The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes [Hunger Games prequel]

I am a huge fan of the Hunger Games trilogy - the books - not so much the movies. (Don't get me started on what the movies left out).

But, I couldn't even get through the book of the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I just did not like it. I didn't care about "Coryo" or his story, and from the beginning I took an instant dislike to the female character, Lucy Gray Baird.

I won't post any spoilers, but a few fellow fans have told me all the action happens in the third part of the book - which I never made it too. I knew about the movie, but I'm kind of meh. I can't see myself heading to the cinema to see it.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has three "parts" within the book.

I only got through the first and probably most of the second. But I'm told by a friend who has kept on at me to finish it, that the story really all comes together in the third part of the book.

It's complicated! But I would say yes.

If you read it, you will find some of the back story very surprising. No spoilers! 🤐

The story is based ten years after the first rebellion that destroyed "Panem" (and led to the creation of the Hunger Games as punishment for the rebels), so the Capitol where most of this story is based, is described as still being rebuilt.

Read the book.😉

I was very dissatisified with the first movie. Visually, it was great, but so much important world-building was left out or simply erased. I know they can't keep everything that is in the book, but I don't think Gary Ross did a great job with it. Francis Lawrence did a better job with the rest of the books, and I agree, Catching Fire is the best of the four movies.

In saying that, the movies are never as good as the books!

Oh god yes. That was cringey and launched dozens of memes!

Imagine, they chose to put that in, but omitted the fact that Peeta lost his leg in the first arena.

Movie is due for release in the US this week, (17 Nov) but it doesn't look like its on release in any cinemas here.

Kinda sad about that.

Well, for once I am very happy to be wrong!

🤣

@pixelburp

No spoilers, but since the trailer came out, I went back and made another attempt at reading the book (TBOSAS) again from the start. Previously I struggled to get through it, but this time, it clicked. My friend who kept encouraging me to finish it was right, it all comes together in Part 3 of the book, and it all makes sense now. All I will add, is this is definitely not a redemption story for Snow. Not at all. Its well worth the read.

I will definitely be going to see the film now, and I hope Francis Lawrence does a good job and this one lives up to the book, in the way the previous films didn't. Suzanne Collins is a great writer.