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A wonderfully entertaining coming-of-age story, Northanger Abbey is often referred to as Jane Austen’s “Gothic parody.” Decrepit castles, locked rooms, mysterious chests, cryptic notes, and tyrannical fathers give the story an uncanny air, but one with a decidedly satirical twist.
The story’s unlikely heroine is Catherine Morland, a remarkably innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. While spending a few weeks in Bath with a family friend, Catherine meets and falls in love with Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of Gothic thrillers, lets the shadowy atmosphere of the old mansion fill her mind with terrible suspicions. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henry’s mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy? Catherine finds dreadful portents in the most prosaic events, until Henry persuades her to see the peril in confusing life with art.
Executed with high-spirited gusto, Northanger Abbey is a lighthearted, yet unsentimental commentary on love and marriage.
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”
“A woman, especially if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.”
“If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.”
My Thoughts
I’m not a big Jane Austen reader, I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice and now this book, but I’ve enjoyed both and very interested in reading more of her books. I think she writes very interesting characters, and her books have the best quotes! I had such a hard time limiting the quotes because there were so many that resonated with me!
The characters are the best thing about this book for me; I was completely appalled by the behavior of several of the characters here, I can’t believe how rude they were especially for the era, but on the other hand, I love Catherine, the MC of the book. I really admired how she handled herself in the face of other people’s bad behavior towards her, and considering how young she was, the poise with which she handled it. I don’t think I had the same fortitude when I was her age. Heck, I don’t think I have the same fortitude now!
To be honest, I’ve never felt the need to read more of Austen’s works after Pride and Prejudice because that was the most popular one and I thought it was enough, but I really enjoyed reading Northanger Abbey and now I’m compelled to read more of Austen’s other works!
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.
Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is Beach/Beachy Reads
Going with a topic I missed again today with the Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025. A couple of them have already been released since I’m late with the topic, but I’m excited about them and definitely still anticipating when I can read them!
Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025
No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe – 15th July. I have enjoyed a few of Tess Sharpe’s books and I’m so excited about this one. I love how she writes her female protagonists and I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one too.
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst – 15th July. I only just finished reading The Spellshop recently but I loved it and I love that there’s another one! Telling us more about Caz’s mom, no less, and what comes after!
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher – 19th August. I am aware that I haven’t even finished Kingfisher’s other works yet, but this one sounds so good too! I love fairytale retellings, I can’t help it!
The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin – 26th August. Fine, I’ll admit it! I haven’t finished Martin’s other books either, but I’m still really happy to know that there’s going to be more waiting on me.
We Met Like This by Kasie West – 16th September. I read a lot of Kasie West’s books when I was younger and I have maybe aged out of the genre, but I still love her books because it’s the comfort of reading a familiar author whose works make me happy.
Thief of Night by Holly Black – 23rd September. It’s about time the sequel to Book of Night was released! I loved the first book and I’ve been waiting for more!
Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane – 7th October. Another author whose earlier works I haven’t finished, but you can never have too much of a good thing!
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree – 11th November. Yayy, more books in the Legends & Lattes universe! You know I’m totally here for it!
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth – 30th September. I’ve read a couple of Sally Hepworth’s books and they are just the kind of mystery/thrillers I enjoy. Some are better than others, but I’m excited about this new one!
The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer – 4th November. The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favorite series and I’m excited to read something else by the author. This one is about a witch who sees ghosts, totally right up my alley! I’m so excited!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Would you read any of these books?
Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
Some of My Favorite People
I managed to get some things done this past week that I had been putting off, including buying new pillows and a duvet to replace some really old ones that sorely needed replacing. They were probably the reason I didn’t sleep so well the week before because I slept just fine with the new bedding.
My cousin also came to visit from Vancouver with her family. It has been years since we saw each other but she’s one of my favorite people in the world and I love her to death! I love her family too, they are such a sweet family and so great to be around. We had a great time catching up and I really hope I get to see them again soon, and more often!
I also had my in-person bookclub meeting this weekend, so I got to see more of my favorite people! We don’t see each other often outside of our monthly meetings, but they are amazing people and I always love seeing them! Our BOTM is If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino, which was one of our member’s favorite books that they recommended, and we had an interesting discussion about it. I plan to write a review soon (once I catch up on the other reviews I gotta write!) but if you’ve read it, I’d be curious for your thoughts!
On my watchlist: We finished watching Building the Band on Netflix and I won’t say anything else because of spoilers, but I still love the bands I talked about last week and I truly believe they’re all going to do well as artists!
We also watched The Gorge, which was so fun and thrilling at the same time. I was so delighted with it and kept saying how it has everything; romance, horror, mystery, fantasy, scifi! I particularly loved their meet-cute “Covid-romance” story, because of the whole long-distance thing.
Lone and I are also huge fans of Adam Sandler’s works and we’re always happy when a new movie drops. I know a lot of people think that Adam Sandler’s movies are low effort and formulaic, but that’s exactly what we’re looking for sometimes when we seek out his movies. Something funny, entertaining, and low-stress, with a feel-good ending. His movies are like comfort shows for me, and I got all of that with Happy Gilmore 2! I also love that he invites his friends to act with him, and I loved that there were so many people doing cameos in this one!
The Books
Books I read last week:
A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost – Jost narrates the audiobook himself and I really like how personable he is. It’s also really interesting to find out more about his background and family.
The Love Haters by Katherine Center – This one was just what I needed for a fun, lighthearted romance that I didn’t get from the last one I read! I loved it!
If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino – I listened to this for the first time on audio and apparently it was the wrong move because I got so confused! I did enjoy my bookclub’s discussion about it though!
Books I’m reading:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Reading this for the nth time and still loving it as much as ever! I’m about 60% in now. At this point, it’s just another comfort read, which is funny to think about because of how intense it is, but it’s just how I feel about it!
Last Week on The Blog
I meant to catch up on my book reviews but I only managed one post.
I just got a couple of my holds from the library; Stephen King’s Revival, and Madeline Martin’s The Keeper of Hidden Books! I’m excited for both of these! I still have to finish The Count of Monte Cristo but I’m looking forward to these two as well.
How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is Books Set in/Take Place During X
I’m choosing books set in the dream realm for today’s topic. The distinction for me with “dream realm” is that they are not portals to an alternate world, but rather a place where you can only go with your mind, ie. your body does not follow.
Having said that, I haven’t read some of the books below (and some I read a while ago and might have forgotten details) so I can’t be 100% sure if they fit the criteria. I’ve added them here based on their book descriptions, what others have said about them, and other non-spoilery info. If you’ve read them and you think I’m wrong, feel free to let me know!
Top Ten Books Set in the Dream Realm
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick – This series has one of the best world-building and magical lore. Most of it relates to card divination but it also includes navigating the spiritual realm. It needs a reread!
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo – This is one of my favorite books that I’ve talked a lot about. A big part of the story has the FMC’s body sick and unconscious and her spirit spending a lot of time in the underworld.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan – A recent favorite, but interesting enough, it also has the FMC sick and I’m assuming in a coma, while her consciousness is in another world.
Super Powered by Drew Hayes – This is a series featuring super powered young adults. One of them has the ability to go into people’s dreams and influence them that way. I loved the series, it was so much fun!
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King – The sequel to The Shining, it follows a now-adult Dan. Dan and another one of the MCs, Abra, communicate through dreams. One of my favorites from the King.
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin – I have heard much about this book but haven’t read it. It’s a scifi story where the MC’s dreams can affect reality. Definitely adding to my TBR.
Dreamfall by Amy Plum – This is a thriller/horror where the MCs participate in some kind of sleep study and end up stuck in the dream together. It sounds so good!
Dreamology by Lucy Keating – This is a romance where the two MCs dream about each other all the time, but one day they meet and realize the other person is real! I’m intrigued!
Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente – I’ve only read one book by the author but loved it. This one is about a world that you can only access through dreams, but you have to sleep with someone who’s already been there.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor – Dreams choose the dreamer in this book. I had this on my TBR but forgot all about it. Now it’s back on my radar!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Would you read any of these books?
Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
Unsleeping Grumpy
I haven’t been getting enough sleep this last week, and that means I’m not a Sleeping Beauty, but rather, an Unsleeping Grumpy. It’s no fun. I have been so irritable lately even though it’s been an objectively good week.
Ironically, I bought some new pillows and a duvet last week because the old ones were wearing out, and the cats have also started sleeping with us at night more regularly, which have given me a such a lovely sense of peace and coziness; so I should be sleeping better, but I’m not… Hmm…okay, maybe I should clarify. I have actually been sleeping better in terms of quality, but I haven’t been getting enough sleep in terms of quantity. And since we’re being honest, I have to admit it’s my own fault because I’ve been staying up late reading.
And therein lies the truth; I did it to myself. 😭
It’s hard to regret choosing reading over sleeping, but I’m not as young as I used to be and lack of sleep affects me a lot more than it used to. I have to be a responsible adult now. Ah, well.
On my watchlist: I have been watching Building the Band on Netflix and I am so hooked! I’m loving SZN4 and Soulidified and I can’t get enough of them! I think no matter who wins, these two bands are going to do well post-show. 3Quency is really good too, but I don’t like them as much as the first two bands.
There’s also some drama with a couple of the other teams that are annoying to watch, but part of the draw of reality tv, I guess. I’m just impatiently waiting for the next episodes to be released this week, and then after the show, I want all the deets on what the bands have been doing since then! As I said, I’m pretty sure at least a couple of these bands are going to keep going strong no matter who wins the show, and I’m excited to see it!
The Books
Books I read last week:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy – It’s been on my TBR for ever and I finally finished it. I ended up getting quite sick of the characters, but I love how Tolstoy kept me interested in their drama. I just couldn’t stop reading!
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – This book played with my emotions like a cat plays with its prey. It gave 100% emotional damage and I was ugly crying at the end.
Books I’m reading:
A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost – Listening to this on audio right now. I’m about 35% in. I love him on SNL and Pop Culture Jeopardy!
The Love Haters by Katherine Center – I’m about 40% into this and really enjoying it! It’s funny and lighthearted and I’m loving the interactions between the two MCs.
Last Week on The Blog
So many posts the week before and only this one last week.
I want to finish up the two books I’m currently reading, and I also have If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino on the to-read list. I have to finish it before the week it out because our bookclub is meeting this weekend!
How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is Books with Honorifics in the Title
I like today’s topic and I can’t wait to see everyone’s lists, but I missed several previous TTT topics that I really want to do so I decided to go with Books on My Summer 2025 TBR for my topic today! We did Books I’d Like to Re-read last week and I stated that I wanted to read them soon so they are definitely on my Summer TBR as well, but I’ll try to go with different titles today!
Top Ten Books on My Summer 2025 TBR
If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino – It’s one of my in-person bookclub friend’s favorite book and I’m excited to read something she likes.
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman – A different bookclub friend’s favorite book, I’m always excited to see what my friends love to read.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I love TJR and I love Julia Whelan who narrates this. Definitely listening to this one on audio.
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich – I’ve read one other book by the author and loved it. I’m curious to read another and I thought this one sounded interesting.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – This has been on my TBR for ages now, plus it’s been talked about favorably. I really should get to it soon!
The Love Haters by Katherine Center – I’ve read and loved several other Katherine Center books and I’m sure I’ll like this one too.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green – I’ve heard so many rave reviews about this one I got curious. I’ve read a couple of the author’s books and liked them, but this one is nonfiction.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – I’ve been meaning to read this but never got around to it. I recently watched the movie and loved it so it’s motivating me to read this sooner rather than later.
Never Flinch by Stephen King – I don’t care what people say, Holly is one of my favorite SK characters and I can’t wait to read more of her!
The Glass Chateau by Stephen P. Kiernan – This one came out two years ago and I had been anticipating it before it even released. I don’t know why I haven’t read it!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Would you read any of these books?
Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
I’m Back Again!
My last Sunday Post was four months ago and I cannot understand how time passes by so quickly! I could’ve sworn it was only two months ago, max! It’s worse because I actually mentioned in my last Sunday Post that I really wanted to make an effort to do the Sunday Posts and to check in with everyone. How quickly I have forsaken my words. 😭
Well, I’m going to try again! Please forgive me!
