So once I finally finished The Hunger Games I immediately put the second book, Catching Fire on hold at the library. I've been reading along and here's a summary up through page 29...
Katniss is in the woods alone, not hunting, but reflecting on everything that's going on in her life post-games. She, Peeta, and their families have moved into Victors Village with Haymitch. It's time for Katniss to go on the Victory Tour throughout the districts, even though she wishes desperately that she could forget everything about the games. The tour is placed strategically in between the start of each of the games so no one can forget the games.
Gale has a job working in the mines now, so Katniss spends her time hunting for Gale's family. However, he doesn't like the idea of her doing this, probably because he feels that he owes her now, like Thresh owed Katniss and Katniss owed Peeta. No one likes the feeling of having to pay anyone back. Since the games, everything is different between the once best friends and Katniss knows that things will never be the same. When Katniss goes to drop the meat off at Gale's house, she tells Hazelle, Gale's mom, that she will take Rory, one of Gale's younger brothers, out hunting one day. Possible foreshadow? Could Rory be a star hunter like Katniss or Gale? Could he get picked as a tribute and survive off his skills like Kantiss? Who knows, but it doesn't hurt play around an guess a little.
Before she has to leave for the Victory Tour, Katniss makes a stop at the Hob, where she realizes she owes the 'Hob regulars.' I think it's interesting how this whole owing people thing is playing out to be quite a theme in this trilogy so far. Katniss was told, by Gale, that Greasy Sae (the soup lady) started a collection while she was in the games. These donations were used to sponsor her and Peeta during the games. At the Hob she buys some liquor for Hamymitch and a bowl of soup for herself. Sae asks her if Gale is going to see her off for the tour, but Katniss replies no. This shocks Sae because Gale and Katniss are "cousins." Ok, so while she was at the games, the Capitol began asking people about Katniss's friends, and of course everyone sent them to Gale. However, the Capitol decided he would now be Katniss's cousin because "he was too handsome, too male, and not the least bit willing to smile and play nice for the camera."
On her way home to Victor's Village, she makes a quick stop at the sleepy Haymitch's house. She describes his house as being dirty and reaking off liquor and vomit (hmm, I wonder why?). She wakes him up and sees Peeta in the house. Things are pretty fragile between Peeta and Katniss, and Haymitch tells them that they better be falling back in love again for the tour. Once she finally reaches her home, she's greeted by her mother...and a man from the Capitol who would like to see her. Uh-oh is this about the suicidal berries from the last day in the games? The man leads her into the office in Katniss's house to find President Snow sitting inside. When I read this I totally got the image of someone, who's usually innocent, going into the principal's office for something 'bad' that they did, you know wondering 'what the heck did i?'
President Snow informs Katniss that she's made the Capitol look foolish in result of her outsmarting in the Hunger Games. He's worried that she'll be difficult during the tour and will try to outsmart the Capitol once again. Although this is not partially true because he brings up the fact that he knows she wouldn't to do anything to risk her family's future. At this point President Snow totally knows that Gale is not her cousin and that they have a little fling going on between them. In fact during this whole meeting Katniss flashes back to the only romantic moment between her and Gale.
Here's the story: One day after the games, Katniss headed out early one Sunday to the woods. She went to the spot where she and Gale always meet and waited for him for two hours. Depressed that he hadn't showed up yet, Katniss begins to think that things with Gale are hopeless. To her surprise, he showed up, then she attacked him crying and he held her in his embrace (for quite some time too). Eventually they ate and talked about 'thing's literally the book says they talked "just about other things." Now Katniss thinks everything is going to be fine between them when BAM! Gales kisses her! She loved the experience, but unfortunately he left her undecided with her feelings for him and Peeta. Later in the week Katniss made this huge speech about how she doesn't want a boyfriend, let alone to get married, but she didn't get to tell Gale because he acted as if the whole thing never even happened. What a classic scene from books and movies that everyone experience, or knows someone who's experienced it at some point. The end of the love story. However, the whole time she's thinking about him she asked President Snow not to hurt Gale. She reminds him that they've been friends for years and that's it and that the public thinks they're cousins now.
Back to the big story, President Snow tells her that because of this the Capitol is afraid of a potential uprising from all or any of the districts. It's made known that Katniss has embarrassed the entire Capitol by making them look stupid. The president knows that her love for Peeta was just an act used in the games, but he reveals that not all of the people from the other districts bought their story either. Even though she claims she didn't mean to start anything, Katniss is sorry that she has brought about this problem in the government.
President Snow concludes their conference by telling Katniss she'll have to be crazy in love with Peeta again for the Tour for the uprising to be avoided. She replies that she'll convince everyone she's crazy in love, but he said that she needs too "aim higher in case [she] falls short." So now Katniss must aim to convince President Snow himself that she loves Peeta. President Snow leaves Katniss with the words, "by the way, I know about the kiss." Oh, shoot! What's going to happen now if he knows about the kiss with Gale? Will he use Gale's life as Katniss's quid pro quo for all of his little games?
Thanking for reading this time. I promise for another summary update very soon!
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