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team gale or team peeta? a discussion of catching fire
If you don’t know what I am talking about, then first you need to go out and get The Hunger Games
Good.
I may spoil things for you if you read on, so be sure you read the books first, or that you don’t care about stuff like that. I won’t spill anything from Catching Fire, but I’ll talk as if you are up to speed on Hunger Games.
Phew! Now that that’s out of the way—let’s get to my question.
Team Gale? or team Peeta?
My sister Jessica says she thinks Gale is more suited to Katniss because Gale has had a harder life, he understands her, and more importantly, he is the only person whom she has never had to take care of.
She has a point. She and I are both at a point in our lives when we can appreciate the value of a capable man (Jessica’s visual example would be Matt Damon in the The Bourne Identity
But there is something—I have no way of putting my finger on it—that makes me absolutely love Peeta. So much that I will read his lines in the books over and over.
Surely he is capable as well, though maybe not in the same ways as Gale (or Jason Bourne or Bruce Wayne). But Peeta handles things in a way that is so quietly confident, it has me giddy through the whole book. What is that??
I guess the only drawback to Gale’s character is that we simply don’t see enough of him. I wonder if the author does that on purpose.
What do you all think? Are you Peeta fans or Gale fans?
It’ll be a great discussion, don’t you think?
So glad you mentioned these books! The best new series for teens in ages, I think. I’m definitely “Team Peeta”. As you say, there’s just “something about him”. We don’t know Gale as well as Peeta, but Peeta does have an emotional intelligence about him that’s just so…dreamy.
You just made a 32 year old woman say “dreamy” before 9 a.m.!
Love your website. The donuts were so amazing. We read this for book club and had the same discussion. I think i’m leaning towards Gale just because he’s her best friend. Hard decision!
Yes, dreamy! That’s it. He is, isn’t he?
And emotional intelligence. You’re exactly right. He has this maturity, and a sort of effortless intuition.
And yet, Sallie has a point, too. Gale and Katniss have a history we don’t have an elaborate picture of. So I think he would be good for her, too.
Books about several men being in love with one woman are all the rage now, aren’t they?
Peeta all the way! Gale just seems grumpy and you don’t really get to know him as he only says one or two sentences in the whole book, then is in a mood the rest of it. I think I prefer Peeta because he is willing to sacrifice everything for Katniss, and has loved her for so long. Plus Peeta makes her want to be a kinder person, I wonder if the final book will even see her with one??
I’m Team Peeta forever and always.
1) He would lay down his life for Katniss in a second and cover her in smoldering kisses before doing so.
2) No chemistry with Gale. None. Friendship yes. But the kiss they had was almost a non-kiss.
3) Gale has other options…mayor’s daughter.
4) Peeta would never love another girl. Ever.
I am voting for Peeta! I think Margaret is right, he would never love another girl.
Yes, that’s true, isn’t it? I forgot about the Madge thing with Gale.
Also, Peeta has been hurt by Katniss, but allows himself to be hurt again by playing along with the whole “in love” bit to keep her safe. And amidst all of it, he still wants to be her friend.
Plus, don’t you love how cool he is when she comes in after jumping the electric fence? So smooth. I love it.
I love Peeta. I love him so much I keep going back to the book and rereading his parts. I love how noble he is; how courageously he faces his own death while doing everything in his power to not only save Katniss’s life, but also to try to ensure her happiness. I love how cool he is in the midst of tense situations; how she can count on him to always say and do the right thing; how he just puts aside his own feelings over and over to preserve the “act” even though it’s got to be killing him. (Sigh) I don’t think there’s any chemistry with Gale, and he doesn’t get much time in the book for us to know much about him. I have been rereading both books this past week and I can’t stop thinking about them. I just want more.
