Scan barcode
A review by sqbxxks
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Soooo where do I even begin.
First of all I loved the idea and concept of the book. I love reading about the flip side of things. Seeing contradicting POVs and exploring a world I already know even more. This book is about influence and indoctrination. This book is deeply philosophical and reflects on different philosophical constitutional standpoints which I found so amazingly incorporated into the book. Students discussing war plans in class, debating moral questions about humanity, Coriolanus having to write a paper on the good side of war,to justify war, the topic of education, the topic of reputation, the privilege of the rich: if one book lets you reflect on everything going wrong in the world it is this one.
I have never read a book which focuses on how the boy turns into the villain and tbh I loved and hated it at the same time. When you find the MC of a book not likeable or you know how the story will end it can be really frustrating to follow the characters train of thoughts. There are people who sympathize with Snow after reading the book? Showing this human side of him made it even worse for me, made me hate him even more. It really shows how deeply evil he is.
This book made me feel so bad at times, it was so brutal and honestly gross: but that was the point right. A mirror for the reader to reflect the real world, the past and the essence of being a human. Reading this at this time with everything happening in the world- I think one has to be prepared when going into this book. It can be deeply upsetting (check trigger warnings!)
The only thing I didn’t like was that this book felt sometimes repetitive due to the fact that we follow Coriolanus living his “normal life” but the more I think about this fact the more I reflect on how this is also so intentional by the author: this book’s purpose is not to be the most adventurous one like the HG often is.
I loved seeing this other side to the Games and how ideas were crafted that influenced Katnisse´s Games 70 years later. The parallels and explanations, the deeper insight and understanding we got of many characters and plot points.
So overall when we talk about the topics discussed, the brilliantness of the author I think this book is a masterpiece but the execution could have been a little bit better. But I loved coming back to this world again and I want to read about the backstory of more characters like Effie Trinket or Haymitch!
First of all I loved the idea and concept of the book. I love reading about the flip side of things. Seeing contradicting POVs and exploring a world I already know even more. This book is about influence and indoctrination. This book is deeply philosophical and reflects on different philosophical constitutional standpoints which I found so amazingly incorporated into the book. Students discussing war plans in class, debating moral questions about humanity, Coriolanus having to write a paper on the good side of war,to justify war, the topic of education, the topic of reputation, the privilege of the rich: if one book lets you reflect on everything going wrong in the world it is this one.
I have never read a book which focuses on how the boy turns into the villain and tbh I loved and hated it at the same time. When you find the MC of a book not likeable or you know how the story will end it can be really frustrating to follow the characters train of thoughts. There are people who sympathize with Snow after reading the book? Showing this human side of him made it even worse for me, made me hate him even more. It really shows how deeply evil he is.
This book made me feel so bad at times, it was so brutal and honestly gross: but that was the point right. A mirror for the reader to reflect the real world, the past and the essence of being a human. Reading this at this time with everything happening in the world- I think one has to be prepared when going into this book. It can be deeply upsetting (check trigger warnings!)
The only thing I didn’t like was that this book felt sometimes repetitive due to the fact that we follow Coriolanus living his “normal life” but the more I think about this fact the more I reflect on how this is also so intentional by the author: this book’s purpose is not to be the most adventurous one like the HG often is.
I loved seeing this other side to the Games and how ideas were crafted that influenced Katnisse´s Games 70 years later. The parallels and explanations, the deeper insight and understanding we got of many characters and plot points.
So overall when we talk about the topics discussed, the brilliantness of the author I think this book is a masterpiece but the execution could have been a little bit better. But I loved coming back to this world again and I want to read about the backstory of more characters like Effie Trinket or Haymitch!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Violence