I wrote out a novel of a comment in my Mockingjay post, but then realized it should just be a post. This is FULL of spoilers. So don't read if you don't want to be spoiled. If you do read, please love me through this. It has been a day of mulling over thoughts, and they are highly opinionated thoughts...so yes. Here they are.
I will divide my thoughts by characters:
1. Katniss
She has always been my homegirl, but in the first two books I was so frustrated by her. I felt like she was manipulative sometimes, and so untrusting and FOOLISH. But then you have to take into account everything that had happened in her life, and you cut her some slack. But I still wanted to CUT HER sometimes. ha! But in Mockingjay there wasn't one instance where I was frustrated with her. I was on her side 100% the entire time. And this is because her actions were motivated by her love for Peeta. For her need to protect her family, mainly Prim. She was courageous, even under apparent distress of losing the one person on earth who completely understood how she felt. The person who had always unconditionally loved her, but then was turned into a weapon AGAINST her. She stood brave. And I loved her for it. I think I loved her most when she helped Peeta when in the Capitol. She realized that he needed her. He needed her to take down her callous shell and to help him come back to her. She smoothed the hair from his eyes, GENTLY! KATNISS was GENTLE. She made sure he was fed. She kissed him so she wouldn't lose him. I loved seeing this side of her. Because, "..they take care of each other."
2. Finnick
I think everyone should know my intense love for Finnick. I always knew in my heart that the cocky, sexy demeanor that he flaunted was a front. By his actions in Catching Fire it was apparent he didn't care about those things. And in Mockingjay you saw that his life is centered around the girl he is in love with. And even though the doctors said that he was a little crazy because of the shock of the force field in arena, but I'm pretty sure he is only crazy because he knows they have his Annie. Poor, poor Annie. Anyway, where am I at? Oh yeah...I love Finnick. I loved that him and Katniss had this precious best friend relationship. They were there for each other in a very platonic way, when their other halves weren't. Finnick was truly the only person who knew exactly what she was going through. And she knew exactly what to say to him to keep his mind off things.
His bravery when he made the propo made me so proud. And my heart hurt for him. He truly was amazing. And when he was killed, my heart hurt so so so much! I actually was more shaken by his death than by Prim's. I know. I know. I love me some Finnick.
3. Coin
I knew she was shady. Anyone that has hair that looks like a wig is immediately on my "red alert" list. I was so glad Katniss noticed this. Also, anyone that is THAT violent needs to be shut up.
4. Boggs
How has no one mentioned him? He was one of my favorite characters in the book. He was completely on Katniss' side. He was there to protect the Mockingjay no matter what. He completely trusted her. He knew she knew what to do, even when Katniss herself didn't know. I loved him. And I was completely devastated when he died.
5. Cinna
I knew in my heart that Cinna was a goner in Catching Fire but I hoped he wasn't. I hoped he'd have a part in the rebellion. In helping Katniss. And even though he as gone, his legacy lived on! And it was so beautiful. He was always there with Katniss. ♥
6. Prim
I was so happy to see more of Prim. To be able to come to love her as Katniss did. She was so wise, and so loving. I loved that she was able to comfort Katniss. She was the "older sister" to her in many ways. And she NEEDED that. Especially when their mother wasn't there for Katniss.
7. Gale
Ok, this might be controversial, but here it goes. I needed a day to process my thoughts on the book, mainly because of Gale.
I need to come out and say that I always liked Gale. I really liked how solid of a friend he was. I appreciated his love for Katniss. I loved that he protected her family. And I felt bad for him that the love story was thrown in his face. I can't imagine how much that must have hurt. HOWEVER, I always felt there was something about him that was shady. I couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe it was that he was so willing to leave everything behind and run away with Katniss? Maybe it was his strong feelings towards rebelling against the capitol? Well, my thoughts became clear in Mockingjay.
Here are a couple instances that made my stomach twist, made me do the "fist of rage" and then finally text my friend Kate to say "gale is shady."
a. When he questioned Katniss' compassion for her stylists. I understand he doesn't "get it"...but if the person I loved qenuinely cared for someone, I wouldn't question it. I would go out of my way to help them, because in turn, it would make them happy. I was rubbed wrong.
b. When he got all buddy-buddy with Coin, I was like "oh no he dih'int."
c. Him not talking to Katniss about Peeta's propo. I was so on Katniss' side. He acted like nothing happened! That is not okay.
d. The Nut. I was so angry with him. I was so mad, and sickened by his decision. Katniss said it best, when she said she wished Peeta was there, because he would understand her anger for the unjust way the people of 2 were being treated. Gale knew how she felt, and he went with it anyway. His feelings towards the rebellion are stronger than his for Katniss. This is apparent!
e. I was upset to find out how many women he had kissed. I know it shouldn't bother me, but I can't help but think about how a certain someone else only loved one girl his entire life...hmm.
f. The way Gale volunteered to shoot Peeta made me want to punch him in the face.
g. And finally, the whole Prim bombing and the way he just left. I know this is open for debate, but here is what I think. I think Gale really did, truly love Katniss. Of course he did. And yes, maybe he left so it would make it easier for them, but it was cowardly. He should have straight up said, "I am so sorry what happened to Prim. I know you won't ever truly forgive me, and it breaks my heart. I think the best thing is for me to leave so that we can both move on. So things will be easier for us." BUT he didn't. That was cowardly. Especially when Katniss was in so much distress. He didn't even make sure she'd be okay! Ok...rant over. I won't even go into the fact that he said "Protecting your family was the only thing I had going for me." and how that completely proved he always had an agenda.
What I am trying to say is, Gale made it to my most disliked list after this book. And strangely, it had nothing to do with the fact that I love Peeta. It was just Gale in general. Sorry, ya'll.
8. Peeta
I loved how present Peeta was in the book by Katniss' thoughts alone. I thought he was very powerful character just by Katniss' memories of him. Her strong feelings of love for him.
With that being said, I missed him a lot. I missed the wonderful things he'd say to Katniss. I missed the kind gestures he'd do for other people. But it was okay! As much as I missed it, I loved the way Suzanne Collins let us see him in a new light. She let us see him basically grow into the person that is Peeta. The one we love. The boy with the bread. We got to see him fall in love with Katniss again! I loved when he would recall things from their past. The lamb stew, her favorite color, the story about the bread. It was heartbreaking to read, and I sobbed throughout, but it was beautiful!
I loved that even though he would get beaten, and even after he had been tormented, he still warned 13 about the bombing. I loved that he made a cake for Finnick and Annie's wedding. I loved that he saved Katniss from taking the poison!
But most of all, I loved that he gave Katniss time. When Gale seemed to always have an agenda, and "love me." "i'm right for you"...Peeta gave her time. He moved back to 12. He took care of her. He was there for her when she needed him. And eventually, they were able to be together. That was such a powerful example of love. I really sat there and sobbed after reading,
"You love me. Real or not real?"
"Real."
