Things That I Wondered About As I Read The Hunger Games

by Marinka on March 10, 2012

So I just finished reading The Hunger Games and am now reading the second book in the trilogy. I love, love, love it, but some things are driving me crazy. This post has spoilers. Not so much about the books, but about how my mind works. Or “works”.

1. Why aren’t more people named Katniss? That’s like the best name ever. Or Katnissinka.

2. Did mean kids in school call Peeta “PITA”?

3. How come during the whole Hunger Games Katniss never gets her period?

3a. Bella never got her period in Twilight, either. What’s up with that?

3b. Is it because both Katniss and Bella are super skinny?

3c. Or is it just one of those things that people don’t mention in books, like going to the bathroom?

4. How come in the future people only have landlines and no cell phones?

5. Is Twitter still a thing?

6. I see that waxing is still painful. Nice job, future.

7. So because they have The Hunger Games, there’s no more other reality TV? Like at all?!

8. Does Europe still exist?

9. Where are all the vampires?

10. This is the best mash up of The Handmaid’s Tale-Lord of the Flies-Survivor-The Bachelor ever!

Have you read the book? What did you wonder about?
In my never-ending effort to join the 1%, this post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

Aly March 10, 2012 at 9:30 pm

Why didn’t the vampires come out and eat all the kids during the Hunger Games? Don’t get me started on where the werewolves were.

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Marinka March 10, 2012 at 9:48 pm

that’s a good point about the werewolves. Although I though they were implied with the whole mutants thing. (No offense to any mutants!)

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Aly March 10, 2012 at 9:50 pm

But were they brooding with their shirts off? I think not! They were devouring people. They may need a new PR person. Just sayin’.

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Glamamom
Twitter:
March 11, 2012 at 12:14 am

Young adult sci-fi? I was all over it. Totally loved except that my loins burned for more graphic sexual detail, like a threesome between Pita, Katnissinka & Gale. The post-apocalyptic world is WAY conservative. Sheesh.

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:02 pm

I love you for using the word “loins”. Although I’m a little upset that you didn’t mention “of pork”.

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Jodi F. March 12, 2012 at 11:29 am

She was being respectful of your heritage and made it a kosher post.

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Deborah J March 11, 2012 at 12:44 am

I asked my 17 year old your questions because she knows everything, and
I’m old and need everything explained to me.

In Teen speak-
Bathrooms and periods and stuff are gross.
You don’t care about mobile phones when you don’t have food.
Twitter isn’t a thing even now…it’s for idiots who don’t have a life.
I think that the Hunger Games is like the ultimate reality TV…’caus like people die.
Vampires are last year…this year it’s Zombies.

Straight from the youth of today.

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:03 pm

I take umbrage at the whole Twitter thing. Also, I need to look up what “umbrage” means in the event that it’s short for “umbrellas and garbage”.

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Stasha
Twitter:
March 11, 2012 at 6:23 am

I am actually intrigued to read a book! How could you do this to me?

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:04 pm

I think it’s ok, as long as you don’t make it a habit or anything.

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amy
Twitter:
March 11, 2012 at 8:09 am

And another thing…Why was Katniss’s mom such a bump on the log? I mean why didn’t she get out of bed and take care of things? Run carpool etc?? and the war, what started it, when did it happen?? Lots of questions!

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:05 pm

Well, I think she was depressed that her husband was killed in the mine.

I’m pretty sure Lack Of Painless Ways To Remove Body Hair started the war.

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amy
Twitter:
March 11, 2012 at 8:09 am

And another thing…Why was Katniss’s mom such a bump on the log? I mean why didn’t she get out of bed and take care of things? Run carpool etc?? and the war, what started it, when did it happen?? Lots of questions!

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Dawn
Twitter:
March 11, 2012 at 10:40 am

After some careful thought (well, about as much as the 5.45 minutes it took me to read and then compose this comment), I have decided that your post, and its accompanying comments, really, really should have accompanied me to my last Book Club meeting – the one where we discussed “The Hunger Games” and I was the facilitator. Such important insights really deserve more discussion. I sincerely hope that during your Club meeting (you ARE reading this for your Book Club, right? Or did I just read a post in my dreams that you are doing this. Geesh, now I’m worried that I’m reading blogs while I’m sleeping. I may have a problem) you pick up where I left off and give us a full report on what your Club decides on all these topics/questions. Although, of course I suspect that Deborah J’s daughter probably has the correct answers….

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:07 pm

Sadly, we’re reading The Orphan Master’s Son for book group and not The Hunger Games. Something about us all agreeing on “The Orphan Master’s Son” or some nonsense.

I don’t get it either.

I’m preparing some questions already. How would Katniss fare against The Orphan Master’s Son?

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alaina
Twitter:
March 11, 2012 at 10:51 am

I need to read these books still. Good point about the chick’s periods. Although Bella suddenly remembers hers once she gets all knocked up. How convenient.

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:08 pm

It’s one of those things– you never think about it until you miss it. (I feel that way about my youth. And waistline)

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Mary March 11, 2012 at 11:20 am

My book club is reading this book and I think your questions make excellent discussion questions. Thanks for the insightfulness:)

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:08 pm

I’m here for you. Like a friend and/or a spiritual leader.

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Lesley March 11, 2012 at 11:29 am

I was wondering the same thing about the Twilight series! If a paper cut sets the vampires off how are they managing the monthly visitor? & of course I read The Hunger Games after I finished having babies but I love the names Katniss & Primrose! Maybe my girls will use these unique names, all though I doubt by then they’ll be unique!

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Marinka March 11, 2012 at 7:10 pm

I read somewhere that Stephanie Meyer explained that only fresh blood turned on vampires and that Edward was too much of a gentleman to say anything when Bella was menstruating. Well anything other than “thank god you’re no longer PMSing.”

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Mary March 11, 2012 at 6:07 pm

Loved the first book most. Glad to see that the girl who will play Katniss in the movie isn’t super skinny. But I always wonder about bathrooms and periods. Always.

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Marta
Twitter:
March 12, 2012 at 12:08 am

Finished it in one night on Friday. Couldn’t put it down. Just started the second one. All of your points are very valid, and I’m surprised that I didn’t think of them myself.

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tracy@sellabitmum
Twitter:
March 12, 2012 at 9:47 pm

I also just finished it. Now I’m letting my 9 year old read it. Am I a bad mom. Maybe I need to change my name to Katniss.

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RebeccaNYC March 12, 2012 at 11:30 pm

I am almost finished with the first book..reading during every possible moment (on breaks at work, on the subway, in bed) I have not devoured a book this way since Harry Potter. Now I know that the best books for me are KIDS books…sheesh I’m an intellectual. What I wonder about is why didn’t I know anything about these books until now?

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Yuliya
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 10:51 pm

Oh honey where have you been, you JUST read the hunger games?
Since you jumped on the bandwagon so late I don’t have to feel guilty for not inviting you to my hunger games party, right?

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Loukia March 14, 2012 at 1:25 pm

I loved reading these books, but for some reason, I cannot finish the last book. In part because I don’t want to know what the ending is in case I don’t agree with it, and in case Kat picks the wrong guy. I don’t know if the wrong guy is Peeta or Gale but Gale is hotter in the movie, so I went from Team Peeta to Team Gale… isn’ that awful of me? Also, Draw Something has been taking up a lot of my time lately, too. Love that you wrote this!! xo

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