Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (a Hunger Games Novel) | 
pickSince a new book is coming out, I figured I needed to catch up and read this one. I did see the movie, so I knew the overall story, but I still enjoyed the book. Could‘ve been shorted; it dragged on in several places. It‘s a little clunky, but was interesting to see all the tie-ins to the original trilogy.
so-soThis book was unnecessarily long. Snow's backstory is interesting, but I think the author was trying to make him sympathetic, and I found him annoying and self consumed from the start. The book dragged on. So much could have been edited out without losing any character development or story. I found myself skimming a lot. It's definitely not on par with the original trilogy. Now, how do I tell my daughter who's been begging me to read it? 😟
pickIt was interesting to read President Snow‘s origin story!
#bookspinbingo
#pop25 - book with a snake on the cover or in the title
so-soComing down from reading the Hunger Games, I feel let down. It felt flat, learning of Snow when he was a teen. There were tidbits to connect the Hunger Games trilogy, though not enough to keep me engaged. I wish there was more of a connection of Snow of them and Snow of the trilogy. Felt like a totally different person, on a way that I don‘t see how he changed so much. Let alone everything with Lucy Gray. Who wass so much more interesting.
pickThis book takes a unique approach on the hunger games series. By describing presidents snows up bringing before the original hunger games series.
pickIt‘s been 12 years since I read all of the Hunger Games books, and I never had read this one. Picked it up on a whim to read in a plane home. I really enjoyed it! I like a good villain origin story, and thought this was done really well.
pickLoved it! Suzanne Collins is a genius. I‘m going to watch the movie versions of Catching Fire, Mockingjay, and this one to prep myself for the next installment. Might just go ahead and preorder it 😎
pickIt took me a few months to finish on audio- but I finished it yesterday. I have to admit i was also reluctant to read it but my daughter wanted to be able to talk about it with me- of course I was going to- and it was very well done- although It drives me crazy that Suzanne Collins uses a lot of ambiguity at times- Lucy Grey???? (then ending of Gregor the Overlander)- The world through Snows eyes and experiences def enriched it all for me.
It‘s working for me so far, and that‘s saying a lot considering I‘ve only wanted to read romcoms for the last three months 🤪😅🤓
pickI really enjoy Collins‘ writing. I remember tearing through the trilogy so many years ago. This was quite a villain‘s origin story. Looking forward to discussing it with my daughter.
Starting my daughter‘s Mother‘s Day gift to me today: a BR with her. #firstlinefridays
Part 1 of my books from April 💜
Has anyone read any of them?
pickThis was so good 💚🐍🐦⬛ I loved The Hunger Games trilogy and was worried that I wouldn't like this and it would ruin it for me, but it actually enhanced the story so much that I need to go back and read the trilogy again! Seeing Coriolanus Snow become President Snow was so clever and this book really deepened his character. I'll be thinking about this book for awhile!
pickI absolutely loved it. It was just as good as the original trilogy. It was a little darker but it was completely engaging and interesting to see how the Hunger Games developed into what they were. Also, to see how someone becomes the President Snow of the future. The movie did a decent job depicting the book, but I‘d read it first otherwise you‘ll miss some important details and it could feel rushed at the end. Read don‘t listen to the audiobook.
pickThe differences between the hunger games in this book vs the future books was fascinating. Truly, this version of the games was pretty boring. Hours of nothing followed by minutes of action. Snow‘s character is pretty despicable. Other than his own family, he has no real feelings for anyone else. He only acts if it will make him look good. His relationship with the tribute Lucy Gray is a joke. Snow only wants her as a captive, dependent on him.
pickI enjoyed this one almost as much as I enjoyed the first two books. It kind of lost me at the end as I felt it moved too quickly too suddenly
panNot Collin‘s best work. Lucy Grays character never truly made sense or unfolded. Provided a little more depth to Snow‘s character later in the series, but not enough to justify the addition to the series. Some things are better left as is.
bailedMy first bail of the year. I am half in and I just don't see the point. Snow is a terrible person, for no reason. There is nothing redeemable about any of these characters. I don't understand Lucy's motivation or why she is acting how she is. The way the government treats the tributes makes zero sense (even for an evil entity it just doesn't make sense to starve your entertainment??)