I updated a little bit about what’s been going on with me in my last Monthly Wrap Up, but the quick recap is that we lost our beloved Loki last month, and I’m going back to school in the fall. Bad news, good news.
We’re still missing Loki. We’re okay most days, but sometimes when we come across a reminder we start crying again. My husband was cleaning yesterday and found Loki’s old collar and tag. He started crying and then I started crying. I know it’ll get better, it just sucks right now.
Going back to school for me is a good thing, an exciting thing! But I’ve also been a little anxious with the back to school prep, especially since I haven’t been in school for years! I’m still working on the paperwork, enrollment, and all the administrative stuff, which is keeping me busy but should be done really soon!
On my watchlist: I just finished watching Season 1 of Murderbot and I loved it!!! I was surprised that there were ten episodes to Season 1 because the first book was so short, and I wondered if maybe they decided to merge a couple of books into this season, but nope, the first season is based on the first book and that’s it.
To be fair, each of the episodes are only 20-30 minutes long and they do flesh out the story a little bit. I thought they did a pretty great job of it. I don’t remember all the details of the book but I feel like they got the important details down. I’m very happy about it, and I’m excited to see what they do with the next seasons!
Has anyone else watched it and/or read the books? I’d love to know what you think!
The Books
Books I read last week:
The Accidental Text by Becky Monson – I was in the mood for some romance and I stumbled upon this book while browsing by availability. It sounded fun and it was! I enjoyed it very much!
The Wild Robot Protects (The Wild Robot #3) by Peter Brown – The third book in the series. I loved the movie and I was thrilled to find out there were books!
Swept Away by Beth O’Leary – I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous works and was excited for this but it turned out a little disappointing.
Books I’m reading:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy – I am currently about 35% in and finding it all very dramatic and interesting!
Last Week on The Blog
Whoa, this is what catching up on all the book reviews I procrastinated on looks like! And I’m not even done yet! 😭
I’m hoping to finish Anna Karenina this week. I also want to read Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and hopefully get started on The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. The Brothers Karamazov is a buddy read that I signed up for a year ago! The deadline is coming up and I have to read it soon if I wanna make it but it’s my own fault for leaving it to the last minute.
How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!
Fifteen-year-old Kambili and her older brother Jaja lead a privileged life in Enugu, Nigeria. They live in a beautiful house, with a caring family, and attend an exclusive missionary school. They’re completely shielded from the troubles of the world. Yet, as Kambili reveals in her tender-voiced account, things are less perfect than they appear. Although her Papa is generous and well respected, he is fanatically religious and tyrannical at home—a home that is silent and suffocating.
As the country begins to fall apart under a military coup, Kambili and Jaja are sent to their aunt, a university professor outside the city, where they discover a life beyond the confines of their father’s authority. Books cram the shelves, curry and nutmeg permeate the air, and their cousins’ laughter rings throughout the house. When they return home, tensions within the family escalate, and Kambili must find the strength to keep her loved ones together.
Purple Hibiscus is an exquisite novel about the emotional turmoil of adolescence, the powerful bonds of family, and the bright promise of freedom.
I read We Should All Be Feminists by the same author some time ago and had been meaning to read more of her works.
The Quotes
“There are people, she once wrote, who think that we cannot rule ourselves because the few times we tried, we failed, as if all the others who rule themselves today got it right the first time. It is like telling a crawling baby who tries to walk, and then falls back on his buttocks, to stay there. As if the adults walking past him did not all crawl, once.”
“We did that often, asking each other questions whose answers we already knew. Perhaps it was so that we would not ask the other questions, the ones whose answers we did not want to know.”
“The educated ones leave, the ones with the potential to right the wrongs. They leave the weak behind. The tyrants continue to reign because the weak cannot resist. Do you not see that it is a cycle? Who will break that cycle?”
“I cannot control even the dreams that I have made.”
The Narrator(s)
Lisette Lecat. She’s a wonderful narrator, she had just the right emotional expression.
