OK. I'm almost done with Catching Fire, so no spoilers, but OMG, this is so good. I've been up every night till 2 am reading after I've spent the day with Bacon and done my thousand words at night. It's like a sickness. I may have to buy them so I can read again before the movie comes out.
I love Katniss. I love that she's such a strong and responsible character, while still not being a Mary Sue. I find the "love triangle" aspect of things to be really believable, but I hope she ends up with Peeta. Gale is first of all not really fleshed out enough or given enough "screen time" for me to be rooting for him, and from what I have seen, I think adding sexual feelings on top of their relationship will only bring out his volatility. Something is simmering there, and I don't want Katniss to get involved. I also think he won't ever be able to understand what it's like in the arena, and I think that would push them apart.
And speaking of the arena: Why don't these people simply refuse to fight? I mean, I kind of get that the kids wouldn't, but the former victors? Just don't do it! Refuse to be a pawn in the Capitol's game! Stand united and stand alive, and make the Capitol kill you and show themselves for what they are. I think it's the only serious flaw I've found in the writing, that no one has had this idea even cross their mind. Katniss is smart and defiant: she should have thought of this, even just to consider it and toss it away as impractical for whatever reasons (not being able to speak freely, etc, etc.).
But I love stories about sticking it to the tyrannical man (which should not be shocking), so of course that's not enough to put me off it. I can't wait for Bacon to be old enough to read these. This is the kind of thing we need more of in YA literature. Well, in books in general.