Bigtime Mockingjay Spoiler--Don't read unless you are done and want to discuss

Here are my thoughts.

While I love the characters in the HG trilogy at face value (I am firmly Team Peeta, BTW--he is my dream man) I think the true reason for the trilogy's popularity goes beyond even the great plot, characters, writing, etc.

It is the underlying theme, the basic sensitive, gentle and thoughtful nature of the author (who I met in person yesterday-swooooooon) that informs her ferocious story-telling skills. Suzanne Collins has something she wants to tell us. And her characters are more than just people. They are symbols.

Katniss is all of us--unsure, wanting to do good, but often mislead and used as a pawn in other people's agendas.

Snow, of course is just plain old base evil.

Gale--and this is controversial but I think after you've read the entire MG book you'll see my point. Gale is an example of how outrage, deprivation and abuse can make you a killer. Gale has become everything Katniss has tried to avoid. Gale is in transition to the point where he can become as bad as Coin, someone who might have started off as well-intentioned but lost sight of her moral compass. And this is what Katniss has always feared. And this is why things end so bad with Gale--no kissy-kissy. No closure. Katniss fears what Gale has become. What she might have become--if not for one person.

Which brings me to Peeta. Peeta is hope, beauty in the midst of chaos, love, everything that is good, that can still prevail even in the worst of circumstances. This is why when Peeta briefly turns bad it kills us (and Katniss) so much. Prim represents the same thing, but she is not as strong as Peeta. He is strength and beauty combined. SO in the end--Katniss had to choose Peeta. How could she not? He represents the hopeful future for humanity (and for her). Oh--and Haymitch. He's what you get when you are like Peeta, but without the hope. And Haymitch is whom Katniss might have become if she'd not found Peeta to remind her of why life is still worth living, even after you've survived the Hunger Games .

Mockingjay Countdown

Mockingjay comes out this Tuesday, August 24th and along with it, for me, comes the thrill of finally knowing the outcome of Katniss' adventure combined with the struggle to slow it down and SAVOR the book and the writing. It's like having the world's most delicious meal plunked down in front of you when you are ravenous.

So, I just wanted to share that I am unbelievably fortunate to have purchased my book and a ticket to get it stamped IN PERSON by Suzanne Collins herself on Thursday, Aug 26 at Oblong Books in Millerton, NY. I know, don't hate me. Call Oblong Books and get your own ticket! (I get to pick up the book in Rhinebeck, NY on the 24th---YAY). The question being, will I be able to stall finishing the book until then? I don't know--it's usually a struggle of heroic proportions to keep from gobbling down a hundred pages at a clip.

I will try.

So what are your thoughts on the impending release? Has it defined your summer as it's defined mine? Who's re-read the previous two. Who doesn't understand what the fuss is about?

Let's hear it!

Oh--and LISTEN to the first chapter as read by Ms .Collins herself on Audible.com's FB page
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/audible.com