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Showing posts with label Suzanne Collins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suzanne Collins. Show all posts

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins





The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Dystopian)
Date Published: May 19, 2020
Publisher: Scholastic Press

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, 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.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is a prequel to the Hunger Games. It took me long enough to read this, but here I am, finally. I did see the movie first, which is not how I like to do things either, but it’s just how it worked this time, since I wanted to see it in the theatre. So, Snow’s a bad dude. We already knew that, but I thought I’d see some redeeming qualities in him before some traumatic event changed him. You know?  Turned him to the dark side or whatever. That’s what I expected anyway. That’s not what I got. He’s always been a self serving jerk. I mean wow. The movie doesn’t even show the extent of it, because you never know what’s going on in his head within the movie like you do in the book. I don’t want to say more, because seeing his true nature from his own mind is actually pretty interesting. I love Lucy Grey. She’s talented, intelligent, likable.. Is she good or bad? Is she using him? Did she ever truly leave the Hunger Games? I don’t know, but I would absolutely LOVE a book from her perspective too. This is a must read for fans, because it explains so much about Snow and the Hunger Games and you take get to see the origins of a lot of things. 


 

author
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.

While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.

Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles. Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.

She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.

The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award. 

To learn more about Suzanne Collins and her books, visit her website & Goodreads.


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Friday, January 10, 2020

Top 10 Week! Books I'm looking Forward to in 2020





The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games 0) by Suzanne CollinsGenre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Expected Publication: May 19, 2020
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pre-order here!


The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.
Check out my review of the first book in this trilogy!


One of Us is Next (One of Us is Lying #2) 
by Karen M. McManus 

Expected Publication:  January 7, 2020
Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young Readers
Pre-order here!


The highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling thriller everyone is talking about, One of Us Is Lying! There's a new mystery to solve at Bayview High, and there's a whole new set of rules.

Come on, Bayview, you know you've missed this.

A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one's been able to fill the gossip void quite like he could. The problem is no one has the facts.

Until now.

This time it's not an app, though—it's a game.

Truth or Dare.

Phoebe's the first target. If you choose not to play, it's a truth. And hers is dark.

Then comes Maeve and she should know better—always choose the dare.

But by the time Knox is about to be tagged, things have gotten dangerous. The dares have become deadly, and if Maeve learned anything from Bronwyn last year, it's that they can't count on the police for help. Or protection.

Simon's gone, but someone's determined to keep his legacy at Bayview High alive. And this time, there's a whole new set of rules.
Check out my review of the first book in this series!


Chain of Gold (The Last Hours #1) by Cassandra Clare
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance)
Expected Publication: March 3, 2020
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pre-order here!


Chain of Gold is the first novel in a new trilogy that stars the Shadowhunters of Edwardian London.

Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.
Check out my review another book by this author!


Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi 
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal Romance/Dystopian)
Expected Publication: March 31, 2020
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pre-order here!


The explosive finale to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shatter Me series.

Juliette Ferrars.

Ella Sommers.

Which is the truth and which is the lie?

Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong—between Ella and Juliette—blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control.

The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on.
Check out my review of the first book in this series!


Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6) by Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Adult Fiction (Historical Romance)
Expected Publication: February 18, 2020
Publisher: Avon
Pre-order here!


Everything has a price...

Railway magnate Tom Severin is wealthy and powerful enough to satisfy any desire as soon as it arises. Anything—or anyone—is his for the asking. It should be simple to find the perfect wife—and from his first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel, he’s determined to have her. But the beautiful and quick-witted Cassandra is equally determined to marry for love—the one thing he can’t give.

Everything except her...

Severin is the most compelling and attractive man Cassandra has ever met, even if his heart is frozen. But she has no interest in living in the fast-paced world of a ruthless man who always plays to win.

When a newfound enemy nearly destroys Cassandra’s reputation, Severin seizes the opportunity he’s been waiting for. As always, he gets what he wants—or does he? There’s one lesson Tom Severin has yet to learn from his new bride:

Never underestimate a Ravenel.

The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun...
Check out my review of the first book in this series!

Every Breath (Music, Love and Other Miseries #3) by C.J. Burright
Genre: Adult Fiction (Contemporary Romance)
Expected Publication: February 2020
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Pre-order here!


She wants the full fairy tale. He’s no prince offering a happily ever after. True love may have met its match this time…

True love. Happily ever after. The full-meal-deal fairy tale. Glamour girl Gia Hellman almost had it all, until death stole the love of her life. Two years and a string of dead-end hook ups later, she’s through fooling around. Love will be hers again, and sexy, one-night-only lawyer Ian O’Conner doesn’t fit into the equation. No matter how charming or tempting, he’s neither knight nor prince, and she’s done kissing frogs.

Prestige. Power. A pristine reputation. Ian O’Conner allows nothing to derail his goal of becoming the next partner in the most distinguished firm in town, not even Gia, the curvy vixen in sparkles and pink stilettos who haunts his fantasies. With a past full of long-buried secrets, he never breaks his rule of one night. But when the case to propel Ian to the top requires working with Gia—and then a slip up results in a fake engagement—keeping his distance may be the trial of his life.

As the passion between them builds and rules break one by one, Ian must decide between protecting a secret that could destroy him or risking it all for Gia’s dream of happily ever after. If only Ian believed in fairy tale endings…
Check out my review of the first book in this trilogy!

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters
Genre: Adult Fiction (Historical Fiction / Romance)
Expected Publication: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Atria Books
Pre-order here!


In this fresh and hilarious historical rom-com, an estranged husband and wife in Regency England feign accidents and illness in an attempt to gain attention—and maybe just win each other back in the process.

Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met, fell in love, and got married. Four years ago, they had a fight to end all fights, and have barely spoken since.

Their once-passionate love match has been reduced to one of cold, detached politeness. But when Violet receives a letter that James has been thrown from his horse and rendered unconscious at their country estate, she races to be by his side—only to discover him alive and well at a tavern, and completely unaware of her concern. She’s outraged. He’s confused. And the distance between them has never been more apparent.

Wanting to teach her estranged husband a lesson, Violet decides to feign an illness of her own. James quickly sees through it, but he decides to play along in an ever-escalating game of manipulation, featuring actors masquerading as doctors, threats of Swiss sanitariums, faux mistresses—and a lot of flirtation between a husband and wife who might not hate each other as much as they thought. Will the two be able to overcome four years of hurt or will they continue to deny the spark between them?

With charm, wit, and heart in spades, To Have and to Hoax is a fresh and eminently entertaining romantic comedy—perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Julia Quinn.

Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin
Genre: Young Adult (Fantasy)
Expected Publication: January 7, 2020
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Order here!


One girl must make a name for herself--or die trying --in this royal fantasy where an unknown peasant becomes the ultimate ruler. But how long can she keep the crown if everyone wants her dead? Perfect for fans of Furyborn, Red Queen, and Everless.

Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.

It shouldn't even be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Heck, dozens of us have been going missing for months and no one seems to care.

But there's no denying the tattoo emblazoned on my arm. I am queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?

he Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
Genre: Adult Fiction (Contemporary Romance)
Expected Publication: March 24, 2020
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pre-order here!


Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

From the “hilariously zany and heartfelt” (Booklist) Christina Lauren comes a romantic comedy that proves if it’s broke, you might as well fix it.

From the New York Times bestselling author behind the “joyful, warm, touching” (Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author) The Unhoneymooners comes a delightfully charming love story about what happens when two assistants tasked with keeping a rocky relationship from explosion start to feel sparks of their own.
Check out my review of another book by these authors!


Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire #1) by Jay Kristoff 
Genre: Adult Fiction (Paranormal)
Expected Publication: September 3, 2020
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pre-order here!


Twenty-seven years have passed since the last sunrise, and for almost three decades, the creatures of the night have walked the day without fear. Once, humanity fought bravely against the coldblood legions, but now, we exist only in a few scattered settlements—tiny sparks of light in a growing sea of darkness.

