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Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'
Balada șerpilor și a păsărilor cântătoare by Suzanne Collins
65 reviews
astrangewind's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If Veronica Roth killed the genre of dystopian fiction, Suzanne Collins has revived it.
The Hunger Games take on a whole new meaning in this book - only ten years after the war, before all the pomp and flair, from the perspective of not only a mentor, but Corionalus Snow, the Big Bad Villain Man in the original Hunger Games trilogy. Here, we see the televised nature of the Games as an awkward affair, which provide the barest suggestion of what they will become by the time Katniss gets to them. The Games themselves are distanced; we only see the violence that happens from the mentors' eyes, who are largely interested in their tribute's survival only inasmuch as their fame and recognition depend on it. So much unlike the original trilogy where the reader, too, is inside the arena.
It's 500+ pages of following around the future president of Panem; of course we know it doesn't end well. That's what makes this book so captivating - Coriolanus is not a hero. He's a bystander, only caring about others in terms of how they affect his long-term goals, willing to step on those he deems subhuman.
When I read The Hunger Games for the first time, I was barely in high school. Back then, the draw of the books for me was that a bunch of teenagers were killing each other. Now, as I read Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I wonder if the trilogy was this damn obvious. The reaping on July 4th, Coriolanus's hatred of Sejanus as a district-born Capitol citizen whose family has more money than his, the way he talks about the tributes other than his, the one he can use.
The Hunger Games were books about rebellion, revolution, fighting against oppression, no matter the cost. And there were costs. But this is a book about suppression. About how apathy and self-interest turns you into a monster that you don't care about becoming. About how the circumstances of your birth and life informs how you see others - that even though you might be eating cabbage soup inside of a penthouse with marbled floors, at least you're not district poor.
Coriolanus's obliviousness, selfishness, and downright sociopathy make him so unlikeable, but I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to see him punished - but, of course, why would he be? He gets the top spot in Panem's hierarchy.
Everything Collins does is clever: Sejanus's name, rooted from Janus, a god often portrayed with two faces; Coriolanus's abject hatred of the mockingjays as soon as he encounters them; the funeral of the Ring twins, where several tributes were dragged behind horse-drawn chariots, conjuring images of Achilles's dragging of Hector during the Trojan War. Her treatment of Coriolanus's PTSD from the bombings is superb and accurate. The characterization of Tigris as a mother figure, too.
Really just an incredible book that makes me want to reread The Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games take on a whole new meaning in this book - only ten years after the war, before all the pomp and flair, from the perspective of not only a mentor, but Corionalus Snow, the Big Bad Villain Man in the original Hunger Games trilogy. Here, we see the televised nature of the Games as an awkward affair, which provide the barest suggestion of what they will become by the time Katniss gets to them. The Games themselves are distanced; we only see the violence that happens from the mentors' eyes, who are largely interested in their tribute's survival only inasmuch as their fame and recognition depend on it. So much unlike the original trilogy where the reader, too, is inside the arena.
It's 500+ pages of following around the future president of Panem; of course we know it doesn't end well. That's what makes this book so captivating - Coriolanus is not a hero. He's a bystander, only caring about others in terms of how they affect his long-term goals, willing to step on those he deems subhuman.
When I read The Hunger Games for the first time, I was barely in high school. Back then, the draw of the books for me was that a bunch of teenagers were killing each other. Now, as I read Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I wonder if the trilogy was this damn obvious. The reaping on July 4th, Coriolanus's hatred of Sejanus as a district-born Capitol citizen whose family has more money than his, the way he talks about the tributes other than his, the one he can use.
The Hunger Games were books about rebellion, revolution, fighting against oppression, no matter the cost. And there were costs. But this is a book about suppression. About how apathy and self-interest turns you into a monster that you don't care about becoming. About how the circumstances of your birth and life informs how you see others - that even though you might be eating cabbage soup inside of a penthouse with marbled floors, at least you're not district poor.
Coriolanus's obliviousness, selfishness, and downright sociopathy make him so unlikeable, but I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to see him punished - but, of course, why would he be? He gets the top spot in Panem's hierarchy.
