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violetends 's review for:
Sunrise on the Reaping
by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well it's hard to say how I'm feeling about Sunrise on the Reaping. I've been yearning to read Haymitch's story for almost 15 years, therefore much pressure, honestly.
In short: the segments before and after the arena worked best for me. This book is much less about pulling the reader along through the tension of the arena and having the overall setting be a political comment (like Hunger Games and Catching Fire) but much more about that context, and more specifically about propaganda and the ways in which fascism narrates itself for the masses. These segments are so well done.
But unfortunately the part of the arena kinda lost me. Idk, maybe Suzanne Collins didn't want to make it too exciting again to draw the focus away from the tension of the arena. Which is fair. But I'm not sure what it is she tried to do instead. For me there was something missing there to fully weave the part in the arena into the overall commentary the book was making. I can't really put my finger on it but I definitely felt it as Haymitch left the arena and I was fully pulled back in.
Also, Sunrise on the Reaping truly does fan service in a way The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes didn't (and maybe also couldn't due to the large time jump to the events of the trilogy). We've learned so much about the characters from the trilogy, their tokens and histories. I really loved that.I got to say, when we learned about Katniss' father being that old friend Haymitch shunned to save him from being killed by President Snow, ufffff. And getting to see Lucy Gray's grave which means she somehow remained hidden and in contact with her people after the end of Ballads.
Generally I was engaged but not glued to the page like I am whenever I read the trilogy or when I first read Ballads. But the epilogue in its two brief pages had me sob instantly.Haymitch being granted this small sliver of happiness in raising geese the way his lover Lenore did until Snow killed her and him being finally able to tell his story and to allow himself for care for something again.
The focus of this novel is certainly superficially to tell Haymitch's tale and make him more approachable, to understand his gruff, hopeless alcoholism. But through his story Suzanne Collins comments quite skillfully on the power of propaganda to deceive those in privileged comfort (as well as keep them there) and keep those oppressed too hopeless to unify in their power.
Lastly, it's interesting that the cover shows Haymitch's flint stricker when what is to come 24 years later is the seed of a revolution that begins with a girl on fire.
In short: the segments before and after the arena worked best for me. This book is much less about pulling the reader along through the tension of the arena and having the overall setting be a political comment (like Hunger Games and Catching Fire) but much more about that context, and more specifically about propaganda and the ways in which fascism narrates itself for the masses. These segments are so well done.
But unfortunately the part of the arena kinda lost me. Idk, maybe Suzanne Collins didn't want to make it too exciting again to draw the focus away from the tension of the arena. Which is fair. But I'm not sure what it is she tried to do instead. For me there was something missing there to fully weave the part in the arena into the overall commentary the book was making. I can't really put my finger on it but I definitely felt it as Haymitch left the arena and I was fully pulled back in.
Also, Sunrise on the Reaping truly does fan service in a way The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes didn't (and maybe also couldn't due to the large time jump to the events of the trilogy). We've learned so much about the characters from the trilogy, their tokens and histories. I really loved that.
Generally I was engaged but not glued to the page like I am whenever I read the trilogy or when I first read Ballads. But the epilogue in its two brief pages had me sob instantly.
The focus of this novel is certainly superficially to tell Haymitch's tale and make him more approachable, to understand his gruff, hopeless alcoholism. But through his story Suzanne Collins comments quite skillfully on the power of propaganda to deceive those in privileged comfort (as well as keep them there) and keep those oppressed too hopeless to unify in their power.
Lastly, it's interesting that the cover shows Haymitch's flint stricker when what is to come 24 years later is the seed of a revolution that begins with a girl on fire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail