1. Favorite Character:
I'm torn between a few characters! Katniss, Cinna, and Finnick are at the top of my list. Since the story is told exclusively from Katniss' point of view, it's hard not to relate to her/sympathize with her to some degree. At the end of the trilogy, I felt as though she was a dear friend. Cinna is just incredible! He's one of those characters I didn't expect to like, but ended up loving more than I thought possible. Calm, reserved, and full of resolve, he outshines some of the more prominent characters by miles. And Finnick! Another character I wasn't expecting to like! When he's first introduced he's arrogant, brash, and unpleasant, but as his story and development unfolds, as readers we're treated to a rather wonderful and complex character.
2. Least Favorite Character:
There's no competition for me, it's Coin all of the way. And if you've read the books, you can understand completely why! She's bitter; driven solely by her need for revenge and power. Even though she tries to come across as harmless and in debt to Katniss, you can tell from the beginning that she had her own agenda and would go to any length to see it through-- which has some terrible results.
3. A Character You Hate That Everyone Loves:
I'm not sure if I actually dislike any of the characters that people are die-hard for? I suppose Annie on her own isn't a strong enough character for me to take notice of-- Finnick makes her character. Without him, I hardly noticed when she was mentioned. I don't hate her and I can feel for her, but in my opinion, she isn't worth the big deal everyone makes about her.
4. A Character You Love That Everyone Hates:
I know I could get potential shit for this, but I absolutely love President Snow. I sound evil, I'm sure; but even though he perpetuates the games and the inequality among the Districts and Capitol, I remember that he is a product of his environment. If he hadn't been born into the Capitol, filled with ambitions for the Presidency, he might have turned out to be another Haymitch or even another Finnick. In the first book I honestly didn't take notice of him: he was secondary to the Games itself. But once I opened Catching Fire, I had no choice but to pay attention to him. He was cold, calculating, and manipulative, but at the end of it all, he kept his promises to Katniss-- which is something no one expected of him.
5. My Favorite Fight/Battle Scene
My favorite fight/battle would have been the Careers vs. Katniss at the tree, with the Tracker Jackers' nest and hallucinations. But, honestly, I think the entirety of the 74th Hunger Games, and the 75th Hunger Games would be my favorite. I know, I suck.
6. A Scene That Made You Laugh
1.“Finnick?" I say, "Maybe some pants?"
He looks down at his legs as if noticing his outfit for the first time. Then he whips off his hospital gown leaving him in just his underwear. "Why? Do you find this" -- he strikes a ridiculously provocative pose -- "distracting?"
I laugh. Boggs looks embarrassed and Finnick looks more like the guy I met at the Quarter Quell”
2. “So it's you and a syringe against the Capitol? See, this is why no one lets you make the plans.”
7. A Scene That Made You Cry:
Rue's death was by far the hardest to read. It honestly broke my heart a little bit. And of course, Katniss' reaction continued to break my heart into tinier pieces. It's hard seeing almost any character, in any series, meet their end, but it felt especially poignant because she was so young. It was made harder by the fact that Rue represented Prim in Katniss' mind. I cried through the end of Mockingjay as well; just straight through the last 100 pages or so til the end. I was a wreck.
8. The Character You Are Most Like:
I related the most to Katniss, Prim, and Finnick, I think. As far as Katniss goes, she spends a majority of her time detached and when things are rough, I do the same thing. I become distant and cold in order to protect myself or those around me. Prim is Katniss' opposite; she is warm, naive, and goes above and beyond for people she doesn't know. At times, I am exactly that and I use it as a strength, rather than a weakness. Finnick and I share the same ability to use humor as a defense. Not only that, we hide our own insecurities behind a mask of self-assurance and no one has the audacity to call either of us on it.
9. Your Favorite Quote:
How unfair is this? Dear God.
1. “Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when it's morning again, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.”
2. "May the odds be ever in your favor" (every time I read it, I get the chills)
3. "You love me: Real or Not Real?"
"Real."
4. "If we burn, you burn with us."
