A new summary of Catching Fire up until page 120. What's going on with this uprising?!
After the Harvest Festival Katniss heads out into the woods to the usual meeting place. She leaves Gale a leather ball of food, a flask of hot tea, and a nice pair of gloves that Cinna left behind. She keeps going leaving a trail he can follow, only the trail leads to the lake. Katniss is planning on telling Gale everything, but she can't decided if he'll show up or not. This part is confusing because it's an awkwardly place flashback, but Katniss returns (mentally) to the mayors office, when she finds Madge. They talk about the mockingjay pin and the species history. Katniss is constantly reminded of Rue every time she sees or hears a mockingjay. So, she's walking through the woods and reaches a one room, twelve feet square, concrete house. Inside she starts a fire and clears away all the snow that's managed to accumulate under the windows.
Shortly, Gale appears with a bow and a dead turkey. He won't accept her gifts because he's mad at her; at first he rejects the gloves thinking they're Peeta's, but takes them back when he learns they're Cinna's. Katniss can tell he's hurt and feels betrayed because she's now engaged to Peeta. She explains to him how President Snow threatened to have him killed and how she now has an escape plan. Katniss spills her guts out to Gale telling him everything from the moment she and Peeta were crowned winners till now. Her plan, as mentioned in the last reading log, is to gather all the people that mean most to her and to runaway. Gale thinks she's crazy but he says he'll still go with her even though it's going to be hard. Then, after saying that Gale drops the "l" word, that's right he finally tells Katniss he loves her. Aw he's such a good guy too! And being an idiot and confused about her feelings, Katniss only responds with 'i know.'
They sit trying to work out all the kinks in Katniss's plan. When she tells him of the uprising in 8, he immediately gets excited and asks for all the details. It's clear Gale's had enough crap from the Capitol because he begins to talk about starting his own uprising. The previous conversation was a total setback and she still plans to escape, with or without Gale.
On her way back home Katniss bums into Peeta and he offers to walk her home. He's such a gentleman! She tells him about the uprising and asks if he'll run away with her, and because he loves her, he says yes, but then he says he doesn't think Katniss will actually run away herself. In the square there's a whole lot going on. Peeta finds out first and tells Katniss to get out of there because a Peacekeep is whipping Gale. He's been bound to a wooden post, his clothes are torn away, he's unconscious, and his body is a "bloody slab of meat." Except it's not the normal Peacekeeper doing the whipping.
Katniss runs to Gale in protest and gets whipped on the cheek. Haymitch arrives pissed at the Peacekeeper because in a week Katniss was supposed to be modeling wedding dress and her welt won't heal by then. Turns out Gale was being whipped for poaching. He didn't say he was hunting outside the fence, instead he claimed the turkey slipped underneath the fence into the district and he killed it. A by-stander informs the Peacekeeper that the punishment for first offense doesn't receive whippings. People scoop Gale up onto a board and take him straight to Katniss's house so her mother can heal him.
At Katniss's house, her mother puts snow on both Katniss and Gale's wounds. She issues Gale an herbal concoction combined with sleep syrup to help ease his pain. Her mother and Prim bandage Gale's wounds while Katniss worries over him. Madge arrives with a cardboard box full of little vials that contain morphling. Mrs. Everdeen gives some to Gale. At the moment with everything going on Katniss wishes nothing had happened or that she had been killed in the games. Fora brief second Gale comes to and says a few words to Katniss, nothing special don't worry, and he's taken over by the drugs.
More coming soon, I promise! What will happen to Gale? Will everyone run away?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Reading: Catching Fire
Here's another summary on Catching Fire. I'm really starting to like this book and I think you'll see why. This one goes through page 90.
President Snow and Katniss are finishing up their meeting about her expected behavior on the tour and all she can think about is, how is she going to fake being in love with Peeta all over again. To cover up her fear, Katniss tells her mother that the meeting was typical of the Game's victor. She explains that although they never see it on TV, the president always goes to the victor's house to wish them luck before the tour. She would have never told her mother the truth, and she probably wouldn't have told her the lie either if it wasn't for the Games. Since she's been home, Katniss has been trying to fix her relationship with her mom. Katniss is attempting to forget all the things in the past her mother has messed up on and starting fresh. Her mom saved her, at least a little bit, from interviewers by telling the press that Katniss "wasn't old enough to have a boyfriend at all."
