Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Is it getting hot in here? (bloghop)


When it comes to kissing scenes...well...I don't think I'm exactly where I'd like to be yet, so for this bloghop I'm going to share my Ultimate Favorite Kissing Scene Ever. For those of you who haven't read Catching Fire and wish to remain unspoiled, look away now.

My Ultimate Favorite Kissing Scene Ever is from Chapter 24 of Catching Fire. In case you need a little refreshing: Katniss and Peeta have been thrust into the Hunger Games again. There's no way (or so they think) that both Katniss and Peeta can make it out alive for a second time. Katniss wants Peeta to live, and he wants her to live. They have a conversation where they discuss this dilemma. I'll let Katniss take it from here. :)
"No one really needs me," he says, and there's no self-pity in his voice. It's true his family doesn't need him. They will mourn him, as will a handful of friends. But they will get on. Even Haymitch, with the help of a lot of white liquor, will get on. I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me.
"I do," I say. "I need you." He looks upset, takes a deep breath as if to begin a long argument, and that's no good, because he'll start going on about Prim and my mother and everything and I'll just get confused. So before he can talk, I stop his lips with a kiss.
I feel that thing again. The thing I only felt once before. In the cave last year, when I was trying to get Haymitch to send us food. I kissed Peeta about a thousand times during those Games and after. But there was only one kiss that made me feel something stir deep inside. Only one that made me want more. But my head wound started bleeding and he made me lie down.
This time, there is nothing but us to interrupt us. And after a few attempts, Peeta gives up on talking. The sensation inside me grows warmer and spreads out from my chest, down through my body, out along my arms and legs, to the tips of my being. Instead of satisfying me, the kisses have the opposite effect, of making my need greater. I thought I was something of an expert on hunger, but this is an entirely new kind. 
This is why I think this kiss is The Ultimate Favorite Kissing Scene Ever:

  1. This kiss has been having some serious build up. If you read even two pages before this, there is a lot of emotional stuff going on. Namely that they're both convinced only one of them can make it out alive, so they'll never be together again. At least one of them will die.
  2. It clearly focuses on their emotions. Katniss doesn't say anything about parting lips or heaving breathing or hands tangling in hair. The physical description is very minimal, but we get a lot about the desire and feelings she has during this kiss.
  3. Like Katniss says, there's a lot of kissing between the two of them, but this is the one that means something. For the reader, this is the "YES! YES! YES! SHE GETS IT!" kiss.
I hope you enjoyed this kissing scene, brought to you by Suzanne Collins. And if you so desire, I've rounded up a few of my favorite kissing scenes from movies/TV shows below.
Pretty much all of Snow/Charming kisses are the best, but here's just two, because that's how much I love this couple.
Happy Valentine's Day!

23 comments:

  1. Great advice! I love build-up before a kiss. It has to be romantic, or who cares? Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I absolutely love that kiss scene! Great choice! :)

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  3. I LOVE The Hunger Games and enjoyed reading this scene again. Love your breakdown of why it works, too. Thanks for sharing this. Happy Valentine's Day!

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  4. I just got a copy of Hunger Games and plan to read it soon. Maybe I shouldn't read this excerpt. You know, for spoiler's sake. But if it's worthy to be excerpted in this hop, I bet it's worth the read. :)

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  5. I had forgotten about the intensity in that kiss! I was surprised when it happened, I was still rooting for Gale, but so glad afterwards :) Thanks for sharing and happy Valentine's day!

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  6. It's certainly an emotional kiss. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I haven't read this series yet, but I'd like to before seeing the movie. You chose a great scene! Very emotional, very intense. Just what a kiss should be.

    I'm a new follower via the bloghop!

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  8. Ah, I didn't read Catching Fire yet! What a teaser =P
    And I love the first kiss of Lorelai and Luke. I <3 Gilmore girls lol

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  9. Good point about the emotional aspect. Every kiss has that physical stuff, but not every one has the emotion behind it. That said, I have to admit that I spent most of the entire Hunger Games trilogy distrusting Peeta. I was just waiting for him to turn on her, so I enjoyed reading this kiss a lot more this time :)

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  10. I've only read the first book! But this is a great teaser, and wonderful imagery. I do love Lorelai and Luke together!! ahahaha!

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  11. Hey, and I'm in your campaign group! Yay!

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  12. Aww, I love that Catching Fire kiss! You're so right--it's all about the emotions, and that makes it incredible. And yay for Luke and Lorelai! Love them.

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  13. I must admit...I rooted for Gale. But this scene was SO well written. :)

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  14. That is a great kiss. (closet Gale fan, too here) And I loved all the video clips. Wow. This post is a party!

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  15. Loved all the kisses, especially the Catching Fire and Penelope (love that movie). I'm in your campaign group so thought I'd come say hi!

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  16. Hi! We're on the same Campaign list! Love your kissing post!

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  17. Hi Jenna,
    We're in the same campaign list (and Hi Daisy & Julie :) ) - I loved reading this.

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  18. Humans are built on emotions, that's why that's a great scene.

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  19. Oh, I haven't read that scene in a while, and it hit me all over again. Thanks for sharing!!

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  20. Ahh that is one sweet kiss. It was extra powerful for the lack of physical description, although I don't know if many people would be able to write a scene like that. :-)

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  21. Hi, Jenna! Hope you're having a great week! Oh, and,

    TAG! YOU'RE IT!

    Go to my blog for more deets!

    http://www.daisycarter.com/2012/02/11-questions.html

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