We just need someone to listen to us to understand us to empathise with us and to help us see better.
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''We tend to think that the future happensWe just need someone to listen to us to understand us to empathise with us and to help us see better.
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''We tend to think that the future happens later, but we're creating it in our minds every day. When the present falls apart, so does the future we had associated with it. And having the future taken away is the mother of all plot twists."
No, I actually want you to stop and pause and *really* think about it. In fact re-read TBOSAS or listen to the audio verIs Snow *really* the villain?
No, I actually want you to stop and pause and *really* think about it. In fact re-read TBOSAS or listen to the audio version of it and consider this question.
Because that's exactly what I did. (Well I listened to the audio book version because I am obsessed with it but that's not the point.) Re visiting TBOSAS really brought this question to the fore-front whilst I was listening to it.
Is he really the villain or are we as readers designed to overlook who the real villains are? I guess what I mean by this is there is not one definition of 'villain'. What does it take to become a villain? Are there guidelines or a checklist such as you have to be selfish or a bully or kill people? Because in this case Snow fits the bill. But I think it is more than that, I don't think Collins wrote this to humanise Snow's villainy story. I think Collins allowed open interpretation to question our definitions of villains.
Of course saying that I do believe Snow is a villain and that he is motivated to act this way for his own selfish reasons and betterment. He cannot be redeemed because of what we as readers know who he becomes to be. So why you question did Collins give him the story? I believe Snow is someone although not relatable and someone who you would root for (like Katniss) is somebody who can be understood and you wish him to make different choices.
Free will and nature v nurture comes into my argument (but that's for another time). Snow is portrayed as a very passive character. Examples include the ample times Sejanus thinks Snow saved him when it is just a coincidence and Snow went along with it because it favoured him. Saying he co-wrote the essay he was supposed to write with Clemensia before the whole snake situation. And of course many times with Lucy Gray. But this just makes for better reading because Snow's ambition at first was for the scholarship to University and for the Snow reputation to be repaired including their finances.
Enter Dr. Gaul. She is the scariest most chilling and nightmare fuelled person in the book for me. She almost instead of teaching 'grooms' the mentors and especially Snow. With the essays she sets him gives (us) Gual an insight into what Snow craves. Control and power. Highbottom came up with a theoretical version of the games and Snow's father stole the idea and ran with it (ring any bells). Gaul uses the mentors as a way to make the games more entertaining and embraced Snow's manipulation and ruthlessness and ambition to come on top. On the flip side it also brought out that he was human, he developed feelings for Lucy Gray and begrudgingly became friends with Sejanus and even the mentors and to an extent Clemensia. And although I did root for these friendships it also highlighted if he couldn't control them or doesn't favour him anymore or align with the Capitols beliefs and values he cuts them of. We see this after the snake attack with Clemensia, the Jabber Jay recording with Sejanus and finally the ending with Lucy Gray.
This is not the usual villain origin story and I champion that and astounded by how cleverly Collins is subverting and in a way critiquing this narrative of villain stories. Collins is a genius, thought-provoking and Collins is just a mastery writer. It always amazes me how much a re-read highlights how much you forget and the plot twists hit as hard as the first time. Because I listened to the audio it also brought it alive with the singing etc. I am bumping the rating from a four star to five hundred thousand stars because this was friking amazing.
SNOW LANDS ON TOP! (Also can we take a moment to appreciate Tigris/Ma Plinth)
Popsugar reading challenge- A book about an athlete/sport.
I will just start by saying that Dustin's memoir Mama's boy I one of my FAVOURITE ever and Popsugar reading challenge- A book about an athlete/sport.
I will just start by saying that Dustin's memoir Mama's boy I one of my FAVOURITE ever and I will use any opportunity to recommend it! So if you haven't read it...read it!
I always love reading/waiting the behind the scenes of an athlete because we forget when they are competing in that moment they are not their because they were born talented or they are natural. It's a year's worth of work, dedication, hard work, sweat, blood and tears.
