Rue or Prim? Note: Hunger Games SPOILER

When Rue died in The Hunger Games, I was genuinely sad as I liked her, but when Prim died, I didn't feel anything. In Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins just starting killing off everyone and it made me not care when Prim died.

Don't get me wrong! I get it when an author has to kill off characters, but you should do it artfully and you need to make the reader feel something. When Rowling killed off a bunch of characters in DH, I felt sad and their deaths meant something. In Mockingjay, they didn't mean anything. Does anyone else feel that way? :(

I really liked rue and I liked the relationship katniss had with rue. But I also felt for prim when she died. Prim was the only reason Katniss entered in the games and pretty much the only motivation katniss had for staying alive in the games. I agree that Suzanne didn't kill prim of as "gracefully" as she could of, but prim's death made me feel sad when I read it.

Honestly i could care less about Prim. but yea i agree her death was not done very 'gracefully'.
same with finnicks death.

I did like finnick.
Don't you guys think your a little harsh. You didn't feel anything when prim died??

When Prim died, so many characters had already croaked that it was like, "oh, another character died. Whoopy." It didn't make me sad - it made me depressed. An author's job is to make you feel something about a story that isn't true. Collins failed, in my opinion.

Comparing Suzanne Collins to J.K. Rowling - when Rowling killed off some of her characters, it made you sad and you were gratified when their deaths are avenged (Harry killing Voldy, Molly killing Bellatrix, Neville chopping open the snake, Greyback dying, etc.). It doesn't depress you, because the deaths of Lupin, Snape, Tonks, Sirius and Dobby (to name only a few killed off characters) had meaning. Prim's death, in my opinion, was meaningless. Katniss's reaction was meaningless.

Another thing I didn't like about Mockingjay. When Katniss goes on her little mission to go kill Snow and she doesn't even succeed, that pissed me off. If you're disobeying orders and getting your people killed, and then you don't even finish the mission!

I was so sad about Rue. The whole "she reminds me of Prim" thing and being like her older sister was so touching. I cried when Rue died.

Prim was a whole different story. I barely remember it! I only read Mockinjay once, but shouldn't that be enough for a character that was so essential to the plot- and to Katniss-??

Prim was the center of the plot. Nothing would've happened without her. If her name hadn't been picked, then Katniss (hopefully) would've continued her life normally. Without Prim, Katniss would not have had any motivation in the Games. Without Prim, the Capitol could not have tortured Katniss with her screams in Catching Fire.

But then Prim dies, which should have been emotionally traumatizing for super fans like us. But it wasn't! Prim was so full of meaning, that I found her death kind of sloppily done. That was one of the only things that bothered me about that entire trilogy.

wow that was long- sorry!

Made sense to me and I totally get you. In the first book, I identified with Katniss so much because she would take her sister's place (I don't have any sisters, but there are little girls that I babysit that are as good as) and I felt that I would do the same thing.

Then in Mockingjay she get's killed off - that should have been the focal point of the book, for crying out loud! Instead it was a sidenote.

Then after Katniss kills the Resistance leader (much to Snow's pleasure), she is cleared of the crime because of 'insanity.' Katniss doesn't even show up at her own trial! I think it would have been really cool if Katniss had shown up at her own trial, given a moving speech on her own behalf, shown some deep moving emotions for Prim and have everyone eating out of her head. But no - Katniss was a whiny, hissy fit throwing wimp throughout the book. Where did the girl from the first two books go?

See, I can rattle on, too! :)

yea prim was essential to the story(to get it started) but after that shes barely in it at all. prim was a flat character to me...

Plus Collins made a fatal error for Mockingjay, killing off a bunch of characters in quick succession. To quote from the latest issue of my beloved Writer's Digest magazine (I love that magazine!) on how to make a suspenseful book:

"Cut down on the violence. The more violence there is, the less it will mean.
...
A murder is not suspense. An abduction with the threat of murder is.
If you want readers to emotionally distance themselves from the story, show one murder after another, after another, after another; but if you want to increase tension, cut down on the violence and increase the readers' apprehension about a future violent act."

-arcticle written by Steven James

That is so bloody true, and that is why Suzanne Collins blew it.

thats great advice. and so true.

