Jayson’s Reviews > The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes > Status Update
Jayson
is on page 518 of 528
Notes:
(1) Yeah, I just finished the book and I still don't know what the heck to think about it.
- Whereas "Mockingjay" similarly required time mull over its ending, it was a much more exciting book, punctuated with action. This, on the other hand, was slow throughout and ended with a head-scratcher.
(2) On the bright side, the thing I dreaded would happen because of the midpoint plot twist, didn't end up happening.
— Jan 04, 2022 04:30PM
(1) Yeah, I just finished the book and I still don't know what the heck to think about it.
- Whereas "Mockingjay" similarly required time mull over its ending, it was a much more exciting book, punctuated with action. This, on the other hand, was slow throughout and ended with a head-scratcher.
(2) On the bright side, the thing I dreaded would happen because of the midpoint plot twist, didn't end up happening.
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is on page 471 of 528
Notes:
(1) '"Hey, you found some katniss" ... but [Lucy Gray] immediately examined the roots, from which small tubers hung. “Little too early yet."'
- How awfully meta.
(2) Less than 50 pages from the end, and I still don't know what to think of this.
- By now, books would be in tidying-up mode, but what appears to be the climax doesn't feel built up enough to cap off this book, it feels like the end of a second act.
— Jan 04, 2022 05:50AM
(1) '"Hey, you found some katniss" ... but [Lucy Gray] immediately examined the roots, from which small tubers hung. “Little too early yet."'
- How awfully meta.
(2) Less than 50 pages from the end, and I still don't know what to think of this.
- By now, books would be in tidying-up mode, but what appears to be the climax doesn't feel built up enough to cap off this book, it feels like the end of a second act.
Jayson
is on page 391 of 528
Notes:
(1) The whole book I wondered why Lucy Gray Baird was called "Lucy Gray" while everyone else is referred to by their first name. Apparently, her first name is "Lucy Gray".
- It isn't a double-barreled surname, her people have double first names, with the second a common surname.
- Something that could have been explained 250 pages ago!
(2) The romance is going too well. I feel like tragedy's around the corner.
— Jan 03, 2022 05:15AM
(1) The whole book I wondered why Lucy Gray Baird was called "Lucy Gray" while everyone else is referred to by their first name. Apparently, her first name is "Lucy Gray".
- It isn't a double-barreled surname, her people have double first names, with the second a common surname.
- Something that could have been explained 250 pages ago!
(2) The romance is going too well. I feel like tragedy's around the corner.
Jayson
is on page 351 of 528
Notes:
(1) Collins seems to only know how to write one kind of female lead.
- Practically perfect in every way, who boys pine after.
(2) About 60% in, and it's a totally different book.
- It could have just ended there, and the rest could be Part 2 of a duology.
(3) Oh no! They're not doing what I think they're doing to link this to the main series!
- No spoilers, please.
(4) How very "Game of Thrones" Night's Watch.
— Jan 02, 2022 04:40AM
(1) Collins seems to only know how to write one kind of female lead.
- Practically perfect in every way, who boys pine after.
(2) About 60% in, and it's a totally different book.
- It could have just ended there, and the rest could be Part 2 of a duology.
(3) Oh no! They're not doing what I think they're doing to link this to the main series!
- No spoilers, please.
(4) How very "Game of Thrones" Night's Watch.
Jayson
is on page 255 of 528
Notes:
(1) Of course, being an Ancient Rome analogue, this society unsurprisingly has their own variation of public crucifixion.
- 20' high poles with a crossbeam sounds remarkably similar to American football uprights.
(2) It's a running joke that very few people in Panem actually know the national anthem.
- Possibly a commentary on indifference to national unity in the Capitol: anthems being symbolic of nationhood.
— Dec 30, 2021 05:20AM
(1) Of course, being an Ancient Rome analogue, this society unsurprisingly has their own variation of public crucifixion.
- 20' high poles with a crossbeam sounds remarkably similar to American football uprights.
(2) It's a running joke that very few people in Panem actually know the national anthem.
- Possibly a commentary on indifference to national unity in the Capitol: anthems being symbolic of nationhood.
Jayson
is on page 206 of 528
Notes:
(1) Whenever Coriolanus frets over the possibility Lucy, or Tigris, aren't as chaste as he naively presumed, I hear Britney Spears singing: "I'm not so innocent!"
(2) This is turning out to be quite the Jane Austen romance.
- Well, except for all the murder... and explosions... and allusions to prostitution... and ritual humiliation... did I mention murder?
(3) Tigris like to eat raw meat.
- A bit on the nose.
— Dec 29, 2021 05:40AM
(1) Whenever Coriolanus frets over the possibility Lucy, or Tigris, aren't as chaste as he naively presumed, I hear Britney Spears singing: "I'm not so innocent!"
(2) This is turning out to be quite the Jane Austen romance.
- Well, except for all the murder... and explosions... and allusions to prostitution... and ritual humiliation... did I mention murder?
(3) Tigris like to eat raw meat.
- A bit on the nose.
Jayson
is on page 157 of 528
Notes:
(1) There's a lack of distinction among students. All the names are too alike, exotically Roman, and easily confusable.
- Contrast this with "Harry Potter," where student names were distinct, a bit stereotypically ethnic but distinct nonetheless, and gave an impression of appearance and voice.
