Reading: The Hunger Games

Picking from where we left off in The Hunger Games, starting on page 103 and ending on 132 (the end of Part One: The Tributes ).

Due to Katniss's little scene with the Gamemakers, she is determined that she's going to have to suffer the consequences now. She's paranoid of what they might do to her mom and Prim, but she doesn't think they'll kick her out of the games, seeing as how it's too late to find a replacement for her. Katniss comes to the conclusion that the Gamemakers will just give her a low score for her private session, which will decrease her chance of getting sponsors. "Since the training isn't open to viewers, the Gamemakers announce a score for each player. It gives the audience a starting place for the betting that will continue throughout the Games." Scores range anywhere from one, being the worst, to twelve, being the best; however, these don't determine the winner.
At dinner, Haymitch asks Peeta and Katniss how bad they did today in the private sessions (he's a real optimistic coach isn't he?). Peeta tells of how he threw weights while no one watched, and Katniss tells of how she shot an arrow at the Gamemakers. The scores are finally and officially televised to the public for the first time. Peeta has received an eight, which is average, and Katniss has received an eleven, which is outrageous.
Once she returned to her room, Katniss is lying in bed thinking about her first in counter with Gale. They first met in the woods when Gale thought Katniss was trying to steal one of his rabbits. From that moment on the two silently became a strong hunting duo. He gave her a much needed sense of security and they trusted each other with everything. Still trying to fall asleep, Katniss starts to compare Peeta to Gale and her relationships with both.
The next day at breakfast Haymitch announces that they will be coached on interviews, but Peeta has chosen to now be coached separately. Immediately, Katniss feels betrayed by Peeta. She thinks he changed his mind because she got a better score than he did. Typical boy who gets mad once he gets beaten by a girl. A manly man would just accept it and get over it!
While in training for presentation, Effie teaches Katniss how to walk in heels, hold her dress, sit properly, make eye contact, and smile more. This reminds me of Princess Diaries when Julie Andrews is trying to teach Anne Hathaway how to act like a proper princess or in Miss Congeniality when Sandra Bullock is learning how to become a beauty queen. After a long session Effie feels defeated and aggravated by Katniss. During her interview session with Haymitch, he becomes equally defeated when he cannot come up with a good 'angle' for Katniss. She can't act cocky, witty, funny, sexy, or mysterious. The entire time he criticizes her, and then finally tells her to act humble.
Katniss eats dinner alone in her room, then bursts out into a tantrum throwing plates and other dishes out of anger. The Avox comes in to take her dishes, but Katniss orders her not to. The Avox goes into the bathroom, comes out with a wet rag, and cleans the blood from Katniss. She finally apologizes to the Avox telling her that she should have saved her and the boy from the hovercraft.
Cinna and the prep team arrives to clean up and make over Katniss for her interview. She's completely transformed looking more "radiant than the sun." With a complete face of make up and a beautifully shimmering dress she's ready for her interview. Cinna tells her to act herself, be completely honest, and to look at him when she's answering questions. This whole entire process seems like they're in a beauty contest, seriously! The private session with the Gamemakers is just like the talent portion of the contest and the interview is just like the interview portion of the contest too.
At the interviews Peeta and Katniss still have to act as they're a pair. When it's Katniss's turn for her three minute interview, she follows Cinna's advice and answers honestly. She was most impressed by the lamb stew, this comment gets a laugh or two out of the audience, she adored Cinna's opening ceremony outfit, the audience reacts with oohs and ahhs, and she explained why she volunteered. Peeta's interview goes better than could be imagined, and it seems as if the crowd loves him. A surprise comes when the host asks him if he has a girlfriend. He responds saying no, but there is a girl who has had a crush for as long as he can remember, and how she didn't even know he existed until the reaping. *Sigh* Awww Peeta! I feel like things like this make the best stories if the two end up together. The host tells him that if he wins the girl will be all over him when he returns, and Peeta tells him that if he wins he won't be able to get the girl because she's there with him. Finally it's come out! Peeta has feelings for Katniss. How will this effect the Hunger Games?

More next time when I start Part Two: The Games. Thanks for reading!