Mid-month Wrap-up | February 2019

TL;DR

A book reviewer discusses five books she read in the month of February, including works by Zora Neale Hurston and Aliette de Bodard.

Transcript

hi guys I'm here today to do my mid month reading wrap-up for the month of February I am trying to get back into how about this since I missed one in January I am but I like doing them in the middle of the month and at the end of the month because it gives me more opportunity to talk more in depth about each of the books I've read and I'm doing thi... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Zora Neale Hurston's "Mules and Men" offers a blend of fiction and nonfiction, focusing on folklore and the collection of folktales in the author's hometown.
• 😍 Sarah Beth Durst's "Queen of Blood" presents a high fantasy world filled with dangerous spirits, but the rushed story and lack of character development hindered the overall enjoyment.
• 😫 P. Djèlí Clark's "The Black God's Drums" combines steampunk, history, and science fiction in an intriguing novella set in an alternate universe where the American Civil War has a different outcome.
• 🧔‍♀️ Zen Cho's "The Terracotta Bride" explores Chinese beliefs about the afterlife through the story of a young woman living in the underworld as the wife of a man through a terracotta braid.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is "Mules and Men" by Zora Neale Hurston about?

"Mules and Men" is a blend of fiction and nonfiction focusing on folklore. It follows an anthropologist collecting and studying folk tales in her hometown.

Q: Why did the reviewer find "Queen of Blood" by Sarah Beth Durst disappointing?

While the reviewer liked the premise of the book, she found the story rushed and lacking in character development. The frequent time jumps made it difficult to connect with the characters.

Q: What is "The Terracotta Bride" by Zen Cho about?

"The Terracotta Bride" is a short story/novella that explores Chinese beliefs about the afterlife. It follows a young woman living in the underworld who becomes the wife of a man through a terracotta braid.

Q: What is unique about "The Tea Master and the Detective" by Aliette de Bodard?

"The Tea Master and the Detective" is a science fiction mystery novella set in space where Sherlock Holmes is a woman and one of the characters is a living ship. The story unfolds as they investigate a mysterious death.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The first book reviewed is "Mules and Men" by Zora Neale Hurston, a blend of nonfiction and fiction that focuses on folklore. The reviewer found the nonfiction narrative interesting but the folktales less captivating.

• "Queen of Blood" by Sarah Beth Durst is a high fantasy novel about a girl with an affinity for dangerous spirits. The reviewer liked the premise but felt the story was rushed and lacked character development.

• "The Black God's Drums" by P. Djèlí Clark is a steampunk historical science fiction novella set in an alternate universe where the American Civil War ended differently. The reviewer found it intriguing and wished for more books in this world.

• "The Terracotta Bride" by Zen Cho is a short story/novella that explores Chinese beliefs about the afterlife and features queer themes. The reviewer was captivated by the dark and emotional narrative.

• "The Tea Master and the Detective" by Aliette de Bodard is a science fiction mystery novella set in a futuristic space where Sherlock Holmes is a woman and one of the characters is a living ship. The reviewer loved the concept and hopes for more books in this series.