The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

By Suzanne Collins

HOLY COW

Suzanne Collins has outdone herself. The level of detail she dug up and combed out of her world altering trilogy (The Hunger Games) is of the highest order. There are no stones left unturned when we visit the not-yet-President Snow in his formative years. I can't name a single person that had anything less than general disgust for President Snow as we came to know him in the Hunger Games era.... and now he has actually become my favorite character in the whole Panem universe. (Please know that I do not take 'favorites' lightly and this is a sincere compliment.) You will quickly see what an amazing artist Collins is as she twists and turns and sculpts your perceptions of the world and people you thought you knew. There were moments I thought I knew the trajectory (because we all know how it ends {generally speaking}), but then there was a wrench thrown in the plan, and then another one, and another one. It was fantastically written. Outstanding book. I was never bored.

Topics on which I could write whole analysis essays for TBOSAS:

• the previous WAR
• Coriolanus' grandma’am
• the origin of the Games
• Lucy Gray Baird's character arc & symbols
• Sejanus' perfectly timed demise and how it lead to Snow's success
• Dean Highbottom- I had high hopes for a Snape-like ending :(
• how Coriolanus' time as a peacekeeper affected his future politics
• the atrocity that is Dr. Gaul's morality
• TIGRIS?!?! Clearly missing some puzzle pieces in the 60 year gap between books, I would love to speculate on those years

I wouldn't be opposed to a sequel to this book as I love Collins' writing and the universe she has created. But, a point I feel necessary to acknoledge, a sequel would stifle the imagination for those years between TBOSAS and Hunger Games. This space for imagination that currently exists allows me to feel okay and even good about my choice to call Coriolanus my favorite. If more were written and more knowledge gained, I might not be able to stand such a stance. I am enjoying my slight ignorance is bliss moment.

I have heard rumors of a film. As always, there will be high expectations. (I will still likely see it on premier weekend, though.)

Happy Reading, Bookworms