The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0)
By: Suzanne Collins
“Snow lands on top.”
This was such a nostalgic read! It has been years since I read The Hunger Games Books and it was a good feeling to be back in a familiar world.
The movie comes out in November of this year so I knew I wanted to read it before watching the movie. (Updated with my movie comparison below.)
I’m not usually a fan of prequels that are written after the original series. There’s not usually going to be much new information because it has to jive with whatever was already written. In that way it feels like contrived history.
I’m also not usually a fan of origin stories for villains. Sure it’s interesting to see what could have led them to where they are, but at the same time, it seems like villain origin stories tend to try to show you the ‘good’ that’s deep down inside them. See, they’re not so bad, they can be good people, and can you really blame them for becoming what they became? I don’t like to feel bad for villains.
But in both of these cases, I was happy with the book The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
As for the prequel: In some ways I want more because there is so much about this world and the rebellion that is still a mystery and I want to know more. I felt like we got enough new information that even though I still think it was contrived, I believed it and was engrossed in the story. But if Collins writes another Hunger Games book, I think I would prefer a sequel to Mockingjay than another prequel.
As for the villain origin story: The Hunger Games is an evil practice. President Snow didn’t create them. But we know he continues them. This book does show a softer side of him because he falls in love (kinda*?). But we also see what parts of the more recent Games were due to his input. This book didn’t really make me feel bad for Snow. This makes the book a little darker and not so much a ‘happy ending,’ but I’m okay with that. Let me hate the villain.
It was a weird feeling starting this book knowing what comes later. I already expected some sort of tragedy and negative storyline because I know that whatever happens in his early years, it still leads to Snow being president of Panem and controlling the Games.
So I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel. Can I feel happy for Snow in this moment before he became a monster? Should I agree with his rationalization here because yeah he had it tough too? Can I root for him to find love or should I be rooting for everyone to stay out of the wake of his ambition?
(Note: Even though this is a prequel, I don’t think it would be best to read this book before the others if you’ve never read any of them…)
Plot Summary
In case you’re wondering what I’m talking about, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place in Panem when Coriolanus Snow (President Snow) is only 18 years old. It’s the year of the 10th Hunger Games.
Families in the Capitol are still trying to gain back the wealth they had prior to the rebellion. During the uprising and siege of the Capitol food was scarce and times were rough. The Snow family, a well-known wealthy family is now pinching pennies, their family name fallen from grace after Coriolanus’s dad died.
His father died during the war. His mother is also dead. He lives with his grandma (who loves and grows her own roses) and his cousin, Tigris.
But as their saying went, ‘Snow lands on top.’ They survived the war and by golly they would get back to their right standings.
His shot to gain back honor and money for his family comes as a new change to the Hunger Games is enacted. Students will now be mentors to the tributes and will win a prize if their tribute wins the games.
Coriolanus is paired with the District 12 tribute- Lucy Gray. Her charisma gains her support and though she’s a long shot to win, Coriolanus is determined to have his prize.
His courage and ambition to win then battles with the feelings he starts to develop for Lucy and his disgust for how the tributes are treated. He discovers all of those feelings can’t coexist and his inner struggle comes to a head.
“A tendency toward obsession was hardwired into his brain and would likely be his undoing if he couldn’t learn to outsmart it.”
The Hunger Games
“The Hunger Games was a war reparation, young district lives taken for the young Capitol lives that had been lost. The price of the rebels’ treachery.”
“Unless there’s law, and someone enforcing it, I think we might as well be animals. Like it or not, the Capitol is the only thing keeping anyone safe.”
Coriolanus and his classmates are forced to be exposed to the horror of the Games up close and personal. They begin to see the tributes as kids just like them and see the evilness of of the way they are treated— like animals. They see the psychotic nature of Dr. Gaul and know that she is immoral.
But different circumstances cause them to second guess their attempts at showing the tributes mercy or standing up for them.
Maybe they are animals after all. Maybe we’re all animals given the right circumstances. Maybe law and order and control is a good thing. A necessary thing.
That’s the uncomfortable thing about reading this book. We know the Hunger Games are evil. Forcing people to fight to the death for any reason is evil.
