Pssst.... It's A Secret...

Oh jeez, I never thought this would happen. It came on so fast, out of nowhere really. I didn't even stand a chance on this one. Even after alllll the times I've poked fun at girls in love a fictional man... sigh. This here lady has just lost all her credibility. I remember giggling and rolling my eyes once last year when my suitemate made a Facebook status saying how she was depressed because she knew Edward wasn't real, and I knew she wasn't even joking. I didn't understand.

Well, here it is. I am a fangirl. Obsessed with The Hunger Games trilogy. And I am crushing mad on Peeta Mellark. After reading THG in about a week, slowing working my way through Catching Fire in the midst of studying organic chemistry reactions, I finally came upon a weekend where I didn't have much studying to do and I absolutely flew through Mockingjay, finishing it in a mere 24 hours. Holy moly. I wish it could have lasted longer, and the fact that things were drawing to a close felt bittersweet. So worth it though. Definitely a series I'll reread.

i. love. this. book. please ignore my post-workout gross-ness :/

For anyone who hasn't read the books you may not want to read any further, just in case spoilers come out. Let me elaborate on my Peeta looove and why I think Katniss/Gale wasn't meant to be.

***POTENTIAL SPOILERS***

So throughout the books, just like Katniss, I was back and forth between Peeta and Gale, but by the third book I was whole-heartedly Team Peeta. Even through all the heartbreaking moments in Mockingjay--the "hijacking" of Peeta's mind, his attack on Katniss upon their reunion, the slow and painful recovery process--I had faith in Peeta, that he would find his way back to Katniss. The girl on fire and the boy with the bread.

I was really torn about this whole Gale vs. Peeta issue for a long time. From the first time I was introduced to Gale and Katniss' relationship in THG, I knew that there would grow to be something more between them. It's evident he cares for her so much, but ultimately Katniss could see that he was "kindled with rage and hatred," and honestly, I think he was too much like herself. Gale was the one "she could survive without," but more importantly, Gale could survive without her.

Additionally, there were a lot of things I didn't like about him in Mockingjay. The fact that he'd kissed numerous girls back home, too many to count... that just flat-out made me mad. I wanted him and Katniss to have something special even though I already should have guessed this, knowing his popularity among the other girls in 12. How he somehow couldn't grasp why Katniss had such deep feelings for her prep team... they were people she cared about, wasn't that enough? Did he need them to prove themselves somehow? And finally, when she asks about the bomb that killed Prim, and all he can muster is, "Does it matter?" Guhhh. I was so frustrated with Gale in that moment.

Buttttt we are here to talk about Peeta, right? My love. Sigh.

I want this boy for my own. Strong, even through all the turmoil he endures. So caring, so devoted, even when the girl he loves pulled away. All those scenes where they would hold each other as they fell asleep... ahhhhh my gosh. So innocent, and yet I was picking up on some strong sexual tension. Am I right here or just making that up?? Haha ;) It was SO evident to me that Katniss was falling in love, no matter how much she tried to deny those feelings.

Peeta is really a beautiful character: honest, selfless, creative, intelligent. As Katniss and Haymitch both observed, he was truly the only decent one among all the victors. Always full of hope, and he always knew the right thing to say. From their first meeting so many years before the Games, Peeta was "the dandelion in the spring" for Katniss. Those last lines of Mockingjay--"You love me. Real or not real?" "Real."--oh god, it just killed me. What a perfect ending.

SO. The book may be over, but the exciting news is that I do have a movie to look forward to! Wheeeee! According to IMDB, it's slated for release in 2012, but considering it hasn't even started filming yet, I'm gonna hazard a guess we may not see it until very late in the year.

The one thing that's making me nervous, as always, with book-to-movie adaptations, is losing the characters I have in my head. I know how I envision them, their expressions, their mannerisms, and some of that will certainly be lost when I see it up on the big screen. Still, I'm uber-excited and all I can do is wait for casting news and hope that when the film(s) are released, my expectations are met.

I personally am in the camp of those who can see Hailee Steinfeld as Katniss. She was great in True Grit and could do the part justice. I've heard lots of talk about Kaya Scodelario from the British version of Skins but I've never seen her act and don't really know what she's capable of. As for the boys, Prim, Haymitch, Rue, Finnick, and others... I still need to give those some thought. I'm kinda feeling Kiernan Shipka for Prim? She looks so young and sweet but she'd have to grow up a lot by the third installment.

photos from google images and imdb.com

Who is your dream cast?

I guess that's all my Hunger Games banter, for now. In other news, the Super Bowl is on tonight. I have no moral obligation to either team and could really care less who wins but I do like the commercials and I'm excited to see a modern act doing the halftime show for once... these last few years have been booooring. The last exciting halftime show I remember was Justin and Janet. I recall seeing that live, with my virginal, middle school eyes... travesty. Anyhow. Hope the Black Eyed Peas bring their game.

Enjoy watching the Packers and the Steelars y'all and you BETTER be tuned in for GLEE afterwards!!!!