[Link to the plot summary video here]
“People have this idea of mothers, that we are soft and gentle and sweet. As though the moment my daughter was laid on my breast, the phrase I would do anything did not take on a depth I could have never understood before. This woman thought to come into my home and threaten my family in front of my child?”
Shannon Chakraborty; The Adventures of Amina al-Sarafi ; pg. 27
Review
This is one of the most exciting books I have read this year, or indeed in any year.
Shannon Chakraborty writes a tale that shimmers with the magic of care and detail, that makes every chapter of this book a thrill to read. Interspersed between each chapter are brief sub-chapters that explain different aspects of the world-building or mythology, or personal character flashbacks that are woven in perfectly to maintain the momentum of the plot and slowly unravel the mysteries at the center of the plot.
There is a clear adoration and admiration for the tradition of storytelling that shines throughout this novel, from the prayer said at the beginning to bless the tale, to the colloquial style with which the story is told. There is also special attention paid to the relationship between legacy and legend, and the fickle and often changing nature of both, something that is displayed through the parallel of Amina and the queen from the Moon of Saba legend, Bilqis. In the multiple tellings of Bilqis's legend, we see how the original act of her outsmarting a powerful magical figure like al-Dabran is eventually whittled down and told as her merely catching his fancy with her beauty, the two of them lovestruck fools. As Amina uncovers the true legend of Queen Bilqis, we see her own story unfold before our eyes, told from the tongue of a narrator who is committing her brilliance and complexities.
The tale has such an intimate and personable quality because the novel is written as if Amina is recounting her story to a man named Jamal al-Hilli, and subsequently simulating a conversation for the reader that feels as if we are being told this tale by a curiously sober stranger at far-flung hole-in-the-wall. This reflective aspect of the story, of having a protagonist who is at the end of her journey rather than the beginning, adds a gravity of wisdom and severity to the novel that I was not expecting.
And Oh! The emotions! Amina’s relationship with her daughter, Marjana, is so touching to witness, and the emotional turmoil is equally troubling as she struggles to balance her identity as a mother, against her many other identities as a pirate captain, a boogieman, a legend, and wife to a powerful supernatural entity, that she tries to keep hidden from Marjana. The book starts with Amina battling some type of seafoam demon, and by chapter three she is having such a heart-wrenching goodbye with her daughter that I wrote in my notes “This book is going to break my heart.”
I am a very character-driven reader, and the entire crew on the Marawati is so unique, charming, and dynamic! Dalila is such a great example of a gruff and curmudgeon character who is deeply loyal and affectionate, and my heart melts every time she and Amina share a heartfelt moment. Tinbu is a charming, if a bit goofy, rogue that gives me echoes of Jesper from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Majed’s brotherly relationship with Amina is beautiful, and not only do I get all this, but Charkrabory snuck in a supernatural romance in there all the while!
Amina is an incredibly charming, and real character. A mother, a pirate, an adventurer, a Muslim, brash, out-spoken, openly sexual, of indeterminately large stature, a blend of identities that the narrator of the tale, Jamal, acknowledges played a role in the maligning of her legacy as it was told. In response, he makes clear his desire to give an account of Amina al-Sarafi in a manner that retains truth to her life, and something that's often taken from women in the accounts of history, of which Queen Bilqis is an example.
The book also discusses how much of the delicate balance of interpersonal politics Amina has to engage in in order to earn and maintain the respect of her mostly male pirate crew. Of her accruing lifelong grudges as the result of bruised egos from being bested by a woman, or the levies of dark magic that followed her as an explanation as to why she could achieve such things.
The intersections of Amina’s identities create space for a number of discussions to be held regarding the way that sex is viewed between men and women, how that view interacts with our view of divinity and sin, how our perspectives on divinity and sin are complicated by our human instincts and the lives we lead, what the purpose of religion is, and more.
One of the things that I have appreciated from this book club is it makes me slow down and interact more with the books I read for it, and that has frequently led me to make connections between whatever new book I am reading for the book club and the one that preceded it. With that said, I can’t help but notice the religious themes that these two books share, primarily in the division it draws between the politics of religion from the practice of it. As we follow along with Amina who is a practicing Muslim, we see how her faith serves as an anchor to help guide her actions in her morally compromising profession.
Even among her crew of many faiths, the balancing of their different beliefs serves as a bonding element for the crew. There are passages of the Quran, that are used to provide wisdom and comfort to them as they weather their adventures, and you can see how the practice of their individual religions serves as a grounding element for the crew, practicing mindfulness, appreciating and respecting the natural world.
In the background of this, we can see how the politics of religion are levied for personal benefit, such as the Reconquista that Falco is proud of having double-agented. This is very reflective of the discussion around religion in The Familiar, as well as the conversation regarding how the concept of sin is controlled and exploited…oh yeah, and the supernatural lover, of course. That’s the third thing they have in common.
Beyond that, it is just a really fun tale. From the moment I picked up this book, each chapter captivated me fully and kept me eager to see what came next in the story, which continued to raise the stakes and evolve in interesting ways. The point of this book club is to critically look at books, but not necessarily to rate them on a numerical scale. With that being, this was a 10/10 read for me!
Definitions, Mythology, and New Words
Abattoir
a slaughterhouse.
Adhan
In Islamic tradition, Muslims are called to the five scheduled daily prayers, or salat, by a formal announcement, called the adhan. The Arabic word adhan means "to listen."
