The Blender Book Club discussion

Our September selection is Silvia Moreno-Garcia's 2019 novel Gods of Jade and Shadow. Set in Mexico during the Jazz Age, the novel follows a young woman named Casiopeia Tun whose adventures begin when she unexpectedly comes into contact with the Mayan god of death. Like many of our selections, the book combines interesting genre and cultural elements; unlike some of our recent titles, though, the tone is more thrilling than heartbreaking. Something tells me it will come as a relief after some of our other reads this summer. ;)

We will meet virtually to discuss Gods of Jade and Shadow on Wednesday, September 15 at 7 pm. Here's the link:

meet.google.com/ssk-ywba-syc

I look forward to seeing you then!

I'm only a few chapters in and already like this book. A nice change (for me, anyway) from the troubled memoirs we've been reading. A bold & refreshing heroine and a great intro to Mexican myth & fantasy.

Hi all, just a reminder that we will be meeting to discuss Gods of Jade and Shadow tomorrow (9/15) at 7 pm. It's also my birthday, so I expect some singing...

Hope to see you all there!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!! even though I will see you......I need the world to know!

Rachel wrote: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!! even though I will see you......I need the world to know!"

Aw, thank you, love!! 😘😘😘

More info on various Maya gods:
https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikis...

Another:
https://www.historyonthenet.com/the-m...

Happy Birthday Zach! And thank you for the Mayan god references Geoffrey. See everyone tonight.

Happy Birthday and see you later today!

Happy Birthday, Zach --"How old are you how old are you?" Don't ask, don't tell!
Looking forward to a great discussion, see you tonight.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) What sort of main character is Casiopeia? Did you connect with her? Is she a passive or active protagonist?

2) What did you make of the budding romance between Casiopeia and Hun-Kamé? Do you think they should have been together? Did you find their love story well-developed?

3) Were you familiar at all with Mayan mythology prior to reading this novel? Did this pique your interest? Do you feel like you have a better grasp of the subject now?

4) Why do you think Moreno-Garcia chose to set this novel in the 1920s rather than the present day? Did you find the setting evocative?

5) Which secondary characters, whether supernatural or mortal, most interested you? Did you wish we could spend more time with any of them?

6) Did you find the ending satisfying? Were all the plot threads tied up convincingly? Is this the sort of book that you could see having a sequel, or is the story finished?

7) What do you think will come of Casiopeia and Martín now? Where will they go? Will they ever reconcile?

8) Some critics and readers have classified this book as a YA (young adult) novel, though the author insists it is not. How would you classify the book, and why? Does it even matter?

9) What similarities did you draw between this and other books/stories you've read?

10) Would you recommend this book? Would you read another book by Moreno-Garcia?

Happy birthday, Zach!! I will probably join late after driving home from swim practice. I really enjoyed the book and am now pondering the questions. See y’all soon!

The story I recommended during tonight's discussion which had similar themes to this novel was "The Night Drinker" by Luis Alberto Urrea. It's not available online as far as I can tell, but you can read it in The Pushcart Prize XLV: Best of the Small Presses 2021 Edition.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes and the characteristically great conversation!

Zach mentioned the story "The Night Drinker" by by Luis Alberto Urrea.

Luis Alberto Urrea also wrote the novel The Hummingbird's Daughter. Magical Realism.
Review:
https://magic-realism-books.blogspot....