peeta told the whole world he loved her... That rainy day, when he threw her those loaves of burnt bread, it broke my heart. I also loved that I didn't see any of the big moments coming. She held me under her thrall the whole way through.

Daphne: I loved how she crafted really strong characters very quickly. I knew Katniss after just a few pages and every step of her change and growth through the story was fully in character and thus fully believable. Even though we only saw Gale for one scene, he was so alive in that scene and so alive in Katniss's thoughts I felt like I totally knew him too.

Siobhan: Yes! Exactly! The same thing goes for Madge. She had like two pages, but I found myself thinking of her every time Katniss noticed her Mockingjay pin. I can't wait to see what's really up with that pin.

Daphne: I was wondering about the pin too! I can't wait to find out what the story is there. I also have my theories about what really happened to Katniss's dad.

Jenny: OMG Daphne, I wish you hadn't said that about Kat's dad! Now my wheels are turning. I feel like I've read a spoiler! Which, obvs, I haven't because none of us (unfortunately!) have read Book 2.

Siobhan: Let me just state for the official record that I am Team Peeta. All. The. Way.

Jenny: I am TEAM PEETA a thousand percent. I wish I could have him for myself. Katniss, you keep Gale.

Siobhan: Wait...I just remembered one teensy little thing that bothered me. There were a few times where Peeta would be acting all sweet to Katniss, and she would have an inner thought to dismiss his affections that were along the lines of "He's acting for the cameras." I thought those parts were a little clunky. Come on, girl! He likes you!

Though I will say that I thought the ending...when Katniss waffled between Peeta and Gale, knowing that both of those relationships were going to change in unknown ways because of The Hunger Games experience, was perfectly done and totally believable.

Jenny: Can we talk about the food? That was another one of my favorite things about this book. All the great food descriptions! Especially with the first part of the book being so gray and hungry. When she gets to eat actual good food, my mouth was watering. Chicken with green sauce. That stew with the dried fruit. The different kinds of bread.

Coe: All those food descriptions really added to the character, too, since Katniss has spent her whole life hungry! Facing all that abundance of food must have been overwhelming to her senses, and it showed on the page.

Jenny: Yeah! I am just now seeing the bigger picture with that. The whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking, MMM food. Well, the book is called Hunger Games! It's all about food and desire and consumption. Society basically consumes those poor tributes, the kids who are laid out to bare like a buffet. People consume them and then forget them. Who will remember any of these tributes five years from now?

Coe: They are chewed up and spat out!

Daphne: What did you guys think of the cover?

Coe: I don't really know what to make of the cover, but it definitely suggests that there's more to the mockingjay pin that Katniss received from the mayor's daughter than is revealed in the book. I wonder if the mayor and his daughter will have a bigger role in the next two books. And I want to know more about the origins of that pin!

Siobhan: I thought it was an interesting choice, in that the cover doesn't look that teen. I mean, I get that if they put Katniss on the cover it might not appeal to boys, but I wonder if something a little more commercial could appeal to more mainstream girl readers, who might not normally pick up a sci-fi book. After all, underneath all of the sci-fi elements, they is a very "commercial" love triangle at play.

Coe: I know what you mean, Siobhan. I'm not sure I would have picked up this book if it hadn't been for all buzz and great reviews.

Jenny: Agreed! I was in Barnes and Noble today, and I was looking at the new stuff in the teen section. They had Hunger Games right below the Anthony Horowitz books, and I noticed that they look really similar in tone. The Horowitz books are super popular, so I am guessing that they were going after the same audience. I think that it's a masculine cover, and I will say that it has been an easy sell for boys at my school. I don't know that it is as appealing for girls, just because there is no pink/pretty girl on the cover. It's pretty sophisticated too, I think, and adults could easily pick it up as well. I have urged everyone I know to read it!

Daphne: I can definitely see why they wouldn't do a girly cover but I sure hope girls are finding it! Katniss is such a strong girl character. But I think the story has equal appeal to boys and to adults- honestly I'm not sure who wouldn't like this book. People who normally aren't into
science fiction, like me, are easily won over by the plot and characters. Science fictions readers seem to like it as well. It has a little of something for everyone: romance, action, suspense, political intrigue, coming of age themes, etc.

Siobhan: Daph, I totally agree with you. I think the real key behind this book's appeal to a non-sci-fi reader like myself was Suzanne's use of first person. Because Katniss herself was leading us through this journey, there weren't endless paragraphs explaining the world, and the history, like there would have been if the book were written in third person.

Coe: Sooo, what do you guys think is going to happen in the next book? And what do you WANT to have happen?

Daphne: I want Katniss to join the resistance movement against the Capital. I think she'll uncover some secrets about her dad's past regarding his political involvement and even though she'll be part of a group that is totally outnumbered they will eventually win. Along the way we
will meet new characters but also run into some old ones who have a role in the resistance that will tie in cleverly with their earlier role. Once they win she will choose Peeta, change her mind about marriage since there will be no more hunger games and they will live happily ever after.

Jenny: I want a Gale-Kat-Peeta triangle. I want Gale to fight for Kat! Instead of hunting squirrel, I want him to lay a trap for Kat! And I want Peeta to get all jealous and stuff. I want Kat's baby sis to have to fight as a tribute and for Kat to train her! Baby sis needs to toughen up cause Katniss can't fight all her battles, Kat's gotta go off and be a freedom fighter with Peeta.

Coe: I agree. Things have to get complicated. And romantic!!! Hee hee! I'd definitely like to see Katniss get together a group of kids and teens to bring an end to this ridiculous Hunger Games. I hope she doesn't get caught up in her new life and forget where she comes from. Then before we know it, another year goes by and everybody is back where they started from -- waiting to see if their name gets chosen.

Siobhan: I’m hoping that, as a trainer for the next Hunger Games, she and Peeta have to coach K’s little sis. They’ll use the subversive tricks they used on the games last time around, and together bring the whole thing down. It will be so cool to have Katniss watching her sister in the games, via the special booth, trying to get sponsors and stuff to help her. We definitely need to see a peek behind that curtain, and the sick people running this show.

One thing's for sure...we'll be counting the days until Fall 2009! Hooray for Hunger Games!

-=siobhan=-