I'm torn between a few characters! Katniss, Cinna, and Finnick are at the top of my list. Since the story is told exclusively from Katniss' point of view, it's hard not to relate to her/sympathize with her to some degree. At the end of the trilogy, I felt as though she was a dear friend. Cinna is just incredible! He's one of those characters I didn't expect to like, but ended up loving more than I thought possible. Calm, reserved, and full of resolve, he outshines some of the more prominent characters by miles. And Finnick! Another character I wasn't expecting to like! When he's first introduced he's arrogant, brash, and unpleasant, but as his story and development unfolds, as readers we're treated to a rather wonderful and complex character.
2. Least Favorite Character:
There's no competition for me, it's Coin all of the way. And if you've read the books, you can understand completely why! She's bitter; driven solely by her need for revenge and power. Even though she tries to come across as harmless and in debt to Katniss, you can tell from the beginning that she had her own agenda and would go to any length to see it through-- which has some terrible results.
3. A Character You Hate That Everyone Loves:
I'm not sure if I actually dislike any of the characters that people are die-hard for? I suppose Annie on her own isn't a strong enough character for me to take notice of-- Finnick makes her character. Without him, I hardly noticed when she was mentioned. I don't hate her and I can feel for her, but in my opinion, she isn't worth the big deal everyone makes about her.
4. A Character You Love That Everyone Hates:
I know I could get potential shit for this, but I absolutely love President Snow. I sound evil, I'm sure; but even though he perpetuates the games and the inequality among the Districts and Capitol, I remember that he is a product of his environment. If he hadn't been born into the Capitol, filled with ambitions for the Presidency, he might have turned out to be another Haymitch or even another Finnick. In the first book I honestly didn't take notice of him: he was secondary to the Games itself. But once I opened Catching Fire, I had no choice but to pay attention to him. He was cold, calculating, and manipulative, but at the end of it all, he kept his promises to Katniss-- which is something no one expected of him.
5. My Favorite Fight/Battle Scene
My favorite fight/battle would have been the Careers vs. Katniss at the tree, with the Tracker Jackers' nest and hallucinations. But, honestly, I think the entirety of the 74th Hunger Games, and the 75th Hunger Games would be my favorite. I know, I suck.
6. A Scene That Made You Laugh
1.“Finnick?" I say, "Maybe some pants?"
He looks down at his legs as if noticing his outfit for the first time. Then he whips off his hospital gown leaving him in just his underwear. "Why? Do you find this" -- he strikes a ridiculously provocative pose -- "distracting?"
I laugh. Boggs looks embarrassed and Finnick looks more like the guy I met at the Quarter Quell”
2. “So it's you and a syringe against the Capitol? See, this is why no one lets you make the plans.”
7. A Scene That Made You Cry:
Rue's death was by far the hardest to read. It honestly broke my heart a little bit. And of course, Katniss' reaction continued to break my heart into tinier pieces. It's hard seeing almost any character, in any series, meet their end, but it felt especially poignant because she was so young. It was made harder by the fact that Rue represented Prim in Katniss' mind. I cried through the end of Mockingjay as well; just straight through the last 100 pages or so til the end. I was a wreck.
8. The Character You Are Most Like:
I related the most to Katniss, Prim, and Finnick, I think. As far as Katniss goes, she spends a majority of her time detached and when things are rough, I do the same thing. I become distant and cold in order to protect myself or those around me. Prim is Katniss' opposite; she is warm, naive, and goes above and beyond for people she doesn't know. At times, I am exactly that and I use it as a strength, rather than a weakness. Finnick and I share the same ability to use humor as a defense. Not only that, we hide our own insecurities behind a mask of self-assurance and no one has the audacity to call either of us on it.
9. Your Favorite Quote:
How unfair is this? Dear God.
1. “Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when it's morning again, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.”
2. "May the odds be ever in your favor" (every time I read it, I get the chills)
3. "You love me: Real or Not Real?"
"Real."
4. "If we burn, you burn with us."
10. Peeta or Gale:
Hands down, Peeta; but with that being said, I don't dislike Gale. Actually, when I first started reading, I was hoping for Gale (if only because I had nothing but the trailer to base my opinions off of) and I felt horribly for Gale while Katniss and Peeta explored their 'relationship' during the Games. I really like Gale, but he and Katniss are too much alike, I think. Peeta is sort of her redemption, while Gale would do nothing but continue to let her burn.
