More unpopular thoughts about The Hunger Games

I am in the middle of Mockingjay so if you’ve already read it, PLEASE don’t spoil it for me. But for what it’s worth, here is a thought that came to me yesterday:

In The Hunger Games (book one), Peeta doesn’t actually know that much about Katniss because he never spoke to her much before the games, yet he said he’s in love with her. That’s not really love.

I know, all you bleeding romantics will be complaining. But it’s true. How can you love someone when you don’t know them? That’s not love, that’s attraction. Or infatuation, which starts going into stalker category. (Yes, I know Peeta’s not a stalker.)

Infatuation doesn’t live long in the real world when you realize how different the two of you are, or when you see him pick his nose while farting.

Infatuation can grow into love, but I don’t think someone should say they love you if they hardly KNOW you. If someone says they love you, it should mean they know you, your good side AND your faults, and they love you anyway. That’s the kind of love Jesus modeled for us.

I’ve just got to the point where they discover Peeta is … ahem, sick.

Comments

Anonymous said…

I will give Peeta props for proving his words with actions. He certainly showed a sacrificial love throughout the books. Not that I'm comparing him to Jesus. I'm not a big fan of allegories that ascribed Christ-like virtues to the hero/heroine. I especially don't like when Christian media tries to make a secular book "Christian." Okay, I'm done with that random rant.
Back to your post, I'm also annoyed with characters become engaged and they have never been on a date. There are some Christian novels that are guilty of that.

Wed May 16, 10:22:00 AM 2012

Heather Day Gilbert said…

I agree w/the comment above. I've had some serious issues w/Christian bloggers/writers trying to prove that The Hunger Games has loads of Christian symbolism. I'm sure Collins had no intent to use that kind of symbolism--in fact, her worldview seems pretty bleak overall. That said, some of the greatest themes in books generally relate back to Christianity, because that's what Christianity is all about--realistic struggles/relationships on earth, with the hope of heaven.

I know what you mean about the Peeta/Katniss relationship (throw Gale in there, too). To me, it was very similar to the Bella/Jacob/Edward triangle. Triangles are popular. But in the end, a choice has to be made. In the case of The Hunger Games, I think Katniss made the right choice, based on the info we're given on the main dudes.

Wed May 16, 12:51:00 PM 2012

Camy Tang said…

Hey that's a good point! I know it's "wartime" and all but they entered into that engagement without a whole lot of angst over the fact they'd be MARRIED.

Wed May 16, 04:27:00 PM 2012

Camy Tang said…

I don't understand why teen girls love those love triangles. It's actually quite hurtful for at least one of the parties involved and who likes causing or feeling pain??? My husband says it's their romanticism and immaturity that likes those types of triangles, whereas when you get older and have been burned enough, you realize how much it sucks.

Wed May 16, 04:28:00 PM 2012

Susan F. said…

I don't believe in love at first sight either. My husband gets all offended and says that's how he felt. I say that's baloney as we first met 6 years before he ever asked me out!
Love triangles may be attractive because a girl likes the idea that she can be flattered by 2 guys and not need to make a committment to either of them when she is really too young. Skewed romance.

Fri May 18, 08:23:00 PM 2012

Camy Tang said…

That's a good way of putting it!

Sat May 19, 04:28:00 PM 2012

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