Here’s what went through our heads…

Liam Hemsworth

1.  WHOA! WHAT?   We mean who in their right mind would leave Gale if he looked like THIS?  We mean, yeesh.  He is a nice boy, takes care of his family, and is hot! 

2.  Maybe it’s the gel in Liam’s  hair that makes him look older and hotter?  So, our advice is to make sure Liam doesn’t have any gel in his hair throughout the whole shoot and that will guarantee that he won’t be as breath taking drop dead gorgeous.  Right???

3. We can’t stop looking at him…

Josh Hutcherson

1. Stop. Right. There.  That goofy looking guy in the tux (look up) is going to be our beloved Peeta? Whomever decided to use that picture for publicity should be fired.

2. Okay, after some hair dye, eye color change, and… hold up here.  Is this the boy in Zathura?  We love watching that movie with our kids!  Isn’t he just adorable?  Really adorable?  Oh Wait.  Peeta.  We did see what happened when Taylor Lautner bulked up for New Moon. Note to Hutcherson: work out.  We are rooting for you!

3. The more we look at Josh Hutcherson, the more we like him.  Isn’t that what Peeta was about?  Someone you always like? A kind, hard working, sweet soul who goes out of his element and fights to the death?  Ohhhh, he’s growing on us alright.  Besides, we think he is going to be the next big thing (remember you heard it here first). He’s done plenty of acting gigs already (did a bang up job on those) with even more in the works.  Yeah, we think you are pretty special.  Pretty special indeed.

——

Despite our misgivings over casting choices we’re confident (almost 78% sure) it will work out.  We just know it.  It will be fabulous.  Just like Twilight. The first one.

Again, we could have talked forever and dissected everything, but we didn’t. So we hit the high points from President Snow all the way down to the cliffhanger ending. Of course we talked Gale and Peeta too and all that kissing!

*this is a rebroadcast of a previous episode

**SPOILERS abound, or find us on itunes**

Mockingjay is the conclusion to the story of Katniss, of her survival and hope.

**Listen to our podcast here for a deeper discussion**

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I laughed, I cried, I threw the book across the room, I cursed Suzanne Collins (yes, I really did) …yea,  and I LOVED every minute of it!

Collins did a remarkable job wrapping up Katnisses’ story. She packed it with plenty of action, unexpected twists and lots of heart-felt moments that had my emotions on a constant high, like stomach in knots and feeling everything down to my marrow. I will admit I read the ending about fifty times. I needed to find peace and closure, that feeling that all is right in the world. I believe Collins delivered just that…she gave us hope.

I just have to say this…PRIM!! FINNACK! PEETA!!!! If you have read the book you will know what I mean, and if you haven’t then this means nothing! Really, it tells you nothing. Though if you haven’t then you are missing out on something epic.

I give this book 5 STACKS
Stacy

How did she do it?  How was Suzanne Collins able to capture my heart and interest for all three books? Even though I have questions and grievances about Mockingjay, I can’t deny that I loved it and that it still has me thinking about it weeks later.  Isn’t that a sign of a well written, thought provoking book?  So many life changing things happen!  I really think I should send Collins my Kleenex bill.  That being said, I don’t know any other way it could have ended so that Collins could maintain her beliefs about these characters. 

It is a brilliant book!  A brilliant, gut wrenching, horribly deadly, real disturbing view of death and what happens when we lose freedom and don’t value all lives.

I give this book 5 STACKS
Shannan

I have a sort of love/hate relationship with this book because it is SUCH a heartbreaker.  Collins writes a powerful story that is dark and deeply disturbing, yet entertaining.  I think she gets teen readers to ask questions and draw conclusions about war that would not have happened if it was a Katniss-saves-the-day type story.  Even so, it was full of action and had several twists that I did not see coming.  There were moments I held my breath, and moments I got so mad I wanted to toss the book in the trash, and moments I wanted to cry.

I had a hard time reconciling my expectations to the actual story because I really wanted that Happily-Ever-After ending, but that’s not what this book is about.  It’s about the cost of war and its effects on people.  It challenges you to look past that need for happily-ever-after and look at the bigger picture.  And at the end it may be a melancholy-ever-after, but there is hope.

I give this book 5 STACKS
Nancy

So, anytime there is talk of Hunger Games, book or movie related consider us on it…

KRISTIN CHENOWETH!!!

How freaking awesome would it be to have her play Effie Trinket?? I can’t think of anyone more suited for the part, with her trill voice and small stature. All she needs is the pink hair.

KC talks about HG at the end of the clip…for the complete Access Hollywood article, click here and for the video click here.

**SPOILERS abound and as always you can find us on iTunes, just search girlsinthestacks.com**

WE LOVED IT! I think this is our favorite book so far in the series…guess we’ll find out Tuesday!!

Again, we could have talked forever and dissected everything, but we didn’t. So we hit the high points from President Snow all the way down to the cliffhanger ending. Of course we talked Gale and Peeta too and all that kissing!

**SPOILERS abound, and as always you can find us on iTunes, just search and download girlsinthestacks.com**

In keeping this discussion short we only discussed the important things, like love and Peeta (swoon) and Katniss…

Actually, we could have talked forever about this book. I mean a lot forever. So, while we never got around to talking about how food and hunger plays a prevalent role, or how the Capital is oppressive and only provides the citizens with enough sustenance to survive, doesn’t mean that we didn’t think that they were important. We just didn’t get around to it

See the countdown clock, I keep staring at it. Gah! Can’t it be August 24th already??

Until then, here is some Suzanne Collins/Mockingjay book news…

Book Trailer: Here is the offical book trailer for Mockingjay…I like the music, at least.

Kick off Party: Want to go to the official kick off party? It will be at Books of Wonder in NYC and Suzanne Collins will be there hand-stamping copies…

Mockingjay Book Tour: Here is the latest tour information I could gather…Examiner.

HG Movie News: Here is the latest movie news (of which I could find anyway), says that Billy Ray is polishing Suzanne Collins screenplay and a search for a director is underway…LA Times.

Suzanne Collins Video: This is a video I found over at Scholastic that I thought was interesting…

…and last (and really least) when I heard (should that be read?) on Twitter that Hot Topic had Hunger Games shirts, I knew I had to get one.

See you in the STACKS!
Stacy – who is proudly wearing her District 12 shirt, even though the guy in the store asked how she knew they had those shirts…what? I’m not your normal (as in age) customer who is just stopping in for my weekly browse and see the shirt and buy it?? LOL, the guy was nice.

Since this is one of the most highly anticipated books of the year Scholastic has decided not to distribute any advance copies, to prevent spoilers. I know sad and great news all at the same time. We really wanted an ARC.

Just so everyone knows, this trilogy is one of STACKGirls favorites. I would go so far as to say our most favorites. We *heart* Katsa.

Also, did you know that the film rights to The Hunger Games has been optioned and Suzanne Colline is currently writing the screenplay? I mean could book life get any better??

Hmmm, who should play Katsa? My vote is for Emma Roberts!

Excited in the STACKS with you, Stacy and Shannan