The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

 The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - 528 pages

Ambition will fuel him.
Competition will drive him.
But power has its price.

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined—every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Opinion: I enjoyed this book, though not as much as the original trilogy. It was still a great book that is well written, I'll just always have a special place in my heart for Katniss's and Peeta's story. It was interesting to get some of the history of the games, though, and to see practices forming that were standard in the original trilogy. I don't know if anyone else was on social media back when this book/the movie came out--where people started to lowkey have a crush on Snow--but after (and before, but especially after) I don't know how anyone could?? I was constantly rolling my eyes because he sucks as a person. I don't know how anyone could read it and land on sympathizing with him. 

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins

 The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins-374 pages

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Katniss Everdeen is 16 and doing her best to feed herself and her family in District 12 of Panem. District 12 is the poorest of the districts and putting food on the table is not easy. However, Katniss can hunt and often brings back squirrels and other meat to trade in the Hob. On Reaping Day, Katniss hopes that neither she nor Gale nor her sister Prim is chosen. In a nightmare scenario, her sister Prim (who is 12 and has only 1 slip in the drawing) is drawn as the girl tribute. Katniss volunteers as tribute and now must compete in the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark is the boy tribute for District 12. This is the story of Katniss and Peeta's harrowing experience in the 74th Hunger Games. 

I previously read this and have watched the movie several times, but this is our next selection for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book to Movie Club and it fits right in with this month's blog challenge. I liked it the first time and nothing changed in that regard on this second reading. It feels like a very timely book (along with the rest of the series) considering current events. 

Sunrise on the Reaping (Hunger Games Prequel) by Suzanne Collins

 Sunrise on the Reaping (Hunger Games Prequel) by Suzanne Collins-382 pages

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Haymitch Abernathy lives in District 12 of Panem with his mom and younger brother, Sid. It's his 16th Birthday and it's also Reaping day. He has 40 "tickets" in the drawing, but is hopeful his name (nor his girlfriend, Lenore Dove's name) is not drawn. All hell breaks loose at the District 12 Reaping after a boy whose name is called tries to run. Haymitch ends up as one of the two boy tributes from 12 and is separated from his family and girlfriend and must compete in the second Quarter Quell (50th Hunger Games). What awaits is absolutely heartbreaking and horrifying. 

Having read and watched the original trilogy of books/movies, I knew Haymitch would survive, but I didn't realize just how much he would endure during his own Reaping and Hunger Games. I can completely understand why he took to heavily drinking after reading his story in this book. That being said, this is a good book and on par with the original trilogy. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
(Hunger Games #0)
528 pages / 16 hrs, 16 mins

"It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

"The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined - every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute...and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes."  --from the publisher

Excellent book and so much to think about--government, freedom, temptation, honor, friendship, survival, inner demons, and personal values.  I gave it four out of five stars.