11. Something You Hate About the Series:
The pace of Mockingjay was just a clusterfuck. There's no polite way to say it. I understand that it's war and things do not move slowly once the ball gets rolling, but there was literally nothing for me to grasp on to aside from a few deaths, and even those weren't as important as they should have been. Katniss losing her shit towards the end was the most disconcerting bit-- since the story was told from her point of view and all. There was no cognitive thread or understanding, just weird morphling induced bat-shit craziness and then a rushed resolution. With that being said, I don't think the story, being told as it was, could have ended a different way, with different pacing. I just wish it had been as well written as the first two books.
12. A Character You Wish Hadn't Died:
Um, all of them? Well, most of them anyway! Rue, Mister Mellark, Mags, Wiress, Darius, Cray, Thresh, Portia, Madge, Finnick, Cinna, Boggs; every-fucking-one! But I think the one that really bothered me the most was Prim. If you've seen nothing but the preview for the movie, you know saving Prim is the catalyst for the entire story being told. To have her die in the final act was a slap in the face. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she died, and at such an anti-climax, as well. Logically, it was a great set-up and really helped along the plot, but I'm bitter about it.
13. A Character You Wish Had Died:
There's not one character I wish had died, that didn't. Sorry.
14. Your Favorite Tribute (not Katniss/Peeta):
Aside from Finnick and Rue, who are obviously at the top of my list, I'd say Johanna! What a complete and utter badass?! Can we just remember how she supported Beetee's body, as well as taking care of Wiress' crazy ass? How she attacked Katniss just to remove her tracker? And then survived the Capitol's torture to come back and help rehabilitate Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta? This girl is incredible.
15. You Least Favorite Tribute (not Katniss/Peeta):
Enobaria. Aside from the fact that she was a victor, increidbly cruel, and had her teeth sharpened to points, I knew nothing about her. And I think I prefer it that way.
16. A Question You Wish Had Been Answered in the Book:What happened to Johanna, Beetee, Gale, Annie, Mrs. Everdeen? And eventually, Haymitch? He was prominent when they returned to the Victor's Village, but in the epilogue there's no mention of him.
17. The Worst Death:As I've gone over, Rue and Prim had the most devastating deaths in my opinion. But Cato had the most gruesome of anyone in the Games. It was painful to read and I'm not sure how they'll do it on screen and do justice to the agony he goes through in the book. It's terrible.
18. A Song That Reminds You of the Series:Massive Attack's "Paradise Circus" reminds me of the relationship between Katniss and Peeta from the first book, to the page of the last. Real/Not Real? Is it a lie? If so, who's lying? What about Gale? Also, Metric's "Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT remix)". It's sort of crazed and hectic and disorientating, just like war and the pacing of the last book.
19. Your Favorite Pairing:Peeta/Katniss, Finnick/Annie, Beetee/Wiress, Mrs. Everdeen/ Mr. Mellark, and though it isn't really canon, I thought Hazelle would have been good for Haymitch.
20. Your Least Favorite Pairing:It isn't the least bit implied in canon, but I've seen Snow/Coin.... what? No.
21. A Pairing You Don't Get:Aside from Snow/Coin up there? Gale/Prim. It's unseemly, she was twelve when the story starts and is dead by fourteen, Gale is at least six years older than she is. I know that he loved her, but it was obviously as a kid-sister, and not as potential partner.
22. Your Favorite Book of the Three:The Hunger Games.
23. Your Favorite Secondary Character:
Can't they all be favorites? I ended up really respecting Effie's character and Katniss' prep team. My love knows no bounds for Cinna and I came away absolutely adoring Boggs. I'm also saddened that they're cutting Madge from the movie.
24. Least Favorite Secondary Character:Can I just use Enobaria for all of these least favorites?
25. Your Dream Cast:I think they've done a great job with Katniss (though I would have loved to see Kaya Scodelario in the role), as well as Gale, Cinna, President Snow, Prim, Rue, Cato, Clove, Thresh, and Foxface. There's no one I can see playing Peeta, though Josh-what's-his-face is growing on me daily. I think the only person I'm really invested in as far as characters yet to be cast is Finnick. And Armie Hammer is ideal in my mind. They could have done better with Haymitch, but we'll see how Woody does.
