Was it just pure coincidence that I decided to reread The Hunger Games this month? Or was it a conspiracy involving space and time from the start?
I decided to read the first book of the series again during the first week of June this year and am currently reading Mockingjay. And even though I read the books for the first time back in 2014, and visited Panem multiple times since then, it’s still as emotionally incapacitating and thought provoking as ever. This series has always had a special place carved in my bleeding heart. For, it was the metaphorical key to the wonderful world of YA fiction.
I was 11 when I read it. Until then, my world was limited to boarding schools (Enid Blyton) and precocious kids (Roald Dahl). Sure, I’ve always known of the existence of the Wizarding World, thanks to my mom’s obsession with that series. But, The Hunger Games? It was truly mine. No one I knew at that time had even heard of it. I still thank the stars that I happened to stumble upon the books in my school library.
I read the first book through my winter break. I braved the arena and crawled into a mess along with Katniss. She was everything I wanted to be. I finished the book long before the holidays ended, and I spent the rest of the time till my school opened again, dying (and that is NOT an exaggeration, btw) to borrow the second book of the series from my library.
So what do I do when I am joining a new school in the present time (2019) and will have to actually talk with strangers? Go back to one of my comfort books. Of course.
/PRO TIP: When faced with difficult/ new situations, delve into your favourite, worn at the seams, comfort books. (And yes, I’ll be giving such important advice and life tips throughout my existence here, for I consider myself a wise old being). /
And as I was reading The Hunger Games now, for the nth time, I realized that I absolutely had to have my first blog post about it. So, here we are!
Anyway, after reading it again this time, I was researching about where Suzanne Collins had disappeared to- and I stumble, trip and fall. (I have a bruise to show for it). JUST FIVE FRICKIN’ DAYS AGO, COLLINS ANNOUNCED THAT SHE IS WRITING A PREQUEL!!!! Asksdfjgk. I wouldn’t have known about it if I hadn’t decided to blog about the series which I currently happen to be reading! Okay. So, coincidence???? I think not. I mean, the first book was published on 14 September, 2008. More than a decade ago. And right now, when I’m rereading the books after quite some gap, thERe iS aN ANnouNCmENt aBoUt A pREqUeL!!! So, now, you might get why I think there’s some conspiracy involved between my reading choices and the real world. Or it might just be causation, not correlation. But I prefer to believe in miracles and wackadoos. Who knows?
Now to the topic of the prequel. It’s set 65 years before the events of The Hunger Games, so 10 years after the Dark Days. (In case you need a refresher: The Dark Days were the initial rebellion after which the Hunger Games was enforced as punishment cum reminder). And it could possibly star Mags, our favourite old grandma who knits (technically weaves baskets and mats out of leaves) and sacrifices herself for the greater good. Also, who could not be captivated by someone from District 4 *waggles eyebrows* ?
This book is said to under works right now and is set to be published on May 2020. Who else wants to time travel to the future right now? I’m collecting names.
So, I’m going to leave you with the anticipation of something good to come.
