What's Anya Page? | Steph Anya Book Club discussion

This is actually my first time ever reading this book, and I’m split between being sad about missing out on the original hype and being glad that I get to experience a new fandom and excitement in my thirties! Is this anyone else’s first time reading it? If not, what do you remember about the first time that you read it and has your interpretation changed over time?

This was my first time reading it and I’m glad I did. It was awesome! I did rely on my memory of the film for the visuals however so I wonder how I would have enjoyed it if I never seen it.

That’s good point! I tried to sort of forget how the actors looked because Haymitch would look totally different in my mind, but Jennifer Lawrence was definitely perfect for her role. It does help sometimes to have the preloaded visuals.

I first read the series around 2011-2012!
Reading this time around I enjoyed it so much more because I’ve now seen the movies several times and it still holds up as an excellent series!
Now I’m excited to finish the entire series again!

I can’t wait to read the next one!

I love this series! I just finished it for the 2nd time, really not to long ago. I read it when it first came out. This time I listened to it on Audible. Totally a different experience and I have to say the actress Tatiana Maslany (she plays SHE Hulk on Disney+ if you don't know who she is) bodys that performance. The characters voices, the scenes she depicts, she just places you inside Panem. Woo, she did that!! Now the movies I haven't really watched all the way though. I might go watch them now, but I'm more of a "the books are better than the movies" kind of person, soooo I don't know! Maybe??!!

I wanted to add I absolutely loved your youtube series on the Twilight books and movies.. Thank you for that!!

Tamika wrote: "I love this series! I just finished it for the 2nd time, really not to long ago. I read it when it first came out. This time I listened to it on Audible. Totally a different experience and I have t..."

I did a tandem read and yes the audiobook was INCREDIBLE. I had no idea it was the actress who played SheHulk. WOW!

Thank you so much! I'm thinking about doing the same thing for Hunger Games.

I first read The Hunger Games series when I was the age Katniss is in the book, just before the movies were made.

Of note, I had read the book at my sister’s suggestion. My sister is 9 years older than I am and often served a role as mentor/third parent for my entire childhood. She mentioned when she recommended the book that I might get very emotional; she said she had been so affected that she had needed to put the book down for several days before she could continue. When I told her I finished the book in one sitting, she looked incredulous. I told her I had been distraught during major moments, but not enough to stop me from continuing. She looked at me a long moment before saying, “That’s because you don’t have a little sister.”

We talk about perspective taking when we talk about building strong relationships. It wasn’t until I read this book as a teenager that I understood, not just known conceptually but really understood, that when my sister was 16 and I was 7, she had been carrying much more responsibility than she probably should have been. And that’s the great thing about stories. Stories are sometimes a safe place to feel unsafe feelings; a way to see not only different worlds but through different eyes.

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m also a big sister, so your sister’s feelings really resonate. I love that you were able to learn a little more about her love for you from this story.

I first read The Hunger Games shortly before the movie was released when I was in high school. I’ve always loved its focus on the relationships Katniss values, especially her younger sister. I’m nine years older than my own and resonated deeply with the struggle between being both a regular teenager and her sister’s primary person. I haven’t read it since high school and am interested to see how I connect with the narrative as an adult.

Yes, highly recommend a reread! Especially as both an older sibling and an adult now. Come back whenever you do, and let us know if your experience with the story changes.