Sherd Nerds Unite! discussion

Book Recommendations!

As an archaeologist, I’m always skeptical about books featuring amateur archaeologists/ glorified pot hunters, regardless of the time period. Such books may inspire modern amateurs to go on their own quest for artifacts. In Fay’s novel, Irene is a disgruntled curator in a man’s world (i.e. 1925), who follows the archaeological trends of the time for preservation, which involves stealing artifacts for one’s museum or own collection. Fortunately, attitudes change throughout the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the book’s overall message about protecting antiquities and archaeological sites, as well as the necessity of the indigenous population’s opinion in what happens to the relics of their past. It wasn’t a glorified treasure quest, but a well-written tale of a woman’s quest for a sort of academic revenge to realizing what is actually important. Fay’s various descriptions of Cambodia and China were beautifully detailed, providing a glimpse into a place I’ve never been. I could almost feel the intense humidity of the region. Moreover, I could feel Irene’s building tension towards her fellow travelers and desperation to find her piece of the Khmer.