Thank you for using your platform to discuss what's going on in Gaza <3!

Loved this video! Thank you for speaking about  🍉❤

I think one of the things that I appreciated about the book was that it did have a more in-depth look at the Enlightenment philosophers and their view on human nature. The epigraphs at the beginning of the book are a simple summary, but it was very interesting to see how Snow has people representing each of these views trying to influence him throughout the story and his ultimate siding with Doctor Gaul. He allows his selfishness and lack of desire to change, his pride/ego, and narcissism to get in the way of becoming a better person. I feel like things came "easy" in the story because he always chose the path of least resistance. He only worked hard to benefit himself, never to help others and naturally fell into the Hobbesian philosophy of our natural state being selfish and at war. Despite all of his opportunities, he simply chose the path of justification and least resistance, because it allowed him to be selfish, to seek for power and control, and to excuse anything he did to keep it. He's the "best and brightest" so obviously he knows best. It brings up the nature vs nurture debate as well, since Tigris experienced the same things he did, and she was much more compassionate.

you mentioned wanting to see people being against the hunger games (what katniss was imagining in mockingjay) and that did happen! that was sejanus’s whole character, he was the person katniss was hoping existed.

This book is actually one of my favourite books ever! I thought it was simply remarkable and so so beautiful but tragic

I think that seeing the lack of character development for snow is the point. I think she’s trying to say that instead of evil being made it’s born. I don’t think we’re supposed to see the development. Rather the book is supposed to validate the person son becomes and gets rid of the empathy or the “why” of who he is.

Thank you so much for using your voice! You’ve gained so much love and respect ❤️  but yeah it’s insane how similar this situation is to SO MANY other books shows games and media in general

I like your perspective on this! I've posted my thoughts in my own video on my channel.
It definitely was impossible to read this book and not think about what was happening in Gaza, and our society's complacency to it, much like the complacency towards the hunger games by the capitol citizens. I think this book is good to have-read, but perhaps not to be within and read. It's given me a lot to think about.

I think the timing of the movie coming out makes the reality of it all so jarring as well, especially when thinking about the cognitive dissonance of the people who simply consume the story without drawing parallels to current events

I appreciate you so much for using your voice!

Nine minutes in and already a fantastic video Jananie! 👏🏻👏🏻

Not only a very entertaining vid, but also a very important, Informative, and moving video as well. Thank you Jananie❤

Totally agree about reading the songs vs hearing the songs.   Reaper collecting, arranging, covering and dignifying the bodies was way more powerful in the movie than the book.  Are you likely to see the movie again ?     Suzanne Collins was involved in the movie as a executive producer.

4 minutes in… this is gonna be a good video

I respect you so much for speaking up for Gaza and Palest*ne when everyone are being selfish and hateful. You are amazing.❤

I found the movie wasn't as impactful as the book. Maybe because I listened to it as an audiobook instead of reading it. The narrator's version of the mockingjay repeating the last words of those hanged was SO much more haunting than the movie's. Especially Serjanus, since in the book you get to meet Ma, and find out how lovely she is. Snow also had a much more reactive response to Serjanus being hanged in the book. I don't think there was no character... we'll say movement for Snow. In the beginning I think he was on the fence, once he saw how the tributes were being treated, he did seem to have some empathy. He definitely had crossed the line by the end of the story. He let go of Lucy Gray and started his climb up the ladder to be come President. The songs definitely were better in the movie though, but that's a given, as you're actually watching a performance.

I appreciate everything you said about President Snow’s villain origin story. However, I disagree about not having empathy for the villain. THAT very way of thinking is a villain origin story. To monsters, we are the monsters.”  You cannot fight hate with more hate.  Anyway, that’s all. ❤

omg, I never been this first before. 💜💜💜

I’m only five minutes in but holy shit THANK YOU. I don’t know which scares/frustrates me more; people who don’t realize that this series just mirrors reality or people who do and are just content being the Capitol folk knowing people are suffering for their luxury/commodity/entertainment/indifference. Im a fan of the series but knew little abt the prequel going in and actually had a pit in my stomach the whole time, especially the parts focused on the capitol. I was horrified, the sheer inhumanity of the physical violence, the RHETORIC they use about the subhuman/animal districts.. the parallels are so clear?? And even though everyone agreed it was so horrible when it was the capitol vs the district, somehow one of the first things I hear leaving the theater is “crazy to think that we could get there one day”. Dear god we are done as a society.

Anyhow. Thank you for discussing this in the way that you are. This lens is so needed and so relevant and so IMPORTANT.

I actually liked the book. I listened to it and read it recently. I do agree with you about there being too many songs though. Listening to them in the audiobook was painful.