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louzr's reviews
133 reviews
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
read: 13/05/23 - 29/05/23 | spoilers!
This book is a genius addition to the series, and clearly so thought-out. Storytelling-wise, many questions from the original series are answered: Where do the mutts come from? How was the betting on tributes normalised? When did it become a sport rather than a punishment? The terrifying but much-needed thing about this book is just how 'understandable' it all is.How the betting to help tributes in the arena morphed over the years to purely betting on their survival. How the tributes having the option to speak for themselves evolved into having the Capitol pick favourites based on presentation. It was a horrifyingly realistic taunting of morality. It was also incredibly interesting to see the difference of the games from the 10th to our initial introduction with the 74th in the first ever books. The tributes kept in cages, unfed and neglected. The state of the Capitol and its recovery from the rebellion. An intriguing look into the other side of the story we never got to see with Katniss.
The messaging remains as strong as ever. There are many powerful scenes.The rebel bombing of the arena, Reaper's collecting of the bodies, the violent 'funeral' for the tributes that died before the games even started. Arachne's death; How, with the poking of the bear, a victim will still be punished for having a reaction to provocation, a subtle mirror to how resistance groups are treated as terrorists in our modern world. Sejanus' hanging; How even those who try to utilise their privilege usually end up silenced nonetheless. The book is heavy and emotional, reinforced by its string of realism.
The dissection of Snow as a character was interesting.To watch a child of war so desperate for control that everything he touches is tainted with a need for it. How the games aren't just the Plinth Prize, it is the first step to his presidency. How Sejanus cannot be a friend, but instead a stepping stone to power. How he cannot love Lucy Gray, he only wishes to control and contain her. When every obstacle is removed for him, when he has killed those who love him, when every shred of humanity is ripped from him, he is given a clear pathway to dictatorship. I think this book is a great symbol of how violence is a cycle, not just with the 'who wins, who loses', but with the emotionally damage it does on those involved, and how that emotion is fuel to a fire.
I loved the book and the context it added to the original series. The characters were amazing and the story itself was un-put-down-able.
This book is a genius addition to the series, and clearly so thought-out. Storytelling-wise, many questions from the original series are answered: Where do the mutts come from? How was the betting on tributes normalised? When did it become a sport rather than a punishment? The terrifying but much-needed thing about this book is just how 'understandable' it all is.
The messaging remains as strong as ever. There are many powerful scenes.
The dissection of Snow as a character was interesting.
I loved the book and the context it added to the original series. The characters were amazing and the story itself was un-put-down-able.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
read: (1st) some point in 2014 (2nd) 07/05/23 - 13/05/23 | spoilers.
'Mockingjay' is a full-circle ending to 'The Hunger Games' series.Not only do we end with a successful rebellion, the full dismantling and rebuilding of the governmental system, but we also have a happy whilst realistic ending emotionally. Katniss figures out what is best for her, yet, as shown in the epilogue, her and Peeta are not cured. Both still experience nightmares and flashbacks; Another example of these characters being humanised and having emotional repercussions to the suffering they have experienced - something dystopia writers ignore far too often.
The symbol of the mockingjay, the metaphor for modern politics, rises to its peak.We see District 13, a uniform dictatorship, turn children to war weapons. We watch Gale become an angry product of his environment - How if you force a child to grow up with violence, that is what they, too, will resort to. We watch how the Capitol will spare no expense to turn anything to an arena. The needless killing of beloved characters like Finnick and Prim, a mirror of how lives lost to war are always pointless. The bombing of hospitals, the lying of leaders, the mere mention of a 'symbolic Hunger Games', weaved seamlessly into the fiction of the story, yet consistently reflective of current world violence and western complicity. A quote I always refer to for this theme is something said by Plutarch towards the end of the book: "Now we're in that sweet period where everyone agrees that our recent horrors should never be repeated. But collective thinking is usually short-lived. We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction."
There is much to love about this book. Each victor could be spoken about for hours.Joanna's need for revenge with the symbolic Hunger Games, understandable yet counterproductive. Finnick's words to Katniss: "I drag myself out of nightmares and find there's no relief in waking... Better not to give in to it. It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart." Peeta's recovery from the torture he suffered, his difficulty with which of his memories are real or not. Katniss' crushed self-image despite being the most selfless person the entire series: "Finally, he can see me for who I really am. Violent. Distrustful. Manipulative. Deadly. And I hate him for it." All of these nuanced experiences of PTSD are things I heavily appreciate being represented, but also add so much weight from a storytelling perspective.
'Mockingjay' is a full-circle ending to 'The Hunger Games' series.
The symbol of the mockingjay, the metaphor for modern politics, rises to its peak.
There is much to love about this book. Each victor could be spoken about for hours.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
read: (1st) some point in 2014 (2nd) 03/05/23 - 07/05/23 | spoilers.
