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A review by ladybugwrites
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I saw the movie before I read the book, which is not something I usually do, but it means I knew a lot of what would happen as I was reading. Though, despite my 2 star rating, the book is better than the movie. Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy this book that much and seem incapable now of actually writing a review without spoilers.
There are definitely parts of this book I enjoyed. The view we get of the Hunger Games from the Capitol's point of view is insanely fascinating, especially with the differences between then and now (the 10th and 74th games). I thought a lot of the start had many social commentaries on how we treat people we think are less than us, or how we sometimes mange to not view people as people. To some extent, I think Dr. Gaul's thoughts are true (I obviously do not support the games or think she's a good person, but she makes some interesting points and just twists them into doing harm against others). This first part called the Mentors, is fairly good. It's what I expect from Suzanne Collins in a book set before the original triology.
However, I have a few too many problems to actually have enjoyed the book. I even considered DNF
ing at some point, but I was already halfway and I wanted to see it through to the end, maybe it could redeem itself (which seems a silly thought when I've seen the movie, but I had hopes).
First of all, I don't think it was necessary throughout this book to paint Snow as some person affected by all his trauma. Snow, as a character, would be a lot more interesting if he was just straight up evil. It feels like a half-assed way to somehow try to justify his actions (it technially doesn't, but that's the feeling it gives and thats the wrong message). I didn't care for him throughout this whole book, despite knowing that to some extent I was supposed to. He suffered during the war, but he seemed completey incapable of realizing that his suffering was on par with the suffering of people from the districts. He had no compassion, and was, in all honesty, an egotistic and narcissitics ass. Only proven by his lack of care for Clemensia, and the fact that the only tribute he cared about was Lucy Gray--someone he tried to paint as not actually district.
And that leads me to my second point. The romance is awful. I never cared for it. It's forced, and it doesn't make sense. I see how Lucy Gray could fall for someone helping her, even if he does it for his own benefits, mainly because it's the only saving grace she has. That part I can buy, though it's a little harder when you think of how Lucy Gray is presented throughout the book. It doesn't seem to me that she would fall for him, honestly. And Snow, why would he care enough in any other way than to win? That was his whole goal. The romance in here pissed me off. I didn't like it, and I never believed they actually loved each other. Even during their time in 12, I never belived it. It only had me annoyed. Especially considering the plot could be the exact same, without the romance, which was just a layer to have us sympathize some more. Of course, we're supposed to hate him by the end of the book. The epilogue even changes the name from Coriolanus to Snow. That's specific. But I wanted that through the whole book. There is nothing that can make me sympathize with him, feel any hint of compassion for him, and I think the book would've been better if he was an asshole from the start.
Also, I have a few questions left. What the fuck happened to Tigris between this book and Mockingjay?
I don't know if I'm actually managing to gather my thoughts in a coherent way, mainly because I'm left disappointed. I get that the Hunger Games was a success and I guess people wanted to know Snow's background, not sure. But I actually thought this book would add something more, and it didn't. A book doesn't need to, but I kind of expected it from Suzanne Collins of all people.
Honestly, I don't recommend this. Maybe it deserves even less than 2 stars, but there's parts of it I did like. I'm just left disappointed, and kinda annoyed.
There are definitely parts of this book I enjoyed. The view we get of the Hunger Games from the Capitol's point of view is insanely fascinating, especially with the differences between then and now (the 10th and 74th games). I thought a lot of the start had many social commentaries on how we treat people we think are less than us, or how we sometimes mange to not view people as people. To some extent, I think Dr. Gaul's thoughts are true (I obviously do not support the games or think she's a good person, but she makes some interesting points and just twists them into doing harm against others). This first part called the Mentors, is fairly good. It's what I expect from Suzanne Collins in a book set before the original triology.
However, I have a few too many problems to actually have enjoyed the book. I even considered DNF
ing at some point, but I was already halfway and I wanted to see it through to the end, maybe it could redeem itself (which seems a silly thought when I've seen the movie, but I had hopes).
First of all, I don't think it was necessary throughout this book to paint Snow as some person affected by all his trauma. Snow, as a character, would be a lot more interesting if he was just straight up evil. It feels like a half-assed way to somehow try to justify his actions (it technially doesn't, but that's the feeling it gives and thats the wrong message). I didn't care for him throughout this whole book, despite knowing that to some extent I was supposed to. He suffered during the war, but he seemed completey incapable of realizing that his suffering was on par with the suffering of people from the districts. He had no compassion, and was, in all honesty, an egotistic and narcissitics ass. Only proven by his lack of care for Clemensia, and the fact that the only tribute he cared about was Lucy Gray--someone he tried to paint as not actually district.
And that leads me to my second point. The romance is awful. I never cared for it. It's forced, and it doesn't make sense. I see how Lucy Gray could fall for someone helping her, even if he does it for his own benefits, mainly because it's the only saving grace she has. That part I can buy, though it's a little harder when you think of how Lucy Gray is presented throughout the book. It doesn't seem to me that she would fall for him, honestly. And Snow, why would he care enough in any other way than to win? That was his whole goal. The romance in here pissed me off. I didn't like it, and I never believed they actually loved each other. Even during their time in 12, I never belived it. It only had me annoyed. Especially considering the plot could be the exact same, without the romance, which was just a layer to have us sympathize some more. Of course, we're supposed to hate him by the end of the book. The epilogue even changes the name from Coriolanus to Snow. That's specific. But I wanted that through the whole book. There is nothing that can make me sympathize with him, feel any hint of compassion for him, and I think the book would've been better if he was an asshole from the start.
Also, I have a few questions left. What the fuck happened to Tigris between this book and Mockingjay?
I don't know if I'm actually managing to gather my thoughts in a coherent way, mainly because I'm left disappointed. I get that the Hunger Games was a success and I guess people wanted to know Snow's background, not sure. But I actually thought this book would add something more, and it didn't. A book doesn't need to, but I kind of expected it from Suzanne Collins of all people.
Honestly, I don't recommend this. Maybe it deserves even less than 2 stars, but there's parts of it I did like. I'm just left disappointed, and kinda annoyed.