More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
October 21 - October 29, 2025
Tigris had said to trust her, and he did. Only his cousin’s cleverness with a needle had saved him so far.
Watching the bright pages of his picture books — the very ones he’d pored over with his mother — reduced to ashes had never failed to bring him to tears. But better off sad than dead.
Everyone had learned to despise waste. It was creeping back into fashion, though. A sign of prosperity, like a decent shirt.
A tendency toward obsession was hardwired into his brain and would likely be his undoing if he couldn’t learn to outsmart it.
“When Coriolanus is president . . .” she often began. “When Coriolanus is president . . .” everything from the rickety Capitol air force to the exorbitant price of pork chops would be magically corrected.
“Coriolanus Snow, future president of Panem, I salute you.”
He reached for the rose, but a thorn pierced his palm in the shaky exchange. Blood welled from the wound, and he held his hand out to keep it from staining his precious shirt. His grandmother seemed perplexed. “I only wanted you to look elegant,” she told him. “Of course, you did, Grandma’am,” said Tigris. “And so he shall.”
People had short memories. They needed to navigate the rubble, peel off the grubby ration coupons, and witness the Hunger Games to keep the war fresh in their minds. Forgetting could lead to complacency, and then they’d all be back at square one.
This reaping day, like most, was shaping up to be a scorcher. But what else could you expect on July 4th?
Dean Casca Highbottom, the man credited with the creation of the Hunger Games,
“And last but least, District Twelve girl . . . she belongs to Coriolanus Snow.”
You can’t take my charm. You can’t take my humor. You can’t take my wealth, ’Cause it’s just a rumor. Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.
Thinking you’re so fine. Thinking you can have mine. Thinking you’re in control. Thinking you’ll change me, maybe rearrange me. Think again, if that’s your goal, ’Cause . . .
You can’t take my sass. You can’t take my talking. You can kiss my ass And then keep on walking. Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.
No, sir, Nothing you can take from me is worth dirt. Take it, ’cause I’d give it free. It won’t hurt. Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping!
Coriolanus looked for a glimpse of his tribute in the windows before he realized the cars had none. They were designed not for passengers but for cargo. Heavy metal chains attached by old-fashioned padlocks secured the goods.
He remembered she carried snakes in her pocket and the usual rules didn’t apply to her.
Without turning he knew it was the girl, his girl, and he felt immense relief that he was not entirely alone.
“Polka dots always make me feel happy,” and the girl beamed.
“They’re not animals, though,” said Sejanus. “They’re kids, like you and me.” “They’re not like me!” the little girl protested. “They’re district. That’s why they belong in a cage!”
The more he had treated her as something special, the more she’d become human.
“It’s just this whole Hunger Games thing is making me crazy! I mean, what are we doing? Putting kids in an arena to kill each other? It feels wrong on so many levels. Animals protect their young, right? And so do we. We try to protect children! It’s built into us as human beings. Who really wants to do this? It’s unnatural!”
Roses are red, love; violets are blue. Birds in the heavens know I love you. .
I’m wound up tight as a spring.”
your little rainbow girl.”
“Simple. We go straight to the punitive,” Festus answered. “Instead of suggesting people watch, make it the law.” “What happens if you don’t watch?” asked Clemensia, not bothering to raise her hand or even look up from her notes. She was popular with both students and faculty, and her niceness excused a lot. “In the districts, we execute you. In the Capitol, we make you move to the districts, and if you mess up again next year, then we execute you,” Festus said cheerfully.
She’d braided back her hair in a pretty fashion,
“Oh, no. You don’t like it?” he exclaimed. “I can try and bring something else. I can —” Lucy Gray shook her head. “It’s my favorite.” She swallowed hard, broke off a bit, and slipped it between her lips. “Mine, too. My cousin Tigris made it this morning, so it should be fresh,” he said. “It’s perfect. It tastes just like my mama’s did. Please tell Tigris I said thank you.” She took another bite, but she was still fighting tears.