Gabriel de León is the last of the Silversaints, a holy order dedicated to defending realm and church, now utterly destroyed. Imprisoned for the murder of the vampiric king, Gabriel is charged with telling the story of his life.

His tale spans years, from his youth in the monastery of San Michel, to the forbidden love that spelled his undoing, and the betrayal that saw his order annihilated. Most importantly, Gabriel will tell of his discovery of the Grail—the legendary cup prophesied to bring an end to the eternal night.

But the Grail was no simple chalice; it was a smart-mouthed teenage urchin named Dior. Their journey with a band of unlikely allies would see Dior and Gabriel forge an unbreakable bond, and set the broken paragon on a road to redemption.

But now, the Grail is shattered. And with the cup of the Savior destroyed and the last Silversaint awaiting execution, what can bring an end to this unholy empire?

Top Ten Week!!!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop!





It's Banned Book Week! What's that? Oh, Banned Book Week doesn't start until September 24th you say? Well, since we read what we want to around here, we can have a Banned Book Week when we want to too! Ha! Care to join us? 

In celebration of reading whatever the heck we want to whenever the heck we want to, we've joined the Banned Book Week Blog Hop hosted by BookHounds!

We'll be giving away copies of your choice from the following list of banned books!

       

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit the other fabulous bloggers on this hop!!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Have You Seen The Hunger Games Soundtrack Cover Art Yet?





I think the cover looks great! What do you think? I'm so darn anxious to see this movie! I don't know about you, but I'm not going to be able to wait until March!

Source: The Hob

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins





Genre: Young Adult (Dystopian)

In my opinion, a book is only as good as its ending which can either make or break a book, or in this case, a series. Mockingjay is the kind of book that makes you wonder how the whole story can be wrapped up in just one final little book. There is so much going on and so many twists and turns on the adventure that is reading this trilogy. While reading, it seemed like a fourth book would be inevitable. I felt a smorgasbord of emotions that literally left me in a daze after finishing it. To give a single detail might accidentally reaveal a spoiler to those who have not read the previous two books yet. Needless to say, Suzanne Collins has outdone herself once again! A fourth book was just wishful thinking on my part because the ending left me with a good taste in my mouth right down to very the last line.

Visit Suzanne Collins' website to learn more about the author and this amazing trilogy.



Monday, May 30, 2011

Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins





 Genre: Young Adult (Dystopian)

The Hunger Games was the first book in the trilogy of the same name written by Suzanne Collins. It was followed by Catching Fire, which takes a little more time to get the action started. Once the plot takes off, it very similar to The Hunger Games. In reading it, you can see that it is clearly setting you up for the last book in the trilogy. Like many other books out there, this trilogy does include a love triangle, but it's refreshingly different in that you are not consumed by love story alone. There are so many other issues to be dealt with, and they are all meticulously woven together into a book that ends with the kind of cliffhanger that makes you run to a bookstore at eleven o'clock at night to get Mockingjay.

Visit Suzanne Collins' website to learn more about the author and this amazing trilogy.


Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins




 
Genre: Young Adult (Dystopian)

What's all the fuss about? I wondered the same thing before I read The Hunger Games. I was told over and over again by people to read this book. So, I read the summary: a dystopian-ish society. A fight to the death held every year. Ehh. Not really my cup of tea. Finally, after hearing such wonderful reviews and being endlessly nagged, I broke down and read the darn thing. Let me just start by saying wow! From page one; this book does not let you put it down. It made me laugh and cry. The non-stop action and teasingly written romance reels your imagination into the pages so much you feel like you are one of the characters. You feel what they feel. Whether they are intentional or not, many messages and examples of symbolism can be found within the story and applied to our lives today. This book is a coming of age story taken to a brutal new level. It has the perfect combination of savagery, drama, and romance to keep you entertained from start to finish.

Fans will be excited to know that filming is in progress for The Hunger Games motion picture starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth.

Visit Suzanne Collins' website to learn more about the author and this amazing trilogy.