More Pound Cake, Please

There was a great surprise waiting for me in my mailbox at the studio yesterday: some homemade pound cake sent by my thoughtful friend (and an excellent baker), Rebecca—whom you may remember from an earlier post.

So this morning on the breakfast table, along with the below doodle of Max and Flora (both huge pound cake fans), Dad was treated to a tasty sample.

Max and Flora Check the Mailbox

—Though it’s something of a minor miracle that there was any pound cake left by then, due to an unscheduled tasting at 3 AM, when Blackie, Aaron (Charlotte’s dressmaker), and I all got in from the first midnight showing of The Hunger Games. (Doesn’t the title alone make you want to go fix a snack?)

Poundcake Party

Since this movie has just opened and been very highly touted, I figure you might be thinking of checking it out this weekend, and might like a few more details.

The Hunger Games Recap

First off, do not take a formerly homeless cat with you to see a film set in a post-apocalyptic society where canned Fancy Feast is no longer available. —Not unless you are prepared to buy him a jumbo-sized popcorn.

Secondly, if there is an aspiring fashion designer like Aaron in your household, he or she will love it. The costumes worn by the residents of the decadent Capitol are pretty wild and over the top! We’re talking fabulous crazy-colored wigs and eyelash extensions, wacky hats, etc.

While watching, Aaron made a lot of (top secret!) costume sketches, but did agree to share these other two scribbles, which I’d explain thusly:

1) Anyone taking a young mouse to see the film should be strongly cautioned: There is a brief cameo by a snarling cat early on (Primrose’s beloved-but-crabby Buttercup, whom everyone else but Primrose loathes).

2) There is a big rat later on who has some very interestingly sculpted facial hair.  I don’t think it is much of a spoiler to tell you that even though he smiles a lot, he is bad news, as is nearly everyone else in the Capitol, where the annual Hunger Games take place—an event where teenaged tributes from each of the other districts are pitted against each other in a fight to the death.

(The berries reference is going to make more sense after you see it; trust me.)

From a mouse’s perspective, that is probably all you need to know. From a human perspective, I’d say, I really enjoyed it, but I think it might be more interesting if you read the first book in the Young Adult series before seeing the film (if you haven’t already). It will help fill in some of the gaps. Plus, I think Suzanne Collins is an excellent writer, and I enjoyed the series so much that right after I finished it, I read another one she had written, The Underland Chronicles, though it is probably aimed at an even younger audience.

I’ll be curious if any of you go this weekend, what you think…?

Meanwhile, that’s it for this edition. Time for me to go home and have some pound cake. Thanks again, Rebecca, for a wonderful treat, and have a great weekend everyone!

About Jean Tuttle

Jean Tuttle is a Chicago-area illustrator, designer, and doodler.
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4 Responses to More Pound Cake, Please

  1. I read the first book and I want to go see the movie this rainy weekend.

    • Jean says:

      Let me know what you guys think, Dorothy. (—And Ace too, if he goes.)

      I do kinda want to go back and sketch some of the costumes. The Elizabeth Banks character, Effie, wears these huge flowers in her hair that are like Dorothy Designs on steroids.

  2. Hannah says:

    Hey Aunt Jean, saw the Hunger Games the other day and really enjoyed it, and your Buttercup+Prim doodle. Also want to let you know how much I love your doodles! I never sit down to start a project without coming here first to look at the latest pretty kitties. They always brighten up my day and give me some incentive to get to work. So thanks so much!

    • Jean says:

      Hannah, thanks so much — your kind words mean a lot!

      Meanwhile, it’s so funny, I almost took down the Prim doodle because it was so rough — in fact, I was thinking about doing that just this morning. So I’m really glad you liked it—and the evil Buttercup.

      I’m glad to hear that you like the movie, too. I think Grandpa’s planning to see it while I’m gone (Molly and Ranger say hi BTW), but I kinda think he should read the first book, before he does. (Though it‘s also really interesting to hear what people who don’t already know the story think about the movie—i.e., to hear if it makes any difference to them. I’m curious about stuff like that for some unknown reason…)

      Thanks again for stopping by the Daily Cat Doodle, Hannah — and for the compliments!

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