Wow, love the discussion, and I am so glad you got around to reading this Jaime! I have been waiting. . .:) I am Team Captain for Team Peeta!! He is just perfect, so loving, and he has the ability to see the big picture, which Katniss does not. He is very simple, not a complicated guy–he loves her and would do anything for her. I agree with the others’ comments that Gale just has no emotional attachment at all–you never see him. He can go with Madge. Did anyone have to read the last chapter over and over again because they were thinking “um, what just happened here?” Also, are Katniss’s mom and sister really safe? Gale says they got out, but he never says where they are?? Are they on the helicopter thing with them? If so, why aren’t they with Katniss? And you wonder about Peeta’s family. Also, my husband had a problem with why they didn’t let Katniss and Peeta in on the plan. I was just assuming it was a case of the less you know, the better, and Katniss really is not a very good actress, and she probably couldn’t have pulled it off because the plan was going against her plan of just making sure Peeta stayed alive. What do you guys think?
Oh, I’m just so excited we’re talking about this! Yes, Julie, I’m with you. Ditto on everything you said.
And Jen, I wonder the same things. You know something terrible has happened to at least some of them.
Peeta did express an indifferent attachment to his family, so if they’re gone, he’ll probably be fine. But speaking of that, where IS Peeta?
Sometimes I am afraid he’ll die to save Katniss, and selflessly leave her to Gale. But then of course I would love him more.
On the other hand, it appears she is really setting up the story to have the two of them be a partnership to lead the resistance.
Oh, why do we have to wait a YEAR???
A whole YEAR!??? Is that really how long we have to wait??? Oh, my. . .do you think if we asked her to speed it up, she would???
Jaime – I think the thing you can’t quite put your finger on about Peeta is that he is so elogquent verbally. He can speak! And does speak! A man with a tender heart, strong physically, and yet he can more than carry on a conversation.
BUT…I think Katniss leans toward Gale because he is more like her father…and she adored her father. He was able to help her survive all the years since her father died. He understands her in ways Peeta may never understand. And he loves her. He just happens to be a man of few words.
I think her mom and sister are probably in District 13 and safe. And I think in the end…Katniss will choose Gale….if she is even allowed to make a choice!
We shall see…won’t we?
On another note…how are you? I hope you’re adjusting to your new life. I still say a little prayer for you when you cross my mind, which is often. Happy Thanksgiving…and bless you.
Debbie
I just got the email that Catching Fire was in for me at the library! Can’t wait to read it. My husband and I will be fighting over it this weekend…
By the way…love love love your peach cobler bars. My hubby and I made them out of the peaches we picked this summer.
Duh! Is this even a question? WTF? It is Peeta all the way.
Now go out and read Graceling and Fire by Kristen Cashore.
Team Gale.
I have only read “Hunger Games” but here’s my thought
Team Gale for two reasons.
First, we know that Peeta is an amazing guy. He is sweet and generous and puts Katness’ life and well being before himself. However, this has been a longstanding crush from afar and he never had the guts to act on it. Katness wouldn’t ever stand for anyone who wouldn’t act on something so important to them. If they got together he would drive her nuts because he would be a yes man and give her anything she ever wanted. Katness needs someone who is strong and will stand their ground against her. Look at her relationship with her mother. Once her mother lost her will to live, Katness lost all respect for her and even though she knows it was a medical condition and her mother is better now, she can’t forgive her and their relationship is distant.
When Peeta and Katness are forced into the arena together they have many opportunities to learn from each other and grow together, but while Peeta still holds onto his lifelong crush, Katness (as hard as she tries) doesn’t develop any romantic feelings towards him. When 2 people are forced to share such intimate things such as sickness and close quarters, they are bound to develop a relationship, but hers doesn’t extend beyond friendship. She becomes his friend, she likes him and appreciates who he is and risks her own life to protect his, but she also uses him to gain advantage in the game. Peeta believes he loves Katness, but what is that love founded on? Watching her from afar? Katness only pretends to be romantically interested. She does like him, but it doesn’t extend beyond that even though they have shared so many intimate experiences.
