Review of Barn Burning

 Review of "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner

Read the story here "Barn Burning"

The story takes place in the Southern countryside in the late 1890's. The main character Colonel Sartoris “Sarty” Snopes and revolves around his struggle between his morality and his loyalty to his family. The story opens with Sarty's father, Abner in the local courthouse trying to defend himself from accusations that he burned down a man's barn. Sarty is called to testify but his apprehension gets him dismissed. His father believes that Sarty would have told the truth instead of lying to save his family, and Abner beats Sarty. When they get a new job in a different county, Abner is up to his old tricks again. He dirties the new employer's rug and when tasked to clean it, he purposefully beats it with a rock. When called out by the new employer for damaging the rug, Abner decides to burn down the barn, again. This time Sarty does tell on his father, preventing him from burning down another barn. Unfortunately, his father is shot dead, and the story ends with Sarty contemplating his actions and how they affected his family.

The Snopes family live in poverty and are sharecroppers for landowners. Throughout the story, Abner is depicted as being ungrateful and angered at his situation. “Faulkner uses setting to evoke the class distinctions that fuel Snopes’s deep resentment” (Sparknotes.com). Burning a barn is Abner's way of avenging the life that he has been dealt. Almost a way of “sticking it to the man”, unfortunately he doesn't ever think about how his actions affect his family. Instead, he asked his sons to lie in court for him. This leads to the confusion that Sarty has, when dealing with his father.

Loyalty to family and to the law is the main theme of the story. Who or what is Sarty supposed to be loyal to? The Snope's family “moral code is based on family loyalty rather than traditional notions of right or wrong” (Sparknotes.com). In the beginning Sarty was going to tell the truth in the courthouse and then after his father hits him. In the second courthouse Sarty tries to defend his father but instead ruins his father's case and the family has to pay back the rug damage in corn bushels. Even though he didn't get beat, the outcome was not positive. When his father decides to burn down the barn again, Sarty finally learns “that family loyalty comes at too great a cost and is too heavy a burden” (Sparknotes.com).

Faulkner's writing style incorporates long sentences held together by commas, similar to the use of the stream of consciousness. “This unique style lends Faulkner’s work a sense of scope and continuity” (Sparknotes.com). Crafting the sentences this way, allows the reader into the mind of the character. It show the frantic and uncertain thoughts of the character and reflects the struggles that average people have every day. Faulkner's sentence structure makes it a bit hard to understand the order of events, a second reading is recommended to better understand the story.

"Barn Burning" is an interesting tale about morality and family, set in the country. A simple story about betrayal and family. While the story relies a lot on the setting, the theme is something can can still be found to this day. Again, I would recommend reading this at least twice to fully comprehend what is going on. I have not read much of Faulkner's work and while not impressed with his writing style in this story, I am looking forward to reading more of his work.

An excellent visual breakdown of the story is available here  

Works Cited

https://www.sparknotes.com/short-stories/barn-burning/section1/

Review Of Mice and Men

 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck review

Read "Of Mice and Men" here

A classic staple of American Literature, I first read Of Mice and Men in high school, and then again in college. In high school I enjoyed reading the works of John Steinbeck, because he often focused on working class people and their aspirations to achieve the “American Dream”. This time reading Of Mice and Men, I pickled up on more subtle themes and realized that the story is a tragedy.

For those that are unfamiliar with this story, it's simple. Two grown men, George and Lennie go to work at a ranch after having to leave their last place when Lennie got into trouble. The plan is to work for a month to save up enough money to buy their own farm. They meet the other ranch hands and the boss's son, Curly, who is looking to pick a fight over his wife. After two days, Lennie accidentally kills a puppy and Curly's wife comes to console him. When she lets him touch her hair, he gets overly aggressive and when she tries to stop him, he accidently kills her. Now, in some trouble, George finds the only solution is for him to shoot Lennie rather than a mob kill him.

Firstly, something to keep in mind of the story's treatment of African Americans and women is that the novella is a product of its time. While it's not acceptable it is something that occurs regularly in classic works of literature. So, I'll acknowledge here that certain parts of the story are hard to read. Going forward I won't bring it up in other classic literature, unless it's a part of the actual story plot. In this book, the only female that we meet is made out to be a “tramp” and then dies for her curious nature in men or companionship. It's not a good look for women, but it plays into the idea that women corrupt men. Since, George has no plans for finding a woman in his plans to buy and live on a farm. The lack of women is to show the strong male friendship and bond between George and Lennie. Showing that George killing Lennie, meant him letting go of his only companionship.

