Well, I read it in 6 hours, give or take!
It was really gripping, the characters were all really distinct and relatable in some way. Some of them were really surprising and there were some neat parallels to other Games and characters in them.
So much bird, flower and snake imagery, it was a bit much at times.
Haymitch’s Reaping ceremony was brutal, not at all what I expected, but very fitting for his character.
All the nods to other characters throughout the series was fun, though maybe a little overdone.
I liked the full-circle aspect of the plot and the character connections.
The mentor situation played out in the opposite way that I thought it would, and I thought it was a bit unlikely/unrealistic, but maybe it was just because it was a Quarter Quell that it happened like it did.
It was interesting to see the evolution of the Games since TBOSAS, and I felt some of the events from that were mirrored/echoed in this book.
I will elaborate more once more people have finished it and don’t want to avoid spoilers.
But overall, it was a great read and I think it will make a fantastic film.
Oh my gosh, you know what never gets mentioned? How the "narcissist, bully, drill sargent" scene included Garcia - who didn't say DICK. which can be viewed three ways. 1) she's not around Hotch enough to be able to judge (bullshit) 2) she's too scared to say anything (also bullshit) or 3) She can't find anything worth critiquing. (Ding ding ding). I like to imagine she would have wanted to say "You work too much" or "You should smile more" but she didn't think it was the time to say so.
1) She fields his calls all the time. By now the two of them at least have rapport. They’re friends in some way. She jokes with him and, hell, he jokes back!
2) Penelope Garcia... afraid to speak her mind? To Hotch of all people? Nah. That’s silly.
3) ... She can’t find anything worth critiquing.
“If they can’t fix it in less than five minutes, don’t say anything about it.”
And you know what? She likes him just the way he is. She doesn’t see the point of this silly meanness. That’s probably why Hotch leads them to another room.
It’s why she follows him.
“Sir?”
He’s just standing there. The harm done. The case... cracked? It takes him a moment to acknowledge her but when he does she sees the tears in his eyes. He can’t take this. He can’t take her adding on.
“I—ugh— I think you should smile more.”
He shakes his head, trying and failing to understand.
“That’s my— my... contribution. Cause you’re not a bully or a narcissist. They know that.”
He swallows thickly around the tight knot in his throat. “Thank you,” he rasps, ducking his head. Hiding his red-rimmed eyes.
“Anytime, sir.”
Elliot Stabler is an architect with his own firm. Does lots of projects to build schools, hospitals etc for the less well-off/the local community. He was travelling and doing that in other countries before, then decided he could also make a difference at home, wants to meet someone and settle down, have a family snd be an involved/present dad and he really missed his family.
Big, loving Irish family: siblings Shannon and Dee, Randall, Benjamin ( deceased after fighting in the armed forces) then there’s Elliot after a big gap and another big gap before Joe Jr. Dad Joe is a cop and basically parents like Elliot does, and Bernie teaches art at school and to adults/the elderly. Her bipolar is spotted early on and she goes on medicine that works for her and is supported by her kids and husband. His sisters and older brothers all have kids from more or less good relationships. One is Aisling, she’s a young adult who interns/works for her Uncle El ( answers the phone, makes appointments, opens mail).
Olivia is paired with Munch and they have to investigate a crime, one of Elliot’s former employees/clients is involved/the victim so they talk to him. Aisling calls him Mr Stabler at work, keeps things very professional but later Liv and Munch go through his texts/e-mails and/or see him having dinner with his niece, they see them laughing/hugging/using her first name or an endearment like honey or sweetheart/he kisses her cheek so they think he’s dodgy. After some questioning, he is found innocent and Olivia offers to take him out for a drink as an apology ( they both had major heart eyes for the other when they met), which turns into dinner then dating.
They get pregnant fairly quickly but Olivia miscarries. They call the baby Aidan Michael.
They get married as Olivia rises through the ranks, and go on to have Charlotte Olivia, Sophia or Stella Bernadette, twins Matthew Joseph ( Mattie) and Margaret Joy ( Maggie) followed by an anniversary celebration « oops baby » called Elinor Grace. They could also adopt Calvin and/or Noah.
Olivia makes Captain and Elliot mostly works from home and has some help from his parents/family/a nanny.
Liv’s partners all stay in touch with her and are honorary aunts and uncles. Elliot becomes great friends with Carisi.
