The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Suzanne Collins. 2020. [May] 439 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Coriolanus released the fistful of cabbage into the pot of boiling water and swore that one day it would never pass his lips again.
ETA: I just reread The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes after watching the movie adaptation--twice. The movie (obviously) resonated with me. It helped in the reread that I knew exactly what was coming in regards to the end. Though to be fair the end is ambiguous both in the book and film. There are definitely differences between the book and film. I highlighted--digitally--some scenes that were different. One thing that stands out, for example, is that Sejanus asks Coriolanus to TRADE tributes. Lucy Snow definitely comes across more as a possession, an asset, an object than a love interest. There are a million and one red flags...not only in his relationship with Lucy Snow but also with his non-friend-friend Sejanus. There are MORE characters in the book than there are in the film.
My original review:
Premise/plot: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel (of
sorts) to Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. The protagonist (he is not a
hero) is a young (very young) Coriolanus Snow. He comes from a
previously wealthy (high class) family that has fallen (hard and fast)
on hard times. His only hope of a better life--a more prosperous
future--is a scholarship to university. And that may be completely out
of his control. Twenty-four students will become mentors to the
twenty-four tributes coming to the Capital for this year's Hunger Games.
(It's the TENTH hunger games.) The victor's mentor will receive a
scholarship. The Hunger Games are still relatively new. Those viewing
(and participating) still remember the hard, bitter, horrifying,
traumatic times of actual war. Capital's economy certainly hasn't
recovered from the actual war. (There is nothing lavish and luxurious as
readers (and viewers) may remember from the original trilogy of books.)
The Hunger Games are still in their infancy, still being shaped and
formed by master minds. (People like Dr. Gaul...and her students...)
Coriolanus's
tribute is from district twelve. Her name is Lucy Gray Baird. She's a
singer with charisma, a bit of star quality. She has a little something
special that makes her stand out from others. He sees this as her
greatest strength. Perhaps the two of them can manipulate things
along--here and there--and with a little luck she may win it all. Hooray
for his bright future....
But things don't always go according
to plan...even when they seem to... It seems there's always someone
watching just a smidge cleverer.
Readers also meet his
classmates. In particular Sejanus Plinth who is essentially "new money."
His family has the funds but they are new to Capital. Sejanus still
thinks of himself as belonging to District 2 and being one of the
people. Which makes things super tricky when he has to participate (as a
mentor) in the Hunger Games. He feels one with the tributes--whether
they see him as one of them or not. He cannot accept that these tributes
are animals, monsters, incapable of thought and feeling. There is no
"us" and "them."
Throughout the book, Coriolanus struggles with
his ambitions and his conscience. You might think of the old imagery of
an angel on one side and a devil on the other.
My thoughts: I
don't feel like my time has been completely wasted. It hasn't. I just
wish the book had been shorter. I really don't understand *why* the part
after the conclusion of the Hunger Games had to go on so long. The
first half of the novel was compelling enough. It was interesting to see
the great contrast between these primitive earlier Hunger Games and the
later Games which are depicted in the trilogy. Worlds of difference
between Capital then and now, between the Games then and now. I liked
how Coriolanus and Sejanus both--in their own ways--disapproved of how
the tributes were being treated. There are moments when Snow comes
across as well--human.
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© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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