Meanwhile, Katniss is still struggling over the residue of her meeting with President Snow. Who should she tell? Better yet, who could she tell? She knows telling her family, Gale, and Peeta are out of the question; especially Peeta because saying wouldn't be best for the situation: "Hey, Peeta, remember how I told you I was kind of faking being in love with you? Well, I really need you to forget about that now and act extra in love with me or the president might kill Gale," After eliminating everyone else in her life, she decides that Haymitch is the only one she can tell.
Cinna and the rest of the stylists arrive to primp Katniss before she has to leave for the tour. In the midst of beautifying her, the stylist begin talking about the Quarter Quell. This event happens every twenty-five years of the Hunger Games, and it's full of new twists, the twist being that twice the number of tributes fill the arena. Not only has Cinna been helping her with her looks, but he's also been helping her with her talent. Ok, this whole process is starting to resemble a complete beauty pageant. This onto of everything else that happened in the first book while they were prepping for the Games. A victor's "talent is the activity you take up since you don't have to work either in school or your district's industry." Obviously Peeta's talent is painting/frosting (remember how good he was at camouflaging in the arena? well frosting is the same thing just on food and it's just like painting!), but Katniss doesn't really have her own talent, so she 'borrows' Cinna's. There's no surprise that his talent happens to be designing clothes. He's promised her that he'd help and basically take care of everything for her talent; he made clothes, sketches, and even brought fabric for her.
The Everdeen house is buzzing with the stylists running around, Cinna dressing Katniss, Effie Trinket trying to hurry everyone up, and Prim being interviewed by the Capitol. When Katniss is watching Prim being interviewed, she can't help but think about Rue and how she didn't save her. Before she heads out, Katniss's mother pins Madge's mockingjay pin onto her scarf for good luck. Katniss leaves her house to find Peeta doing the same. With a big smile on her face she takes off running towards Peeta, he catches her but slips as a result of his artificial leg, and the two fall into the snow to have their first kiss in a long time (this entire scene is of course because EVERYONE is watching).
Families, stylists, and all, they make it to the station to send Peeta and Katniss off on their way for the tour. A little while later, Katniss heads down to Haymitch's room on the train. Paranoid that President Snow is watching her, Katniss hints that the "train's so stuffy", then she and Haymitch walk down the hallway where he opens a door leading to the outside. I have to get it to Haymitch for being clever. He opened the door hoping the loudness of the roaring snow would cover up their conversation. After she tells him everything, "about the president's visit, about Gale, about how [they're] going to die if [she] fails," he simply tells her that now, she can't fail. This made me think of everything that I've seen imprinted with the slogan FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION! She begs Haymitch to help her get through this last trip but he tells her that it's not just 'this last trip,' but that she'll have to go on 'fake loving' Peeta for the rest of her life. He reminds her that "Even if [they] pull it off, they'll be backin another few months to take [them] back to the Games. [She] and Peeta, [they'll] be mentors now, every year from here on out. And every year they'll revisit the romance and broadcast the details of your private life, and you'll never, ever be able to do anything but live happily ever after with that boy." DUN DUN DUN! If I was Katniss right now I'd totally be freaking out. Having to spend my life pretending to be in love with someone I'm not doesn't sound like any fun to me!
Walking back to their rooms, Haymitch says to Katniss:" You could do a lot worse, you know." He's totally right. She could've gotten stuck with some ugly guy who doesn't care about her. Trying to fall asleep, she thinks about Haymitch's words and how one of her rights in District 12 is to marry who she wants or no one at all. She's determined President Snow will make them have children, and then their children will become tributes.
The trains headed for District 11, the first stop on the Victory Tour. Katniss is dreading this one because it's Rue's district. Once again, Katniss gets an entire makeover and a new outfit for today. At breakfast its announced that the train will be stopping because there's a mechanical problem with the train. This sends Effie into a frenzy because she's a schedule nut who has to always have her days outlined. Katniss starts yelling at Effie that "no one cares," and everything in the room stops and she leaves. She gets off the train and starts wondering around when Peeta finds her. They have a civilized conversation about how they can't help what they did in the games, how Peeta is jealous of Gale, and how they "should take a shot at just being friends."