On this reading I realized that the entire novella takes place over a weekend, despite George saying repeatedly that he and Lennie would be staying for a month. Throughout the book, George has to recite to Lennie their plan of owning a farm and how Lennie will get to tend to the rabbits. This plays on the idea of the “American Dream”, the boys want to own their land and not answer to anyone. For Lennie, he just wants a simple life of caring for the animals and George wants to keep Lennie out of trouble. Of course this vision is too idyllic to be realistic and at the end of the book I think that reality catches up to George.

As much as I root for the pair to achieve their dreams, there are some clues as to how the events play out. For instance the shooting of Candy's dog, foreshadows the death of Lennie. Candy tells George that he should have killed his own dog and not let someone else do the job. That pays off by having George, not Curly be the one to shoot Lennie. Lennie was George's responsibility, his burden, and when he realizes that Lennie will cause trouble for him no matter where they go, George makes the decision to shoot him. Instead of running away again, which is what he told Lennie they would do if he had got into trouble, George decided to end the fantasy and deal with reality.

The animals are also symbols. Lennie's puppy and the dead mouse in Lennie's pocket symbolize the weak and innocent. Lennie's strength and zealous for petting animals, results in a dead mouse and him accidently killing the puppy. But for all his strength, Lennie has the innocence of a small child or animal. Again, foreshadowing Lennie's ultimate death. The death of innocence.

I really enjoyed reading this novella, it's a short, breezy story that reads like a play. There's more thematic motifs and symbolism that I picked up on this time. The story plays out as a tragedy about two friends with grand ideas that will never come true. As I'm making my way through Steinbeck's work, I am noticing certain repeating themes, about working class men and striving for the “American Dream”. The idealism mixed with the flaws and fears of people make for compelling stories that I enjoy reading. Again, disclaimer for the racist and sexist views of characters, but I highly recommend any literary enthusiast read Of Mice and Men as well as other classic works of Steinbeck.

This is the second book in what is considered Steinbeck's “Labor Trilogy”, which also include In Dubious Battle and The Grapes of Wrath.

Buy "Of Mice and Men" here

Review of Winter Dreams

 Review of Winter Dreams by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Read Winter Dreams

Written before his classic novel "The Great Gatsby", "Winter Dreams" shares a lot of the same themes. The main character of "Winter Dreams" is Dexter Green shares a similar background with Jay Gatsby. Both comes from middle-class families and build their wealth to gain access to a girl from an upper class family. The love interest Judy Jones is a prototype of Daisy Buchannan (from "The Great Gatsby"). It's clear that she strings men along for attention and marries for money, despite not being in a happy marriage.

The title of the story refers to Dexter Green's dreams of creating his own wealth an achieving a social status higher than what he was born into. Even after Dexter achieves some financial success, owning laundry business', he still wants to seek the attention of Judy Jones. She's a young, rich woman with a multitude of revolving suitors chasing after her. After a year has passed, Dexter decides to move on from her and becomes engaged to a new woman. When Judy comes back into the picture, Dexter gives into her seduction and it ends his engagement. Years later when he is a wealthy entrepreneur in New York, he finds out that Judy's life isn't as lavish and happy as he thought her life might end up. It causes him to reconsider his past relationship with her, and he's sad that he never married.

While this story was written during an era where social class and wealth determined who you could marry, I still couldn't help but view this in modern times. Dexter continues to see Judy and kiss her for months, despite her seeing other men. Firstly, Dexter should have more self respect for himself, and not want to be with a girl that won't commit to him. However, Dexter can look past Judy's bad behavior because she represents a part of society that he desperately wants to be a part of.

Romance is a big theme in Fitzgerald's body of work. The idea of unrequited love and social class serve as a cautionary tale in "Winter Dreams". Dexter was on track to fulfilling the financial success and lifestyle that he wanted to achieve for himself when he met Judy. He wasted 18 months with her, and then when he did get engaged to another woman, he ruined that for one night and false promises with Judy. His efforts for social mobility “restricts Dexter's capacity for happiness” (Sparknotes.com).

