Lush Library discussion

I started reading the first book yesterday and finished it a couple of hours ago and I wasn't disappointed. I wanted to read it before the film comes out next month. It reminded me of Lord of the Flies and Fahrenheit 451 and I'm pretty sure there's a film that has a similar theme. It's an interesting idea and I really want to read all 3 books.
So who else has read it? Realistic? Conceivable?

I read it and liked it, well I liked the premise some of the writing and characters are a bit meh. I've heard other people say it's nicked the idea from Blade Runner but having never seen BR it was a new story for me and I thought it was original. The 3rd book lets the rest of them down I think, cetainly the end is a bit disappointing but overall they were enjoyable reads.

I liked the first one best, I really liked the idea of it, and I think probably a trilogy was a little too much and that she could have just written one bigger book. But as YA easy reading, I thought it was a clever story and a good read.

Kerry wrote: "I liked the first one best, I really liked the idea of it, and I think probably a trilogy was a little too much and that she could have just written one bigger book. But as YA easy reading, I thou..."

I might read them int eh next couple of months and then start a wee chat thread. I think it would be nice to have a few discussion threads on books that a quite a few of us have read.

I re-read them last week, because I went to see them film (which I thought was very well adapted).

I love them, and I really like Katniss as a heroine.

I finally saw the film yesterday and thought it was really good, stayed true to the book but toned down slightly to make it a 12.

!!!SPOILERS ahead!!!





an author I really like, Tamora Pierce, has commented that she enjoyed the books very much, and that, at least when she first read them, she loved Katniss as a hero "except for her inability to connect romantically with Gale or Peeta--I don't think it makes sense."

here is the link: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I don't agree, first of all I think it's really refreshing that this series wasn't all about who her boyfriend was going to be and that that kind of romantic love was taking a real backseat in it. in quite a lot of YA books the heroine's biggest problem seems to be this boy or that boy she has a crush on and will-he-won't-he be her boyfriend and they get together, the end. and that's fine.

but the way I see it, Katniss has been traumatised so many times by the horrible dictatorship she is forced to exist in, by her father's death, her mother's emotional abandonment and then her participation in the games to save Prim, she is just a little preoccupied with her struggle to survive.
Gale might be something like an actual soulmate to her, but his views and his actions in the rebellion are too ruthless for her, and I think ultimately she feels betrayed by him.
Peeta is, well he's just Peeta, and if it wasn't for the games I don't think they would ever have had much of an interaction. it's not like they have a whole lot of things in common. (I'm not a huge Peeta fan, I think he's a bit dull. but he turns out to be a decent bloke in the end, so I don't mind them ending up together, as long as he makes her happy.)

sorry, it feels like I'm just rambling now, actually I just wanted to post the link and see what your thoughts are on the subject.

I've just read the first book (ok - read it yesterday, as the weather was so crap) and really got into this... I'm now reading and am starting to warm to Katniss, but Peeta needs a kick up the ass as far as I am concerned...

I guess I must be a massive YA book fan. I adored it, I've not been so gripped or moved in a long time. I fell in love with Peeta bit gutted who they chose to play him in the movie as I just don't know if he'll do a good job, but we'll see.

Sam (VanillaFountain) wrote: "I guess I must be a massive YA book fan. I adored it, I've not been so gripped or moved in a long time. I fell in love with Peeta bit gutted who they chose to play him in the movie as I just don't ..."

I felt like that too, Sam. I read the whole trilogy over a long weekend, and while I was reading it I just felt like it was the best thing I'd read in a long, long time. I was having a bit of a reading slump, and they just completely refreshed me. I like YA books in general, but these blew me away. At first, I thought the whole premise sounded grim, but I'm so, so glad I gave them a chance. I'm glad you liked them, too :)

Thank you Sarah, I was starting think I was the only one :/ Have you seen the film? Was it as good and true to the books? I keep thinking "You love me. Real or not real?" Breaks my heart everytime. Peeta is definitely my kind of guy I didn't find him boring in the slightest and loved the way he and Katniss bonded. Most of the times I laughed in this book were down to comments made by Peeta so I guess he was my favourite lol

I thought we'd all liked it? everyone's given 4 or 5 stars. I was just expecting Peeta to be a bit more attractive in the film!

