Mockingjay's Soul Hungers

Would you hate me forever if I attached Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins to a spiritual song?

I just finished the book and, after I was done sobbing my eyes out, I was reminded of this beautiful, wonderful song called My Soul Hungered by Kurt Bestor (who interestingly is the same artist I attached to the Hunger Games).

Taking into consideration some artistic license on my part. I would like to suggest this as the song of Katniss' heart as she struggles with the absolute horror that has fallen upon her short life.

Furthermore... I can see the 'he' in this song being the man whom she finally decides to love (not telling who).

"Oh, my soul hungered-
Things that were old became new
When I learned to feel
What I already knew.

With all my heart,
With all my soul,
I wrestled before the Lord

To make my life whole.
He filled my hunger-
He fed my soul.
He fed my soul.

The truth that belonged
To everyone else
Is now a sacred part of myself.
Oh, I found out what I could not find,
When I heard with my heart
What I knew in my mind.
With all my heart,
With all my soul,

I don't want to go into much detail about the book.... lest I give something away...but there is this part where Katniss is wrestling with nightmares of President Snow and she wakes to the sound of shovelling. She pokes her head out a window and see's a certain someone she cares about planting flowers for her. It's probably my most favorite part of the entire book (insert tears here) because he doesn't tell her she needs to snap out of it or to stop moping or that everyone's had to deal with pain so she ought to stop feeling sorry for herself. He just gives. Quietly, silently he gives her his love.

And because of what Katniss has endured by this point in the series it's really what she needs. She's torn up and scarred over inside.

This song fits her so perfectly (IMO).

Has anyone read it? Do you know what part I'm talking about?

It's been a long time since a book made me cry and this one made my pillow into a sponge.

Here's the song... umm... sung, but it won't embed so you'll actually have to link over to it (sorry).

Oh My Soul Hungered

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Books: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Music: My Soul Hungered by Kurt Bestor

The Hunger Games

I just finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and I can't help but wondering if I am just as culpable as the citizens of the Capitol who watched the 'Games' for entertainment.

"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see."

To say this book was 'good' on an emotional level feels wrong. Yet, on an intellectual level it was a great book. The way the children are toyed with--how they are given everything they could ever want and more--then made to act as accomplices in the whole thing, so that when they go home they can't say that they were completely faultless in what happened. These things deeply moved me and left me ruminating about the Roman empire and Coliseums.

It also left me humming a song everywhere I went. A sad, beautiful song. The Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bestor:

"Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light

Crying Jesus, help me
To see the morning light-of one more day
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take

Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day a better day"

Did I like this book? I don't know. Was I changed by this book? Yes.

Here's a YouTube video that I also thought of as I read. (note: some images may be hard to see.)

Book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Music: The Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bestor