#reread2023

it’s absolutely wild that Coin seemed to think Peeta “if it weren’t for the baby” Mellark would be easier to work with

also, Katniss hugging Peeta so he won’t make her do push ups? she’s so funny I love her

this is what I mean about how the movies fumbled the look of the Capitol by making it all brutalist architecture

TLDR: Katniss isn’t unfeeling and her choice of Peeta isn’t just because he was the only one there; in fact, ironically, she is explicitly repulsed by that characterization of her

I know we can’t be sure that Katniss knows what she’s going to do precisely, but “for Prim” tells me volumes: because Prim would never want another Games; she died HELPING Capitol children

what can I say about this that hasn’t already been said? the fact that she accepts the possibility that she may die doing this, that he may kill her, but does it anyway. almost tacitly giving Peeta permission to kill her by getting so intimately close. but he doesn’t. he’s fighting too. the fact that a simple kiss and a reminder of the vow he gave her is enough to essentially restart Peeta’s psyche. (I wonder why it’s the only thing she can think of? what part of her knows this may work?) the way that this moment is mirrored later with “let me go” “I can’t” (because he promised; if she goes, so does he). the fact that Katniss sees Peeta as belonging to her, something than can be taken from her specifically. the fact that once again, Katniss defies all the forces that are trying to make her do penance for the berries trick, trying to make her kill Peeta. she won’t, and that’s how Snow loses. because he can’t make her (or Peeta) be like him. he only thought Lucy Gray was trying to harm him, and that was enough to turn on her. Peeta did try to harm Katniss, and she won’t give up on him, because she, deep down, knows who he truly is. those blue eyes she loves so much will stay that way for her. and UGH the way that Peeta is completely devoted to Katniss. “always” … we hear it so much I think we can forget how huge of a statement it is. and it’s not just a teenage platitude. he means it. he’ll stay by her bed, and by her side in a war zone, and he’ll fight months of torture and poison and trauma, just to get back to her. and lest we forget, because she downplays her goodness SO much, Katniss won’t let him go either. she never says “always” aloud (shout out to The Katniss Chronicles for making the artistic decision to add her saying it prior to “so after”) but if her staying alive, waiting for his return, even if she doesn’t realize it, isn’t her “always” I don’t know what is.

and with that, I conclude my 2023 (into 2024) reread 😘 thanks for following along