Hey, writers! I have to address something that’s been bugging me for a long time now. I am a huge Hunger Games fan. Specifically, I am a Hunger Games fan, I am not a Catching Fire fan and I am definitely not a Mockingjay fan. Before we begin, *deep anguished sigh*
I want to say that I hold the Hunger Games in the highest regard. I reference it, I enjoy it, I study it, I dissect it. So I had to ask myself, “Why did I enjoy one book so much more than the others?”
Hit the jump, writers, and let’s talk about viewpoint.
I love Wonder. It is hands down my most recommended book. It’s interesting, it’s touching, and it’s an easy read. Love it. I’m sure your local library and/or your local Barnes has a copy or two. Highly, highly recommend it.
Okay. Moving on.
When I first read Wonder I assumed the entire book was in Auggie’s viewpoint. Which is fine. He’s a good kid, you know? Then the viewpoint changes and it is jarring to me. I think a big part of that feeling was that I had assumed the book would be in one viewpoint all the way through (aka it was my fault).
But yes, I assumed it was going to be one viewpoint all the way through just like the Hunger Games was. I have to say even with the jarring moment, the book was so much better because of it.
There’s a scene in Wonder (spoiler alert: highlight to view) where the sister goes away for a while then she returns later on. For those of you who don’t know, Wonder is about a boy with a deformed face. The sister, of course, is accustomed to looking at the main character’s face. But when she goes away to Grandma’s, she later returns and for a brief moment she sees Auggie unfiltered. She then reacts the way that an average person reacts upon seeing Auggie’s face. (Keeping in mind that there’s a part in Wonder where a child cries/screams/freaks out just from seeing Auggie’s face.)
There is so much power in that scene. And this scene was only made possible by being in the sister’s head, because Auggie’s viewpoint would not have had the same message in that moment. The change of viewpoint made the scene/book better.
I’m just gonna say it: Wonder inspires me to be a better writer.
Viewpoint, I imagine, must seem like such a throwaway concept. Does it really matter if we see an event through one person’s eyes instead of another person’s eyes? We, as writers, have the power and obligation to choose the best viewpoint. Well, I can say that when it is done correctly it enhances the story, and in the case of Wonder it really is quite masterful.
And when it isn’t done right? Well…I’m getting to that.
Everything that goes up…
So how did I go from placing the Hunger Games on such a high pedestal to wanting to gouge my eyes out on Catching Fire and Mockingjay?
Well there are a few reasons, but the biggest reason for the love and the “hate” is…viewpoint.
Warning, if you haven’t read/seen all the Hunger Games books/movies, then you’re about to get a lot ruined for you.
Now, back to viewpoint. There’s a part in the Hunger Games where Katniss is wearing her dress and she is on stage. Then there’s the part where she twirls in her dress and it’s supposed to be a spectacle for the audience. And it is.
The audience reacts in awe and it’s a fun moment. Jennifer Lawrence is pretty and the scene works on one level, but it’s missing a key part from the book.
In the book, we get Katniss’s thoughts.
I spin in a circle and the reaction is immediate.
The movie follows this, and the audience reacts well. But then there’s a part that you can only get if you’re able to hear her thoughts.
I'm also giggling, which I think I've done maybe never in my lifetime. But the nerves and the spinning have gotten to me.
There are parts just like this all throughout the book. There’s depth and insight into the character. This is viewpoint being helpful and interesting.
So, how did I get from that to my negative feelings towards Catching Fire and Mockingjay?
There were multiple reasons but two things in particular were very frustrating for me. The first thing was the “relationship” between Peeta and Gale. Everything that I read had me thinking, “Oh, it’s on.” I was certain there would be a fight scene between these two, or at least a stern lecture or something. I mean, anything.
Now I’ll be the first person to say that I don’t remember the other two books perfectly (I read them once and then never again), but I don’t believe either of them really fight each other in any of the books.
The second thing…*long sigh* reminds me of a quote. It’s comedic, but it applies here.
"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." -- source unknown
I literally wanted to throw the book across the room when I read the offending section. (Think about the word ‘literally’ for a second. When was the last time you wanted to throw a book, writers?)
Anyway.
There’s chunks of the later books where Katniss is unconscious. Okay, let’s be clear here. The entire series is through her eyes…and…then…there’s long parts where her eyes were closed. Scratch that, because if her eyes were closed she’d still have other senses to work with. Katniss was unconscious.
Which, I admit, was a weird choice. But then there’s the part where Prim dies.
I remember I stopped reading and I just shook my head, thinking, “What did I just read?”
Closed the book. Questioned it. Paused. Thought about it some more. “Did the author just kill Prim?” Not just killing a character from the first book, but to kill her off-screen?
It made no sense and bugged me to no end. Even now I shake my head and I just–ugh.
Alright, writers, let’s get productive. What could we have changed if we were at the helm?
The death of Prim, if it had to happen, should have been on screen. My question is, “Could we have had the viewpoint shift to Prim or possibly another character?” Which is really to ask, “What if we took the viewpoint away from Katniss?”
First of all, she was literally unconscious anyway. (Still SMH BTW.)
Second, would what we have gained have been worth it? For me, this is a resounding yes. Remember the section above about Wonder? Those incredible and powerful moments were only possible because of a change of viewpoint.
So imagine this: What if we got to see the battlefield from Prim’s viewpoint? We could have seen her naive reactions to all the violence. Perhaps she could have been as afraid as a child and worried and crying. Or maybe she would be dead inside to all the destruction. Her work as a skilled nurse and experience with the bleeding and dying having turned her heart black. Either would have been an interesting take on her experiences. Her death could have been seen through her own eyes.
Or: We could have seen the battlefield from someone else’s eyes. This person could have been fighting actively and then see Prim take a fatal hit. Rushing over to her, maybe we could have gotten Prim’s last words. (Which we were also ROBBED of by the way. Man, still SMH.)
So what do you think, writers?
Option A. Watch Prim's death from her own eyes. Option B. Watch Prim's death from someone else's eyes. Option C. Change nothing! Let the sleeping main character "hear" about her little sister dying later!
By the way, if you choose Option C, you’re not welcome here anymore >.>
I kid, I kid! Haha. Anyway, sound off and let me know your thoughts, writers.
Aloha,
Alvin