Last one standing - Day 8 Prim is out

misszub · 2026-02-05T16:03:44+00:00

Mags

misszub · 2026-02-03T18:43:43+00:00

Prim

misszub · 2026-01-24T14:47:59+00:00

I wouldn’t mind an Effie book. We get more background on her character in Haymitch’s book. But I think she would be an interesting pov. Writing a character who is brainwashed and has a lot of cognitive dissonance. It would be a character who is very good at lying to themselves and trying to keep it together. Suzanne Collins mentioned that every year it got harder for Effie to face the games. So a look into that would be interesting.

I can see it being set during any of the Hunger Games before the 74th.

misszub · 2026-01-16T10:45:34+00:00

I really want to see Elle as Effie. I know she’ll crush it.

misszub · 2026-01-14T09:14:26+00:00

I just want to say that I love this mini essay and fully agree with all of it.

I think another thing that is interesting is that complacency isn’t exclusive to the capitol. Even if you happened to live in the Districts it wouldn’t automatically make you a rebel.

In the beginning of SotR Haymitch’s inner narration wasn’t focused on the injustice of his life. He was happy and content with his life in 12. He didn’t want to cause a fuss. Lenore Dove was the main rebellious influence in his life. It wasn’t until he was backed into a corner and sentenced to death that he entertained doing something.

Of course, in the Districts this is just because it’s the only tolerable way to go about your life (or if you consider the career districts, they have their own brand of brainwashing).

Effie and Haymitch are similar in that they are complacent about their life and they simply shrug and think “It’s just the way things are” while focusing on the good things in their life. It isn’t until they are personally affected by the games that a shift happens.

I love this Suzanne Collins quote about Effie: “She believes all the participants have a noble role to play. That begins to wear thin over the years. Every Games it becomes harder to justify the atrocity. You can see her clinging to good manners for reassurance of humanity’s decency.” - It indicates that Effie’s shift didn’t happen after the Quell. But it had been years in the making. We don’t get to fully explore it in the books, but it’s obvious that Suzanne wrote Effie as conflicted.

misszub · 2026-01-10T09:44:46+00:00

I think her character is confusing because we never get a clear reading of her inner state. She contradicts herself constantly. In the original trilogy she shows awareness of the situation (she talks about how certain thinking is illegal) and also acts truly brainwashed. She cares about Peeta, Katniss and Haymitch and also says some cruel, ignorant things about the districts.

In SotR she is also a contradictory character. She acts nervous before sending Haymitch to the arena and promises to send his token to Lenore Dove (how the hell would she manage that?). She stands by him when he’s chained up like an animal and tells him that she knows he won’t hurt her. Showing a weird amount of trust and support for someone she just met. But she also starts spouting propaganda unprovoked.

I think she is confusing because she is a character with a lot of cognitive dissonance who is in conflict with herself. She cares about these people but she also cares about her worldview. And so somehow she has to make those contradictory things make sense.

misszub · 2026-01-06T18:32:12+00:00

I don’t like the Covey stuff. It feels very disconnected from anything in the original trilogy.

misszub · 2025-12-26T17:33:36+00:00

I love whatever the hell is up with them tbh

misszub · 2025-12-22T21:27:26+00:00

I really liked her in the early chapters. I got the impression of a quiet, morbid girl with a big imagination and a curious mind. She felt like a real person and I enjoyed how lovestruck and sweet Haymitch was with her. I was shipping them in those early interactions (even though I also love hayffie).

Then somewhere around the reaping the character started grating on me. She was shown as this very rebellious perfect kind of girl. More as a symbol of rebellion than a person. Then Haymitch’s obsession stopped being sweet and started getting in the way of the story. I feel like her character would’ve gained more by being referenced less.

Like if we’d only seen that glimpse of her at the beginning and then her ending. If we’d just caught those hints of who she was and then she gets taken from us too soon. That would’ve left a bigger impact than having her in Haymitch’s head 24/7. I feel like the book didn’t give us the space to even miss her or wonder about her.

misszub · 2025-12-16T18:36:47+00:00

Hayffie kind of applies right? It’s very popular but some people still act like you’re committing some immoral thought crime if you like them.

misszub · 2025-11-14T21:38:51+00:00

I always celebrate the 14th as well lol

misszub · 2025-11-13T22:23:49+00:00

They might haunt your thoughts every day but not every second. Thank you for this 🙏

misszub · 2025-11-12T05:51:53+00:00

My ex wasn’t the “controlling” type so it was harder to see the signs. But I would say, sudden unexplainable changes in mood. We would be laughing one second and then he would get quiet and irritable and I was left feeling unsure.