Yet we hear Coriolanus and the head gamemaker (Dr. Gaul) say things that we almost kinda agree with:
After a boy clubs another boy to death Dr. Gaul says, “That’s mankind in its natural state… Who are human beings? Because who we are determines the type of governing we need.”
We know humans’ capacity for violence, for selfishness, for self-preservation. We see it today: people rape, murder, sex-traffick, abuse, steal, and the list goes on. Who are human beings?
The theological and truthful answer is: sinners. Collins has said in interviews that exploring the depths of just war theory is what inspires a lot of her writing; she does not intend to explore the theological side of it, but that’s what I’m going to do (though the just war theory stuff is super interesting too).
Human beings truly are capable of horrendous things. We do need governing. Do we need Hunger Games? No, of course not. The Capitol recognized humanity’s potential for violence but then instituted a singular, controlling, oppressive government driven by fear and manipulation and void of any morals. I hope America never comes to that conclusion.
Of course, if we’re following our theological argument here, we would understand that our authority and governance is from God. He determines right and wrong. Morality is derived from his Being. His law is good. The type of governing humanity needs is one from an outside, superior source, not from corrupted mankind. Something bigger than us. A designer. A creator. An all-knowing perfect God.
Even practically speaking, I think we all recognize that law and order is a good thing. People need boundaries. Evil should have consequences. Protection and justice should be markers of government. Ironically, anarchy would end up being just like the Hunger Games- everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Read the book of Judges in the Bible and you’ll see how that goes.
I think we have a tendency to read books like this and think- we could never end up like that! I would never condone such violence. We are far too moral to be likened to the Capitol… But we would be wise to be reminded of our sinful nature and bent towards self-preservation at whatever cost. You can already see today ways that people have allowed or encouraged certain practices that are harmful in one way or another, and it’s a slippery slope.
Especially when you think about the term ‘reparation.’ Much can be justified if we believe we ‘deserve’ something or should be restored what was attacked. We can believe certain forms of ‘justice’ are acceptable if we are convinced they truly are just. We are pretty good at the mental gymnastics required to blind our moral compass to get what we want.
This isn’t a spoiler because we know Coriolanus’ future, but it’s telling of his mindset when he thinks,
“He’d continue the Games, of course, when he ruled Panem. People would call him a tyrant, ironfisted and cruel. But at least he would ensure survival for survival’s sake, giving them a chance to evolve. What else could humanity hope for? Really, it should thank him.”
Katniss Everdeen
No, Katniss the person does not make an appearance in this book. However, her namesake does! Lucy Gray points out the plant katniss— or rather, swamp potatoes— and says that she loves katniss.
Some have speculated that perhaps Lucy Gray is a grandparent to Katniss but nothing is ever confirmed. I tried Googling it too and found no interviews by Collins that sheds light on that. Perhaps future books will explore the gap between Lucy Gray and Katniss!
Even though she is not in this book, we can’t help but think of her. Of what was partly behind President Snow’s hatred of her.
There are many personality similarities between Lucy Gray and Katniss besides the fact that they are both from District 12 and fought in the Games. The strength and the courage and the defiance. This book gives insights of what Snow might be remembering and trying to quell as he thinks back to the 10th Hunger Games.
There is also the thread of mockingjays throughout the book.
Early on Lucy Gray says, “It’s not over til the mockingjay sings.”
That quote has multiple meanings. But one is obviously a foreshadowing to Katniss symbolizing the mockingjay. We learn more in this book about how mockingjays came to be. Something meant to be a weapon by the Capitol eventually turning against them, mocking them.
The shock Snow must have felt when Katniss became a mockingjay! At the end of this book, Coriolanus says of someone I won’t name, “She could fly around District 12 all she liked, but she and her mockingjays could never harm him again.”
And he would be wrong.
Other Comments
I thought it was clever the way Collins named the Covey characters: Lucy Gray, Maude Ivory, Tam Amber, Barb Azure, Billy Taupe, Clerk Carmine, and then the bonus of Coriolanus Snow.
The first name came from a ballad and the second name a color. I noticed this (well the color part) before the book pointed it out, but I’m glad Collins explains it.
Ballads are a very prominent part of this book. A ballad is a song that narrates a story. Lucy sings several, including The Hanging Tree that we hear in the Hunger Games movies. They are stories passed down orally. Coriolanus could not understand them. I think that’s a big indicator as to his distinction from people. He’s so self-absorbed that he can’t comprehend anyone else’s stories. The beauty of music confounds him. Ambition is forward-thinking but ballads are usually backward-looking.
