Totally agree Mani. Had they not gone to the HG, Katniss and Peeta never would have really known each other.

The actor portraying Gale did NOT look like the Gale I had in my head as I read the books. That was disappointing to me.

Good point! I think they drifting before that too. She just couldn't be her 'old' self after what happened. She had changed. And then Gale did too, maybe for the worse.

Also, I don't think she ever really loved either of them.

Was the cycle deemed to repeat itself? Peeta's father loved Katniss's mother (were they ever together or did he love her from afar?), and she married Katniss's father (the coalminer instead of the baker). Peeta loved Katniss from afar, but the same thing would have happened, Katniss marrying a coalminer (Gale- her description was he was big and strong, so he could work in the mines) instead of the baker, but the HG changed the "course of history" so to say.

I'll wait for the next movie Or if someone wants to record a reading of it, that's fine too!

Interesting thoughts PState!

It's always fun to try and figure out what the author intended and didn't intend....

I missed that the first time I read the books, I just re-read HG, and it hit me.

But in the first book, Katniss said she would never marry becuase she wouldn't bring children into the world to be forced to deal with Hunger Games or buy teseare(SP?).

I think she grew to love Peeta during the HG. Several times when they started kissing etc, she couldn't describe how she felt. She grew to love him.

Participating in the Hunger Games together skewed them a bit. I think that's why Katniss was confused about Peeta and Gale, too. Gale wasn't there. Katniss and Peeta had a special bond. Her earlier bond with Gale just wasn't as strong after the HG.

I pictured Peeta bigger. He was described as stronger and larger than the other kids.

Did I imagine this, or did Katniss say or think that she and Gale would have eventually ended up together - Maybe not married and with kids, but still together.

I agree Sunny- Katniss had different feelings for Peeta, she couldn't describe them, and it was different than her feelings Gale. She grew to trust Gale out of survival, and she did not trust anyone else. She wouldn't let anyone get close to her, except Prim, because people always left her. (Her mother and father). She was always questioning everyone's ulterior motives. She thought Peeta was acting, and using his love for her was an act to gain favor with the crowd.

I agree PState. But she grew to actually love him. It was a great series of books. Very complex, especially when you get into the second and third books.

Katniss said she would never marry anyone, not Gale, not anyone because she said she would never make a child have to worry about having to go into the HG.

I think she grew to love Peeta because he did not have any ulterior motive, he loved her, plain and simple, and I think that was really hard for her to accept at first. Remember how devastated she was in the third book... I don't want to give away spoilers to those who haven't gotten to the second or third books....

I love the series. I am going to start re-reading the second book sometime this week.

I agree. I'd like to read the first book again. I'll have to see if I can borrow it from my neighbor.

I saw the movie last week and I just had to go back and re-read the first book.

::Makes note to call my neighbor, the librarian, to borrow the book again::

Movie comes out on DVD tomorrow!

And I think they are going to start filming the second book next month.

I'm super excited about the DVD coming out!!

walmart has a great deal coming out- $27 for the dvd, digital copy, and a pendant. the dvd alone is $20, so the extra $7 for the digital copy and the necklace is good. My daughter is OBSESSED- i just wish it was coming out a month later so i could save it for her birthday. She'll never be able to wait that long. lol

Super excited for the DVD tomorrow !!! Am almost finished with Mockingjay (yes I started the whole series rather late)- I have not seen the movie yet at all & am looking forward to it. I usually always like the books better but I have high hopes for the film.

The only thing nagging at me is, obv I have pictures if the characters in my head, and I do know who was cast for the most parts BUT I seriously had no idea Lenny Kravitz was Cinna ..... I totally pictured Cinna to look like George Stephanopoulus (from E! Fashion Police) ~ that is gonna be an adjustment (in a good way) for me

Who was cast as Gale? I don't recognize him

I agree, Lenny Kravitz is NOT who I pictured as Cinna - George S. isn't really who I pictured either, but closer, for sure.

Gale is Liam somebody, he is Miley Cyrus' fiance. (DON'T JUDGE ME.)

Have you seen who is President Snow? He is perfect perfect perfect. Also Caesar Flickerman is beautifully cast.

(Judging EGB). The actor that plays Gale is the brother of the guy that plays Thor in The Avengers. They are an attractive family.

I am getting the DVD this weekend.

Liam Hemsworth plays Gale.
Chris Hemsworth plays Thor, as well as the dad in the 2009 remake of Star Trek.

Both are extremly yummy.

I still think the guy who plays Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) is cuter than Liam Hemsworth. Although I liked Peeta better than Gale in the books so I may be pre-disposed.

I liked Gale better - but I think both parts were well cast. I think they nailed it on most every character. I thought Cinna was especially well cast. I don't know that Lennie Kravitz is how I had him pictured, but he just fits so well, I got on board with it really fast.

I didn't have Woodie Harrelson in mind either - but he fits the character well too.

Haymitch should have been drunker in the movie.