EDCMOOC discussion

Please post any thoughts here.

The chat will be on Twitter on Saturday 3rd May @ 21:30 (UK time).

I'll let Ping workout the NZ dates!

Thanks
KC

Thx K!

Next #edcmchat looks like:
UK Saturday May 3rd 9.30pm-10.30pm
New York Saturday May 3rd 4.30pm-5.30pm
NZ Sunday May 4th 8.30am-9.30am
Other US / Europe?

A return to a book - longer read but it's been flamin' popular!

Having watched the film, I wonder what the book'll be like?

film not a bad representation of the book but misses some of the nuances

Thanks Anne! O goodie ~ like having watched Dune, and THEN the delight of reading the book and all its nuances and deeper textures.

Ping wrote: "Thanks Anne! O goodie ~ like having watched Dune, and THEN the delight of reading the book and all its nuances and deeper textures."

I loved Dune!! Never read the book! Perhaps this summer!

Ary wrote: "Ping wrote: "Thanks Anne! O goodie ~ like having watched Dune, and THEN the delight of reading the book and all its nuances and deeper textures."

I loved Dune!! Never read the book! Perhaps this s..."

Little surprises between film and book :)
(no spoilers!)

Please add any thoughts, themes or discussion topics.
Thanks,
K

One theme could be about the disinhibtion effects of media concerning violence or other offensive behavior. We see it with the television in the Hunger games, how is it different with the internet ?

Was shocked watching the scene right after the tributes were elevated unto the arena: quite a different sense, level, and implications of violence in the context of the book/film being a teenage/young adult category - hadn't expected the almost-cannibalistic; violence/offensive behaviour on the Internet depends on one's search behaviour? Whereas there's no choice what's on tv (especially in HG!). Deep impacts indeed Stephane: how violence/other offensive behaviour in media might desensitize readers/viewers to such?

Haven't had such a reader-involved rivetting read in a while; just ate book 1 up and moved on to number 2 (Catching Fire) and looking forward to number 3, especially as I haven't seen the film version - I can explore the scenes internally without prior reference! So glad there was at least one major bit or more that wasn't featured in the film, though twas a horrific bit but added more grist to the game-designers' cruelty.

What comes to mind about HG overall: Colosseum gladiators bloodbath, the 99%-vs-1%.
One unique highlight for me about this book amidst all the ones we've read: an emphatic focus, tactile celebration of, and poetic imagery/meaning emphasis on plant (and animal/insect) life/metaphors. eg. dandelion, mockingjay, ...

Perhaps an additional theme could be:
What resonances/relevances does HG bear with the world(s) that we know/live in?
eg. in technological innovations?
"What must it be like, I wonder, to live in a world where food appears at the press of a button? ..." (p.65; especially given the survivalist title and overarching plot), virtual reality & games, bio-droids, surveillance,... and the delightful contrast with hunting, gathering, ...

Maybe another theme/question: Is this an appropriate coming-of-age novel? Why/why not? (Is it realistic?)

What about a HG recipe book? Google: there IS one: http://www.amazon.com/The-Unofficial-....

More thoughts please, anyone? To add more ingredients & input for our chat this weekend.

Thanks again Stephane! For moderating our next June 1st chat (Asimov's The Last Question, our next read).

Unfortunately, I haven't really participated in this group setting at all. When you post the reading for June, that time frame might work better for me. I have been swamped with graduate studies and have papers that need to be written this weekend.

Laurie wrote: "Unfortunately, I haven't really participated in this group setting at all. When you post the reading for June, that time frame might work better for me. I have been swamped with graduate studies ..."

Hi Laurie ~ no pressure! :) Hope you'll be able to enjoy a June read, which will be polled/decided on in about a month's time, out in a tweet & on Edcmooc Goodreads. We seem to be bubbling along well on collective goodwill efforts and love of a good read. Thanks for your note and All the Best with your grad papers!

Thanks all for some great ideas. I had a few notes about reality TV - it's massively popular in the UK but caricatures people into single dimension love/hate figures. Also, how society was organised was interesting - Districts organised for specialisation (have you seen District 9 the film? reminded me of this) - exploitation of the population, offering them up as sacrifices.... the District mirrored a reservation (as in the US) - perhaps a critique?

Anyway, here are some suggested questions for later...

1. How does media affect people's tolerance of violence or other offensive behaviour? - audiences consumption of the HG was on the television - how is this different to the internet?


2. Is the 'Hunger Games' reality TV taken to a logical conclusion? How do the individuals fight to preserve their own identities in the face of the Game?

3. What resonances/relevances does HG bear with the world(s) that we know/live in?
eg. in technological innovations?
"What must it be like, I wonder, to live in a world where food appears at the press of a button? ..." (p.65; especially given the survivalist title and overarching plot), virtual reality & games, bio-droids, surveillance,... and the delightful contrast with hunting, gathering, ...

But also social resonances, which leads onto the next question...

4. How do the sacrificial children rebel within their own districts? - Ping pointed out the role of nature as a narrative device - is nature a shorthand for rebellion in HG?

5. Is this an appropriate coming-of-age novel? Why/why not? (Is it realistic?)

Thanks K for a fine summin' up!

Sorry I missed the discussion. Too much going on with kids/school, etc on a Saturday afternoon. Thanks for posting your thoughts and reflections. I agree, they are a good, if emotionally hard to read, series.

I'll be returning from holiday next month so will miss the June conversation as well.

"See' you all on Twitter. :-)