The DIS Book Club Discussion Group: Round 8 - The Hunger Games

[dalt01]

The Hunger Games is pretty controversial. What do you think is the cruelest part about it? Why?

cruelty aside i find the Orwellian theme to be the most interesting, it is used for observation, information and disinformation throughout the piece. if you step back and analyze it, these tactics are in use today, abeit on a much less obvious level. the cruelty in that society is only there for the shock value, to keep the public in line.

 

[NitroStitch]

There are so many horribly cruel things about The Hunger Games, and I'm having a hard time isolating just one. Forcing starving families to put in names of their children additional times just to have a small, lousy additional share of food and supplies for the family...forcing children to hunt and kill each other and being dressed up and made to perform and say certain things before the nightmarish games begin...all the control, abuse and starvation even before the reaping starts...playing and begging for sponsors just to have the slightest chance in the games... The things the Gamemakers do to "make things interesting" and add to the carnage are also terribly cruel.

I hope I haven't included things that are beyond our reading schedule! So many of us have been so captured by the book(s) that we're far beyond the initial schedule, and I don't remember the stopping point now that I'm working on this post. (insert sheepish look here)

 

[Aburns8]

There are so many horribly cruel things about The Hunger Games, and I'm having a hard time isolating just one. Forcing starving families to put in names of their children additional times just to have a small, lousy additional share of food and supplies for the family...forcing children to hunt and kill each other and being dressed up and made to perform and say certain things before the nightmarish games begin...all the control, abuse and starvation even before the reaping starts...playing and begging for sponsors just to have the slightest chance in the games... The things the Gamemakers do to "make things interesting" and add to the carnage are also terribly cruel.

I hope I haven't included things that are beyond our reading schedule! So many of us have been so captured by the book(s) that we're far beyond the initial schedule, and I don't remember the stopping point now that I'm working on this post. (insert sheepish look here)

I agree with you. I still can't get over that they make children kill each other.

 

[MommyTaraLee]

There are so many horribly cruel things about The Hunger Games, and I'm having a hard time isolating just one. Forcing starving families to put in names of their children additional times just to have a small, lousy additional share of food and supplies for the family...forcing children to hunt and kill each other and being dressed up and made to perform and say certain things before the nightmarish games begin...all the control, abuse and starvation even before the reaping starts...playing and begging for sponsors just to have the slightest chance in the games... The things the Gamemakers do to "make things interesting" and add to the carnage are also terribly cruel.

I hope I haven't included things that are beyond our reading schedule! So many of us have been so captured by the book(s) that we're far beyond the initial schedule, and I don't remember the stopping point now that I'm working on this post. (insert sheepish look here)

I agree with you. I still can't get over that they make children kill each other.

I agree with both of these... To me the worst part of it all was that they were kids.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Okay everyone, I sent Nikki a PM with all of the questions I found so we can really start this discussion, without worrying about getting ahead of our self and give away anything.

To get us started, here is the first question:

1. How does Katniss feel about the country of Panem? Why does she need to make her face “an indifferent mask” and be careful what she says in public?

I think Katniss feels like she may have a chance of not being picked for the games and if she can manage to keep her feelings hidden, she may increase that chance. I know the selection process was supposed to be a fair pick by choosing the name, but I'm finding it hard to believe that a country that wants/needs to have so much control over the people and how things are done, would actually allow this to happen. I think she knows this and trys to keep her skills in hunting hidden.

 

[djblu883]

The book started off slow but once it got started it really got ya going! I didn't want to put it down. It was one of those books you wanted to scream at some of the characters and try to help others. I really hated when They killed off one tribute in particular but I'll keep that to myself for the other readers...it's a good read and already well into # 2!

Okay everyone, I sent Nikki a PM with all of the questions I found so we can really start this discussion, without worrying about getting ahead of our self and give away anything.

To get us started, here is the first question:

1. How does Katniss feel about the country of Panem? Why does she need to make her face “an indifferent mask” and be careful what she says in public?

I think Katniss feels like she may have a chance of not being picked for the games and if she can manage to keep her feelings hidden, she may increase that chance. I know the selection process was supposed to be a fair pick by choosing the name, but I'm finding it hard to believe that a country that wants/needs to have so much control over the people and how things are done, would actually allow this to happen. I think she knows this and trys to keep her skills in hunting hidden.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I finally used my brain to remember that Scholastic often has discussion question for teachers for books like this and did a search and found them! I'll type then out tonight and hopefully start the discussion.
Nikki, if I PM them to you can you add them to the first post(s)? That maybe the best way so they don't get lost.

I posted links to the first three questions (one was posted very recently) we have been working with in the first thread already. Feel free to keep discussing other topics. I rather steer clear of a "Question and Answer" approach as it limits the discussion. I'll throw in a few topics when the conversation dies down.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Just for clarification....

At this point, everyone should have finished reading the first book. I am so excited to hear that many of you have moved onto the others! Please try and limit your conversations to the first book in case others aren't reading Book 2 or 3 as of yet (or at all). Refer to the first post in this thread for information about our discussions. I've posted links to each discussion point there for easy reference. Also, be sure to read previous replies to keep current with what is being discussed. I'd hate for you to miss something you want to talk about!

Because this is a book club discussion, let's see where the conversation goes! We're going to be writing a book report here so if you have something you'd like to bring up, do so. Otherwise, jump in by responding to a discussion point topic or something another DISer has brought up. The discussion has been going quite well so far. Keep it going!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I just got back from DLR yesterday. I finished book one before I left and downloaded the second. I started reading book 2 in the car on the way down but didn't read it at night because I knew I wouldn't want to stop and I had to be ready to get up early and go to the parks everyday!

I'm glad that I came back in time to discuss the first book. I was afraid I would miss it. So, discussing only book one: (don't read this if you haven't finished the first book)



The most horrifying part was when they had to fight off the "monsters" near the end of the games and finding out who they were.

Did anyone see the latest Tron movie? I kept picturing some of the Capitol people like the ones in the End of the Line club. Especially I kept picturing Ceasar (the tv interviewer) as looking like Castor, the owner of the club in Tron. Except I guess the Capitol people dye their skin different colors. But I just imagine them along those lines.

Just google Tron Castor if you want to see a picture of him or check on youtube for his clip in the movie.

Also interesting to note that everything Katniss did was for the cameras. Little looks, a touch, and so on. It was all to gain public favor and sponsors. It makes me wonder how much of "reality" tv "stars" today do the same thing.

 

[Aburns8]

Also interesting to note that everything Katniss did was for the cameras. Little looks, a touch, and so on. It was all to gain public favor and sponsors. It makes me wonder how much of "reality" tv "stars" today do the same thing.

It is like reality television. I am guessing that a lot of the "stars" on reality TV do certain things just to get air time. Katniss knew that she was being watched and knew what she would have to do to get what she needed.

 

[sayhello]

I just finished reading the 3rd book, and all I have to say is .

Sayhello

 

[disneydreamgirl]

I just finished reading the 3rd book, and all I have to say is .

Sayhello

I hear ya! I'm 2/3 through Book 3 and it is rivetting. I am determined to finish it today...may I'll have to sneak out of the house, find a Starbucks and turn off my phone. On second thought, I need to find a better hideout because it would probably be the first place DH and DS would look!

 

[djblu883]

I'm into book 3 now and have to say I really don't want to do anything else until I finish it but real life of course gets into the way. I'm not liking that things seem to go from bad to worse but of course that is how to keep it going and your interest to the point of obsession. I love the excitement and unpredictable content.Just as you think you know what is going to happen next it has a twist! I've already bought another book by the same writer BRAVO!!!

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Success! Loved, loved, loved it. This is one well-crafted trilogy.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

So now that everyone is really moving through the trilogy, what are your hopes for the upcoming movie? Do you think they'll tie in the other two books or make sequels as is the case with Harry Potter?

 

[Aburns8]

So now that everyone is really moving through the trilogy, what are your hopes for the upcoming movie? Do you think they'll tie in the other two books or make sequels as is the case with Harry Potter?

I am pretty sure they are doing a trilogy of movies.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

I am pretty sure they are doing a trilogy of movies.

I sure hope so...jamming three into one or even two would not do the story justice.

 

[sayhello]

So now that everyone is really moving through the trilogy, what are your hopes for the upcoming movie? Do you think they'll tie in the other two books or make sequels as is the case with Harry Potter?

When they can make 3 times as much money by making 3 movies? Come on, now! Since splitting The Deathly Hallows into 2 movies was so successful, they're now splitting the last Twilight movie into 2 parts! They're going to stretch out these books as far as they can!!!

(Besides, the characters from books 2 & 3 aren't in the cast list for the movies! )

I've seen photos of Jennifer Lawrence done up as Katniss, and she looks really good! I think Woody Harrelson as Haymitch is an odd bit of casting, but he *could* pull it off. I'm really curious as to how they're going to do "The girl on fire" in the chariots.

Sayhello

 

[PinkBudgie]

When is the movie supposed to be out? I'm half way through the second book. I woke up this morning thinking about what will happen next.

 

[sayhello]

When is the movie supposed to be out? I'm half way through the second book. I woke up this morning thinking about what will happen next.

March of 2012.

Sayhello