I think that is a really good tip for any writer, especially guy authors. For example, I sort of remeber reading the seventh Ranger's Apprentice book, and there was so much violence and battles that it reminded me of reading greek mythology with all it's twist, turns, and betrayals.

I knew Prim was going to die before I read it but I was still sad. The only deaths that bothered me throughout the whole series was Prim and Finnick. In the first, it's kinda obvious Rue is going to die, since you know not both of them are coming out alive.

but it was still sad :(

Well i kinda expected it. Finnick was the worst for me because I didn't see it coming and he was one of my favorites.

And there were only two sentences devoted to his death. And he died because Katniss took too long going up a stairway.

That's another reason I didn't like katniss in mockingjay.

This might be just my opinion but I will ask all of you anyway. In the hunger games trailer Rue kind of looks like willow smith. Does anyone else think that??

i dont think so. thats just me though.

Yeah I thought so too. I can totally see it!

rue? I didn't recognize her. there are so many fakes out there for the hunger games trailer! grrrr...

search "official hunger games trailer" and it's there!

It's amazing.
I have it as one of my favorites on YouTube

I have an announcement. Tonight at 7 o clock, Pacific time, my life as a teenager will change.

HOBBIT TEASER IS COMING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you thought I was nuts about Dark Knight Rises, do not speak to me now about "The Hobbit" unless you want shrieks of fangirl excitement blaring at you through capslock. For now, I will contain it, just for you all.

I must apologize in advance if I offend anyone...
What's "The Hobbit"??

The Hobbit. By J.R.R. Tolkien. The reviews and summaries on LibraryThing will tell you all you need to know. It was written by the same guy who wrote The Lord of the Rings - some of the best books ever.

Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--zDV5UiUno

I cannot tell you how happy I am about this movie!

I'm not a big lord of the rings fan.
Probably not my kind of book.

I am not a Lord of the Rings fan either, but I did enjoy the Hobbit. It was well written and just quirky enough for me!

i thought they were the same thing?

The Hobbit was written before The Lord of the Rings, although all four books are set in the same world, Middle Earth.

Nope they're not. Common misconception.

still confused, but its ok :)

same here sarahy. :)

What's confusing? The first book to be written was The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien authored it in the 1930's at first as a story for his kids, but then it was published. The book was marketed towards kids 9 to 12 years old.

Many years later, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King (all of which are part of The Lord of the Rings series) were published. All three of these books are set in the world of Middle Earth, which The Hobbit is also set in.

is it the same characters and stuff?? why didnt they start with the hobbit when they were making the movies?

Because The Lord of the Rings is a more thematically dramatic and epic movie, and they are also the more popular books (although The Hobbit is also incredibly popular).

The Lord of the Rings has some of the characters from The Hobbit. For example, Gandalf the Grey and Bilbo Baggins (to a smaller extent), but the story plots are entirely different. Wherease The Hobbit centers around Bilbo Baggins assisting a group of dwarves in reclaiming their treasure from a dragon, The Lord of the Rings is much darker. The story is about Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's nephew, and his (and others) quest to destroy the One Ring in the volcano at Mount Doom. It's a long story.

Here's the beginning scene of The Fellowship of the Ring that explains the stuff about the rings - pretty epic, if I might say so. Pardon the Chinese subtitles on the video, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3s5KGRp_OY

ok. so the hobbit it like a prequel.. kinda sorta? i get it now. :)

Yep! That pretty much sums it up... kinda.

Who's up for animals singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas?" Sooooo funny! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obGjx8Hry3M&feature=context&context=G23d0...

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got it now.
The hobbit to the lord of the rings like
The magicians nephew to chronicles of narnia.
That's like an ACT question.

Yup. You got it! Only The Hobbit was written before The Lord of the Rings, whereas The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was written before The Magician's Nephew.

very random: anyone know anything about the SATs?

My brother took it. My dad says I should do it, but I don't want to. Tests bore me.

Are you going to take them, Sarah?

Im not worried about that now!

Don't ever. It's good for getting into college, but in my opinion, college is overrated.

tee-hee

I'm going to take them... Early. In the spring, but basically I'm not supposed to take them yet by I can because I'm in an advanced program at my school

Good luck with them, Sarah!