- I'm having difficulty telling Clemensia from Lysistrata and Persephone. Make note of different hair color, at least!
— Dec 28, 2021 04:45AM
(1) There's a lack of distinction among students. All the names are too alike, exotically Roman, and easily confusable.
- Contrast this with "Harry Potter," where student names were distinct, a bit stereotypically ethnic but distinct nonetheless, and gave an impression of appearance and voice.
- I'm having difficulty telling Clemensia from Lysistrata and Persephone. Make note of different hair color, at least!
Jayson
is on page 100 of 528
Notes:
(1) Dr. Gaul, the Head Gamemaker, is inclined to speak in rhyme... frequently, not all the time.
- Might as well call her Dr. Seuss.
(2) Familiar names keep popping up. I assume Arachne Crane is related to Seneca Crane and Hilarius Heavensbee to Plutarch Heavensbee, for example.
- How very "Harry Potter."
(3) 100 pages in, and I'm not feeling the urgency of the original books.
- Sort of reads like fan fiction.
— Dec 27, 2021 04:15AM
(1) Dr. Gaul, the Head Gamemaker, is inclined to speak in rhyme... frequently, not all the time.
- Might as well call her Dr. Seuss.
(2) Familiar names keep popping up. I assume Arachne Crane is related to Seneca Crane and Hilarius Heavensbee to Plutarch Heavensbee, for example.
- How very "Harry Potter."
(3) 100 pages in, and I'm not feeling the urgency of the original books.
- Sort of reads like fan fiction.
Jayson
is on page 22 of 528
Notes:
(1) I don't like that Collins uses poverty to make Snow sympathetic.
- Feels cheap to me.
(2) Snow's cousin's named Tigris. I wonder if this is the same Tigris from "Mockingjay"?
- If so, it'd give her scenes there added meaning.
(3) Snow's family is bankrupt nobility, a contrast with his school rival, Sejanus, who's family is nouveau riche.
- Such a very Victorian trope. Odd to see outside of classics.
— Dec 26, 2021 04:45AM
(1) I don't like that Collins uses poverty to make Snow sympathetic.
- Feels cheap to me.
(2) Snow's cousin's named Tigris. I wonder if this is the same Tigris from "Mockingjay"?
- If so, it'd give her scenes there added meaning.
(3) Snow's family is bankrupt nobility, a contrast with his school rival, Sejanus, who's family is nouveau riche.
- Such a very Victorian trope. Odd to see outside of classics.
Jayson
is starting
Notes:
(1) Some of you might recall that I did an audiobook re-read of "The Hunger Games" trilogy late last year. Well, the whole purpose of that was to prep myself for reading this book.
- The problem is I forgot, lost urgency and it got lost in the shuffle.
- I'm sure most people here know the feeling, when you buy a book, you either read it straight away or it sits around on a shelf until you're in the mood again.
— Dec 23, 2021 04:30AM
(1) Some of you might recall that I did an audiobook re-read of "The Hunger Games" trilogy late last year. Well, the whole purpose of that was to prep myself for reading this book.
- The problem is I forgot, lost urgency and it got lost in the shuffle.
- I'm sure most people here know the feeling, when you buy a book, you either read it straight away or it sits around on a shelf until you're in the mood again.
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Jenny
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Jan 04, 2022 05:03PM
It's been interesting to see your thoughts on this Jay! Looking forward to your final thoughts and grade!
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Jenny wrote: "It's been interesting to see your thoughts on this Jay! Looking forward to your final thoughts and grade!"Thanks, Jenny! It definitely gives you a lot to think about, I'm going to need some time with this one :)
I’ve really enjoyed seeing all your updates while you’ve been reading this one :)
Shawna wrote: "I’ve really enjoyed seeing all your updates while you’ve been reading this one :)"Thanks, Shawna! I appreciate it. I've enjoyed getting everyone's feedback on my updates as well. Almost felt like a group read :)
Lo wrote: "Do you recommend it?"Yes, but with reservations.
If you're expecting something like the original trilogy, this isn't it. Really, the main draw for this book is its status as a prequel, but beyond any insight and added value to the original series, I think entirely new readers might get lost. So, not recommended for people unfamiliar with the series.
For Hunger Games fans, it's almost recommendable alone as a litmus test. It's a bit like modern art: even if you understand what the artist is going for, and even if you can see that it's executed well, you may still find it unpalatable. Conversely, others might love it to death for exactly those same reasons.
what was the thing you dreaded would happen??
Jayson wrote: "Sasha wrote: "what was the thing you dreaded would happen??"I thought [spoilers removed]."
nooo that'd be the worst plot twist! i feel thankful now Collins didn't do that lol
Sasha wrote: "nooo that'd be the worst plot twist! i feel thankful now Collins didn't do that lol"It was just a guess, but an educated guess. It's one of those instances I'm glad to be wrong... though the actual ending wasn't exactly satisfying either.
Jayson wrote: "Sasha wrote: "nooo that'd be the worst plot twist! i feel thankful now Collins didn't do that lol"It was just a guess, but an educated guess. It's one of those instances I'm glad to be wrong... t..."
no i get why you'd guess that, though it never really came to my mind. yeah the ending was quite disappointing
Sasha wrote: "no i get why you'd guess that, though it never really came to my mind. yeah the ending was quite disappointing"Yup, it's always frustrating when the author insists on making things as vague as possible. 🙄