"Winter Dreams" is a short, light read that evokes a familiarity to "The Great Gatsby". As a fan of "The Great Gatsby" and Fitzgerald, I enjoyed reading this story. I look forward to reading more of Fitzgerald's work. "Winter Dreams" was a part of collection that was a called, "All the Sad Young Men". You can buy it here https://amzn.to/3yJzMGK

Works Cited

https://www.sparknotes.com/short-stories/winter-dreams/themes/ (2021).

Review of The Pearl

 Review of The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Read The Pearl online here

When I was a sophomore in high school, we read The Pearl and then chose a scene to re-enact on video. I believe we chose the scene where the doctor comes to the house. Needless to say, I am not good at acting. It was a memorable experience and one that has endeared me to the story. This time around, reading the story, I realized that I had only remembered the book's first half and did not remember the ending. So, it was a pleasant surprise for me as I was reading the story.

The story is about a poor fisherman, Kino, who finds a massive pearl in the sea. The pearl is worth a lot of money, and when Kino's baby son gets sick, he hopes the pearl could pay for an expensive doctor. The pearl itself becomes a curse on Kino's family, running him out of town being chased by bandits. He was trying to defend his family and keep the pearl resulting in the loss of his baby. Returning to his village, Kino and his wife toss the pearl back into the sea.

The tale of The Pearl is a parable about wealth and culture. “The novella is concerned with Kino’s moral obligation and not his civic obligation” when it comes to his responsibility for the pearl (Sparknotes.com). Kino's wife wants him to toss the pearl back into the water from the beginning, but Kino keeps hoping that it will bring fortune to his family. The community is also hoping to get some money from Kino's pearl. People even try to steal it from him in the middle of the night, causing a bit of chaos resulting in Kino and his family fleeing town.

Like other Steinbeck's works, The Pearl deals with the theme of the “American dream” even though the story takes place in Mexico. The idea of the “American dream” is still found in this story. Kino wants to use the pearl to help build his social status and pay for his son to go to school. “Kino’s gradual corruption and the story’s tragic conclusion hint at a fundamental flaw in the American dream” (Sparknotes.com). The story suggests that sacrificing virtue will result is ok if it results in material gain.

Eventually, the pressure of owning the pearl gets to Kino, and he becomes paranoid. For a good reason, because the community turns on Kino. Greed plays a role in the story, dividing the community and Kino and his wife. Kino's wife is constantly telling him to get rid of the pearl. By having Kino get rid of the pearl, “the novel suggest that the destructive forces of the world are too powerful to be overcome” (Sparknotes.com). Relinquishing the pearl represents Kino succumbing to the world instead of overcoming the difficulties and succeeding with wealth and materials goods.

A short read, The Pearl is a simple story about the corruption of wealth and how it can tear apart a tiny village and ruin a family. It's a classic staple of Steinbeck's work, even though it doesn't occur in California. Chasing the “American dream” is a theme that usually ends badly for characters in a Steinbeck novel. The moral is usually that living the dream life requires hard work and for Kino a pearl can't solve his problems. It's a moral quandary that I find fascinating every time I read this story.

Buy "The Pearl" Here

Works Cited

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pearl/central-idea-essay/parable-and-the-form-of-the-pearl/

List of Previous Posts

 Now that I have started up the blog again, don't miss out on previous posts or reviews. Here's a list of my posts and you might see a book on here that you like. 