26. Your Favorite Scene in The Hunger Games:There's a few: When Katniss is thoroughly peeved at the judges and shoots an arrow at their lunch table, piercing the apple.
The interviews with Ceasar Flickerma before the Games start.
Anything with Cinna.
Katniss singing for Rue, and then covering her in daisies.
The three-finger gesture District 12 gives to Katniss as she volunteers as Tribute.
Um, Nightlock Berries.
And her time with Peeta.
Also, Haymitch is just awesome to have around.
27. Your Favorite Scene in Catching Fire:The ceremonies in both District 11 and 8. I loved the way Katniss and Peeta spoke about Rue and Thresh, and even awarded their families with rations for their bravery. The hint of uprising in District 8, though sad, was incredible.
Katniss' bender with Haymitch.
Again, the interviews with the Tributes the night before the Quarter Quell and the show of solidarity.
Finnick being Finnick.
Cinna being Cinna.
Mags being a badass old woman.
Beetee and Wiress.
Johanna being a bitch, but being awesome.
The female Morphling sacrificing herself for Peeta and her death scene.
All of it, okay? Geeze.
28. Your Favorite Scene in Mockingjay?Katniss finally getting her shit together and accepting her spot at the head of the rebellion.
Peeta's rehabilitation.
Real/Not Real.
Finnick being Finnick.
The general uprising.
The resolution.
29. Your Favorite Thing About the Entire Series:The characters, the sense of urgency, the sense of rebellion, and an incredible (if not realistically devastating dystopian) world that the series emerges us in.
30. A Book/Series You'd Urge Other Fans to Read:Well, Harry Potter, of course.
If you're determined to stay within the YA genre, then The Mortal Instruments Series and the Gemma Doyle (A Great and Terrible Beauty) Trilogy. If not, however: The Castings Trilogy, American Gods, and the Pellinor Saga (which should really not be classified as YA).
Hands down, Peeta; but with that being said, I don't dislike Gale. Actually, when I first started reading, I was hoping for Gale (if only because I had nothing but the trailer to base my opinions off of) and I felt horribly for Gale while Katniss and Peeta explored their 'relationship' during the Games. I really like Gale, but he and Katniss are too much alike, I think. Peeta is sort of her redemption, while Gale would do nothing but continue to let her burn.
11. Something You Hate About the Series:
The pace of Mockingjay was just a clusterfuck. There's no polite way to say it. I understand that it's war and things do not move slowly once the ball gets rolling, but there was literally nothing for me to grasp on to aside from a few deaths, and even those weren't as important as they should have been. Katniss losing her shit towards the end was the most disconcerting bit-- since the story was told from her point of view and all. There was no cognitive thread or understanding, just weird morphling induced bat-shit craziness and then a rushed resolution. With that being said, I don't think the story, being told as it was, could have ended a different way, with different pacing. I just wish it had been as well written as the first two books.
12. A Character You Wish Hadn't Died:
Um, all of them? Well, most of them anyway! Rue, Mister Mellark, Mags, Wiress, Darius, Cray, Thresh, Portia, Madge, Finnick, Cinna, Boggs; every-fucking-one! But I think the one that really bothered me the most was Prim. If you've seen nothing but the preview for the movie, you know saving Prim is the catalyst for the entire story being told. To have her die in the final act was a slap in the face. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she died, and at such an anti-climax, as well. Logically, it was a great set-up and really helped along the plot, but I'm bitter about it.
13. A Character You Wish Had Died:
There's not one character I wish had died, that didn't. Sorry.
14. Your Favorite Tribute (not Katniss/Peeta):
Aside from Finnick and Rue, who are obviously at the top of my list, I'd say Johanna! What a complete and utter badass?! Can we just remember how she supported Beetee's body, as well as taking care of Wiress' crazy ass? How she attacked Katniss just to remove her tracker? And then survived the Capitol's torture to come back and help rehabilitate Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta? This girl is incredible.
15. You Least Favorite Tribute (not Katniss/Peeta):
Enobaria. Aside from the fact that she was a victor, increidbly cruel, and had her teeth sharpened to points, I knew nothing about her. And I think I prefer it that way.