Peeta provides a comic relief from everything going on when he asks: "Isn't it strange that I know you'd risk your life to save mine...but I don't know what your favorite color is?" Katniss talks of how she's never seen one of Peeta's paintings. He tells her to follow him, because there's a ton of them on the train. When they get back, Katniss apologizes to Effie, she politely accepts, and then the friends go see the painting. Katniss was expecting pictures similar to the ones that Peeta puts on baked goods, but instead Peeta paints scenes from the games. Her first reaction is to say she hates them, which she does, but it's because they're so realistic and all she's trying to do is forget about them. He explains that he gets his inspiration from his nightmares and that if he paints them he's "a little less afraid of going to sleep at night" or he pretends to be anyway.
District 11 is approaching and from the window they see a huge, barbed wire fence alive with electricity, armed watchtowers, and a field of wildflowers. Strange how the tough and frightening fence and towers can be a midst a pretty field of flowers right? Effie tells the victors to get dressed and they do as they're told. Cinna puts Katniss in a pretty orange frock, and she thinks how much Peeta will love it because it's his favorite color.
Once they arrive they're all treated rudely and are getting pushed around. At the ceremony, the anthem plays, Peeta and Katniss act coupley, the mayor gives a speech, the victors give a thank speech to the Capitol, and then the unexpected. Peeta adds that Thresh and Rue kept Katniss alive in the games, therefore keeping him alive, and how he can never repay them; so, he promises their families one month of their winnings until they (Katniss and Peeta) die. This whole time Katniss has been noticing Thresh and Rue's families, especially Rue's. Katniss gives a speech about Tresh and how great of a player he was in the games, and then about Rue and how great of friends they had become, and she thanks them for the bread they (the district) sent her in the games. In response someone whistles Rue's mockingjay tune and everyone, literally everyone in the square, touches their fingers to their lips and reaches them out towards Katniss and Peeta (remember this is District 12's sign). In media res, Katniss forgets her flowers on the stage, but when she and Peeta go back to get them they see two Peacekeepers dragging an old man, the one who whistled Rue's song, to the stage, they force him onto his knee, and then they shoot him in the head. Is this a warning that the Capitol is already pissed off this early in the tour?
When the two get into the Justice Building, Haymitch orders them to follow him up into the dirty dome of the building. He forces Katniss to tell Peeta about her meeting with President Snow. Peeta feels bad because he thinks he's made the situation worse by giving the dead tribute's families money and he's mad that Katniss and Haymitch have been keeping secrets from him. Haymitch admits that he did favor Katniss in the arena because he could only get one of them to the end. This sends Peeta into a rage. They promise to keep Peeta in on things from now on.
Before the ceremony dinner Effie is complaining about how they're all being treated terribly in District 11 and how she can't wait to leave. Peeta apologizes to Katniss for yelling at her and she forgives him. At the dinner they "are borderline delirious in [their] love for each other."
The team travel all through out the districts to make their way towards their home, District 12. After discussing their 'love,' Katniss suggests that they have a public marriage proposal. Preeta agrees but sees to keep to himself because even though he wanted this to happen, he didn't want it to be forced. He proposes to Katniss during an interview when Caesar Flickerman asks them about their future. President Snow makes a guest appearance on the interview to congratulate the two and his body language makes Katniss feel like she's messed up and it's the end of the world. Isn't it crazy how someone doesn't even have to say something to let us know somethings wrong? We're so adapted to other people that we can sometimes just sense it.
Now thinking she's in trouble, Katniss devises a runaway plan to save her life. She wants her family, Gale and his family, Peeta and his family, and Haymitch to hop (or in this case go under) the fence and escape to the woods. At the ceremony Katniss decides she wants to taste all of the amazing food at the dinner, but she quickly becomes full. The stylists give her this drink that make her throw up so she is able to eat even more food. She thinks it's ridiculous that people eat food just to throw it up when there are some districts that are starving to death. I totally agree with her on this part. I feel awful when people throw away things of food that are perfectly fine when there are kids that have to go without food daily.
During the dinner/party Katniss meets Plutarch Heavensbee, he was one of the Gamemakers during Kantiss's time at the Hunger Games, and now he's been promoted to Head Gamemaker. The two dance, talk, and laugh, but when he pulls out his watch to leave Katniss noticed something strange about it. On his pocket-watch theres a glowing image of a mockingjay, but it quickly disappears. Foreshadowing possibly?
