The Hunger Games

For someone who likes beauty in things and people, The Hunger Games has captivated me in an unusual way. There is fear, cruelty, death, things worse than death, madness and desperation. The female lead is less than perfect but I guess it is her imperfectness, seeing and doing things through her eyes and hands which make this story so oddly captivating.

I was moved by some characters, my heart went out to them on many occasions. Peeta, Prim and Finnick, they are my favourite three. Peeta's love for Katniss and resolution to stay true to who he is; Prim's display of strength and gentleness amidst of all the horror and ugliness; and Finnick's true side- all the vulnerabilities and raw emotions underneath his gorgeous exterior. Three beautiful and good people in a crazy, scary world.

Below is the haunting lyrics of the song The Hanging Tree written in the final book, Mockingjay.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run so we’d both be free.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

A dead man calling his lover to join him in suicide so that they will both be free, because it is worse to live in that world. It is not unimaginable, unthinkable and impossible. I can't help but shudder at the desperate thought.