16. A Question You Wish Had Been Answered in the Book:What happened to Johanna, Beetee, Gale, Annie, Mrs. Everdeen? And eventually, Haymitch? He was prominent when they returned to the Victor's Village, but in the epilogue there's no mention of him.
17. The Worst Death:As I've gone over, Rue and Prim had the most devastating deaths in my opinion. But Cato had the most gruesome of anyone in the Games. It was painful to read and I'm not sure how they'll do it on screen and do justice to the agony he goes through in the book. It's terrible.
18. A Song That Reminds You of the Series:Massive Attack's "Paradise Circus" reminds me of the relationship between Katniss and Peeta from the first book, to the page of the last. Real/Not Real? Is it a lie? If so, who's lying? What about Gale? Also, Metric's "Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT remix)". It's sort of crazed and hectic and disorientating, just like war and the pacing of the last book.
19. Your Favorite Pairing:Peeta/Katniss, Finnick/Annie, Beetee/Wiress, Mrs. Everdeen/ Mr. Mellark, and though it isn't really canon, I thought Hazelle would have been good for Haymitch.
20. Your Least Favorite Pairing:It isn't the least bit implied in canon, but I've seen Snow/Coin.... what? No.
21. A Pairing You Don't Get:Aside from Snow/Coin up there? Gale/Prim. It's unseemly, she was twelve when the story starts and is dead by fourteen, Gale is at least six years older than she is. I know that he loved her, but it was obviously as a kid-sister, and not as potential partner.
22. Your Favorite Book of the Three:The Hunger Games.
23. Your Favorite Secondary Character:
Can't they all be favorites? I ended up really respecting Effie's character and Katniss' prep team. My love knows no bounds for Cinna and I came away absolutely adoring Boggs. I'm also saddened that they're cutting Madge from the movie.
24. Least Favorite Secondary Character:Can I just use Enobaria for all of these least favorites?
25. Your Dream Cast:I think they've done a great job with Katniss (though I would have loved to see Kaya Scodelario in the role), as well as Gale, Cinna, President Snow, Prim, Rue, Cato, Clove, Thresh, and Foxface. There's no one I can see playing Peeta, though Josh-what's-his-face is growing on me daily. I think the only person I'm really invested in as far as characters yet to be cast is Finnick. And Armie Hammer is ideal in my mind. They could have done better with Haymitch, but we'll see how Woody does.
26. Your Favorite Scene in The Hunger Games:There's a few: When Katniss is thoroughly peeved at the judges and shoots an arrow at their lunch table, piercing the apple.
The interviews with Ceasar Flickerma before the Games start.
Anything with Cinna.
Katniss singing for Rue, and then covering her in daisies.
The three-finger gesture District 12 gives to Katniss as she volunteers as Tribute.
Um, Nightlock Berries.
And her time with Peeta.
Also, Haymitch is just awesome to have around.
27. Your Favorite Scene in Catching Fire:The ceremonies in both District 11 and 8. I loved the way Katniss and Peeta spoke about Rue and Thresh, and even awarded their families with rations for their bravery. The hint of uprising in District 8, though sad, was incredible.
Katniss' bender with Haymitch.
Again, the interviews with the Tributes the night before the Quarter Quell and the show of solidarity.
Finnick being Finnick.
Cinna being Cinna.
Mags being a badass old woman.
Beetee and Wiress.
Johanna being a bitch, but being awesome.
The female Morphling sacrificing herself for Peeta and her death scene.
All of it, okay? Geeze.
28. Your Favorite Scene in Mockingjay?Katniss finally getting her shit together and accepting her spot at the head of the rebellion.
Peeta's rehabilitation.
Real/Not Real.
Finnick being Finnick.
The general uprising.
The resolution.
29. Your Favorite Thing About the Entire Series:The characters, the sense of urgency, the sense of rebellion, and an incredible (if not realistically devastating dystopian) world that the series emerges us in.
30. A Book/Series You'd Urge Other Fans to Read:Well, Harry Potter, of course.
If you're determined to stay within the YA genre, then The Mortal Instruments Series and the Gemma Doyle (A Great and Terrible Beauty) Trilogy. If not, however: The Castings Trilogy, American Gods, and the Pellinor Saga (which should really not be classified as YA).