When they leave the party they all have tea back on the train. After tea they all go to bed because they have the Harvest Festival in District 12 the next day. Katniss wakes up and Peeta tells her she didn't have any nightmares, he knows this because one they're still sleeping together and two she slept like she was happy instead of screaming. Katniss tells him that she had a dream though; she saw a mockingjay and she followed it through the woods. Katniss believed this mockingjay to be Rue. Then Katniss asks Peeta why he never wakes her up when he has a nightmare and he replies: "My nightmares are usually about losing you. I'm okay once I realize you're here." Oh man how precious! Katniss really couldn't do any better!
Ah home at last. At District 12 the victors get ready at the mayor's house. Katniss goes out on a search through the house to find her friend Madge. While looking she hears a TV turned on in the mayor's office. It's saying something about an "update on district 8" and then they show footage of a huge mob scene and screaming people. Katniss knows this can only be what President Snow calls and uprising.
And the suspense continues! Be ready for more Catching Fire soon!
President Snow and Katniss are finishing up their meeting about her expected behavior on the tour and all she can think about is, how is she going to fake being in love with Peeta all over again. To cover up her fear, Katniss tells her mother that the meeting was typical of the Game's victor. She explains that although they never see it on TV, the president always goes to the victor's house to wish them luck before the tour. She would have never told her mother the truth, and she probably wouldn't have told her the lie either if it wasn't for the Games. Since she's been home, Katniss has been trying to fix her relationship with her mom. Katniss is attempting to forget all the things in the past her mother has messed up on and starting fresh. Her mom saved her, at least a little bit, from interviewers by telling the press that Katniss "wasn't old enough to have a boyfriend at all."
Meanwhile, Katniss is still struggling over the residue of her meeting with President Snow. Who should she tell? Better yet, who could she tell? She knows telling her family, Gale, and Peeta are out of the question; especially Peeta because saying wouldn't be best for the situation: "Hey, Peeta, remember how I told you I was kind of faking being in love with you? Well, I really need you to forget about that now and act extra in love with me or the president might kill Gale," After eliminating everyone else in her life, she decides that Haymitch is the only one she can tell.
Cinna and the rest of the stylists arrive to primp Katniss before she has to leave for the tour. In the midst of beautifying her, the stylist begin talking about the Quarter Quell. This event happens every twenty-five years of the Hunger Games, and it's full of new twists, the twist being that twice the number of tributes fill the arena. Not only has Cinna been helping her with her looks, but he's also been helping her with her talent. Ok, this whole process is starting to resemble a complete beauty pageant. This onto of everything else that happened in the first book while they were prepping for the Games. A victor's "talent is the activity you take up since you don't have to work either in school or your district's industry." Obviously Peeta's talent is painting/frosting (remember how good he was at camouflaging in the arena? well frosting is the same thing just on food and it's just like painting!), but Katniss doesn't really have her own talent, so she 'borrows' Cinna's. There's no surprise that his talent happens to be designing clothes. He's promised her that he'd help and basically take care of everything for her talent; he made clothes, sketches, and even brought fabric for her.
The Everdeen house is buzzing with the stylists running around, Cinna dressing Katniss, Effie Trinket trying to hurry everyone up, and Prim being interviewed by the Capitol. When Katniss is watching Prim being interviewed, she can't help but think about Rue and how she didn't save her. Before she heads out, Katniss's mother pins Madge's mockingjay pin onto her scarf for good luck. Katniss leaves her house to find Peeta doing the same. With a big smile on her face she takes off running towards Peeta, he catches her but slips as a result of his artificial leg, and the two fall into the snow to have their first kiss in a long time (this entire scene is of course because EVERYONE is watching).
Families, stylists, and all, they make it to the station to send Peeta and Katniss off on their way for the tour. A little while later, Katniss heads down to Haymitch's room on the train. Paranoid that President Snow is watching her, Katniss hints that the "train's so stuffy", then she and Haymitch walk down the hallway where he opens a door leading to the outside. I have to get it to Haymitch for being clever. He opened the door hoping the loudness of the roaring snow would cover up their conversation. After she tells him everything, "about the president's visit, about Gale, about how [they're] going to die if [she] fails," he simply tells her that now, she can't fail. This made me think of everything that I've seen imprinted with the slogan FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION! She begs Haymitch to help her get through this last trip but he tells her that it's not just 'this last trip,' but that she'll have to go on 'fake loving' Peeta for the rest of her life. He reminds her that "Even if [they] pull it off, they'll be backin another few months to take [them] back to the Games. [She] and Peeta, [they'll] be mentors now, every year from here on out. And every year they'll revisit the romance and broadcast the details of your private life, and you'll never, ever be able to do anything but live happily ever after with that boy." DUN DUN DUN! If I was Katniss right now I'd totally be freaking out. Having to spend my life pretending to be in love with someone I'm not doesn't sound like any fun to me!