To name the characters this way was a really good choice. It made me, as a reader, want to think about what my Covey name would be and how I would choose a color to represent myself. (It can’t just be your favorite color because favorite colors are stupid.)
Coriolanus, Collins says, was named after a character in a Shakespearan tragedy. I looked it up and found this snippet of description very interesting:
“Faced with this opposition, Coriolanus flies into a rage and rails against the concept of popular rule. He compares allowing plebeians to have power over the patricians to allowing ‘crows to peck the eagles.’”
He was well-named.
And the ‘Snow’ part… Lucy sings a ballad to him and says he’s as pure as the ‘driven snow.’ They never said this in the book, but when I read that I think that means not very pure at all! Driven snow is dirty and tainted. Coriolanus seemed flattered by the song in the book, but I think my interpretation of it is more in line with his personality.
We discover in this book that roses were representative of his grandmother. They were her prized possession. Coriolanus loved the smell of roses.
His grandmother (the Grandma’am) is an eccentric and patriotic lady. She is convinced that Coriolanus will be president someday and tells him regularly. Perhaps the roses in future books are a reminder to him that she was right all along and that he deserved his position.
She also tells him that she gives him “opportunities to practice self-control.” I think this is an interesting bit of information. After starting to read this I’ve been watching the Hunger Games movies over again and I’ve been trying to look at the scenes where they show President Snow with a rose and see if it’s a moment of self-control or loss of control.
Orrrrrr….
She also apparently says that “her roses always open doors.” Are future rose-moments moments of seeking an open door?
It would be an intriguing thing to ponder further.
The first movie’s soundtrack was a really good soundtrack. All of the songs had that Smoky Mountain dark folksy flair. I have high hopes for this movie’s soundtrack. Considering all the ballads within the book I’m hoping they have renditions on the record so I know what they sound like.
Suzanne Collins just does such a good job creating an aura to her world-buildings and settings. That’s partly what brings the nostalgia. You sense the juxtaposition of the fearful and desperate poor against the entitled and rationalizing rich. The stark clash in the Capitol during the Hunger Games. You can just picture yourself in District 12 surrounded by trees and weighted with despondency. I’m excited to see how this new soundtrack expresses that.
Another thing that this book caused me to do was to go down a rabbit hole of looking for information on Panem. I wanted to find a North American map showing where all the districts are and what their industries are. Being from Iowa I was thinking we must be part of the Agricultural district (Rue’s district) or Livestock.
Anyway, I don’t know if there is an official map, but I found this one to be a compelling representation. I’m kinda surprised Collins didn’t create and release one. It seems like something fans would really like. Because I’m a fan and I would really like. This article (where I got the image) was interesting to read as well.
Map of Panem’s Districts courtesy of Screenrant.com
Book/Movie Comparison (contains spoilers)
Overall, I liked the movie. The book is long so a movie can only do so much. I felt like it covered things pretty well and the changes they made made cinematic sense and didn’t detract too much from the original intent of the book.
My husband watched the movie with me and did not read the book. He said the change in Coriolanus at the end from wanting to run away with Lucy to shooting at her felt too abrupt and drastic. That’s one downside to the movie- you don’t get Corio’s ongoing inner struggle and thoughts like you do with the book. We read the back and forth and we understand his desire to win and his thirst for wealth more than what they show in the movie so we aren’t as surprised.
In some ways, though, I think there was supposed to be an abruptness to the change. It was a moment where he snapped. Where his two desires collide and he has to make that choice— run or go back to a position of prestige. Then when Lucy hides the snake in the scarf, he realizes that door is now closed to him and he reverts to self-preservation mode.
I mentioned the Panem map above. In the movie the Flickerman guy is also a weatherman and so they show him in front of a screen giving weather information for the different districts. If I wasn’t in the theater I would have paused to see what his map looked like! Maybe whenever the movie comes out we can figure it out more.
