Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins' 12 favourite books — from all-time classics to childhood favourites
Suzanne Collins revealed the books she loves and has read multiple times
Suzanne Collins, the author behind the wildly popular Hunger Games series, has been a household name since the first book hit the shelves in 2008. The trilogy concluded with Mockingjay in 2010 and was soon adapted into a successful film series.
A decade later, Collins revisited the dystopian world of The Hunger Games with the prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, followed by another prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, published this year.
Despite being a rather private individual, Collins did reveal her favourite books back in 2010, including childhood favourites and those she continually returns to.
In a chat with Entertainment Weekly, she revealed her love for mythology, citing Myths and Enchantment Tales by Margaret Evans Price and D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths as top picks from her childhood.
She also mentioned fiction favourites such as A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer, and Boris by Dutch writer Jaap ter Haar, which she considers one of the best war stories for children, despite it being out of print in the US, reports the Mirror US.
Collins also shared some of her all-time favourite books that she frequently revisits, hinting at possible inspirations for her own writing.
Suzanne Collins's list of favourite books includes George Orwell's 1984 and William Golding's Lord of the Flies, both of which have had a visible impact on her own dystopian world of Panem in the Hunger Games series.
She also confessed to having re-read these books multiple times, admitting it was "embarrassing to admit" just how often. Her other favourite works of literature include A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Germinal, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and A Moveable Feast.
12 Books loved by Suzanne Collins
Myths and Enchantment Tales by Margaret Evans Price
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer
Boris by Jaap ter Haar
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
1984 by George Orwell
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Germinal by Émile Zola
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
PGA Tour star was tackled to ground by security guard at Canadian Open
Adam Hadwin was rugby tackled by a security guard at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, moments after Nick Taylor drained a 72-foot eagle putt to win the tournament Adam Hadwin was back in the mix at this year's Canadian Open, ready to leave behind a rather embarrassing moment from 2023's tournament that still lingers in the minds of golf fans. The Moose Jaw-born star notched a commendable T11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club that year alongside Harry Higgs, Jonathan Byrd, Harrison Endycott and Doug Ghim. But when close friend and fellow countryman Nick Taylor ended a 69-year drought in terms of a Canadian winning the tournament, Hadwin was eager to join in the celebrations. The drama reached its peak when Taylor holed an incredible 72-foot eagle putt during a play-off on the 18th, dashing Tommy Fleetwood's hopes of clinching his maiden PGA Tour title. But the action didn't stop there. As Hadwin made a beeline to congratulate Taylor, he found himself unexpectedly tackled by an overzealous security guard unaware of his identity. Footage of Hadwin being floored just after spraying the winner with bubbly took social media by storm. Taylor's caddie, Dave Markle, could be seen shouting "hey" in astonishment as he recognised Hadwin amidst the commotion. Reminiscing about the chaotic celebration, Hadwin told media: "The moment itself and what Nick accomplished was amazing. "I definitely did not want to be a part of what transpired after that, but it has been a lot of fun reading through and seeing what people had to say," reports the Mirror US. He added: "Honestly, I don't have any memory of what took place. I blacked out there for 15-20 seconds. "At the time there was so much adrenaline running through, I don't think I would feel anything. I'm glad everything worked out. We can have a good laugh about it now. Just a big misunderstanding." The golfer emerged relatively unscathed from the unusual event and, in the spirit of humour, he even turned a snapshot of himself being body-slammed into his profile picture and header on X (formerly known as Twitter). With a touch of wit, he also shared the image with his feed, writing: "Put in the Louvre." On the flip side, the security guard involved has also recounted the ordeal. Speaking to TSN last year with anonymity, he said: "I was on the other side of Nick and his caddie which meant I had to come around him. "There were a lot of people moving and I saw this person heading directly towards Nick. I saw it as if it was in slow motion, this guy coming towards Nick with a bottle and no credentials." The guard further described it as a "soft takedown" and pointed out that Hadwin's feet "never left the ground," before explaining that it was Markle who told him the error of his ways. He added: "Bryan Crawford [RBC Canadian Open tournament director] came over and it was over quickly. We got up and laughed, said sorry to each other, and it was all over."