Walking back to their rooms, Haymitch says to Katniss:" You could do a lot worse, you know." He's totally right. She could've gotten stuck with some ugly guy who doesn't care about her. Trying to fall asleep, she thinks about Haymitch's words and how one of her rights in District 12 is to marry who she wants or no one at all. She's determined President Snow will make them have children, and then their children will become tributes.
The trains headed for District 11, the first stop on the Victory Tour. Katniss is dreading this one because it's Rue's district. Once again, Katniss gets an entire makeover and a new outfit for today. At breakfast its announced that the train will be stopping because there's a mechanical problem with the train. This sends Effie into a frenzy because she's a schedule nut who has to always have her days outlined. Katniss starts yelling at Effie that "no one cares," and everything in the room stops and she leaves. She gets off the train and starts wondering around when Peeta finds her. They have a civilized conversation about how they can't help what they did in the games, how Peeta is jealous of Gale, and how they "should take a shot at just being friends."
Peeta provides a comic relief from everything going on when he asks: "Isn't it strange that I know you'd risk your life to save mine...but I don't know what your favorite color is?" Katniss talks of how she's never seen one of Peeta's paintings. He tells her to follow him, because there's a ton of them on the train. When they get back, Katniss apologizes to Effie, she politely accepts, and then the friends go see the painting. Katniss was expecting pictures similar to the ones that Peeta puts on baked goods, but instead Peeta paints scenes from the games. Her first reaction is to say she hates them, which she does, but it's because they're so realistic and all she's trying to do is forget about them. He explains that he gets his inspiration from his nightmares and that if he paints them he's "a little less afraid of going to sleep at night" or he pretends to be anyway.
District 11 is approaching and from the window they see a huge, barbed wire fence alive with electricity, armed watchtowers, and a field of wildflowers. Strange how the tough and frightening fence and towers can be a midst a pretty field of flowers right? Effie tells the victors to get dressed and they do as they're told. Cinna puts Katniss in a pretty orange frock, and she thinks how much Peeta will love it because it's his favorite color.
Once they arrive they're all treated rudely and are getting pushed around. At the ceremony, the anthem plays, Peeta and Katniss act coupley, the mayor gives a speech, the victors give a thank speech to the Capitol, and then the unexpected. Peeta adds that Thresh and Rue kept Katniss alive in the games, therefore keeping him alive, and how he can never repay them; so, he promises their families one month of their winnings until they (Katniss and Peeta) die. This whole time Katniss has been noticing Thresh and Rue's families, especially Rue's. Katniss gives a speech about Tresh and how great of a player he was in the games, and then about Rue and how great of friends they had become, and she thanks them for the bread they (the district) sent her in the games. In response someone whistles Rue's mockingjay tune and everyone, literally everyone in the square, touches their fingers to their lips and reaches them out towards Katniss and Peeta (remember this is District 12's sign). In media res, Katniss forgets her flowers on the stage, but when she and Peeta go back to get them they see two Peacekeepers dragging an old man, the one who whistled Rue's song, to the stage, they force him onto his knee, and then they shoot him in the head. Is this a warning that the Capitol is already pissed off this early in the tour?
When the two get into the Justice Building, Haymitch orders them to follow him up into the dirty dome of the building. He forces Katniss to tell Peeta about her meeting with President Snow. Peeta feels bad because he thinks he's made the situation worse by giving the dead tribute's families money and he's mad that Katniss and Haymitch have been keeping secrets from him. Haymitch admits that he did favor Katniss in the arena because he could only get one of them to the end. This sends Peeta into a rage. They promise to keep Peeta in on things from now on.
Before the ceremony dinner Effie is complaining about how they're all being treated terribly in District 11 and how she can't wait to leave. Peeta apologizes to Katniss for yelling at her and she forgives him. At the dinner they "are borderline delirious in [their] love for each other."
The team travel all through out the districts to make their way towards their home, District 12. After discussing their 'love,' Katniss suggests that they have a public marriage proposal. Preeta agrees but sees to keep to himself because even though he wanted this to happen, he didn't want it to be forced. He proposes to Katniss during an interview when Caesar Flickerman asks them about their future. President Snow makes a guest appearance on the interview to congratulate the two and his body language makes Katniss feel like she's messed up and it's the end of the world. Isn't it crazy how someone doesn't even have to say something to let us know somethings wrong? We're so adapted to other people that we can sometimes just sense it.
