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The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes

The Ballad Of Songbirds And SnakesTitle: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #4
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 517
Length: 16h 16m
Narrator: Santino Fontana
Source: Owned
Reading Challenge: None
Rating:

Also in This Series: Sunrise on the Reaping
My Thoughts

I’ve been looking forward to THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES since I heard about it and it did not disappoint. I thought it was really fascinating and a fantastic prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy. I especially loved learning about Panem after the first war between the Capitol and the districts. I thought it was interesting to see how the Hunger Games operated before they became what they were in the 74th Hunger Games.

Watching Coriolanus Snow’s life unfold is a lot like watching Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequels. You keep hoping it won’t happen, but know there’s no hope. I thought it was interesting to be in his head, to hear the conflict of remaining loyal to the Capitol and regaining his status and wealth or siding with the districts and Lucy Gray. In the end, I thought Coriolanus’ actual transition to the “Dark Side” was a little abrupt, especially how fast he and Lucy Gray turned on one another.

I loved the other characters as well. Lucy Gray was my favorite, of course. I love how much she loves life, her defiant spirit, her go-with-the-flow personality, and her when-life-gives-you-lemons-make-lemonade outlook. I felt sorry for Sejanus, having to leave his beloved District 2 and become a citizen of the Capitol. I loved learning more about Tigris and I’m curious why and when she and Coriolanus had a falling out.

Book Lovers

Book LoversTitle: Book Lovers
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Pages: 377
Source: Library
Reading Challenge: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved BOOK LOVERS. The enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes are two of my favorites and Henry’s execution didn’t disappoint and was excellently written, producing a spicy slow-burn romance with some of the best bantering I’ve ever read. The sexual tension between Nora and Charlie is palpable and leaves you wanting for more. It’s also a story with some meat to it. It explores complicated familial relationships, feelings of not fitting in, extreme anxiety, different types of love, loss, and healing.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright CreaturesTitle: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: Print
Pages: 360
Source: Library
Reading Challenge: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’m so glad my book club chose to read REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES. Otherwise, I might never have read it and I absolutely adored this book. As soon as I started reading it, I could tell it was going to suck me right in. I laughed, I cried, and I mostly smiled as I read this heart-warming story of love, loss, grief, and resilience.

I loved that it’s mostly told in a third-person limited POV and a charming first-person POV from Marcellus, the octopus–the star of the book. Marcellus is smart, snarky, a little bit cranky, and a delightful narrator. I especially loved his friendship with Tova, the main human character. Their friendship reminds us, not in a preachy way, that animals know more than they let on and they each have feelings and deserve our kindness and respect.

I also loved Tova. She was such a likable person despite being a bit closed off because of her grief. She reminded me a bit of my own grandmother whose family, like Tova’s, immigrated to the US while she was very young.