Interpreting Society, Geography, and Characters of the Hunger Games
(Author’s Note: Material here is adapted from sections of my companion book, Behind the Ballads.) There’s no doubt that featuring Coriolanus Snow in the first prequel caused some controversy. Despite what Coryo may think, however, it’s not all about him. We find that beneath… Continue Reading “What Lies Beneath the Snow: How Lucy Gray, Coriolanus, and Sejanus Explore Human Nature Throughout Songbirds and Snakes”
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD (and above) For Sunrise on the Reaping With the release of Sunrise in March 2025, those of us hoping to fill in some gaps to Katniss’ family tree were treated to incredible new information. At the same time, it is arguably… Continue Reading “A District 12 (and Mockingjay Pin) Family Tree: What We Learn from Sunrise on the Reaping”
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR Sunrise on the Reaping. For those of us hoping to learn more about the Covey, it is safe to say that we got much more than many of us expected in Collins’ latest Sunrise prequel. As Haymitch’s true love, we… Continue Reading “Who is Lenore Dove’s Mother? Unlocking some Important “Grave” Clues in Sunrise”
(NOTE: Spoiler Alert for the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.) Readers of The Hunger Games learn about “the valley song” during Peeta’s recollection of his early adoration for Katniss: “So that day, in music assembly, the teacher asked who knew the valley song. Your… Continue Reading “The Valley Song as Country Music Exemplar”
(NOTE: Spoiler Alert for the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) A considerable amount of discussion is occurring right now about the whereabouts of Lucy Gray Baird near the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (BSAS). In typical form for Suzanne Collins, this… Continue Reading “What Happened to Lucy Gray?”