Me, the only important test I want to take is the ASVAB. Just sayin'...

Does this have to do with the marines?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASVAB

:)

Ah ha! I was correct!!

That's cool I didn't even know a test like that existed.

It's what you take if you're interested in going into the military. Of course, if you take it you're not obligated to join the military, but it is required for figuring out what MOS (Military Occupational Speciality) you'll get in the military.

Me, I want to be an MP (Military Policeman) or something in Public Affairs. God knows what will happen, I just want to do something useful.

hmmmmmm yeah good luck eris... and be sure to post on LT from wherever your military journey may take you ;)

Don't worry I will! Of course, after high-school, I'll be getting my Associates Degree at the junior college, but after that it's the military. I will definitely post what happens to me, though. :)

Aren't you scared to join the military though??

Not really, no. I understand the risks, but I would rather die for something than live for nothing. How many people have I heard of that have died because of gangs, drugs, friends, and poor choices? More people die in car accidents than they do in the military. No, I am not afraid. I put my faith in God, and so I have no fears.

Wow who knew we had a real live Katniss in our group! :)

You just need a set of bow and arrows and your all set! :D

Who needs a bow and arrow? I'll get an M-16. Even better.

Imagine if katniss had an m 16 instead of just a bow and arrow. That would be scary.

Or one of these puppies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wf6IYMNdeo

3000 rounds per minute. I want one.

If I was in the arena with katniss and that machine. I would be very scared. Anyone else??

Of course, because it blows so much ammo in just a few seconds, a Gatling gun is extremely expensive and is only used in extreme circumstances. Still... pretty intimidating. :)

Your vast knowledge of weaponry is astounding Eris, yet a bit scary. I say that with the greatest respect.

Thank you very much - I am deeply complimented, but truly, I only have book knowledge, rather than the hands on experience that our badass guys and gals in the military have. They're the ones who've taught me everything that I can recite back to you.

If you ever have the oppurtunity to join an organization that supports the military, I heartily encourage it. It teaches you a lot and helps to shatter the false perceptions that the public often has about the military. And if you don't want to join a group, you can always read their blogs. Like this guy for instance: http://castrapraetoria1.blogspot.com/ , who I believe can wrestle polar bears with his bare hands. Trust me. He makes the Terminator look like a pussy.

This is my knowledge on weaponry.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfDjvhsdQoo

I play call of duty if that counts for anything. It probably doesn't though. :)

eris, mon frere, how about focusing on wanting the GOOD things in life? like cars, and money, and friendship and all that crap...

My dear Flannery, why not focus on protecting those good things that we all cherish in life?

BECAUSE I WANT MORE! YEAH!

More of what?

EVERYTHING! YEAH! *drools stupidly*

Ah! I see.

Well said Fob.

true, and I fully support that and the men and women who do that. But if doing that means manning a gun and taking another person's life, I will stick to praying thank you very much.

Don't worry about it, Flan, I understand! Fighting is not for everyone. :)

Especially me. I like your cause Eris but I could never do it.

ya I know. It annoys me when people believe that it isn't possible to be against wars, but still support our troops.

Well, when you support the troops, you support their mission, because their job is to go out there and kill bad guys. What's the purpose of having a military other than that? You're either pulling the trigger, or you're helping someone else to pull the trigger. Evil has to be vanquished, or evil gets its way and then we would have a world filled with evil because no one stopped them.

But I understand where you're coming from, Flan - war isn't nice, it's an ugly, kill or be killed business. But you have to remember that soldiers are the ones who hate it the most, more than any of us civilians. After all, aren't they the ones with the most to lose?

I personally would never join the military, but rather helping people... Like becoming a doctor which is my goal currently

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Mercy_(T-AH-19)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Comfort_(T-AH-20)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_Hospital_Corpsman

http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2012/01/09/2nd-marine-division-making-mehraj-...

http://www.toysfortots.org/

And that's just a small sample. Trust me, the military helps people. :) Like one of the various Marine Corps sayings says about the Marine (there's a lot of them), "No greater friend, no worse enemy."

82> how could you say the military doesnt help!