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Amazon Prime fans ‘livid' as show with ‘so much potential' cancelled
The new dramedy has been axed by Amazon Prime Video after just one season, despite the fact the series was initially commissioned for two Prime Video subscribers are livid as a gripping new drama series has been axed after just one season. The dance dramedy Étoile, crafted by Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel writers Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, sadly won't be making a comeback for a second series. This is despite the fact that the streamer originally commissioned the series for two seasons, leaving fans of the show particularly miffed. Set in both New York and Paris, the series features Luke Kirby as Jack McMillan and Charlotte Gainsbourg as Geneviève Lavigne, two artistic directors of prestigious ballet schools who decide to exchange their most gifted stars to rescue their companies. French principal ballerina Cheyenne Toussaint (portrayed by Lou de Laâge) heads to New York to be trained by Jack, while American choreographer Tobias Bell (Gideon Glick) joins Geneviève in Paris, reports the Mirror US. All eight episodes were launched in late April and were eagerly awaited by fans following the success of the Palladinos' previous hit comedy-dramas. Despite not being quite the runaway success Prime Video was evidently hoping for, Étoile garnered a passionate cult following who have taken to social media to lament the disappointing decision. Outrage erupted on X (formerly Twitter), as one fan vented: "you have to allow audience word of mouth to spread give it another chance Etoile is amazing and so is Amy Sherman Palladino you have to give shows time like we did in the 2000s cause people keep going back to them cause there timeless and well spaced." Another viewer expressed their dismay: "what's the point of creating art to cancel it for some reasons? I mean, etoile was good as hell, it was brilliant I don't understand what happened." An additional fan expressed their anger: "the way étoile was gaining more and more traction EVERY DAY (mostly through word of mouth) and amazon decided to cancel it less than two months after it premiered. i'm livid." Frustrated demands were aimed at @PrimeVideo: "@PrimeVideo how dare you cancel étoile after it ALREADY HAVING A SEASON TWO???? what is wrong with you," voiced a fourth supporter. The dismay over the scrapping of potential extended onto Reddit forums, where numerous individuals aired their grievances. One said with regret: "Gosh the show really found its groove in the later half of the season, I think season 2 had a lot of potential. Sad that we'll never see it." A disappointed viewer added: "I took a chance because this was a ASP show but this is the last time I'm watching a show that hasn't already released several seasons. "The way they're just canceling shows now is some bulls***. The cast should be very proud of themselves." Speculation remains whether a platform such as Netflix might swoop in to rescue Étoile, leaving many loyal viewers holding out hope for an unexpected revival.
Edinburgh Live
20 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Period drama 'like Downton Abbey' with 'wealth of talent' now streaming on Amazon Prime
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info It seems Julian Fellowes' affinity for period dramas knows no bounds. The mastermind behind hits like Downton Abbey, Gosford Park, The English Game, and The Gilded Age has conjured up another captivating tale, Belgravia, set in 19th century England. This six-part drama kicks off with a pivotal historical event - the Duchess of Richmond's ball in June 1815, which took place just 48 hours prior to the Battle of Waterloo. At its core, Belgravia revolves around the intricate lives of the Trenchard and Bellasis families, expertly navigating a complex web of scandals, romance, societal pressures, and class politics, quintessential elements of the period drama genre. Under the creative guidance of Fellowes, and directed by John Alexander, Belgravia is an adaptation of Julian's 2016 novel of the same name. Notably, it brings together the same production team that brought Downton Abbey to life, reports the Mirror US. Widely regarded as the champion of period dramas, comparisons to Julian's monumental success with Downton Abbey are almost unavoidable. Weighing in on this very aspect in an interview with Town and Country, Julian said: "I think [Belgravia] it's darker than Downton. "The servants are working people; they're doing their jobs because those are the jobs that were available. It's not sentimental. "It's a sharper world." The limited series first aired in the UK on ITV on 15 March 2020, and made its US debut on Epix on 12 April 2020. A sequel series, Belgravia: The Next Chapter, was quickly greenlit and announced in September 2022, with the show making its premiere on ITV in January 2024, under the pen of Helen Edmundson. The cast boasts a wealth of talent, including Alice Eve, Ella Purnell, Tamsin Greig, Richard Goulding, and Emily Reid, alongside Tom Wilkinson, Harriet Walter, Philip Glenister, and Tara Fitzgerald. Critics have had varied responses to the show, with one saying: "Belgravia has all the touchstones of a bodice-ripper. Great romance and thrilling revenge. "And the usual coterie of leaching and sneering in-laws." Another critic commented: "Though billed as a showcase for state-of-the-art costume drama, the six-part bonnet-fest feels more like a one-stop shop for all the worst excesses and boredoms of a genre that has outlived its usefulness." A different review wrote: "Belgravia is gorgeously appointed, it's romantic enough, it's grounded in the manners of a far more delicate time when everyone stood six-feet apart lest they bump hands." While another critic observed: "Belgravia errs on the wrong side of that divide, but it is so well-appointed that it is never less than beautiful to watch, just like 'Downton'. "For some, the finery will win out over refinement." Audience feedback leaned towards the positive, with one viewer exclaiming: "Incredible show! "Nothing was obvious, it kept the audience in suspense until the very last minute. Loved the complexity of the characters, the authenticity of the costumes and overall atmosphere. "Highly recommend!". Meanwhile, another wrote: "Wonderful series! "The storyline is gripping from the very first episode. There is no woke political ideology that spoils so many films and series these days. "Brilliant, authentic acting and casting in the excellent period production. So many movies and series try and fail to promote female empowerment; however, Belgravia delivers this message superbly." Belgravia is available to buy on Amazon Prime Video.