They all ended up at boarding school for different reasons, but they ended becoming a makeshift family of their own. And thank goodness for that, because they might not survive the school year without each other.
Read more here!
Nine-year-old Spencer Reid is brilliant, but he’s too young to fully grasp the trauma threatening to bury him. Alex Blake buried her nine-year-old son and accepted that she just wasn’t meant to be a mother. The BAU team takes on a case that ends up throwing them together, and Spencer is sent to live with Alex and her husband, and everything changes.
Read more here!
Spencer Reid grew up too fast, too harsh, too lonely. His “intellect is a shield which protects him from his emotions” and for a long time he thought he could be just fine without connections. After all, he learned quickly how to survive as an eight-year-old in high school, as a child prodigy in college, as a fatherless kid taking care of his mother while she couldn’t take care of him. He could rely on his intelligence, instead of feelings. Once he joined the BAU, however, the team quickly formed their own ideas.
Read more here!
A collection of prompt fills for Whumptober 2020.
Read more here!
So here is the first part of my post Season 15 fic, where Hotch returns to Quantico, bumps into Penelope and they renew their friendship, which deepens into something more… I don’t know how to do the “Keep reading” cut off thing, sorry. Any ideas for an overall and chapter titles gratefully appreciated!
« Auntie Nellie-Pie! Auntie Nellie-Pie! »
Penelope swivelled around, eyes wide and mouth agape as she scanned the stationery aisle of the supermarket for the source of the voice which contrasted so sharply with the childlike nickname that nobody had called her for almost a decade.
Her eyes fell on a tall youth with green eyes, hair the colour of wet sand and a smile she would recognise anywhere, as it was accompanied by familiar dimples in his cheeks.
She promptly dropped the notebook she’d been examining as it dawned on her who the teenager was.
« Oh my goodness, it can’t be! But it is! Jackers! I thought I’d never see you again! »
Potential purchases forgotten on the floor, she rushed to embrace him.
« Oh, Aunt Penny, I’m glad to see you too, but I also enjoy breathing! » Jack exclaimed as she pulled back to cup his face after hugging him close.
« Oh, sorry, sweetheart! It’s just been so long! You have no idea how devastated I was when your dad just vanished with you overnight. How is that dad of yours anyway? You probably get this all the time, but you look so much like him! »
« Yeah, dad’s fine. Old but fine! Are you still with the BAU? » he questioned.
« Oh no, I gave that up recently. Everyone decided to leave so I am now an IT freelancer. So much less gross than the cases I had to present to your dad and the team. You’re starting high school, right? » she inquired.
« Yeah, going to be a freshman! Dad thought it best to stay where we were until I finished middle school, though we were both itching to come back-hey, Dad! Over here! » He signalled to his father who had reached the end of the aisle, with a look of concern etched upon his face.
« Hey, buddy, did you find what you nee-uh, Penelope! What a lovely surprise! »
Aaron’s jaw fell open and his eyes grew larger as he recognised the blonde woman wearing an outfit that looked like a parrot and a peacock had mated.
A second later, he was engulfed in a cloud of fair curls, glittery jewellery and an affectionate embrace.
« Hello Si…um, Hotch, sorry! » she chirped, wiping away the traces of scarlet lipstick from his cheek that she had impulsively kissed, as she pulled away from her former boss.
« It’s so good to see you! When you left without saying goodbye, which I completely understand, time was of the essence and your priority was and always should be your son, but I think you remember how well I handle change… » she trailed off, biting her lip as her eyes welled up and averting her gaze from his.
« If you’re still the same Penelope Garcia I knew back then, that would either be a) extremely badly or b) not at all » he replied, his tone full of affectionate teasing and a small smile playing on his lips, activating his dimple.
« Are you stil living in your apartment? » he asked.