Now thinking she's in trouble, Katniss devises a runaway plan to save her life. She wants her family, Gale and his family, Peeta and his family, and Haymitch to hop (or in this case go under) the fence and escape to the woods. At the ceremony Katniss decides she wants to taste all of the amazing food at the dinner, but she quickly becomes full. The stylists give her this drink that make her throw up so she is able to eat even more food. She thinks it's ridiculous that people eat food just to throw it up when there are some districts that are starving to death. I totally agree with her on this part. I feel awful when people throw away things of food that are perfectly fine when there are kids that have to go without food daily.
During the dinner/party Katniss meets Plutarch Heavensbee, he was one of the Gamemakers during Kantiss's time at the Hunger Games, and now he's been promoted to Head Gamemaker. The two dance, talk, and laugh, but when he pulls out his watch to leave Katniss noticed something strange about it. On his pocket-watch theres a glowing image of a mockingjay, but it quickly disappears. Foreshadowing possibly?
When they leave the party they all have tea back on the train. After tea they all go to bed because they have the Harvest Festival in District 12 the next day. Katniss wakes up and Peeta tells her she didn't have any nightmares, he knows this because one they're still sleeping together and two she slept like she was happy instead of screaming. Katniss tells him that she had a dream though; she saw a mockingjay and she followed it through the woods. Katniss believed this mockingjay to be Rue. Then Katniss asks Peeta why he never wakes her up when he has a nightmare and he replies: "My nightmares are usually about losing you. I'm okay once I realize you're here." Oh man how precious! Katniss really couldn't do any better!
Ah home at last. At District 12 the victors get ready at the mayor's house. Katniss goes out on a search through the house to find her friend Madge. While looking she hears a TV turned on in the mayor's office. It's saying something about an "update on district 8" and then they show footage of a huge mob scene and screaming people. Katniss knows this can only be what President Snow calls and uprising.
And the suspense continues! Be ready for more Catching Fire soon!
2.23 Diction Exercise
Chosen Work: On Love By: Alain De Botton
A) 10 Words Supporting Level of Diction:
-effortlessly
-momentary
-suspend
-cynicism
-spectrum
-debilitating
-habitual pessimism
-inclination
-strenuous
-involuntarily
B) Characterizing 3 of the 4 Elements of Diction:
-Level of Formality: high; flamboyant, refined
-Connotation: chosen for meaning; literal, actual
-Concreteness: concrete; tangible, explicit
C) Draft a Full Claim:
-Alain De Botton's flamboyant and refined language outlines how humans continue to ignorantly fall in love.
A) 10 Words Supporting Level of Diction:
-effortlessly
-momentary
-suspend
-cynicism
-spectrum
-debilitating
-habitual pessimism
-inclination
-strenuous
-involuntarily
B) Characterizing 3 of the 4 Elements of Diction:
-Level of Formality: high; flamboyant, refined
-Connotation: chosen for meaning; literal, actual
-Concreteness: concrete; tangible, explicit
C) Draft a Full Claim:
-Alain De Botton's flamboyant and refined language outlines how humans continue to ignorantly fall in love.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
More Extras for The Hunger Games!
While I was Googling around, I found this great new website for anyone who's a fan of The Hunger Games trilogy! It's www.mockingjay.net and it's completely dedicated to the trilogy. The website has forums, podcasts, videos, stuff on the books and soon to be movie, and some little fun stuff. If you're in love with these books I highly recommend that you check this website out!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Reading: Catching Fire
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!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Observations and Inferences
Comprised of eighteen talented dancers, Homestead's Varsity dance team completes their jazz dance with determination and perseverance. The eleven hours of practice a week are crucial to the finishing product of this dance. Decorated with variations of war make-up the girls lure the crowd in with their expressions of aggression, intensity, and determination. To help create a fierce atmosphere, the girls have choreographed vocal parts that will add to the intensity of the performance. A plethora of precise and sharp movements completely take up two minutes worth of time on the competition floor. With the help of being in shape, the girls are able to maintain and keep up their stamina throughout the entire performance. By the two-colored costumes, the audience is able to distinguish the Red Team from the Purple Team. Ultimately, the team's goal is to captivate the audience. They want the audience members to select their favorite team, fight for them with cheers and encouragement from the stands, and to 'help' them win the battle. Even though the girls are essentially fighting for their color, together they make up one team, a unit, and a family.