Tom, narrated this audiobook which is so personal and intimate as it takes us through all the way from Tom's childhood to his first Olympic game all the way through to the Tokyo games. To me this was more than that, it taught me about courage, resilience, perseverance all which he names his chapters after. It showed me the power of those around you and, about never...ever...giving up. It taught me about love and family and knitting (which I really need to pick up). It showed me not how lucky Tom is but how much he deserves it because he worked for it, he injured himself for it. I loved hearing about how he fell in love with Lance, how his family supported him, his battle with mental health (insomnia et al) and how he is as a father. Also how he takes time to switch of (with knitting). An insight into life in the public eye but also how grief affected him after the passing of his father. With detailed commentary about diving his mental blocks and how he overcame them. It was an inspiring read. Huge respect for Tom and his commitment to anything he puts his heart too. 4.5. Love wins. X
I finished this audio book the day Adnan was released from prison. Surreal! If you aren’t already familiar with Adnan Syed, you NEED to read/listen toI finished this audio book the day Adnan was released from prison. Surreal! If you aren’t already familiar with Adnan Syed, you NEED to read/listen to this book. Listen to Serial and Undisclosed and donate to Syed's fund! READ UP ON IT! I picked this audio book up because I listened to two fiction audio books and they were both meh so I decided let me go for non-fiction. Am I into true crime? Debatable. But when I saw this I don't know but something caught my eye and something pushed me to pick up this book.
Adnan Syed was sentenced to life plus 30-years for the murder of his ex girlfriend Hae Min Lee, both high school seniors from Baltimore. Syed is innocent- as he has been protesting since his arrest. Rabia Chaudry- A family friend- turned to Sarah Koenig to investigate and she made the international phenomenon 'Serial'.
I actually picked up this book without knowing anything (which I am totally surprise about that I didn't come across it sooner) about it and it was just fate that I picked it up. This book is written after Serial and Rabia's own podcast Undisclosed.
This book goes back to 1999 and re-examines all the events that happened. It shares and uncovers new evidence, where and how the case went wrong, Adnan's life in prison and before and after. I was totally and utterly gripped by what I was hearing. The pre-concieved biases and prejudices, the cover up's done by the police, the lying, the framing. The contradictions and the ambiguity of what really happend that day.
This story is not just about Adnan and the death of Hae but the story of how broken and corrupt the system is. Adnan's case was riddled with biases the very bases of the charges against him relied on a presumption, a bias about Muslim men. Of course not just Adnan's case the entire system is impacted by these biases which have fatal impacts.
Adnan's case was riddled with biases the very bases of the charges against him relied on a presumption, a bias about Muslim men. The jury itself discussed How Arab men treated their women during deliberations. Of course not just Adnan's case the entire system is impacted by these biases. There was information withheld or things not followed up or looked into so you could say Adnan's case was doomed to start with. It is heartbreaking to say the system failed Adnan and many in his situation. With the evidence, timelines, alibis re-visited I do believe Adnan is innocent and the system has taken all these years away from him. Which he will never get back.
I cannot even begin to thank Rabia and the team for the hours and hours they have put into this investigation and campaigned for Adnan to be free. Not everyone like Adnan has a Rabia and I pray that the system can change. But Rabia and co' thank you too because there is no words to say thank you and be greatful for all that you have done and continue to do, because is it your job...no? But because the criminal justice system is not just deeply flawed but broken sometimes taking it into your own hands helps! And it certainly did. It is amazing to witness the power of media and the public bringing justice to those who need it. So thank you! Alhmadullilah that Adnan is now free thanks to you!
So gripping, so heart-breaking, so utterly devastating with the system and not only has it failed Syed, but Hae as well, Hae's family, Jay-for making him lie, to Rabia. These 14 hours of listening to this book is not only educational because of all the law (not boring to listen to) not only compelling but will stay with me forever. I can't say anything more other than to READ/LISTEN emerse yourself with all things Adnan Syed. My only question is do we know who really killed Hae Min Lee?!
(Also when I got into this book I thought at the end it would be about Adnan's release-only to find out he was still in prison and was actually free the day I finished reading! 19/09/2022 it left me shocked and disgusting but I felt a little bit of what Rabia, Adnan and all those involved went through)....more
2.5 Listened to this as an audiobook and...ummm...like it was kind of predictable...kind of cringe... and I personally wasn't excited about it (is that2.5 Listened to this as an audiobook and...ummm...like it was kind of predictable...kind of cringe... and I personally wasn't excited about it (is that because it was audiobook and not a reading book...maybe?)...more
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