In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

Feministe Book Club: YA Edition

Caperton

In our recent discussion of the purported Hunger Games love triangle, there’s been some interest in having an honest-to-dog book-club-esque discussion of one or more books in the Hunger Games series. For those who are interested: How would you like to do this? Which book would you like to start with? Would you want to read all the way through and discuss at the end, or read a couple of chapters at a time? (The Hunger Games is 384 pages, 27 chapters, GL 5.3, and the others are similar.) How easy/quick will it be for interested parties to get hands on copies of the book? What is your favorite food that provides little to no real sustenance? Mine is peanut butter pretzels.

29 thoughts on Feministe Book Club: YA Edition

  1. Start at the beginning, focus on a couple of chapters at a time, it’s easy and quick for me to get the e-book version, and salt and vinegar potato chips.

  2. I’ve already read the books but I’d live to discuss them. I’d even read them again to participate. And my favorite non-food is pop tarts.

  3. We just ordered a version of the english trilogy here in Germany and it would be awesome to read it together with you at feministe here! I think starting at the beginning and read a couple of chapters, discuss it and so on would be a good way to handle it.

  5. Definitely start with the first book. IIRC, each book is broken up into three parts. So, maybe do two or three discussions for each “part” so that we’re talking about a few chapters at a time? I remember finding it to be a fairly quick read. Also, cookie dough. Don’t judge.

  6. Because I’ve read the books, I’d probably prefer a book-by-book discussion, but I can adapt to those mid-read and go part-by-part instead. But yes, we should go in order. And marzipan. I tell myself it has almonds, and it does, but I think it’s 1 part almonds to 99 parts sugar.

  7. I’m fine with chapter by chapter, I’ll just peruse them to make sure I don’t spoiler people. And Nutter Butters.

  8. I’d love to discuss the books, but I already read the whole trilogy, so I’d have to figure out how to not accidentally spoil folks. Pistachios! Or anything salty, really. But I guess most things I snack on are nutritious. I need to correct that!

  9. Can I choose books as a non-sustenance food? Because seriously, if I got even one calorie from reading a book I would SURVIVE ON BOOKS.

    Anyway, I’ve got the series and would love love love to do discussion. Doesn’t even matter how, honestly.

  10. I agree with everyone on planning. I love, love, love these hot wing pretzels. Warning: They are addictive and salty.

  11. Book at a time to avoid spoilers for peeps? Excitement for a feministe book club though!!!

    I’m all about the sea salt chips… and brie… mmm….

  12. In order, because I’m still waiting on the 2nd & 3rd books on audio from the library.
    Chocolate with raspberry filling – in any form – from bars to cake.

  13. In order, because Iā€™m still waiting on the 2nd & 3rd books on audio from the library.

    This reminds me – quick note to anyone who hasn’t read them already, but the first book’s audio version is on grooveshark.com. I’ve listened to The Hunger Games and Harry Potter while at work.

    Also – totally don’t judge, but my favorite thing in the world is a salty, grease-laden, finely ground potato pancake with sour cream. Bam.

  14. I haven’t read The Hunger Games yet and it hasn’t seemed all that appealing from the descriptions I’ve heard, but if you are going to set up a discussion I might be willing to give it a try and see what all the fuss is about. At least it seems like it would be a quick read. What about other YA fiction in the future? (YA is nice just because its usually quick to read, but doesn’t have to be YA).

    As for how quick I can get it, well, I just requested a copy from the library just in case, but it might take a couple weeks since its popular. Don’t feel like you need to wait for me. I have no particular opinion on chapter by chapter or whole book or whatever. I suspect I’ll read the whole book very quickly if its good, and if I don’t like it I probably won’t keep reading it. So I guess I vote for whole book.

  15. Ooh yes. I’ve read the whole series. I really do think it’s best taken as a whole. We could discuss the whole series but break the discussion out into separate themes. The one I find most interesting is — well, to go into detail would be a wee bit spoilery if you haven’t read past the first book, but it has to do with political power and morality.

    Yeah. It’s hard for me to discuss what I find most interesting about the books with people who haven’t read them all, because of spoilers, so.

  16. I’ve already read the hunger games but it would be cool to re-read them a chapter at a time. I have it, and chocolate with hazelnuts.

  17. Oooh, yes, would love to do this. I think we should go book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter, and I’ll bring the OREOs.

  19. Oooo, one section at a time would be awesome. As would knowing how many people had not read the whole trilogy before starting, as I think reading all three books changes the whole discussion eventually (well, duh. Sorry, too many years since English majordom).

    Popcorn, minimal butter, just enough to stick a sea’s worth of salt to it.

  21. One or two chapters at a time, then a discussion at the end of each ‘part’, then a discussion at the end of each book, then a discussion about the series as a whole. Followed by individual character discussions. And discussions about Panem/districts. And lots and lots and lots of meta.

    Or is this too much nerd? :/

  22. I’d love to be part of this, and splitting each book into parts seems like the most manageable way to have an actual discussion; there’s so much going on that a forum on the entire book might become impossible to follow. And Cheetos. They’re not even real food.

  23. totally agree with splitting it up into reading a couple of chapters at a time followed by discussion. also thanks for whoever mentioned the grooveshark tip farther up! will definitely check it out. and how has no one mentioned the deliciousness that is frozen yogurt yet?

  24. I’m definitely in for this. FYI, I am running a book club with reluctant readers at the college level and they are finding that going a few chapters at a time is TOO SLOW and they’re all pretty much reading the entire book in one sitting. You might overestimate how much people can read/discuss if you break the books down, because once people are hooked they will zip through it. Plus, if you have a lot of people who’ve already read them joining the conversation, they’ll end up bringing in things that happen later on (not on purpose, just “oh did that happen early in book 1? no wait it was towards the end, sorry.”). You might break the book into two parts. I think people can read through 150 pages in a week.

  25. De-Lurking to say that I would love to participate in a Hunger Games discussion! I would vote for part-by-part, as I think chapter-by-chapter might be too tedious–do we really want to discuss, like, 30pages or less at a time?–, and the whole book might be a lot for someone who hasn’t read anything yet. Also, pistachios are dangerous for me as I can’t stop eating them, and then the salt hurts my lips and tongue. I’ve had skin peeling on the tip of my tongue from eating too many of those things. Though at the moment I’m eating these milk chocolate (Belgian! Ooooh!) Pringle-shaped thins with rice crisps embedded in them, pretty yum.

  26. I’ve read them all and would love to discuss. I will go along with any decision and will have to re-read them according to the discussion in order not to give things away. I will eat anything salty or chocolaty. Chocolate covered nuts are the best.

  27. My vote is for hefty chunks of the book if not the whole book. Sounds like a lot of people have already read the books (me included), and spoilers are bound to happen. Like others have said, they are quick reads! And cookie dough.

  28. I’ve already read the books and have very little preference for how we model the discussion, but I have to say that I’m super mega excited about this. And another vote for cookie dough. Especially in ice cream form.

Comments are currently closed.