Copy and paste the following link into your browser to check out the video of the team, but keep in mind three people were injured an unable to perform.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1778223545820&oid=174789119228378&comments
Copy and paste the following link into your browser to check out the video of the team, but keep in mind three people were injured an unable to perform.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1778223545820&oid=174789119228378&comments
Reading: The Hunger Games
Starting back up, and finishing out the book with this summary! Wait until you see what happens.
Quickly the lovers spit out the berries and rinse their mouths out with water. A hovercraft appears in the sky and sucks them up. Peeta is stuck behind a glass door with doctors and Katniss struggles when he leaves her. The doctors are working on Peeta, and during this, his heart stops, twice. Kantiss is dropped off at the training center and after acting uncontrollably, she is stabbed with a needle and blacks out.
She wakes up, naked in a bed, in a recovery room. By now, I'd definitely be freaked out. Her body's been cleaned up, washed, and healed. An Avox comes in and Katniss asks if Peeta is ok. Avox nods yes, because remember they can't talk. Katniss eats and slips back into unconsciousness. Basically the eat, sleep, repeat cycle goes on for a while.
One day when she wakes up all of her scars and pain are gone. She gets ready quickly and finds Effie, Haymitch, Cinna, but not Peeta, because they're meeting must be televised. Cinna takes Katniss to get ready for the reunion. He gives her a yellow dress with added padding because she has lost so much weight during the games. The reason for the dress is because he thinks Peeta will like it.
Before the reunion Katniss gets in a word with Haymitch. He informs her that the Capitol is angry that she and Peeta almost committed suicide. Her only 'excuse' for her behavior is that she's head over heels in love with Peeta. Katniss is curious if Peeta's already been informed. Haymitch tells her that Peeta is "already there." Uh oh, Katniss knows she's in trouble. Her family might be in trouble too, along with Peeta and his family. The question is though, what did Haymitch mean when he said that Peeta is "already there?"
Katniss is oblivious as to what is going on. Everything seems way too over her head. However, she doesn't have time to worry about this because now "the most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin." I thought the games were over now, and that they were supposed to move into the Victor's Village place and be neighbors with Haymitch?
At the reunion show, Katniss and Peeta reunite with a hug and a long kiss. How precious! As they sit on a love seat, Katniss receives a cue from Haymitch, so she cuddles up to Peeta. They watch a complete recap of the games and find that the editors have made it into a love story. The president comes on stage with a crown, breaks it in half, and places a half on each of the tributes' heads.
It's time for the victory dinner, but afterwards the couple is separated so they can sleep and prepare for the interviews tomorrow. Like old times, Katniss sneaks out onto the roof, hoping Peeta will be there waiting for her. Let down, she goes back to her room and thinks she'll sneak out again later. The second sneak out is ruined when she realizes she's been locked in her room. Who the heck locked her in? Was it the Capitol trying to get revenge for the almost suicide?
It's time for the final interview. They're prepped and readied for their interview. Oce again, they're thrown onto a love seat and the interview begins. During the interview Peeta ends up answering most of the questions. Katniss is forced to answer when Caesar Flickerman, the host, asks her when she knew she was falling for Peeta. Drawing a blank Katniss takes the hint from Caesar and says that she first knew when she found out that there would be two winners. With the subject changes to the plethora of injuries from the game. Katniss blames herself for Peeta's leg injury, but Caesar tells her that she also saved his life. Caesar asks about the suicidal berries. To wrap up the interview, she explains that she couldn't stand to think of her life without having Peeta near her.
Katniss cleans out her room and is taken to the train station to be taken back to District 12. The two get ready to go on the victor's tour through the districts. Katniss feels comfortable and more like herself when she changed into a plain shirt and pants, but when Peeta puts his arm around her she gets a weird feeling.
The train stops to refuel and the two go outside for air. Katniss's mind is being taken over with thoughts of Gale. Haymitch sees them and says that they need to keep the romance going until they get back to their district and the cameras leave.
Confused, Peeta asks Katniss what Haymitch was talking about. Turns out Peeta thought all the love in the arena was the real deal, however, Katniss knew it wasn't. Well she doesn't really know how she feels anymore. Gale or Peeta? He tells her to tell him how she feels when she straightens everything out. The train pulls into the station and, just like when they left, there are cameras everywhere. When they go to get off the train Peeta asks Katniss to hold his hand "One more time? For the audience?" She takes his hand and they get off the train.
