The Hanging Tree - The Hunger Games

Sunrise on the Reaping

Have a review of the new Hunger Games novel on the backstory of Haymitch's eventual victory.

The new Suzanne Collins novel is a welcome addition to the Hunger Games lore and I really enjoyed reading it. Sure it's brain candy that requires a lot of suspension of belief but it's entertaining and fun brain candy.

Now that we've had Haymitch's backstory (Woody Harrelson in the movie) in this book, coupled with President Snow's backstory in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, along with the original Hunger Games trilogy - you have to wonder if there's anything left to explore in the world of Panem and if this may be the final book in the series?

Sunrise on the Reaping is available now.

Happy Reaping Day - May the Odds Ever Be Favorable

In the recent book The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which will be a major motion picture in November, it is made clear that Reaping Day actually happens on July 4th. To me this obviously ties the fictitious world of Panem to the United States where the currency they use in both places is also in dollars. Don't tie yourself in knots trying to figure out what 12 districts are in the US. Once your get by West Virginia being the coal district everything else falls apart.

Also remember that Peacekeepers in the books were not neutral - they were offensive minded. Not sure what this says about the UN and their "peacekeepers" but guessing that Suzanne Collins didn't pick the name randomly.

I read the first Hunger Games books and was hooked. The second book was good but not as good as the first. I only finished the third because I had read the first two. Never bothered with the third movie. This latest prequel is closer to the first book in the series and I'd recommend it. Lots of twists and turns.

Looking forward to the movie in November.

Quotes for Today

Some quotes I hope may resonate with you.

"Doing something every day turns desired behavior into default behavior. When willpower is lacking, routine takes over." - Shane Parrish

"Men are born free; and everywhere he is in chains." - Jean Jacques Rousseau

"Puncture wounds never bleed long." - Tigris

"Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?" - Rumi

Let's Talk Some Politics

Interesting article/rebuttal about Why Upstate New York Feels Unwelcome in Its Own State.

New York City has the wealth and provides the entertainment not just for the rest of the State but for much of the country. What does "Upstate" New York offer? Well how about the food, the electric power and the natural beauty/resources just to start. The whole things gives off a Hunger Games feel. 

In Panem - Capital City also had the wealth and the entertainment (in the form of the Hunger Games) while the Districts each provided their own distinct contributions.Fish, electricity, coal, food, etc.

The big difference is in the fictional world Capital City had the military power while in real life - it is the residents of Upstate NY that are armed. Makes you wonder if that's a psychological underpinning of residents of Capital New York City being such ardent advocates of gun control while the Upstate residents are such "bitter clingers."

It's true in New York State and it's true in much of the rest of the country. Who knew that Suzanne Collins was such a big MAGA supporter?