Everything Collins does is clever: Sejanus's name, rooted from Janus, a god often portrayed with two faces; Coriolanus's abject hatred of the mockingjays as soon as he encounters them; the funeral of the Ring twins, where several tributes were dragged behind horse-drawn chariots, conjuring images of Achilles's dragging of Hector during the Trojan War. Her treatment of Coriolanus's PTSD from the bombings is superb and accurate. The characterization of Tigris as a mother figure, too.
Really just an incredible book that makes me want to reread The Hunger Games.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Child death, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Classism, and Murder
Moderate: War, Slavery, Grief, and Addiction
Minor: Vomit, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
chrisljm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
528 pages of Snow being a loser.
Going to expand on my review for the sake of explaining that I don't dislike this book. I just dislike losers. I liked that Suzanne Collins gave us a prequel and gave background to the games and how it essentially all started, but I just wasn't too invested in the story because I never cared to learn more about Snow's life.
I think it's fair that other readers didn't enjoy this book because it does get a bit long and the last third does drag, but I think the people who see this book as an attempt to sympathize Snow as a villain just doesn't understand Suzanne Collins or what she wrote. We see how Snow had a tough childhood, being poor and living through war, but he is very much still cruel and narcissistic. There is in no way for this book to be taken as an attempt to get you on Snow's side.
While I personally didn't give a fuck about Snow's backstory, I think this is worth reading if you want insight on how the modern version of the games came to be. In my opinion it's less about Snow and more of an origin story to the Panem we see in The Hunger Games trilogy, and I think the book is more enjoyable if you read it with this in mind.
I also want to say that the dislike this book gets makes me firm on my stance in hating when people ask for more books on the other Hunger Game years. We have all we need to know from the trilogy. It's unnecessary and just another way for people to thoughtlessly consume media. The Hunger Games portion of this book was very uncomfortable to read, especially since I already sat through the cruelty of the games twice for the trilogy. If we were to read anymore of the games, it would just become cruelty for entertainment, which literally goes against the theme of the series.
Going to expand on my review for the sake of explaining that I don't dislike this book. I just dislike losers. I liked that Suzanne Collins gave us a prequel and gave background to the games and how it essentially all started, but I just wasn't too invested in the story because I never cared to learn more about Snow's life.
I think it's fair that other readers didn't enjoy this book because it does get a bit long and the last third does drag, but I think the people who see this book as an attempt to sympathize Snow as a villain just doesn't understand Suzanne Collins or what she wrote. We see how Snow had a tough childhood, being poor and living through war, but he is very much still cruel and narcissistic. There is in no way for this book to be taken as an attempt to get you on Snow's side.
While I personally didn't give a fuck about Snow's backstory, I think this is worth reading if you want insight on how the modern version of the games came to be. In my opinion it's less about Snow and more of an origin story to the Panem we see in The Hunger Games trilogy, and I think the book is more enjoyable if you read it with this in mind.
I also want to say that the dislike this book gets makes me firm on my stance in hating when people ask for more books on the other Hunger Game years. We have all we need to know from the trilogy. It's unnecessary and just another way for people to thoughtlessly consume media. The Hunger Games portion of this book was very uncomfortable to read, especially since I already sat through the cruelty of the games twice for the trilogy. If we were to read anymore of the games, it would just become cruelty for entertainment, which literally goes against the theme of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Addiction, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Gore, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Chronic illness
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Suicidal thoughts
jonssweater's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Addiction
Moderate: War, Sexism, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gore, Blood, Trafficking, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, and Sexual violence
not_your_muse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was as good as any in-depth analysis of a story’s villain could be but—I don’t know if its the movie hype at the moment or it’s just me waiting for something cathartic to happen to both of them until the end— it just felt hasty on the third act. But as always, Suzanne’s writing prowess in building these three acts that are seamlessly getting you to continue reading ever since the first trilogy is what kept me hooked on this book.
I can’t wait for the film later this year!
I can’t wait for the film later this year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Death, War, and Police brutality
Moderate: Cannibalism and Drug abuse
stellabyproxy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“It’s just the kind of story that catches fire.”
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is nothing like I had imagined and everything I could have hoped for.
As a long-time fan of the original trilogy, I was apprehensive about reading this prequel. Partly because of my past disappointments with expansion of series, as well as the possibility of bursting that bubble of nostalgia. Collins easily came in with an absolute gem which is sure to be another amazing book-to-film adaptation.