Book Reviews

The Great Gatsby review

The Virgin Suicides review

Dracula review pt 1

Dracula review pt 2

Dracula review pt 3

Dracula review pt 4

Dracula review pt 5

Frankenstein review pt 1

Frankenstein review pt 2

The Joy Luck Club review

The Hunger Games review

Catching Fire review

Mockingjay review

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes review

Where the Crawdads Sing review

Tortilla Flat review

Short Story Reviews

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe

Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe

The Gray Wolf by George MacDonald

The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce

Robbie by Isaac Asimov

The Star by H.G. Wells

An Express of the Future by Jules Verne

The Boogeyman by Stephen King

Pigeons at Daybreak by Anita Desai

Author Spotlight

Jules Verne and science fiction

Stephen King and IT movie

Philip K. Dick

Suzanne Collins

John Steinbeck

Literary News

The Hunger Games prequel news

Margaret Atwood Interview for Testaments

Amazon Prime-Forward short story

Editorial List

Wizard of Oz movie quotes

Ranking The Wizard of Oz songs

Horror Books top 50 list

NaNoWriMo

New Years Reading Challenge tips

The Lord of The Rings Movie Experience

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Two Towers

The Return of the King

Review of Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck

 Review of "Tortilla Flat" by John Steinbeck

While not his first novel, “Tortilla Flat” was a modest success for Steinbeck and led directly into his most famous literary works. The book takes place in Monterey, California. “Tortilla Flat” is an area settled by paisanos that live a simple life. The main character is Danny, although the book focuses more on his friends Pilon, Pablo, and Jesus Maria. Danny inherits two small houses from his grandfather and lets his friend Pilon "rent" out the smaller cottage. Unfortunately, Pilon never pays rent and accidentally burns the house down. The story then becomes about Danny taking in each of his friends into his small home. None of the characters work for a living, but it's implied Danny maybe had some money after just getting out of the U.S. Army. Instead of working, Danny's friends hustle, plot, scheme, steal and manipulate other people for food and, most importantly, wine.

The character of Pilon, in particular, is an interesting one. Besides Danny, he is the only one who understands what he is doing and how to manipulate his friends. In the beginning, he tries to get his friends to pay his rent for him. Pilon looks down on a man known as Pirate for living in an abandoned chicken coop with his dogs. Even though Pirate is the only one that works for food and saves up his money. Yet Pilon lives with Danny rent-free, and the thought of work is almost unfathomable to him. It is brought up several times that they can get some day jobs down by the docks, yet the friends only resort to it once or twice throughout the novel.

Shortly after moving in with Danny, Pilon has aspirations of paying Danny rent and comes to a somewhat crossroads at a church. At one point, he says to himself, “The soul capable of the greatest good is also capable of the greatest evil” (Steinbeck, 22). An interesting moral assertation from Pilon, given it's often stated that he is a very clever man that is good with people and words. However, instead of putting his talents to work, Pilon rather live off his friends and occasionally steal if he believes it's owed to him.


While reading this novel, I thought Pilon was a genuinely terrible person and that all of the men were alcoholics. Given that they buy jugs of wine most of the time instead of doing the right thing with their money, like pay rent to their friend that supports them. It's easy to forget that this novel was written in the 1930's during The Great Depression of American history and towards the end of the prohibition era. So, alcohol was something to be desired. Still, it's hard to imagine a group of grown men living together, and the only one working is the Pirate man, who's referred to as having the mind of a child.


Although I sound a bit negative, I actually enjoyed reading this book. Most of it revolves around these odd characters and their interactions with the townsfolk. Scattered throughout the book are these short glimpses into the lives of other characters with more exciting lives. For instance, the teenage soldier from Mexico with his newborn son coming to California looking for his wife. Or Danny's short relationship with the neighbor lady and buying her a vacuum cleaner, only to steal it back. It's these smaller stories that are spaced out well that kept me reading the novel.


The book has a sad ending but not unfitting for the story that is being told. One of the themes in the novel is that of treasuring the simple things in life. All of the friends seem happy to be living the “freeloader” lifestyle; because it is enough for them to simply enjoy the wine and watch the sunset from the porch. However, the book also shows that their lifestyles are not sustaining, and the men often struggle for food. The book also paints Danny as a pushover character, letting Pilon make all the decisions and not pay rent in exchange for their friendship. I think in the end, the story proves that his friends were really the downfall of Danny.

A short read, “Tortilla Flat” is a staple of Steinbeck's work, keeping with his tradition of writing stories in Monterey and around the Salinas valley. It portrays a different side of living in the 1930's but in line with Steinbeck's other works, such as “Of Mice and Men”. I recommend reading this book, but do keep in mind the time that it was written. I will say the portrayals of women in the book are terrible; most are seen as promiscuous or viewed as property of men. However, the town's lifestyle and charm invites the reader into these characters' lives and carries you until the end. As someone who enjoys Steinbeck's work style and settings, “Tortilla Flat” was a good book, but not as great as some of his other works.

Buy "Tortilla Flat" Here

Works Cited

Steinbeck, John. Tortilla Flat, Penguin Books, 1977, pp. 22

Author John Steinbeck

Recently I have been reading some works by American Classic author, John Steinbeck. I remember reading three of his works in high school, “Cannery Row”, “Of Mice and Men” and “The Pearl”. All stories that I enjoyed, since then I have gone back to read both “Of Mice and Men” and “The Pearl”, and look forward to reading “The Grapes of Wrath”. In one of my college classes I had to revisit these works and write a paper on Steinbeck's writing style. So let's discuss what make Steinbeck's work a staple of classic American literature.

