Book Haul!

Just got back from Barnes & Noble. I haven’t been in ages because the library usually has everything that I want but I had a huge gift card that I had to spend! I got a nice mix of genres…YA, sci-fi, fantasy, contemporary and historical fiction. Can’t wait to dig in after I finish my library books! 

September TBR Pile

So, I have a confession. I tend to put WAY more books on hold at the library than is feasible to read in a three week period (why did I just put four books on hold at the library when I have two I haven’t even started yet!?) Something about going through my Goodreads TBR pile and finding that book available at the library is addictive…meaning I tend to go way overboard! I also have recently gotten into audiobooks to listen to during my morning commute. Although brief, I am an urbanite (for the moment), so driving in the city is often road rage inducing. Listening to an audiobook is calming and I feel way more fulfilled than listening to the same songs some over and over on the radio! Anyway…

This is my first post like this, so going forward, I will list the books I’m currently reading, books I can realistically read for the month, and books I likely will not be able to finish by the end of the month, but would like to think I could! I will also briefly list (in 3 sentences or less) why I’m interested in said books.

Currently Reading

Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older

Why: Supernatural urban fantasy, diverse characters (main character in Afro Latina), YA…count me in! Also the author will be at the Baltimore Book Festival this year and I hope I’ll be able to meet him!

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly (Audiobook)

Why: I saw the movie last year and was intrigued, especially as an African American woman in the science field. A lot of black history has been erased and learning about things like this is very empowering.

September TBR (Realistic)

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Why: First of all, look at that gorgeous cover! I love romantic YA and this one was highly rated.

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Why: I read the first book over the summer and while I found it a bit long winded, I enjoyed the plot, fantasy (especially the witches), and romance. I also like that the main character was a college professor! The first book left me in suspense, so I’m eager to dig into this large novel.

September TBR (Wishful Thinking)

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Why: I have read several of Chimamanda’s other books and I’m very interested reading how Nigerian immigrants perceive America, especially when the construct of race here is something they did not have to grapple with at home. Also, the author will be at the Baltimore Book Festival this year!

Book Review: The Tropic of Serpents

The Tropic of Serpents: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

(4 Mugs)

This is the second book in the Memoirs by Lady Trent series. For those of you unfamiliar with the series, very briefly, it is about a Isabella, a young, upper class woman from Scirland (similar to Victorian England) who has an intense love for dragons and wants to be a scholar. However, she is restricted by her class and gender and Isabella chafes against these restraints. The series details how Isabella becomes a world-renowned dragon naturalist.

**Spoilers**

In the second volume, Isabella is again on a voyage to study dragons. Three years have passed since the first book and she is a widow and mother and she balks against societal expectations that she should abandon her passions in order to stay home and care for her son. In order to study various exotic draconian species, she travels to the war-torn continent of Eriga with her associate, Mr. Wilker, and her companion, Natalie Orscott. Eriga has peoples such as the Yembe, Moulish, and Ikwunde, which are similar to West Africans. Isaballa is Scirling, which is the book’s equivalent to English, so the main characters are venturing into a very different culture.

The Yembe operate under a monarchy with the “oba” as the king figure who lives in a gold-plated palace. The Moulish, on the other hand, occupy the swap of Mouleen or the “Green Hell,” a dense, insect-infested swamp that rich in wildlife diversity. It separates the Yembe from the Ikwunde, who they are at war with. Scirland has offered military support to Bayembe and even though Isabella travels to Eriga for purely scientific reasons, she gets swept up in political issues. In order to be granted admittance into the swamp of Mouleen, the oba asks (more so commands) for her to bring him swamp-wyrm eggs. She agrees and later discovers that dragons are sacred to the Moulish, which puts her between a rock and a hard place. During the next several months, Isabella lives a nomadic lifestyle in the grueling heat and humidity among the Moulish, jumps off of a waterfall, foils an invasion attempt by the Ikwunde, and is accused of political treason.

Similar to the first book, it was slow to start. This book is relatively short (about 336 pages), but it took me around a week to finish it. Brennan does an excellent job with world building and developing cultures (I believe she has an anthropology background), but I wish there was a glossary in the back of the book with all of the terms. She devotes a good portion of the book to describing cultural beliefs, practices, and taboo and political alliances. Also similar to the first book, the appearance of dragons is minimal. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend going into this book expecting battles and dragon riding. As a naturalist, Isabella spends a good portion of her time observing and sketching dragons rather that interacting face to face with them.

While the action didn’t pick up until around the last 60 pages or so of the book (similar to the first one), I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. Brennan’s world building is excellent and I love Isabella. She is intelligent, passionate, cunning, and bold. She is aware of her faults and shortcomings and doesn’t try to hide them. I appreciate that while she may not always believe in various cultural customs and norms, she is culturally sensitive, even if it is only to promote harmony that will allow her to continue her research. The book also has a feminist vibe, which is rare in fantasy books (in my experience). Isabella refuses to be confined by the trappings of her gender, social station, or motherhood. This may be another reason why the series appeals to me. I am very interested in the upcoming books as they have been hinting that Isabella will rewrite the book on dragon taxonomy. Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have the third book, but I am looking forward to reading it in the near future.

Welcome to the Jaz Cafe

Hello there! My name is Jazmin and I am a twenty-something who just started her first grownup job after completing a doctoral degree program and two years of residency training. I am now a college professor and health care professional working at a private university in the Mid-Atlantic. Starting life in academia has been interesting thus far, especially because I am the same age as (or younger than) my students, which has created an interesting dynamic. In terms of hobbies, I haven’t really had any for the past 10 years due to schooling and training, but I recently got back into reading and I would like to get back into baking and crafting as well. I’ve read 30+ books this year, thanks to the good public library system in the city.

This blog will mainly be a place for my book reviews and literary musings, but I also plan to talk about travel, food, crafts, academia, and the life of a 20 something figuring themselves out! Welcome to the Jaz Cafe!