Perspective

I'd like to start a Hunger Games series discussion, about Books 1 and 2. Please do not say anything about Mockingjay yet, as most of us haven't even started reading it.

The question is, are you Team Gale or Peeta?

Up until a few days ago, I didn't know there was an issue. My point of view was that Katniss is in love with Peeta, but keeps trying to deny her feelings to protect both her and him. Every scene between Gale and Katniss had the strictly platonic feel.

After first talking to Mindy the other day, she said "There isn't a choice anymore. She's chosen Gale." I stopped in my tracks and wondered if we had read the same books or if I wasn't remembering correctly. So I started posing the question to my friends here who have read the books and the feelings are split. Some, like me, feel that she loves Peeta but is in constant self-preservation mode and not acknowledging her feelings since they're both kind of doomed to die. The others feel there's no question that she realized she loves Gale in the second book and Peeta is the one where's there's nothing there.

Wow, fascinating, isn't it? I really don't know! That makes the third book all the more exciting. Why I love these books though is the love story isn't the main focal point. The other relationships are just as important as the lovey ones and the other themes are in the forefront as well: justice, freedom, cruelty, compassion.

It's quite refreshing that the latest trendy books that everybody is reading are well-written, moving, and really for anyone. Love that Suzanne Collins.

Now please answer my discussion question.

Berkeley Square: I want my 8 hours back edition

I want those 8 hours back!

I discovered this BBC miniseries, Berkeley Square, in the "you might like this" section on my netflix account. I don't usually pay attention to those, but the good user rating got my attention. I don't know if you've noticed, but the users on netflix are pretty stingy with their stars.

There are 10 episodes on 3 discs. It is about adventures of 3 nannies working for upper-class families in the posh neighborhood of Berkeley Square. Here's the breakdown of my experience:

Disc 1: watched while my mom was here and we both thought it was a cute, entertaining kind of thing.

Disc 2: got really into it. a little melodramatic at parts but thoroughly enjoyable! started recommending it to lots of people.

Disc 3: so excited to see the last 3 episodes. Looked forward all day to curling up on the couch with my Phish Food. Utter disbelief and disappointment at the way the story lines turned out.

Now if you're going to rent these, stop now, for I am going to spoil the ending. I don't know if I'd even recommend this series anymore. The ending was so contrived, wrong, didn't fit, ridiculous, I could go on and on- that I am starting to feel the whole experience was a waste of time. But like I said, if you'd like to give it a try then stop reading here.

What do I say about a series with the most selfless, giving, sweet character, who had a lifetime of trial and tribulation, an immigrant who worked hard her whole life, who ends up being wrongly executed for baby murder?

BRAVO, BBC.