First, I really do love “Of Mice and Men”, it's a great short read that focuses on two main characters and their struggles during the 1930's. Steinbeck was known for writing about the Great Depression, a time in America where unemployment rates were high, and people struggled to make ends meet. During his time Steinbeck's work connected with readers through the use of his writing style.

Through the use of scenery, dialogue and clear syntax, Steinbeck created works that felt real to his audience. His style of writing incorporates straightforward language which makes his stories easy to read. Steinbeck's use of imagery immerses readers into the settings, and the dialogue is usually authentic to the who the characters are as a person. Often using slang words. His language captures the spirit and plight of the characters in the settings of his stories. Steinbeck did not glamorize or fantasize the human struggles of the Great Depression during the 1930's. Steinbeck has always been concerned about his characters as human beings, men who have desires and wants, which he shows through his choice of words (McElrath, Crisler and Shillinglaw, pp. 78-79).

John Steinbeck gained popularity with a trilogy of books that focused heavily on the labor crisis that plagued people during the Great Depression. The “labor” trilogy of books consist of “Tortilla Flat”, “Of Mice and Men”, and “The Grapes of Wrath”. While his book “Tortilla Flat” may have garnered Steinbeck critical acclaim, it wasn't until “The Grapes of Wrath” that he became a major American novelist. Inspired by growing up in the Salinas Valley of California, Steinbeck uses nature in unique and symbolic ways to build his stories. Even “Cannery Row” was set during the Great Depression, though it was written in the 1940's. I enjoy reading Steinbeck much for the same reason as I enjoy reading F. Scott Fitzgerald, his writing transports me back to a time in America that I find to be fascinating.

While I can't particularly relate to the crisis that George and Lenny face in “Of Mice and Men”, I can relate to the journey of finding your place in this world. Like Fitzgerald, a big theme of Steinbeck is the “American Dream”. In “The Grapes of Wrath” the Joad family has to leave behind their hometown in hopes that they can make a new life for themselves in California. A theme in Steinbeck's work is people being optimistic about their futures, even though the stories may not have a happy ending.

So, what are your thoughts on John Steinbeck? Which books are your favorites? Any recommendations? Would love to hear your thoughts. And if you are someone that has not read Steinbeck I suggest you start with “Of Mice and Men”, just keep in mind that it is a product of its time and does contain some racial slurs and sexist portrayals of women. I will be posting my reviews of Steinbeck's work soon, so check back.

Works Cited

McElrath Jr, Joseph R., Jesse S. Crisler, and Susan Shillinglaw, eds. John Steinbeck: the contemporary reviews. Vol. 8. Cambridge University Press, 2009.

Review of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Review of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

So, I started reading the sample chapter of this book on Kindle and stopped after the first few chapters. But then when I bought my Kindle Paperwhite eReader, I decided to continue and finish the 5 chapter sample. As soon as I did I purchased the eBook and was addicted. I did take a week off from reading to go on vacation but once I came back I finished the book in 2 days. I was so enthralled, I could not put the book down. I spent almost my whole day off of work finishing the book.

This has been one of my best experiences reading a book. I was so entranced in the story, the drama of this young girl named Kya living alone in a shack in the marshland of North Carolina, trying desperately to find a connection or family, but struggling to let people into her world. The first time she finds love as a teenager, she get her heartbroken, and longing for someone to ease her loneliness she seeks comfort in the wrong type of man. A decision that would affect the rest of her life. Without giving too much of the story away, there is also a murder mystery that was so compelling. The author, Delia Owens, perfectly pieces out the clues throughout the book. So much so that I didn't even figure out the ending until it happen. Owens does a remarkable job captivating the reader; making us care about the life of this young girl living in the marshland trying to survive by herself. A big part of the book, is Owens describing Kya's experience in the marshland, the insects and the birds. The level of detail allows the reader to paint a vivid picture of the environment.

Owens mixes a bit of young adult romance in there and I was hooked! But the story is more than that, it's told in a non-linear timeline to help elude to the murder mystery. It's truly a story that I connected with emotionally. I felt a lot of sadness for the main character, but it wasn't detached, it was real and relatable, as if Owens transported me into the marshland with this girl. The book does take a bleak tone on the nature of people, which at times is hard to deal with, because of that's how real life is, but it doesn't provide the hope that we would expect. Hope that people can be better or should do better. The character development is also a weak point of the story. The main character has some leaps in development that don't always appear logically, and the two love interests are nothing more than cliches. Which is sad, because I think that the shocking ending would have been better served if the characters were better developed. 