Al-Ghayb
Al-Ghayb is an Arabic expression that means something is hidden or unseen. It refers to things that humans cannot perceive or know, such as God's attributes, The Last Day, and more.
Ayat al-kursi
Ayatul Kursi is one of the most important verses in the Qur'an. It serves as a means of protection from harm.
Barija
Barija is a type of dhow ship designed for hand-to-hand combat and not suited for naval maneuvers.
Bawarij
The Bawarij were Sindhi pirates who converted to Islam during the Samma dynasty (1335–1520).
Bismillah
"In the name of Allah" (an invocation used by Muslims at the beginning of any undertaking).
Bidukh
Bidukh is the daughter of Iblis, the Muslim devil, and is the mistress of magic and witchcraft.
Coir
Fiber from the outer husk of the coconut, used for making ropes and matting.
Compunction
A feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
Daevas
An Iranian term that refers to a supernatural being or evil spirit in Zoroastrianism.
Dirham
The basic monetary unit of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
Disport
enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic.
Dua
An Islamic term for a prayer or supplication to Allah for help or assistance.
Entrepot
A port, city, or other center for the import, export, and distribution of goods.
Fajr
The Arabic word for "dawn" and refers to the Muslim dawn prayer, the first of five daily prayers in Islam.
Fete
a celebration or festival.
Grand Mufti of Mecca
The head of the Islamic jurisconsults in Mecca, responsible for issuing opinions, or fatwas, on legal and social matters.
Houri
In Islam, an houri is a beautiful young woman who lives in paradise as a companion for devout Muslim men who have died.
Hoopoe
A colorful bird found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, notable for its distinctive crown of feathers.
Ibex
A wild goat with long, thick, ridged horns and a beard, found in mountainous areas.
Iblis
In Islam, Iblis is the name of the Devil, or Satan, and the leader of the devils.
Irascible
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
Jahazi
An ocean-going ship with sails, or a dhow.
Jahiliyyah
The term in Islam for the pre-Islamic period in Arabia, also known as the Age of Ignorance.
Jilbab
A full-length outer garment, traditionally covering the head and hands, worn in public by some Muslim women.
Jubba
A long outer garment resembling an open coat, formerly worn in Muslim countries by public officials and professionals.
Kameez
A long tunic-style shirt commonly worn in South Asia, often with shalwar or churidars.
Khanjar
A traditional dagger from Oman, with a short, curved blade shaped like the letter "J."
Khareef
An Arabic word meaning "autumn" and referring to the fall harvest in the Indian subcontinent.
Licentiousness
sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd
Mahr
A gift of money or property that a husband gives to his wife as part of an Islamic marriage.
Manzil
Any of the seven partitions of the Qur'an, which can be read in an entire day.
Marid
In Islamic mythology, a marid is a powerful, rebellious demon and one of the strongest jinn.
Mendicant
a beggar.
Minaret
A tall, slender tower, typically part of a mosque, from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer.
Misbaha
Islamic prayer beads used for a variety of purposes, also meaning "praise to God."
Muhtasib
An official in classical Islamic administrations responsible for enforcing public morality and regulating markets.
Naft
The Persian word for "crude oil."
Nasnas
In Arab folklore, a monstrous creature with half a head, half a body, one arm, and one leg.
Peri
In Persian mythology, a superhuman being, originally represented as evil but later as a good or graceful genie or fairy.
Prophet Isa
In Islam, the name for Jesus, the penultimate prophet and messenger of God.
Qadis
A judge in Islamic contexts.
Qaraqir
An Arabic word meaning "large merchant ship."
Queen Asma
Asma Bint Shihab al-Sulayhiyya, a co-ruler of Yemen.
Queen Arwa
The first queen regnant in the Muslim world. She is the only Muslim woman to ever wield both political and religious authority in her own right.
Raka’at
A unit of prayer in Islam, consisting of a series of movements and supplications.
Raiment
An old-fashioned word for clothing, particularly fancy clothing.
Ribald
Referring to sexual matters in an amusingly coarse or irreverent way.
Rondel
A circular object or shape.
Sadaqah
An Arabic word for "righteousness" or "voluntary charity" performed without expecting anything in return.
Saif ibn Dhi Yazan
A semi-legendary Himyarite king known for expelling the Aksumites from Yemen with Sasanian help.
Sandarac
A resin obtained from the Tetraclinis articulata tree, used in fine lacquers, varnishes, perfumery, and incense.
Seech
To seek (archaic).
Shahada
The Muslim profession of faith, central to the Islamic creed.
Shaddad bin 'ad
A king believed to rule the lost Arabian city of Iram of the Pillars.
Shawwal
The tenth month of the Islamic calendar, following Ramadan.
Shayla
A type of Islamic headgear for Muslim women, wrapped around the head and pinned at the shoulders.
Staid
sedate, respectable, and unadventurous.
Taraweeh
A voluntary night prayer performed by Muslims during Ramadan.
Thawb
A long-sleeved, ankle-length traditional robe worn by people in the Middle East and North Africa.
Thurayya
An Arabic name meaning Pleiades, referring to a star cluster in the constellation of Taurus.
Ummah
An Arabic word meaning Muslim identity, nation, or the collective community of Muslim people.
Verisimilitude
the appearance of being true or real.
Wali
An Arabic word meaning guardian or protector, often used to describe a Muslim saint.
Wazirs
Another term for vizier.
Zakat
An Arabic word meaning "giving to charity," a mandatory Islamic financial practice.
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