My Thoughts
I’m not sure how I can begin to gush about this book. It is so emotionally powerful, heartbreaking, and completely pulls you in. I’d only read We Should All Be Feminists by Adichie previously and it was a short nonfiction, but I respected the way she wrote and expressed her ideas so clearly. I had been meaning to read more of her works and only just finally read this one.
The writing is so powerful; it gut punches you from the very beginning and just keeps getting more and more intense. Realizing that this is Adichie’s first book makes it even more incredible. You really get into Kambili’s mind, feel her feelings, care for her. I have a visceral hate for her father, and so much sadness for her circumstances. I am still feeling my feelings over this book and I am very much wanting to read more of her books after this.
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.
Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?
Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years–or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.
I have been craving some romance in my tbr and I enjoy Emily Henry’s books.
The Quotes
“There’s an old saying about stories, and how there are always three versions of them: yours, mine, and the truth.”
“Love isn’t something you can cup in your hands, and I have to believe that means it’s something that can’t ever be lost.”
“I find myself thinking that maybe every bit of heartbreak in life can be rearranged and used for something beautiful, that it doesn’t really matter whether I chose this path or I was born onto it, so long as I stop and appreciate the path itself.”
“Just because something doesn’t make money or win awards doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value.”
The Narrator(s)
Julia Whelan! I love her!!
My Thoughts
I generally enjoy Emily Henry’s books and she’s one of my go-to authors for books in the romance genre. Having said that, I don’t always enjoy the stories but I do like her writing, and the fact that Julia Whelan narrates this book cinched it for me.
One of the things that has been mentioned about this book is its similarities with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I love TJR and I can see the similarities with the premise, but as far as vibes go, they are not the same at all. TJR’s book was much more mysterious and had a little bit more gravitas. This book is a little more lighthearted, and Margaret’s story for me was more of a plot device. It was an interesting story, but it’s not what I’m here for. As I said, I was craving romance, and I wanted romance!
Enter Alice and Hayden. I am completely charmed by Alice and her bright personality. I love that it’s addressed from the beginning and I like how she wins people over; she’s friendly and thoughtful, and says what she thinks, and I love that about her. As for the romance part, I love the way she wins Hayden over just by being her friendly, annoying, charming self. I love the non-sexual, intimate moments between them, the way they interacted with each other, but honestly, it’s mostly due to Alice’s personality. I find it hard not to fall for her myself! I would totally want to be BFFs with her if she was a real person!
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.
Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?
When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?
As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.
Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.
When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.
I’m a huge fan of The Hunger Games, so obviously I had to read this!
The Quotes
“They will not use my tears for their entertainment.”
“You were capable of imagining a different future. And maybe it won’t be realized today, maybe not in our lifetime. Maybe it will take generations. We’re all part of a continuum. Does that make it pointless?”
“Fire is catching, she’d say, but if this one burns down the arena, I say good riddance.”
“In fifty years, we’ve only had one victor, and that was a long time ago. A girl who no one seems to know anything about.”
The Narrator(s)
Jefferson White. It was absolutely wonderful and I was fully immersed.
My Thoughts
I’m a huge fan of the original trilogy for The Hunger Games, but I was initially resistent when The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes came out because I wasn’t interested in President Snow’s childhood. I did end up reading it and enjoying it very much, and also really admiring Collins’ vision of how things started. So when this book came out, I was excited because I am much more interested in Haymitch’s story, and I also have a lot more confidence that Collins will do a great job with it.
Reading Haymitch’s story, I like getting to know him better. I like learning what really happened with him. I don’t think this story could work on its own but somehow I love THG enough that I want to know more, not just about him, but about other characters too. I’d love a book about Finnick as well, and Johanna, and Beetee, and Mags, and several other characters. I know a lot of people think additional books in THG universe aren’t necessary, and I agree somewhat that I don’t think any of these stories work on their own but I still want to know them!
Perhaps a happy compromise for me is an actual manifestation of that memorial book that Katniss and Peeta were working on, a sort of dictionary/encyclopedia type book with pictures and information about the Victors throughout the years, the people who loved them and whom they loved, anecdotes about them. I would love that!! In any case, at this point I’m not tired of THG world yet and I’ll probably read more if Collins wrote them!
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.
Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?