I can't handle being with these characters any longer.
I am about a third of the way into this books, and I am not really enjoying this, so I was curious about the reviews and here are some I am thinking are fitting 😅
pickThe captivating origin story of the tyrannical villain, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, unfolds amongst a richly vehement prose interspersed with a pernicious romance and subtle inclinations towards the original trilogy. I found myself spellbound from the very beginning, devouring the prequel in a few voracious days, loathing the morally grey, inevitable antagonist, yet finding the exploration of his background utterly fascinating. Truly phenomenal!
pickProbably my favourite book in the hunger Games series. I also loved the book way more than the movie.
pickI thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! I loved the movie series, as usual, the book is better. Looking forward to the next one.
pickEven though I do prefer the original 3 books, I will admit that I greatly enjoyed this book. Without spoiling anything, I really appreciated how this book was written. It‘s a very good “bad guy” origin story because it doesn‘t make you cheer for the villain but yet it does allow you to understand and even sympathies with him without justifying his evil. I also found it interesting that there are actually no true heroes in this book. #52challenge
so-soMy sister and I have seen all of the Hunger Games movies together. This time, I saw the movie first, then read the book. (Sis lent me her copy.) The style was different—less momentum to the story—and I felt it needed some editing. The changes for the film version worked well. I loved Lucy Gray and her music. 💖
I‘ve been so late posting because my daughter is visiting- and for #hyggehour we are listening to Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes because she has been talking non stop about it and is positive i will love it. We are cozy cuddling on the couch. #midwintersolace #naturalitsy
I am having such a good time reading this book, I can't stop reading it! Reminds me of my childhood so much.
"You could start by thinking I can actually win." (153)
#hungergames #book #love #ballad #coriolanus #lucygray
pickThe prequel to The Hunger Games- disappointing or surprisingly good? For me, it's definitely the latter. This book focuses on young Coriolanus Snow who has been picked to be a mentor to one of the unfortunates selected for the 10th Hunger Games.
I thought it was an interesting addition to the HG canon, & it has made me want to re-read the whole series. As we know, there is no redemption arc for Snow, (continued)
so-soWhile I really enjoyed this book for the world development, dialogue, and especially Snow‘s inner thoughts, it was just such a slow pace. There was so much nothing happening that it just dragged with most of my motivation to finish it my desire to watch the movie. It all came together for me at the end but I‘d give it 3.5 stars overall. I will say it made me want to reread the Hunger Games trilogy now that I have more insight into Snow.
so-so#serieslove2023
I finished this last month and watched the movie over the Thanksgiving holiday and I‘m still not sure how I feel about it. The movie was enjoyable enough, I liked being back in The Hunger Games world but the book was painfully tedious and boring. Glad the movie condensed the book a bit and glad I completed the series.
pickI‘m giving this a pick because I finished the book. I tend to bail on books if I don‘t like them. I was hesitant to get a book about Snow‘s backstory because he was such an evil man in the trilogy. I went back and forth on understanding who he was as a teenager. It‘s extremely difficult to empathize with such an unlikeable character. But I definitely see how the boy he was in this book became President Snow.
I watched the movie last Friday with my sister, Serafina, and am now excited to read it! I heard a lot is different in the movie - I was so in love with the original trilogy when I was a kid!
#hungergames #book #prequel #childhood #songbirdsandsnakes
pickClearly reading big books in a giant hurry has been a theme of my week, because I raced to finish this before a 3.45pm movie time (clocked in at 3.08)🤣 my husband and daughter had read it ages before and I was lagging behind. Enjoyed the story, she definitely makes you sympathetic to Snow, which is worrying but well done for sure. As usual a great book to movie adaptation. IMO the hunger games are the most faithful new book to movie adaptations.
so-soThe YA easy reading vibe I needed, although this villain origin story didn‘t quite land for me. There are lots of elements that made the original Hunger Games trilogy great here. This prequel is a bit looser on the edit to its detriment. Ultimately I think I needed someone to root for to really immerse myself in this story. Readable but not great.
November #wrapup.
November is usually a light reading month but I really took it to new lows this year! One book, one short story and two picture books. I think I am heading into a slump.
pickThe way this book looked at the good and evil in human beings was fascinating. I had a hard time putting it down!
