Finished "The Hunger Games #2: Catching Fire". I found the story had enjoyable (er... that's not the right word), 'interesting' and thought-provoking moments like the original, especially in the last half but the rest was rather unfocused and dull. Suzanne Collins, if you have 250 pages of story, don't pad it out to twice as many pages. I hope the third and final book, "Mockingjay" is better.

So... Robert Pattinson is a possibility for Finnick Odair.

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/ ... atching-f/

~Riella

When the hype began for HG, I didn't know what it was, and I wasn't looking to jump on the band wagon just because of this. Howver, I became intrigued by the story when I saw a little blip on tv showing clips from the movie and became interested. Finished all three books a couple of weeks back (though not all at once in rapid fire ) and had the opportunity to see the movie a couple of days ago. Thoughts:

The first book is probably my favorite with the third being a close second. I found the second book to a bit dull and tedious (the second portion improved, but the first half felt like... a time filler). Favorite character? I don't have one really- there's not any particular person that I can really relate to, so they are all about even for me.

The movie was good, but not the most spectacular film I have ever seen. I wished there was more shot variety- I felt claustrophobic from the start with all the close-upsor extreme close-ups, I needed some breathing room. I wanted to see more

I was more impressed by some of the techniques used with the sound design (i.e.

Spoiler

when Katniss blows up the supplies and there's a ringing with all the sound being muffled or muted- for a second I thought I had gone deaf , which connects back to the scene in the book really well

Big disappointment in

All in all, I would read the book again as well as watch the film.

I bought the first book and read it before the movie came out - liked it very much, very thought-provoking. I don't want to own the other books in the series, though, as they are getting even darker than the first one - but I do want to read them.

All the copies of the local library are on loan, and I've joined a list to be told when one is available. (I tried borrowing a French copy and reading it in French, but my French isn't good enough ...)

But in a month or two I should be able to continue reading. I've read as many spoilers as possible - with such a dark book, I prefer to have some warning. And with such a theme, it's only right that the book should be dark, and that even the main characters don't come out of their experiences unscathed.

The Hungry Games themes are dark and disturbing but they have nothing on Stephen King (and he's not the 'worst'. Even The Lord of the Rings is more intense.

Possibly more intense. But they don't have the theme of children being required by the government to kill other children.

More intense, but less thought-provoking.

I have avoided Stephen King - even his books.

Stephen King writes many redemptive stories. The Stand is particularly good. He's often given a lot of bad press for content but unlike many other horror authors, he writes with purpose and a message. Fair enough if you still avoid him , and his works.

Great discussion, all! Feel free to discuss THG in the movies and books threads...and look for the return of this thread (or a new one) as the movie version of Catching Fire approaches.