“The origins of Coriolanus Snow and his star-crossed romance with District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird” would be a rather reductive summary of a story which completely dissects the fabric of The Hunger Games, and the masterful future President Snow’s adolescent contributions to its future success. We see him attempting to maintain public appearances in the midst of post-war financial stresses, a young boy thrust into the harsh realities of politics. What ensues is nothing short of invasive and all-encompassing. Both Snow, and the reader, completely wrapped up in a story and game that seemingly has no end. The end of the game is not the end of the story, as Snow learns all too well how survival is not a singular annual event but an ongoing daily struggle. A struggle upon which the Games are founded, as “Without the control to enforce the [societal] contract, chaos reigned.” This story only helps to further understand the parallels in the lives of Coriolanus Snow and Katniss Everdeen. Snow’s hatred for Katniss, mockingjays and rebellion: all reminiscent of his tumultuous childhood which he only barely overcame, through the sacrifice of his humanity, his family and his love. The strategic use of music/lyrics and the imagery it holds is an invisible string that ties everything together, the origin of The Hanging Tree a beautiful parting gift and devastating revelation that will live on in THG history.
It is of no surprise how congruent to modern societies Panem is, and in the end I am left with the burning question: “If the people who were supposed to protect you played so fast and loose with your life… then how did you survive?”
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Classism, Xenophobia, War, Cannibalism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Blood
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The second section with the games is the exception to this rating which was 5 stars
Trashhh, why was lucy literally just his manic pixie dream girl >:(
This could have actually been good if she hadnt been so low key useless like are u telling me she actually fucking liked him??? Why could she not have just been using him :( the only scene where she was anything more than useless was the ending and ur saying that she disappears *poof* and thats it?? I expected better that stopping the book as soon as we see character potential tbh
This was a perfect opportunity to guve more info about things i actually was interested in but no its just snow being the worst simp in existence
Trashhh, why was lucy literally just his manic pixie dream girl >:(
This could have actually been good if she hadnt been so low key useless like are u telling me she actually fucking liked him??? Why could she not have just been using him :( the only scene where she was anything more than useless was the ending and ur saying that she disappears *poof* and thats it?? I expected better that stopping the book as soon as we see character potential tbh
This was a perfect opportunity to guve more info about things i actually was interested in but no its just snow being the worst simp in existence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Toxic relationship, Grief, Violence, Blood, Child death, Confinement, and Death
pallasreads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I will be thinking about this book for the rest of time. Suzanne Collins had successfully added new depth to Panem and the Hunger Games. Until the last 25 pages, I was still rooting for Snow to make the right decisions, even though fans of the trilogy know he won’t. Every detail is wrenching, and the little ways the original trilogy is tied in serve as reminders of the cruelty humans can enact on each other. Most importantly, this book reminds all of us how much power art really can have to ignite a revolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Medical trauma
Minor: Torture, Cannibalism, and Xenophobia
tabbed_reads2much's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Oof bro I didn't like this one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Child death, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Death, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Slavery
Maybe I just hate snow but this book was not ittaelights's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Honestly I really loved this book. I liked learning more about Snow's story and getting to see how he developed from an annoying school boy into pure evil. I also liked seeing the state of Panem so soon after the war.
I also enjoyed getting to learn how the hunger games operated in earlier years. How it was somehow even worse than in the OG trilogy and see how the foundations were laid for the format we already knew about. I was honestly shocked about the treatment of the tributes before and during the games many times. It was hard to read at times but it was worth it and gave me a lot to think about especially seeing as I often thought that the hunger games in the trilogy aren't that bad.
Also I do know that there is criticism about the ending but I don't share the same criticism.
The only thing is I wish I knew for sure what happened to Lucy Gray at the end but I am also satisfied not knowing because it parallels well with her ballad and you can kind of come up with whatever you wish so I can imagine whatever end I want for her and that will be my canon.
Anyways I loved this book and I really hope we get more books in the hunger games universe because I will literally read them all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Police brutality, Blood, Child abuse, War, Classism, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Cannibalism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Dementia
Mentions of sex work/prostitution that the character was forced into basically due to not having any other choice.margaret721's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Child abuse, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Suicidal thoughts