Mockingjay: Please tell me this is going to get better.

[alexandral]

I am through about 40% of "Mockingjay", and dear friends list, I am getting seriously annoyed. Katniss is undergoing what is probably the worst ever character development in the history of fiction.

Where is Katniss that was a strong survivor? Where? When was she replaced by this whiny clueless mess:

- "No-one is telling me anything! My life is a woooooooooe!" Me: no-one is telling her anything because she is naïve beyond any belief (to the point where her naivety has become brain-deficiency) and throws tantrums all the time?

- "EVERYONE IS EVIL! Capitol is EVIL! Rebels ARE EVIL! Everyone is evil! Even Haymitch! How dares he to try to keep me alive! Even cats are evil!". Me: I am eye-rolling so hard my eyes are in danger.

- "Everyone died because of Meeeeeeeeee! I should have died! Died!" . Me: Katniss, get a grip on yourself. Please get a grip.

- "Oh no! Look at poor me suffering so much when watching Peeta tortured on TV! I passed out! And I raged! " Me: Peeta is tortured. PEETA. How come it is all about YOU?

Leaving my "I am so annoyed at this" feelings aside and trying to be rational: the character development of Katniss is that of Sansa Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire) in reverse. Sansa starts as young and terribly naïve and grows into a survivor. Katniss starts as a survivor and disintegrates into a puddle of jelly with no brains.

Please tell me this is going to get better. As it stands now, I think Katniss is as good a role model to young girls as Bella (Twilight), just in a different way (no brains, tantrums, "me me me" attitude)! I am so horrified that this is supposed to be "a feminist book for young adults".

PS: Shall I keep listening? There are 6.5 more hours of this! Or shall I give up, find the spoilers, and move on to some better books?

Comments

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I love discussions!

1) Yes, it does. As I mentioned in some other comments, In A Song of Ice and Fire (for example) I feel the danger and the horror. In HG? No , I don't.

2) I honestly can't see how I can offend you personally - we are discussing fictional characters here, and what I am stating is my opinion (largely influenced by 1)).

But you might be missing my point here. I have nothing against Katniss herself (for the record, neither I have anything against Bella). As far as I am concerned, all girls are good, ALL! What I am objecting to is that in these books, as in many books before them, it is THE GIRL who is overemotional and can't deal and etc. etc. THE BOYS seem to deal perfectly fine! EVEN FINICK! He has recovered after the clinical death (I am further down in the book now) Even Peeta! But Katniss is still all over the place. I want THE GIRL to be able to deal for once!
So again, I don't understand how can I offend YOU here. :(
3) Honestly, we'll have to agree to disagree here. The person that pays no attention to "finer details" as well as "the whole plan" is a low-intelligence person in my book.

4) I tell you what is wrong. :D It is like when I hurt my leg badly and my sister was rolling in hysterics because SHE felt so bad about it. Her hysterics didn't help me in any way, and I don't think Katniss' hysterics can help Peeta.

And YAY! I am the same - I don't at all imply that your points are invalid, they are just right for .. you.

Re: Bella. I am not sure how Katniss survived in the arena now. :(

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEEE! Your comment is everything I wanted to say, but expressed beutifully. THANK YOU.

Also re: she-ros. I hate the term. I have always worked in a male-oriented field myself and I want more ladies doing more "male-oriented" stuff.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't start me on Peeta vs Gale. I just thought "one rant at a time". :D Where in the book 1 I was semi-ok with Katniss using two boys at once thinking "she was just trying to survive", by Mockingjay I am really NOT HAPPY with this.

THANK YOU FOR THE REC. Now that I sorted my reading speed via audiobooks, I will most definitely read this one soon. Your recs always work well for me.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Absolutely agree with your every word. Personally I think it is more important to get all the points you mentioned right in the young adult book because there is more chance that the book will affect the minds of young adults who are still in formative stage.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It gets much much worse. I really did like the first book, but now I am afraid the whole series are spoiled for me.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am almost at the end too, and as you - I think the trilogy overall doesn't get much good feelings from me.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

** bonds ** I really didn't expect this to go so wrong. Now I got to the part where Collins is using the "games" scenario again. FOR HE THIRD TIME.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Seriously, this is a train wreck. I am feelings this fast because I want to know the material so that I can criticise it.

[intermezzo]

You're welcome! I was just spreading the love. :) I hope you like the books.

[intermezzo]

You're welcome. That trilogy is one of my favorite things ever! ♥ Btw, if you like the books - or even if you don't (though I REALLY hope you do)- make sure to check Nora's blog. There are some insightful posts. Some are about the trilogy, which I suggest you don't read cos they're wayyyy too spoilery ie like character studies (I know, I know, you like spoilers, but in this case I highly suggest you avoid them), but others are about fandom or books and more.