Katness and Peeta only have 2 shared experiences: when she was starving and he threw her the bread and when they were in the arena. Katness was never able to express her gratitude to Peeta when he saved her with the bread. She wanted to, but she found it impossible to approach him about it. When Katness and Peeta arrive back to Disctict 12 they are going to be reminders of what happened in the arena and those who died. They haven’t shared any normal life experiences and it would be impossible for them to forget about the arena when their relationship began there. Katness never was able to trust Peeta. At the end of the games when Peeta throws his knife into the Lake, she jumps up to defend herself with her bow and arrow.
Gale on the other hand has been with Katness for 5 years. They both have struggled through the loss of a parent and are supporting their families. They are both strong willed, but complimentary to each other. They trust and rely on each other. They have a life together. When they are together, they have good times to look back on and smile, and bad times to think about and remember that they got through that too. The book doesn’t spend as much time with Gale as it does with Peeta, but Gale is a good guy too, and a fighter. He loves Katness. He has mentioned running off with her. Also, Gale knows what is important to her. When Katness volunteers to take the place of her sister, Gale doesn’t argue with her, he doesn’t cry and say he will miss her, he says he will watch out for her sister. That is the biggest comfort to Katness and the best thing he could have said to her. What Gale has going for him that Peeta doesn’t is that Katness has thought about and considered running away with him too if circumstances were different. She has approached the idea of them being a couple. Everything Katness did with Peeta was for show. She doesn’t know herself what was real feelings and what was just part of her own act. And, the situation she and Peeta were in was so intense, of course emotions are going to be spiraling out of control.
Team Gale wins.
PEETA BABY!!!! He’s not for Katniss, no way, he’s ALL mine. He’s got this adorable boyish charm and the way the author describes him, goosebumps! I was screaming at my book when Peeta wanted to marry Katniss, i hate them together. I knew I was team Peeta when I started daydreaming about him. I don’t really like Gale, I’d rather date/ marry the bread boy rather than hunter….. I never really saw anything special in Gale.
Boy, I like both gale and peeta! They both are so different, yet they share this unconditional love for Katniss. Katniss needs both of them right now- she needs the strength of gale but petta has been strong for her mentally- he may not be the “survivor”, and she ends up saving him a lot of times, but peeta would die for her without a second thought, he has loved her so long, I really don’t think he could live in a world that doesn’t have katniss- gale is a survivor, and he has many that rely on him- so he would find a way to survive, with our without katniss, even if he’s not happy. both katniss and peeta obviously go thru a lot of pain- gale b/c he had to see her all over peeta on live TV, and Peeta because he’ll never know if she’s “putting on an act” whenever she is with him…I’m sure I can’t imagine the pain that both of them are going through. And I think Katniss loves them both- in different ways- not sure who she’s going to end up with at the end of it all… can’t imagine her life without either of them… can’t believe I have to wait almost a whole year!!!!
Great discussion of the merits of both boys, and I agree with much that has been said. I guess that means I’m on team wait-and-see. Peeta is more sensitive and verbal. Gale’s relationship has largely been hidden from the reader. Peeta’s loyalty is to Katniss first; Gale’s is to his comrades in arms.
You remember that Peeta’s father wanted to marry Katniss’s mother. I wonder if Collins is setting up another situation where the woman will have to choose between two men who represent so much more than their emotions.
I anticipate Gale will get more coverage in the next book.
I am on Team Peeta. Gale is kind of a bad boy, Peeta is a better person. My 14 year old agrees with me. We’ll see wont we.
Also, I had to read the last chapter again as well.
Hi,
I want to thank you for highlighting this book series. I bought the first 2 for my son and read them first. He is 13 and reading them and has enjoyed them as much as I. We have really had a good time talking about the characters. I really hope she does a deeper character building on Gale. We love Peeta but would like to see more about what Gale is like on a daily basis.
Robin Sue
team peeta i realy hope katniss picks him in the end