Don't worry, Mariah, it's a common misconception, and not the worst one I've heard. I've been told that if I join the Marine Corps, I will be a "murderer," so anything is not as bad as that. :)

wow! some people!
well i appreciate that you want to help our country. :)

When I get there whatever I do can be truly appreciated, but so far I haven't done squat. However, it is my fervid intention to do something worthwhile for this country after I'm done with high-school and junior college. I can't wait till then! :)

Mariah, you said on your profile that you are studying to become a vet tech - that is really awesome! How is it coming?

i need to update that. i finished like four classes. but it was just way to expensive. didnt think it through very well. so i took a break, got two jobs and saving up some money. but life gets in the way. i just had to buy a new truck.

Were the classes that you were taking at a university or a community college? Just curious - my brother is going to a community college and he is really enjoying it, because it's giving him time to think about what he wants to do with his life before rushing off.

i guess it would be a community college. it had university in the name though. :P

Hehe. It was trying to sound special. :)

haha. i think its just another way to get more money. if they are considered a uni more moolah for them.

prim dies that's not fair

It so isn't fair. I really felt awful when prim died she didn't deserve it. And she didn't even get to fight for her life which is even worst.

*resisting urge to bash Mockingjay, resisting urge to bash Mockingjay...*

It was very sad when Prim dies, and you don't even get to reflect on it because of the weird ending!!!

Yay! Thanks, Flan. I was trying to be a good girl, as I've already done my share of critiquing Mockingjay.

Eris, are you homeschooled?

Where did that come from?

no, you are just posting stuff in the middle of the day on a friday!!

I have time on my hands.

sooooo... that's a no?

Perhaps it is. I like being vague. :)

Yeah, that's funny. I've always thought that you were home schooled. I've just never asked.

Yeah, I am. I guess it's pretty obvious, since I spend way too much time on LibraryThing. I have my computer in my classroom (aka, my room), so I get to go on whenever I want. I do my homework in my pajamas and I can sleep in on week days. Life is good. :)

that's awesome! Aside from not seeing my friends, I would seriously LOVE to be home schooled... it sounds like heaven

Yeah. Your SO lucky Eris.

I was home schooled for a while and I liked it at first but I got really lonely. I mean I just didn't see my friends as much or even talk to them. But i didn't have any siblings doing it with me.

I rely on the social aspect of school too much to be homeschooled. And I thrive in traditional classrooms so I'm all good where I am :D

That's what matters. :) I was failing in the public school systems, but being homeschooled has helped me to indulge in my strengths and to go out at my own pace in subjects that I am not comfortable with.

I guess that would be cool to do, take time on whatever you really needed help with.

I could use that right now, making up 4 weeks of school...

yea, I go to a really high class- boarding type school and all of us have to be at the same pace and everything!!!!! It totally sucks. I hate my school, we have so many stupid rules.

wow i just go to public school, but i am in some more advanced classes :/ but probably in the top 20 smartest kids in my school haha

me too... hehehehehe. I think all us on here are pretty smart, I mean come on, we chose an online library chat site instead of Facebook!

true, true...

except eris, who just has too much free time and reading material ;)

personally, I think Librarything kicks big Facebook bootay if you ask me!!!

hahahaha YES *high five*

* air high fives back*

woo!

This is kind of a random question but this is a pretty good topic to ask it in and it also relates to our current discussion.

Do you think Katniss, Gale, Prim, and Peeta were any good at school?

Prim would probably be. But the others...

I'm not sure, but I doubt that the education they'd recieve would have been any good. When the government gets involved with everything in a person's life, the end result tends to be crappy.

i think peeta and prim would have been good students but gale and katniss had too much on their mind....trying to keep their families alive, to worry about grades in school. in my opinion.

yeah i agree with #125. they both seem liked they would be good students.

I think that they all would try but their living situation might prevent it.
(except Katniss, she seems to wild-minded to sit in a classroom all day

yeah... and i dont think that gale and katniss would be terrible students, just more average than prim and peeta.

Here's my thought.
Peeta seems a little bit more brute than brain. Gale might be smart since he's good at trapping. I bet prim is a good student though. Katniss might be to "wired" to be able to concerntrate.

agreed mrmcfluff

hmm thats different... but ok

I think i was more upset about the new games. I mean you just had this big revolution and killed thousands of people to stop it so ya it totally fine to have another games why not :(