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anankaie 's review for:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
by Suzanne Collins
Rating: 4 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book, and I’m not quite sure how to rate it. I usually give four stars to books that I really liked but had something that bugged me, or to books that hit home but missed some shots in the process. I don’t think this one fits in any of those categories, and I’m going to try to explain why.
I devoured Ballad, although I wasn’t hooked at any point. The agile rhythm of the narrative was engaging; however, the length of the chapters sometimes made me stop reading when I finished one because I knew beforehand it would take me too much time to read the next one—although some chapter endings made that decision difficult. I didn’t empathize with Coriolanus or Lucy Gray, and their well-being was not what kept me reading. What I had was a nagging sensation of need—I needed to know how it all was going to end. I had some predictions of what was going to happen, but the plot surprised me several times with some unexpected turns that kept me practically snared.
I won’t lie: I love surprises in my readings. Maybe that was what made me read this book so fast and why I wasn’t disappointed about not caring for the characters. Also, I have to admit that seeing how it all started—the Games, Snow’s character, the songs—was really interesting. I do love throwbacks and references, and I also found impressive how well the title fitted the story. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this—and I’m delighted.
My main problem was the characters. As I’ve already mentioned, I didn’t care about them—I only wanted to know their destinies. They are well-constructed and interesting enough, and I could understand what their motifs and desires were, but I just couldn’t sympathize with anyone. Some of them, like Dr. Gaul, had so much potential that, in the end, she just fell flat for me, and I also think the resolution with the Plinths felt rushed and, although not exactly out of character, maybe lacking development for my taste. All in all, the ending seemed too “easy” and almost forced, albeit now that I reflect upon it, I quite liked the “thing” left unresolved.
I have some more things to say before I go, like the fact that there was a moment where I felt that there was too much music in the book. Maybe that was intentional, as at one point even Coriolanus thinks that he’s tired of music. However, some of the songs were really good and I can’t wait to hear them—and we will hear them, as there’s already a movie/series/don’t-know-what in the works, I think. I have the feeling that, if they do it right, Ballad will play well on screen, as many of the scenes had a cinematic taste.
I’d like to finish mentioning that I wasn’t even hyped for this book, but nostalgia took over me as soon as I knew it was being released, as the original trilogy played a big part in shaping who I am today. And, while reading this book, I felt like I did back in the day, for what I’m grateful.
I have mixed feelings about this book, and I’m not quite sure how to rate it. I usually give four stars to books that I really liked but had something that bugged me, or to books that hit home but missed some shots in the process. I don’t think this one fits in any of those categories, and I’m going to try to explain why.
I devoured Ballad, although I wasn’t hooked at any point. The agile rhythm of the narrative was engaging; however, the length of the chapters sometimes made me stop reading when I finished one because I knew beforehand it would take me too much time to read the next one—although some chapter endings made that decision difficult. I didn’t empathize with Coriolanus or Lucy Gray, and their well-being was not what kept me reading. What I had was a nagging sensation of need—I needed to know how it all was going to end. I had some predictions of what was going to happen, but the plot surprised me several times with some unexpected turns that kept me practically snared.
I won’t lie: I love surprises in my readings. Maybe that was what made me read this book so fast and why I wasn’t disappointed about not caring for the characters. Also, I have to admit that seeing how it all started—the Games, Snow’s character, the songs—was really interesting. I do love throwbacks and references, and I also found impressive how well the title fitted the story. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this—and I’m delighted.
My main problem was the characters. As I’ve already mentioned, I didn’t care about them—I only wanted to know their destinies. They are well-constructed and interesting enough, and I could understand what their motifs and desires were, but I just couldn’t sympathize with anyone. Some of them, like Dr. Gaul, had so much potential that, in the end, she just fell flat for me, and I also think the resolution with the Plinths felt rushed and, although not exactly out of character, maybe lacking development for my taste. All in all, the ending seemed too “easy” and almost forced, albeit now that I reflect upon it, I quite liked the “thing” left unresolved.
I have some more things to say before I go, like the fact that there was a moment where I felt that there was too much music in the book. Maybe that was intentional, as at one point even Coriolanus thinks that he’s tired of music. However, some of the songs were really good and I can’t wait to hear them—and we will hear them, as there’s already a movie/series/don’t-know-what in the works, I think. I have the feeling that, if they do it right, Ballad will play well on screen, as many of the scenes had a cinematic taste.
I’d like to finish mentioning that I wasn’t even hyped for this book, but nostalgia took over me as soon as I knew it was being released, as the original trilogy played a big part in shaping who I am today. And, while reading this book, I felt like I did back in the day, for what I’m grateful.