AH what happens next?! Who does Katniss pick? I'm waiting on the second book, Catching Fire, to come in so we can figure out.
Quickly the lovers spit out the berries and rinse their mouths out with water. A hovercraft appears in the sky and sucks them up. Peeta is stuck behind a glass door with doctors and Katniss struggles when he leaves her. The doctors are working on Peeta, and during this, his heart stops, twice. Kantiss is dropped off at the training center and after acting uncontrollably, she is stabbed with a needle and blacks out.
She wakes up, naked in a bed, in a recovery room. By now, I'd definitely be freaked out. Her body's been cleaned up, washed, and healed. An Avox comes in and Katniss asks if Peeta is ok. Avox nods yes, because remember they can't talk. Katniss eats and slips back into unconsciousness. Basically the eat, sleep, repeat cycle goes on for a while.
One day when she wakes up all of her scars and pain are gone. She gets ready quickly and finds Effie, Haymitch, Cinna, but not Peeta, because they're meeting must be televised. Cinna takes Katniss to get ready for the reunion. He gives her a yellow dress with added padding because she has lost so much weight during the games. The reason for the dress is because he thinks Peeta will like it.
Before the reunion Katniss gets in a word with Haymitch. He informs her that the Capitol is angry that she and Peeta almost committed suicide. Her only 'excuse' for her behavior is that she's head over heels in love with Peeta. Katniss is curious if Peeta's already been informed. Haymitch tells her that Peeta is "already there." Uh oh, Katniss knows she's in trouble. Her family might be in trouble too, along with Peeta and his family. The question is though, what did Haymitch mean when he said that Peeta is "already there?"
Katniss is oblivious as to what is going on. Everything seems way too over her head. However, she doesn't have time to worry about this because now "the most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin." I thought the games were over now, and that they were supposed to move into the Victor's Village place and be neighbors with Haymitch?
At the reunion show, Katniss and Peeta reunite with a hug and a long kiss. How precious! As they sit on a love seat, Katniss receives a cue from Haymitch, so she cuddles up to Peeta. They watch a complete recap of the games and find that the editors have made it into a love story. The president comes on stage with a crown, breaks it in half, and places a half on each of the tributes' heads.
It's time for the victory dinner, but afterwards the couple is separated so they can sleep and prepare for the interviews tomorrow. Like old times, Katniss sneaks out onto the roof, hoping Peeta will be there waiting for her. Let down, she goes back to her room and thinks she'll sneak out again later. The second sneak out is ruined when she realizes she's been locked in her room. Who the heck locked her in? Was it the Capitol trying to get revenge for the almost suicide?
It's time for the final interview. They're prepped and readied for their interview. Oce again, they're thrown onto a love seat and the interview begins. During the interview Peeta ends up answering most of the questions. Katniss is forced to answer when Caesar Flickerman, the host, asks her when she knew she was falling for Peeta. Drawing a blank Katniss takes the hint from Caesar and says that she first knew when she found out that there would be two winners. With the subject changes to the plethora of injuries from the game. Katniss blames herself for Peeta's leg injury, but Caesar tells her that she also saved his life. Caesar asks about the suicidal berries. To wrap up the interview, she explains that she couldn't stand to think of her life without having Peeta near her.
Katniss cleans out her room and is taken to the train station to be taken back to District 12. The two get ready to go on the victor's tour through the districts. Katniss feels comfortable and more like herself when she changed into a plain shirt and pants, but when Peeta puts his arm around her she gets a weird feeling.
The train stops to refuel and the two go outside for air. Katniss's mind is being taken over with thoughts of Gale. Haymitch sees them and says that they need to keep the romance going until they get back to their district and the cameras leave.
Confused, Peeta asks Katniss what Haymitch was talking about. Turns out Peeta thought all the love in the arena was the real deal, however, Katniss knew it wasn't. Well she doesn't really know how she feels anymore. Gale or Peeta? He tells her to tell him how she feels when she straightens everything out. The train pulls into the station and, just like when they left, there are cameras everywhere. When they go to get off the train Peeta asks Katniss to hold his hand "One more time? For the audience?" She takes his hand and they get off the train.
AH what happens next?! Who does Katniss pick? I'm waiting on the second book, Catching Fire, to come in so we can figure out.
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