'Catching Fire' opens the series up in a masterful way.Firstly, the book begins with a thorough character dissection that focuses primarily on the damage the games have inflicted on Katniss and Peeta. Whilst Katniss is avoidant and clinging to any remnant of 'before' to ignore the reality of what she has experienced, Peeta invests in painting his traumatic memories as a form of therapy. Both are very realistic and understandable ways of coping with PTSD that I heavily appreciate being explored. The slowed pace of the opening of this book not only allows room for the reader to connect to the characters, but also lets us see important emotion and repercussion that is often side-lined due to the perception of being 'boring' or 'useless' in a book.
The political themes continue full-force.The Victors' Tour visit to District 11 is a notably violent yet not far-fetched display of what 'freedom of speech' looks like under an oppressive power. The Capitol's ability to be blind-sighted by 'love' and parasocialism, even when it is served with death and loss, is just blatantly realistic. Peeta's stunt with the 'baby' line in his interview is a frustratingly accurate depiction of the 'pro-life' argument when it comes to abortion - The Capitol will let teenagers be slaughtered for their entertainment but God forbid you hurt the unborn baby. We watch Katniss' radicalisation grow alongside the beautiful addition of the other scorned victors.
'Catching Fire' is a needed reminder that there is no victor under an oppressive government; That a bird cannot fly free in a cage no matter how big you make it. The symbol of the mockingjay grows in a genius way.
From a storytelling standpoint, 'Catching Fire' has to be my favourite THG book.The arena itself, the idea of the clock and the different segments, is so smart. The 'all-stars' theme of the quarter quell adds an excitement to meeting the onslaught of new characters, which is an aspect of storytelling that is usually met with apprehension by a reader. The growth of our original cast from book one is well paced. Its messaging and how seamlessly it meets fiction is another tell to Suzanne Collins' talent.
'Catching Fire' opens the series up in a masterful way.
The political themes continue full-force.
'Catching Fire' is a needed reminder that there is no victor under an oppressive government; That a bird cannot fly free in a cage no matter how big you make it. The symbol of the mockingjay grows in a genius way.
From a storytelling standpoint, 'Catching Fire' has to be my favourite THG book.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
read: (1st) some point in 2014 (2nd) 28/04/23 - 03/05/23 | spoilers!
'The Hunger Games' has been a prevalent series throughout my teenage years, and part of my experience growing up has been to learn the deeper meaning of the books I was too young to understand on my initial read. This series, a digestible yet reflective political commentary on western romanticisation of violence in order to achieve ignorance, is genius in its metaphor; Its exaggerated realism yet accurate morals of gameshow violence is mirroring of a modern society.The presenting of decorated tributes, the betting on lambs to the slaughter, the televised death of children met with apathy. It cannot be described as 'dystopian', only more 'bluntly said'.
Its messaging is interwoven with incredible plotting and intricate characters. The worldbuilding, though not overly heavy in order to keep that familiarity of the reader's world, is thought out, especially when it comes to the different aspects of the games and how they are ran. My love for the books expand with each addition, yet I think this is a perfect introduction to the series.
'The Hunger Games' has been a prevalent series throughout my teenage years, and part of my experience growing up has been to learn the deeper meaning of the books I was too young to understand on my initial read. This series, a digestible yet reflective political commentary on western romanticisation of violence in order to achieve ignorance, is genius in its metaphor; Its exaggerated realism yet accurate morals of gameshow violence is mirroring of a modern society.
Its messaging is interwoven with incredible plotting and intricate characters. The worldbuilding, though not overly heavy in order to keep that familiarity of the reader's world, is thought out, especially when it comes to the different aspects of the games and how they are ran. My love for the books expand with each addition, yet I think this is a perfect introduction to the series.
The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.75
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
24/03/23 - 18/04/23 | spoilers! (a little bit)
The only reason this book did not get five stars was purely personal preference. I think the book is very successful in the message it is trying to send, and I think it's themes are beautifully reflected in its prose.The book is about government-enforced uniformity and how ripping freedom from people will lead to a shell of humanity. The character and their emptiness reflect that, the lack of emotion in the majority of scenes reflect that, the more sci-fi (?) switch of the end reflects that. The whole book feels hollow and that seems intentional.
The issue is: I hate emptiness. I love depth-ridden characters. Obviously this book is the complete opposite of that, yet I cannot knock it for being so - that was the point. It is written to be an echo and it is masterfully crafted. However, it sometimes felt slow for me because the book did not possess the motivators that usually keep me reading. Its message and its execution were amazing, but I can also recognise it was not entirely 'my thing'.
As an art form, gorgeous. From a personal standpoint, not entirely for me.
The only reason this book did not get five stars was purely personal preference. I think the book is very successful in the message it is trying to send, and I think it's themes are beautifully reflected in its prose.
As an art form, gorgeous. From a personal standpoint, not entirely for me.