« Indeed I am, I’m a creature of habit, Si… Sorry, I must stop calling you that! How about you, where are you and Jack staying? »
« We’ve found a house near the high school, not too far from Jess’s and close to my work. We’ll have to have you and the rest of the team for a housewarming. »
« Oh, that would be lovely! Rossi is up to his eyeballs in grandpa duties, as Joy had two more boys back-to-back, and he re-married Hayden a few years ago, JJ and Will moved back to New Orleans with my darling godsons, as Will has got a new job as head of the police force. Spencer is teaching at the university while also studying for degree number 563, Emily has settled in London, she does simultaneous translation for immigrants, Morgan is still in Chicago, he’s made a real name for himself doing house renovations and Savannah has just had a little girl called Charlotte. Tara’s training to teach psych at high school, she’s going to be awesome! Do you remember Matt Simmons? He’s opened a gym and Luke Alvez is a personal trainer there. As for me, I’m teaching coding classes at the community centre, being a freelance tech help person as well as giving internet safety talks in schools. How about you, former fearless leader? »
« I’ll be teaching law and criminology at the local university. I already noticed that Spencer’s going to be my colleague, so that will be interesting. It’s so great to hear everyone’s news, you really were the lynchpin that connected everyone. Look, you’ll have to come round for drinks and dinner to catch up properly-would Thursday evening at 8 suit you? »
« Sure, Sir, oops, Hotch! » she replied, eyes lighting up and a wide smile spreading across her face.
The two exchanged numbers and addresses before parting ways.
That was quite some opening. At least I was prepared for the explosion, thanks to promos and trailers.
Elliot definitely seems to be having some sort of PTSD. He should not be living alone!
When his gaze rested on the bin/trash can with the doll dressed in a police uniform used to prank/haze Eli felt very symbolic and significant as a metaphor for Eli’s very brief police career ( I really can’t see him continuing in that career whatever the outcome to the investigation following the shooting is, and my gut is telling me it’s going to be bad).
He’s such a good dad, bringing Eli and Becky breakfast and helping out however he can, unlike Eli, who just seems totally out of it and doesn’t seem to be helping with household chores, the baby or anything that is important to Becky. He was also really rude to his dad, barely said hello to him and was dismissive ( « We’re not using that ») regarding all the baby things Bernie used with Elliot and his siblings. There were so many other ways he could have said he didn’t like/want it ( « Say thanks to Grandma, but we already have one/I don’t think it will match the colour scheme or theme for the nursery »).
Nice little callback to Elliot watching the news of the explosion that nearly killed him a couple of eps ago and Eli standing the exact same way.
Towards the end of the episode, when Elliot was holding baby Owen, I got flashbacks to S9 of SVU, Paternity, when Elliot holds baby Eli ( who also has a blue hat and a white/cream blanket round him), which was a sweet parallel.
Also, dude, stop pushing your dad ( that you allegedly love) away. He’s trying to help you!
Not a fan of the new baby’s name, as it reminds me of a character I really cannot stand on Grey’s Anatomy, especially as he shares a surname with Eli’s FTO, who is equally awful!
He should be recommending therapists/counselors to Eli, not dragging him out to get completely drunk ( also, how is Eli 21? I had him at 20 tops!), Also blowing off dinner with Becky’s parents is just immature and rude. I did love seeing Protectelliot/Papa Bear Elliot chew Hunt out for what he did, though I’m not sure Eli deserved to be defended as he was really bratty to his dad.
I get that Eli is probably depressed/has PTSD/is traumatised by what he went through, but he has so much love and support to help him get through it. Becky saying she wants her soft and sensitive/kind and gentle boyfriend back was very telling, as those are not words I would use to describe a member of the police force!
Poor Becky, at least she has Elliot to confide in, but he had so much going on already:worrying about his mum, Randall’s actions ( we have to get that convo next episode, it’s going to be explosive! I think Vargas will get some of the heat too.), his deep concern about Eli and his own health issues are not conducive to s happy, healthy Elliot.
I did love that he referred to Randall as « his Randall » which felt very protective and big brotherly of him, though he is the younger brother.
And I think Bernie actually saw Joe Jr, as usually when she has her memory lapses, she seems to ignore the other people’s response but this seemed like a real conversation,
Elliot had spent so long being the reliable, responsible son and father that I understand why Bernie suggests Joe Jr seek him out, but Elliot really needs a break from fixing everyone’s problems!
I liked seeing more of Vargas, but really missed Bell and Reyes ( did he go to Italy with her?).
The actual crimes are not what I watch the show for, can you tell?
And, when you do eat, make sure you have food with a bit of salt content, as if you’re drinking lots of water, and therefore urinating more, you’re losing salt and other minerals. I had sushi for lunch, it was so good!
It is nearly 40C here today, it’s hideous!
