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A review by izzyvb023
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
3.0
I understand the mixed reviews on this book, but i truly loved it. I was a big fan of the original trilogy in my tweenhood, so it was exciting to read this prequel as an adult.
Some people who hated it are citing how obnoxious and draining it was to read coriolanus describe his “poverty” and disdain for the rebels/districts when he was *always* in a privileged position that allowed him to succeed. Reader, that is the entire thesis of the book.
Those in power will always find a way to blame the oppressed for their oppression. The rich will always find a way to blame the poor for their conditions.
Take for example how wealthy politicians are stripping rural communities of their access to food stamps and healthcare, citing laziness and lack of intelligence as reasons for their poverty. Those same politicians are the ones who *create* and cyclically enforce that poverty again and again, finding some way each time to blame it on individual citizens. Another more prevalent example right now could be the situation in Gaza. The scene with Arachne in the zoo and the subsequent press from the capitol felt all too familiar. Arachne is killed by a child she taunts, tortures, and keeps locked in a cage. Once killed, the capitol vows to end this “district terrorism,” as if the child who killed her was a feral animal,
Any act of violence against oppressors is seen as terrorism if you are the one with the power and the keys to the cage.
While i admit, this book wasnt as gripping as the OG Hunger Games trilogy, it was a beautiful indictment of American values and the violence that ensues under late stage capitalism. Snow FULLY believes he is in the right when he commits every single one of his detestable actions. He doesn’t believe himself to be evil or oppressive. In fact, he is guided by a strong moral compass of justice, truth, and loyalty. Collins’s writing allows the reader a glimpse into this mindset and shows how paradigms like this make violent horrific people truly feel like they are acting with the best intentions. That *they* are the ones who are oppressed and poor and deprived.
Overall, i enjoyed the writing and i loved the references to the original trilogy. It was interesting to connect Snow’s actions in the earlier books to his circumstances and storyline in this book-to see how he became the detestable character he is.
Excited to see the movie!
Some people who hated it are citing how obnoxious and draining it was to read coriolanus describe his “poverty” and disdain for the rebels/districts when he was *always* in a privileged position that allowed him to succeed. Reader, that is the entire thesis of the book.
Those in power will always find a way to blame the oppressed for their oppression. The rich will always find a way to blame the poor for their conditions.
Take for example how wealthy politicians are stripping rural communities of their access to food stamps and healthcare, citing laziness and lack of intelligence as reasons for their poverty. Those same politicians are the ones who *create* and cyclically enforce that poverty again and again, finding some way each time to blame it on individual citizens. Another more prevalent example right now could be the situation in Gaza. The scene with Arachne in the zoo and the subsequent press from the capitol felt all too familiar. Arachne is killed by a child she taunts, tortures, and keeps locked in a cage. Once killed, the capitol vows to end this “district terrorism,” as if the child who killed her was a feral animal,
Any act of violence against oppressors is seen as terrorism if you are the one with the power and the keys to the cage.
While i admit, this book wasnt as gripping as the OG Hunger Games trilogy, it was a beautiful indictment of American values and the violence that ensues under late stage capitalism. Snow FULLY believes he is in the right when he commits every single one of his detestable actions. He doesn’t believe himself to be evil or oppressive. In fact, he is guided by a strong moral compass of justice, truth, and loyalty. Collins’s writing allows the reader a glimpse into this mindset and shows how paradigms like this make violent horrific people truly feel like they are acting with the best intentions. That *they* are the ones who are oppressed and poor and deprived.
Overall, i enjoyed the writing and i loved the references to the original trilogy. It was interesting to connect Snow’s actions in the earlier books to his circumstances and storyline in this book-to see how he became the detestable character he is.
Excited to see the movie!