This is not a perfect book, and I do understand a lot of the criticism that some people have towards it. However, my personal invested was such that I didn't care on my first reading. I will listen to the audiobook, as there were a lot of people that said the narrator did a great job. but while I see the flaws in the story, I can also ignore them because I found the main character to be compelling. If you haven't read this book, do yourself a favor and read it now. It's sort of a YA/Drama/Mystery but with out the melodramatic aspects that can be a bit eyerolling with some YA books. Where the Crawdads Sing is a gripping tale about survival, abandonment, and abuse, now go read it!

Buy the book on Amazon

"Leave Meeting: How to Commit Murder on Zoom" short film review

 

Leave Meeting: How to Commit Murder on Zoom

https://youtu.be/1O-BxpP5YB8

If you're looking for new content during the pandemic, check out this short film called “Leave Meeting: A Telehealth Recording”. The concept is based around the web meetings that everyone has been attending during this Coronavirus pandemic. The premise is therapist (Rebecca) is waiting on a call with her client (Karen) but is surprised to find the client's ex-husband (Carl) there instead. As the two talk, the truth about what the therapist has been up to, manipulating her client, is revealed, as well as Carl's issues.

One thing I want to say is that the actor playing Carl, does a great job portraying this sleazy, fast-talking, jerk. The actor nails the line delivery, coming across very naturally. All of the actors do a good job, but Carl is an interesting character to watch.

This short reminds me of a Lifetime mystery thriller. I mean that in the best of ways, I enjoy Lifetime movies. The story unravels in a natural way, leaving you wondering what's next. The decisions and choices that these characters make are quite shocking; in a way that makes you question their morality, and your own. The way the story unfolds captured my attention so well, I could have watched more of this video.

There is a bit of a surprise towards the end, that I didn't expect, but think it's brilliant. Everyone gets what they deserve and the literally clicking of “leave meeting” is the perfect way to end the film. So, if you enjoy thrillers and character drama, check out this short video by Christopher T. Woods. If you need something to watch for Halloween check out Woods other short film, “Don't Turn Around”. https://youtu.be/elpiDe3oSE0

Review for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

 

Review of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" by Suzanne Collins

After re-reading The Hunger Games trilogy, I was very excited to read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. While the initial premise of the book, a young Coriolanus Snow mentoring a girl from District 12, had some promise I think that the overall story falls short. When finished with the book, I realized what author Suzanne Collins was trying to do with the character of Coriolanus Snow. It's not the story of a young man falling in love and getting his heart broken, like I thought it was going to be. Instead, it's the story of a young man who becomes capable of the horrific things that are revealed about future President Snow in The Hunger Games books.

If you're going into this book hoping for more history about Panem and the hunger games, then you won't be disappointed. However, if you're looking for rich characters and a charming love story, you might be a bit disappointed. The book is at it's best when it focuses on the 10^th hunger games, the progression of the hunger games and the districts. The world building of Panem is done well and expands our knowledge from the original trilogy. However, the problem comes when the book tries to make too many connections and references to things from the original trilogy. The book also hits you over the head with the title of the book, constantly referencing mockingjay's (songbirds) and snakes. 

Future President of Panem Coriolanus Snow is center stage but the narrative is not told in first person, and I believe that makes it difficult for the reader to ever really understand and empathize with him. Most of the book actually deals with Snow's questioning whether or not he will be able to graduate and attend a university. Throughout the book Snow makes a series of morally questionable decision that seem to be for the right reasons, but by the end of the story you realize that these decisions show what he is capable of doing for his best interest. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes shows the power and influence that social status in society has on a person.

Overall this is a decent addition to The Hunger Games universe, but not one of the books I will read over and over again. While I wish Collins would write more prequels exploring characters like young Haymitch or Mags; I think this book shows that maybe Collins should stop here. The politics of this book weigh it down a bit, but maybe that was only because it's set in the Capitol. Still, a good read, but I'll be happy if this is Collins last in the series. It's hard to root for any of the main characters and the story is overly drawn out. For better context of who president Snow is and how Panem has been shaped leading up to Katniss' story, this is a recommend. It's a must read for any hard-core fan of the franchise, but you're missing much if you're a casual reader.

One thing I will say is the artwork for the cover is amazing, and perfectly in line with the trilogy covers.