🐨 Yo! Saw there’s a heatwave coming at you—it’s been in the 90s (F) here in my part of the US lately, so I sympathize. Luckily, as someone who bikes and treks through the heat with small children on a regular basis, I’m an expert in avoiding heat exhaustion!
1) Windows and fans are the best. The last thing you want is stagnant air. Some circulation is always good.
2) Water! You should be drinking more water than usual. Ideally, you want to drink before you actively feel thirsty. You’ll be sweating most likely, so your body will become dehydrated quicker. Better to pee a lot than pass out!
3) Make sure you’re eating. Sometimes heat can mess with your appetite, but you need to fuel your body since you’ll already have less energy than usual thanks to the heat.
4) Don’t be a hero. Maybe you CAN work out/go outside/other strenuous activity, but that doesn’t mean you have to. My mom is driving me to work on the worst days of the week for this reason. A chill day won’t hurt you, but heat stroke will.
5) Feel free to treat yourself. I like iced coffee or ice cream. It’s cold, and lifts spirits!
Hang in there!
I converted it to C and we're pretty much at the same temperature then... good luck to you, especially since you're working- I got lucky and one volunteering position is closed and the other should be when it's cooled down a little hopefully
These are very helpful and good tips, thank you so much!
If you're like me and suck at drinking water: put a straw in the glass. I don't know what it is about having a straw in my cup, but I've already drunk more water than I would in a day.
The food thing is so important as well. I know eating isn't always easy or fun, but you deserve food. Now and always. It isn't something you have to earn, it's simply something that you should have because you are a person and you need it. Eating something is better than not eating anything and there is no such thing as bad food.
A CHILL DAY WON'T HURT YOU, BUT HEAT STROKE WILL!
Please, just because it's hot does not mean you need to go sunbathing or to the beach. There will hopefully be other days where there isn't a threat to life but are still warm enough for all of these trips.
Funny story: my window of tolerance for lactose has increased e.g. I was able to eat some pizza and chocolate without feeling unwell, but it would appear that ice cream is still very much off the table... it was not good...
Iced coffee is good though! We have syrups so I may have some :)
You're the best, good luck with the heat and the children! We're in this together so if they share any other tips on the news/the internet I'll let you know (even though you'll probably know all of them since you're better acquainted with the heat lol)
Thanks for tagging me, @ellyhotchner !
Relationship status: chronically single
Favourite colour: purple or red
Song stuck in my head: Football’s Coming Home, after last night’s sporting event that ended in England being defeated by Italy!
Last song listened to: on my way back from work, someone was listening to the iconic Star Wars theme tune ( Imperial March?). Last thing I googled: who wrote Football’s Coming Home ( if you’re curious, David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, two British comedians)
Time:2.57 pm
Dream trip: New York, Amsterdam or Granada in Spain.
Anything I really want right now: my lunch, some new clothes, to get my pay from my nannying job, better weather ( not acceptable for nearly mid-July!) and to be on holiday!
Tagging, but no pressure: @hotchley @winterscaptain @themetaphorgirl
get to know you game:
thank you for the tag @tenelope !!
relationship status: ………..so single it hurts
favorite color: yellow or black
song stuck in my head: look who’s inside again by bo burnham
last song i listened to: parklife by blur
last thing i googled: the current score of the argentina x brazil game lol
time: 10:56 pm
dream trip: paris with my sister or japan!
anything i really want right now: to travel to são paulo bc i’m missing that place sm omg
tagging (no pressure!!): @electricsockhead and the dash! (my brain is bad today i can’t remember anyone else HDJDJSJSJ)
I'm trying to prove something.
Things that make me happy:
1) spontaneous hugs from the children I work with
2) Spring is here! It’s getting warmer, but not too hot, flowers are blooming, trees are blossoming
3) Cinemas re-opening in 3 weeks, all being well! I will be going to see anything and everything!
4) Picking out the perfect present for someone, especially if it’s a random ‘I saw this and thought of you!’ unexpected gift.
5) Delicious food, especially desserts!
Pass the happy! 🧡 When you get this, reply with 5 things that make you happy and send this to the last 10 people in your notifications!
I love these so much ;u;
1) My friends!
2) Posters of fun things!
3) The Sims!
4) Music <3
5) YOU!
39, she/her, New Year’s Day baby. Voracious reader, passionate about the arts and culture, a foodie. Modern Languages graduate. A true Hufflepuff.
206 posts