#HungerGames Finished Hunger Games - Book 1

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Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on June 1, 2011 at 1:35pm

I have to agree, the Wolf Mutations are the one thing that really seemed out of place in this story.  They were so distracting that the whole concept took me out of the feeling of this being a possible reality.

Permalink Reply by Lee Smith on July 14, 2011 at 9:25pm

Hi Caryl and Cliff,

I had a different reaction to the Wolf Muttations in Book 1 - in fact, that was one of the few times I wanted to "talk back" during the podcast!  

It seemed to me that they were specifically designed to bring psychological horror to the tributes. (Keep an eye out for similar concepts or themes as you go through the series and let me know if you agree!)

To me, the psychological horror makes sense in two ways.  First, it is yet another twist for the further entertainment of the easily-jaded audience... and bear in mind that the Mutts are not necessarily what they appear to be, since everything is artificial in the arena.  (Except the physical, mental and emotional devastation experienced by the tributes, of course.)  

Second, the Games are intended to keep the Districts in their place.  And one way they do that is by making sure that even the victor, who will get a life of "material" ease as the reward for murdering all the other tributes or allowing them to be killed, is a total wreck emotionally from the very process of winning.  To me, the Wolf Mutts made sense as a way to destroy the eventual victor's spirit just a little earlier.

As for the Muttations working on Cato the whole night without killing him - it's true that if they wanted to kill and eat him, they'd have been done in 10 seconds.  But I don't think that was what they were designed to do.  Again, my theory is that their purpose was to terrorize all three remaining tributes.  So they would have been specifically designed to torture slowly rather than kill outright.  

Horrible, yes.  Totally sick.  And yet entirely consistent with the Capitol and Game-Makers we've come to know, hate, and fear.  

One last thought - I wasn't sure at the end of Book 1 if the Wolf Mutts were made with actual parts of the dead tributes' bodies, or if they were just designed to look that way.  For example, it's possible the Capitol created 24 Wolf Muttations as soon as the tributes were selected (then they could decide which ones to release and when for maximum effect).  That's something Katniss wouldn't know and couldn't tell us.  Only the Capitol audience would get the behind-the-scenes story on the Mutts.

So that's my 2 cents!  Love the podcast BTW.  I came in at (I think) episode 5 and then went back to listen all the way through from the beginning.  

LLS

Permalink Reply by Georgina Waldron on June 1, 2011 at 8:26pm

are you going to do a podcast on catching fire and mockingjay ? & Who was your favorite tribute in the hunger games ? :)

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on June 1, 2011 at 10:05pm

Yes, we have plans to cover all three books and the movie(s). ;)

Permalink Reply by Tucker C on June 1, 2011 at 11:01pm

Awesome! The mutations didn't really bother me, besides the way the Capitol used the dead bodies of the children. I found that gross.

Permalink Reply by Lee Smith on July 14, 2011 at 9:26pm

My favorite tribute in the Hunger Games was Peeta.  :)

Permalink Reply by Karen Kennedy-Richard on June 13, 2011 at 9:14pm

Just a few thoughts on The Hunger Games...

 

Katniss was taught by her father THE most important skill for the games, how to survive!

 

Haymitch may be an alcoholic, but I do not think he is a fool. He played a piviitol role in getting critical role in getting the supplies to Katniss for her and Peeta.

 

President Snow will be back IMHO, only because of the way Katniss described him and his snakelike eyes!

 

Well, that is all that comes to mind right now, off to start Catching Fire. If any thing else pops to mind I will post later,

 

Thanks Cliff and Stephanie for such a great podcast!

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on June 14, 2011 at 8:13am

Great insights Karen.  So glad you are enjoying the story and the podcast. :)

 

Ps. Thank you SO MUCH for the gift you sent to Meagan, she LOVES it.  BTW, I need to preview the World According To Meagan episode she just did, her first SOLO, where she mentions your gift!

Permalink Reply by Crissy Maier on June 24, 2011 at 7:48am

Just finished the book last night and LOVED it.  I had accidentally read a little too much of a wikipedia page while I was reading the book so I knew how it ended.  I did think the book might go a little further, with the arrival in District 12.  I guess I'll have to start the next book.  I wanted to start last night, but it was late and decided I should wait until at least today to start...  I was shocked at how well written and vivid the book was, yet not graphic for how violent the concept is.

 

After I started reading this I found out my sister read them last year.  My 12 year old nephew has also read The Hunger Games, he decided not to go right on to Catching Fire, the book was a little much for him.  But I think he's going to read it this summer.

 

Predictions - I think that Katniss and Peeta will be forced together.  District 12 will have 1 house ready for them and everyone will suspect they are a real couple and they will have to continue to act it out.  But I think that Gale is Katniss's true love.  

 

I think in Catching Fire you'll start to see elements of an uprising, which will be what Mockingjay is about.  I think you'll see this on the tour of the districts, particularly in district 11.  

Permalink Reply by Monica Pringle on January 5, 2012 at 9:54pm

I just finished the first book and going through listening to the podcasts back to back.  I like it better that way, and I so feel for Stephanie.  

In episode 10, you were discussing how the book is written from one perspective and mentioned that for the Twilight Saga, they used the novella about Bree Tanner to add to the perspective of what was happening with the newborn army in the Eclipse movie.

The first Hunger Games movie comes out in only a few months so it should be already finished, but I think if the screenwriters for were smart, they could've taken some of Katniss's speculations and made them fact.  For example, when she was dodging the fireballs, she felt like Cinna might be feeling bad about the girl on fire idea.  They could show the fans in the Capitol joking about the girl on fire and maybe Cinna's reaction.  Or all of the things she said she could just "hear" Haymitch saying, they could take all of what she is assuming the viewers (Prim, as well) are thinking and have brief scenes (District 12 watching from the town square) that show others' reactions to what's going on in the arena, .  It will be interesting to see how they do it.

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