The Hunger Games themselves were a little different in the movie. In the book we don’t really know what Lucy is up to. They don’t have cameras in the tunnels and under the arena. We only know what happens out in the open. In the movie, Lucy has to have more screen time so there are cameras showing her hiding with Jessup and then his rabies episode where she runs back to the arena. They show a big scene where Lucy is hiding the vents and is being attacked by other tributes, which wasn’t in the book.
In the movie Lucy doesn’t inadvertently poison Wovey as in the book(she poisons Dill). Wovey is killed by the downpour of snakes into the arena. The snakes are also the climax of the games in the movie. They kill all the tributes except Lucy because of the handkerchief and that’s how she wins. In the book, after the snakes there are still a few tributes left. The snakes die out, presumably from cold or drowning because of their engineering.
In the book Lucy kills a tribute with a snake she saved and thrusts at his neck. The final tribute left with her is Reaper and he dies by heat exhaustion and because Lucy messes up the flag covering the bodies and keeps him running back and forth trying to keep fixing it. This would feel less dramatic in movie format so I can understand why they decided to make the snakes the climax.
The Plinth prize works differently in the book than the movie. They announce the prize before the Hunger Games even starts in the movie. In the book, it doesn’t become a thing until after Sejanus is rescued from the arena.
Clemensia, Coriolanus’s classmate who gets bit by the snake in the lab is not really in the movie after that moment, but her injury and recovery and friendship is a still part of the story line in the book. By continuing that thread we see more of Coriolanus’s humanity as he feels concerned about her and what the snakes do.
One thing I wish we would have gotten more clues to was how Tigris could go from how she is in the book to how she is in the third Hunger Games movie. We know Coriolanus is ambitious and cruel, but I wonder what caused him to turn against his own family, a member he was so close with. Neither the book or the movie gave us any information on that.
The Covey plays a smaller role in the movie and we don’t get to see Lucy’s relationship with Maude as vividly as the book.
The section in District 12 is short in the movie and we gain less knowledge about Coriolanus’s state of mind, his relationship with the other Peacekeepers, and his relationship with Sejanus (who doesn’t come to District 12 until later, according to the book).
At the end when he and Lucy are running away, the movie shows them entering the cabin and finding the guns under the floor boards. That’s when Coriolanus mistakenly says ‘Three is enough for me.’ And Lucy leaves to get katniss (perfect segue). In the book, they are still in the woods when he says that and she questions who the third is but then they continue on into the house. You can’t really tell what Lucy is up to or what she is thinking. Reading the book I was surprised that she hides. In the movie, you can tell more that she knows something is off.
I’m sure I’m missing some differences because a lot of those details are hard to remember after a few months after reading the book.
I still enjoyed the movie… well if you’re allowed to say that. That’s the irony right… the Hunger Games is still entertainment even though we know it’s morally wrong.
Recommendation
I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of The Hunger Games trilogy. It’s got a different vibe since it’s more focused on the villain instead of a hero, but it fills in some blanks and takes you back to the mysterious world of Panem.
It’s not a book that you hug at the end and say how much you loved it. You don’t like the main character. The ending isn’t even that happy either. So it does feel like a weird book to recommend, but if you know the world of Panem, it makes sense in the context of the series and somehow I can say I enjoyed it.
It doesn’t ruin the other books for me, but it elevates them. It reminds you why you’re so happy there was Katniss. You don’t root for characters in this book, you root for Katniss. You can get through the villain story because you know there’s a protagonist that’s coming to take him down.
I was surprised by how many people gave this book bad reviews. I guess it hit me differently than them. But I also didn’t go into it with romantic expectations. I do wish that we went a little bit further out in the future by the end of the book, but it’s probably better to wish for more than to get a 1000 page book and say I’m tired of reading about Snow’s life.
I wasn’t bored reading this book. I actually liked the ballads in this book and thought they were written well. I can agree with some reviewers that I didn’t particularly like the little bit of romance that was in there and am not sure how Lucy Gray could ever be attracted to Coriolanus.
Overall, I wonder if my thoughts are so different than everyone else’s because I read it after all the hype was over. I wasn’t going into it with any preconceived expectations. Hyped books are usually let-downs. But if you read them 3 years later after no one is really talking about them, you’ll enjoy them more!
As per usual, social media tees people up for disappointment… don’t be a victim!
[Content Advisory: no swearing or sexual content; but kids are killing each other so be prepared for violence…]
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