*Updated: The Horror of being a Hun-Girl

2nd time reading and my original post still stands:

Words are not sufficient to explain what I think or how I feel about MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins. First of all, this is a LOOOONNNNNGGGGG way from CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG. It's difficult to believe that Ms. Collins used to write for a sweet CHILDREN'S tv show....

This is one of the most horrific series of books I have ever read. Even GONE WITH THE WIND with all the horrors of war that are described (including Scarlett killing the Yankee soldier, all the hundreds of thousands of soldiers lying on the ground at the railroad--and Scarlett has to walk through them, over them, and even on them to find Dr. Meade) as well as Scarlett's ruthless character as she fights her way back to the top financially so that she and hers will never be hungry again is not as horrific as THE HUNGER GAMES series.

1. I am horrified that this series is being advertised as being FOR children 12 years old and up. Yes, at first, I was even encouraging Samuel to read the series--he's 10 (he'll be 11 on May 1). When he needed a new book to read earlier this week, he asked me about THE HUNGER GAMES and I told him I had changed my mind and that he didn't need to read it....yet....? Twelve year olds and younger ARE reading this series!!!!  (Update:  Samuel is now 12 and recently read all 3 books for himself.  He didn't have much to say about them, but if the fact that within a few weeks of finishing them he's already reading them again says anything......)

2. I am horrified that this series is about children....fighting, killing, participating and even active participants in a W-A-R where violent and brutal war acts take place around every corner--some TO the children and some CREATED BY these C-H-I-L-D-R-E-N!!!!! Katniss herself is just 16 when she becomes a Tribute for The Hunger Games. As book 3 comes to a close, she's still only 17 or 18 years old....yet she's LEADING a group of SOLDIERS, made up mostly of children, as well as KILLING the enemy (and some who may not even BE the enemy)! (I won't say much more because I'll spoil it for anyone wanting to read this series.....) But she's given SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY, yet she's not even considered a YOUNG ADULT, yet!!!!! And so are her friends, lovers, sister, etc.

3. I am horrified by the deaths. Wow. Readers don't need much of an imagination to SEE these violent, horrific deaths described in the story. EVERYONE dies--except the few people who should have died.....and re-read what I just wrote! That's a horror in itself! How can I say that there are characters in the story who SHOULD HAVE DIED?! But, I do feel that the story ends with an attempt at too much of a "happily ever after" style-story. It IS a war story, so I expected an ending more like OLD YELLER or even GONE WITH THE WIND. (Again, I'd better stop now so I don't completely ruin it for those who haven't read it.)

4. I am horrified by BOTH the presidents in the story. I won't say more because of fear of spoiling it, but once you're read it, I'd love to hear what you think.

5. I am horrified by the coping mechanisms of many of the characters, yet at the same time, how DOES one deal with the horrors seen and experienced by the characters in this story?! It's obviously NOT a faith or religion-based story, so they don't have their faith in (relationship with) Christ to help them cope. They only have each other and even THAT is taken away from them if not by the leaders, then by themselves in their own methods of coping. It's tragic to read about these beloved characters finding ways just to DEAL......I don't think I could. I do think I would have reacted most like Katniss, but even she seems more able to come out of her stupors than I feel I would be able to. I DO love the book she, Peeta, and Haymitch put together in loving Memory of....that touched my heart more than anything else in the story. I would LOVE to see THAT book put together and published.

6. My previous statement horrifies me! What did I just say?! I would want to read (yes, I'd buy it) a book that lists our beloved characters and includes the details/information Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta put in it, especially Peeta's pictures?! Yes. Horribly, I would. That book is what FINALLY brought tears to my eyes.  I wanted to cry so many times during the story, but it wasn't until Katniss decided to put the book together that the tears started to flow....and I couldn't stop them.

7. I am horrified to say that I loved this series. How does a reader say she LOVES a series with so many horrific and terrible things??? How does a reader recommend this series to the people she loves and cares about?! Why do I want my friends and family to have THOSE IMAGES stuck in their heads as they are in mine?! How can I want my friends and family to read about such horrors?! Yet, I've recommended the series to everyone who will listen and even to those who won't.

8. It horrifies me to no end that I am on pins and needles in anxious anticipation for the movie to be released on March 23. Yes, I do plan on going to see it the very first weekend it's out. I am having a hard enough time waiting for the movie to be released as it is, so I know I won't be able to wait much longer after it's released to go see it. I won't go THE DAY it's released, I don't think, but I WILL see it before that weekend is out. Yes, I'm horrified at my own desire to SEE this story displayed VISUALLY on a movie screen for me to see beyond my imagination.....(Update:  Yes, I'm excited about the upcoming release of CATCHING FIRE this November.  I hate myself for it, but I am looking forward to seeing the movie.)

9. It horrifies me to imagine that there are still people today who give in to public and/or peer pressure to do things they might not really agree with--yet don't even think about what they're doing---they just do it. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and other stories like it sadly reveal that we SEEM powerless to do anything about the injustices around us---so we just go along with them. Or, if we aren't powerless to do anything, we don't know any better. When we read "The Lottery" in class, most students are absolutely horrified by the ending, but yet, when we hold our own class lottery and throw paper at the winner, most students actually throw the paper!!! I am always amazed to note just how many will throw the paper even though their voices are the strongest about how AWFUL throwing stones at Tessie is!!!!

10. I am horrified because I honestly do think that there might be places in our world today where leaders could be planning bombs, traps, etc. such as we see in THE HUNGER GAMES series. Samuel loves the Military channel. On that channel, they have these shows about weapons; I think it's called WEAPONOLOGY. In this series, they talk about the history/progression of modern day warfare weaponry....how such and such rifle/bomb/gun/tank/etc. has had to improve and become more viable as a result of the enemies' advances in weaponry. When one country finds a way to build a tank that is so awesome in its armory that the current bombs, bullets, etc. can't penetrate it, then the opposing country develops weaponry that WILL penetrate the previously impenetrable tank! And so on and so forth. It doesn't matter what new, modern weapon is developed to withstand the current enemy's attacks, someone somewhere always is able to find a way to defeat the current BEST.....just as is apparent in THE HUNGER GAMES. Gale and Beetee work very hard to come up with new weaponry to defeat the Capitol.....and they are TOO successful with their inventions.....


Yes, horror is the best word to describe THE HUNGER GAMES series. This is one trilogy of books that I will NEVER forget, whether or not I ever read the series again......Sadly, I probably will read it again. I know I missed a lot of details this first time through.......I've read both the TWILIGHT and HARRY POTTER series 4 times through and found new and exciting details I missed the first three reads, so I know the same will be true of THE HUNGER GAMES.....It's horrific that I'm even considering that fact, let alone know it to be true...

So if you do choose to read THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy, just be forewarned going in to it that it's NOT a Disney, happily-ever-after story......It IS a war story......centered around CHILDREN.....