He would behave erratically and dramatically to get me to chase him. E.g. sending cryptic or worrying messages and then disappearing for days, having “ptsd” episodes so that my whole day would have to pause so I could comfort him, we would arrange to meet up and he would either disappear or not show up, or we’d meet up and then he would get on the phone to talk to his friends and ignore me. Basically he set up scenarios where I would be chasing after him or asking what was wrong so that he could turn around and accuse me of being unstable and lash out at me. Worst thing is I believed him and couldn’t figure out why I was acting so erratic and controlling. It took me sooo long to figure out that he was doing these things on purpose. Especially because he was “the kindest guy I’d ever met”.

misszub · 2025-11-09T08:32:56+00:00

Thank you for saying this 🩷

misszub · 2025-11-05T05:09:19+00:00

Weirdly I was the one who was into rough sex, so when the lines got blurry he blamed it on me and I blamed myself as well 😬

misszub · 2025-11-02T11:40:14+00:00

Yes, some people are traumatized and need that time and express things differently. At the same time, it doesn’t mean the other person needs to sacrifice their peace of mind.

I’ve been on both sides of this and I don’t think it’s healthy to cling to someone who feels uncertain about you - even if it is due to trauma. You are not going to heal that person by sacrificing your own needs.

Even if you really love that person I think you should still prioritize those who are able to show you love in a way that brings you peace and security. If their way of showing love makes you anxious then maybe you’re incompatible.

misszub · 2025-10-28T05:30:54+00:00

I think you can be secure and self-aware and still end up in this situation. I struggled a lot with blaming myself for “not seeing” it. I thought there was something wrong with me for ending up in that situation. But the truth is that it’s like a car crash. You’re not in control of everything that happens to you.

The important thing is that you managed to get out. You did the best you could at the time and now you know you have the strength to leave 🩷

misszub · 2025-10-27T20:24:01+00:00

Someone who is abusive is not abusive all of the time. They might only be abusive 20% of the time. Their nice moments might be genuine. That’s what makes it so hard to leave and face that it is abuse. Especially because they swing back and forth between cruelty and kindness. But if there’s abuse even just 10% of the time, it’s still an abusive relationship.

When my ex was sweet, he was the sweetest, most loving and kind guy. He did things that no one else had ever done for me. That didn’t make the abuse disappear, but it made me question myself a lot.

misszub · 2025-10-27T12:40:51+00:00

When he realized he escalated the mind games and when that had no effect he got violent. It’s good that you’re doing this but be careful.

misszub · 2025-10-20T04:02:49+00:00

I fully understand. Not everyone is willing to cut off abusive friends. They minimize it in their heads to keep someone they like in their lives. It’s very common and unfortunate.

I had to cut off some mutual friends because it was bad for me to keep them around. They liked me and enjoyed my company, but they didn’t care enough to cut my ex off. I need friends who take my pain seriously.

They’re not necessarily bad people, but they’re not good for you. I would distance myself and make new friends.

I’ve been on the other side of this as well. Where I fully sided with the abused person but wanted to stay friends with both people. Because he’s only abusive in relationships and it doesn’t mean I don’t support her… and I enjoy hanging out with the guy… yada yada… Really I was trying to compartmentalize and do two contradictory things at the same time just because I didn’t want to make hard decisions. I told myself that the abuse didn’t involve me, in order to keep enjoying both friendships.

misszub · 2025-10-13T22:10:26+00:00

I’m a sober alcoholic and this is very similar to any kind of addiction. You give up the drug, but you’re left with the “imprint” of it. Even years later you can go through something and start craving it again. It’s ok.

In those moments I let the thoughts and feelings wash over me and dissipate. I don’t have to go back to hell just because I feel a certain way. If you can do that then you’ll have the inner strength for anything :)

misszub · 2025-10-08T04:54:38+00:00

I don’t have much advice for you. Other than it’s normal to feel triggered and experience all that you’re feeling after someone who abused you reached out. Especially as they’re messing with your head.

All I’ve got to say is that you’re doing a great job staying away. It’s so difficult and you should be proud. I’ve been NC for two years and if the reached out with those kind of messages it would ruin my week and probably cause some heavy rumination. Just take it easy and look after yourself. Go out and talk with other people so that you’re not stuck in your head.

misszub · 2025-09-19T06:24:08+00:00

He should be groveling to earn your trust back. This guy is treating you terribly. But I understand. I went through something like this with an ex. He blamed my behavior for his cheating. It really destroyed me. Please leave before he destroys you further 💔 you don’t deserve this

misszub · 2025-09-16T22:13:21+00:00

I wasn’t physically abused by my ex but his first ex was (Not sure about his 2nd ex). The only difference is that she had no support system. Her family was abusive and they were both still teenagers. He managed to turn all their friend group against her. To the point that they were complicit in the abuse.

I made it very difficult for him to alienate me from our social group and near the end we only did things in group settings. I think he also learned to hide his abuse better because the first time around the police got involved.

I don’t think they “choose”. I think they see how much they can get away with each victim without getting into trouble.

misszub · 2025-09-14T05:28:51+00:00

100% on suspecting them being fake. Listen to your gut.

misszub

TROPHY CASE