Catching Fire discussion

Betsy Bird commented on my blog, "I’m halfway through and I simply cannot make myself pick it up again. I don’t care about the romance, and that’s a huge problem with this one. Far more than the previous book, where Gale was just this brief fellow at the start."

I have to agree that the romance isn't that compelling (in the scheme of great romance writing), but in a way I think it is a red herring. That isn't what this is about at all. I mean, by the end of Catching Fire Katniss is as conflicted about Gale and Peeta as she was at the end of The Hunger Games. Or do you think not?

I think Katniss never really thought about romance prior to the Games and Peeta's declaration. It felt to me as though she just assumed she'd always be with Gale, but that might have been because she didn't really fit with others in District 12 (in other words, it wasn't as though she had a lot of other friends, male or female).

Her comfort with Gale, which wasn't presented as a sexually charged relationship, contrasts with her unease around Peeta, who clearly does have sexual feelings. It's only that one kiss with Gale vs. an entire staged relationship with Peeta, right? So of course there's as much internal conflict by the end of CF as there was by the end of HG.


Not sure I'm explaining that correctly...

For whatever reason the romance part of the series has never been particularly compelling to me. I sure hope the future is more about Kick Ass Katniss than anything else, KT!

Monica wrote: "Betsy Bird commented on my blog, "I’m halfway through and I simply cannot make myself pick it up again. I don’t care about the romance, and that’s a huge problem with this one. Far more than the pr..."
I think it's tough to say if the whole romance thing is a red herring. Perhaps the final book in the trilogy will shed some light on why this is such a big deal. One could argue that the romantic tangle is proof of how the Capital dominates even the most intimate aspects of life.

I do agree that the issue is as unresolved as ever at the end of Catching Fire. Katniss seems so conflicted that I can't help wondering if it's unresolvable for her. Perhaps the author will end the conflict by eliminating one of the boys, either by knocking him off or showing that he's related to Katniss somehow. The thought has crossed my mind that perhaps Peeta is really Katniss' half-brother. Wasn't Peeta's father madly in love with Katniss' mom at one point?

Euw, half-brother?

2 words: Star Wars.

I hadn't thought about that, but it could be a possibility.

I'm not sure. I think something like that probably would have been hinted at--he'd have had the same eye color, or something resembling the "Seam" look. And they're a bit too close in age don't you think? They obviously couldn't be twins... Good point, though.

I wasn't thinking they were twins, exactly, (although nothing would suprise me after that ending)...if they were half-siblings they could be very close in age (two different mothers bearing children at roughly the same time).

I have to wonder if we all read the same book. I read Catching Fire in one sitting and definitely feel the sleep deprivation is worth it. I agree with KT in that it reminded me a lot of Casablanca, though not from the romance angle, but the scene in the bar when the stand and sing La Marseillaise. A scene that will always bring tears to my eyes. I felt the same way when they stopped in district 11 on the victory tour. Not that I am a big patriot, but more I often wonder in a society that is filled with the unfairness capitalism brings, what will bring people to the point of standing up for themselves? Before becoming a contender in the games, Katniss was content to mind her own business and survive, like Rick Blaine in Casablanca. She knew things weren't fair, but she personally didn't feel things were worth fighting for. But in the end she is the one that will help everyone take a stand because she can't help it. I love her character. I think that the romance between her and peeta is interesting, because i think he is healing her from the brokeness she experienced after her father's death and her disappointment in her mother. Katniss doesn't know what in her life is real and what is circumstantial and i think she is slowly discovering that Peeta was more real to her than many of the things in her life despite the contrived circumstance they developed their relationship in. Despite her desperate need to protect Prim, Peeta is still teaching her to be less selfish. I can't wait to see what happens next. If this were an adult book i would be sure that both Cinna and Peeta are dead. But I hope Collins will deliver us a somewhat happy ending.

Here's what I think from my review:
The deal with Katniss, Peeta and Gale is rather disconcerting. I don’t think there is anyone who can possibly guess who it is that Katniss is really in love with. She herself doesn’t even understand. Without a doubt, if it were not for the Hunger Games, she could have possibly even married Gale. She says so herself. But the Hunger Games did happen and she was forced to act the part of lovers with Peeta. Katniss finds herself in a very sticky situation. Her feelings for Peeta and Gale become confused as she no longer knows what to think. There is the thought that the one she willingly kiss’s is Gale after he was whipped for poaching. All those kisses with Peeta were staged and none of them were formed through her love for Peeta (except for that exotic moment on the beach when she was driven by how much she wanted to save Peeta and what it would be like to lose him) On one hand without a thought she puts herself between Gale and the whip while on the other she sleeps with Peeta to fight the nightmares of the Hunger Games. Both boys obviously love her and she loves both of them, albeit at unknowingly different levels. To choose one would break one heart and she can't do that to the two most important people in her life. It will be interesting to see how this ends.

great points seeker. for a long time after the hunger games, i assumed she'd eventually choose gale (despite my personal preference for peeta) and i viewed peeta as a real victim of the capital's circumstance. but now i'm thinking that both of her relationships were borne out of unfortunate circumstances with the capital, it is just that peeta is the more recent.

katniss is willing to give up her life for either of them when it comes down to it - either with the whip, the berries or in the quell. and while she feels gale knows her best, she also feels like she has changed a lot, and lately peeta has been her new best friend.

who knows what will happen, but sometimes it seems like gale is the past and peeta is the present. gale doesn't have enough of a speaking role in the book, plus lately he's been kind of a burden on her, while peeta doing the support. her relationship with peeta really changed in the second book, but that doesn't mean she won't forgo marriage all together or still chose gale in the end.

That's true. My personal preference keeps switching between the two. Sometimes it seems like Gale understands her better than anyone and they have a mutual relationship. Other times, its touching how much Peeta is willing to sacrifice for her. And Peeta seems to care more for Katniss in terms of accepting the fact that Gale is important to her and respecting it himself. Gale on the other hand isn't able to achieve this and holds a fair amount of animosity towards Peeta.