“Married?” He laughed, then remembered they married young in some of the districts. How did he know? Maybe she had a husband back in 12. “Why? Are you asking?” said Lucy Gray seriously. He looked up in surprise. “Because I think this could work.” Coriolanus felt himself blush a little at her teasing. “I’m pretty sure you could do better.”
When Sejanus arrived with bags of hard-boiled eggs
Emmett?
“That stuff doesn’t do a lick of good.”
So now that loudmouth Arachne was a defender of a righteous and just land. Yes, she laid down her life taunting her tribute with a sandwich, thought Coriolanus. Maybe her gravestone could read, “Casualty of cheap laughs.”
Yes, she laid down her life taunting her tribute with a sandwich, thought Coriolanus. Maybe her gravestone could read, “Casualty of cheap laughs.”
wouldn’t broadcast that. Most people here think I’m lower than a snake’s belly.”
“Oh, the cake with the cream? You don’t say that?” she asked. “Well, it’s a compliment. Where I come from, cake can be pretty dry. And cream’s as scarce as hen’s teeth.”
Lucy Gray chewed, weighing the question. “Maybe in self-defense.” “It’s the Hunger Games. It’s all self-defense,” he said.
The body shaped like a woman’s, the six strings running up the long neck to the tuning pegs. He strummed it lightly with his finger. Even though it was badly out of tune, the richness of the sound went right through him.
WHAT TGE FUC-
Snooty Juno Phipps admitted she’d been disappointed to get tiny Bobbin.
JUNO?!?
“Well, you know what they say. The show’s not over until the mockingjay sings,” she said.
“Good evening,” she said. “I’m Lucy Gray Baird, of the Covey Bairds. I started writing this song back in District Twelve, before I knew what the ending would be. It’s my words set to an old tune. Where I’m from, we call it a ballad. That’s a song that tells a story. And I guess this is mine. ‘The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird.’ I hope you like it.”
When I was a babe I fell down in the holler. When I was a girl I fell into your arms. We fell on hard times and we lost our bright color. You went to the dogs and I lived by my charms. I danced for my dinner, spread kisses like honey. You stole and you gambled and I said you should. We sang for our suppers, we drank up our money. Then one day you left, saying I was no good. Well, all right, I’m bad, but then, you’re no prize either. All right, I’m bad, but then, that’s nothing new. You say you won’t love me, I won’t love you neither. Just let me remind you who I am to you. ’Cause I am the one
...more
“You’re all I’m going to think about in that arena,” she whispered. “Not that guy back in Twelve?” he said only half-jokingly. “No, he made sure he killed anything I felt for him,” she said. “The only boy my heart has a sweet spot for now is you.” Then she gave him a kiss. Not a peck. A real kiss on the lips, with hints of peaches and powder. The feel of her mouth, soft and warm against his own, sent sensations surging through his body. Rather than pulling back, he held her even tighter as the taste and touch of her made his head spin. So this was what people were talking about! This was what
...more
My bf and i had our first kiss while watching this film!
Girl (Dill)
"dilhole!"
With so little happening in the arena, most of the attention ended up on a pair of dogs whose owner had dressed them up like Lucy Gray and Jessup.
This is much more entertaining than the games!
Lucy Gray. Treech. Reaper. Final three. Final girl. Final day? Maybe that, too.
“She’s trying to figure out who’s left in the Games,” Coriolanus said into the mic that Lepidus had pushed in his face. “Maybe we should put it up on the scoreboard,” joked Lepidus. “I’m sure the tributes would find that helpful,” said Coriolanus. “Seriously, that’s a good idea.”
Back when this had been North America, not Panem. It must have been fine. A land full of Capitols. Such a waste . . .
Coriolanus and Sejanus a decided edge
HEeheh
Coriolanus felt sure he’d spotted his first mockingjay, and he disliked the thing on sight.
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling, Oh, my darling, Clementine, You are lost and gone forever. Dreadful sorry, Clementine.