Jo wrote: "I thought we'd all liked it? everyone's given 4 or 5 stars. I was just expecting Peeta to be a bit more attractive in the film!"

Me too! I guess I expected the guy who plays Gale but with his naturally lighter hair.

Did Josh Hutcherson play Peeta well? I'm having to wait for the dvd's now as I didn't read it in time to go to the cinema. From the interviews I've seen he seems to have a very similar personality to what I was expecting of Peeta.

I didn't mean I thought no-one else liked it. I meant I thought I was the only one who loved it...

I made everyone at work read it because I liked it so much, they did too!
He was good, it was just that in the book you can see why Katniss might fall for him but I didn't get that from the film. That may well just be me though, film adaptations are so subjective - my friend and I both really liked the film but thought Cato was more attractive than Peeta which is not how i'd imagined. Just personal taste though

Yes the boy/man who plays Cato is lovely looking I saw him in an interview too ;) It's hard because generally I go for darker looking men, however I see Josh Hutcherson as the little boy from Zathura. He seems quite small too and I expected Peeta to be the same size as Gale. I hope I don't feel the same way I will be totally disappointed. As soon as I saw his name I thought Oh no! lol!

Do they do the bit in the film (view spoiler)[ where Peter is camouflaged in the mud? that really made me laugh :) (hide spoiler)]

That bit of the film had us in stitches, it's not done quite as in the book but well, you'll see :D

I just read my comment again from February and I didn't sound like I did like it, did I? Perhaps I was in a grump that day, I can't even remember which character I didn't like.
Woody Harrelson was an odd choice for Haymitch but pulled it off ok, despite being too young he appears suitably drunk and grizzled. Lenny Kravitz and the girl who played Katniss were perfect choices though imo

I guess I expected Haymitch to look older, but from the trailers I've seen I could see why they would choose him. I'm looking forward to seeing Lenny Kravitz playing Cinna I loved the character and now I see it he seems like the perfect choice. The girl who plays Katniss looks exactly like I pictured whilst I was reading the book :)

I'm SO excited!!

I haven't seen the film yet. I suppose I'm expecting to be disappointed, and I'm trying to put it off. When I love a book as much as I love these, film versions never quite seem to live up to them.

I was pleasantly surprised by the film, of course they always have to miss bits out and a lot of the Katniss/Peeta relationship was condensed but I think they did a really good job of it. They do use 'steadycam' a bit though which I hate.

I'm 60% through the second one and had to restrain myself from sitting up and reading it all last night. It's so easy to get back in to. I'm also enjoying picturing Haymitch since I watched the film between books. Most other actors were pretty unknown (but I had just watched the lead in Winter's Bone but she was very different in this film) which I'm glad of because then they aren't stamped on my memory and I can rely on the books descriptions for my imagination.

Peeta or Gale? Which do you prefer? Don't post spoilers though!

Peeta, the film doesn't do him justice to my mind though. He wasn't as funny in the film.

I did think the film found it difficult to capture what they endured and the bond that resulted. I think it's a shame that Gale didn't feature more before they went in to the games - I would have liked some more depth to his character.

Yes I agree. Do you prefer Gale based on the books?

It's difficult - the strong man of few words against the sweet guy with hidden layers? Think I'd go for Peeta - he's a grower. He also seems like a better choice for Katniss. Who do you like?

How many have you read?

I have read all three. I am a great believer of opposites attract, I think they make stronger couples too. It is a different world, one of the things I love about it is how women can take on a 'more masculine role' and men a 'more feminine' and no-one thinks anything of it. I really wish the world was like this, people are just people. I adore Peeta but in a sense I think I probably identify with him as I am quieter and gentle and hate hurting others. My husband is more like Gale which is quite funny, but I also think Katniss is a lot like Gale they have a lot in common and have similar views on the world.

It's a team Edward/team Jacob situation;)

I didn't like Edward until the last book, but yes!

Based on the book - Peeta but based on the film - Gale

Have you seen the film yet Sam?

Yes, I have seen the film. Gale AKA Liam Hemsworth is a beautiful man. Just like his brother mmmm haha! However I do think they made the right casting choice as Josh Hutcherson is a brilliant actor he & Jennifer Lawrence just bounce off each other. I liked it, he did a good job with what they allowed him to do. I did expect someone taller/broader & a natural blond but I can't think of anyone I would use to replace him... He does look very strange blond :s