GenreLand discussion

The lunar new year is near the end of January, and we'll be going into the Year of the Snake. So nonfiction about snakes, fiction with snakes, a snake (or multiple snakes) on the cover or in the title, anything snaky!

Here's hoping there are snakes in River of Doubt

(Hmm does it count if it's just a character *called* Snake? XD)

C wrote: "(Hmm does it count if it's just a character *called* Snake? XD)"

Sure, why not?

I've been working through my Robin: Tim Drake Compendium One, which features a recurring baddie who calls himself King Snake. (He's exactly as punchable as that sounds.)

As someone who lives in the DC area and has a law degree, let me assure you that many snakes have two legs and some wear business suits.

I wasn't finding any real discussion of snakes in the book set in the Amazon, so I ear read Akimbo and the Snakes by Alexander McCall Smith.

I think that I will count River of Doubt by Candice Millard, although if you put every reference to snakes back to back it would not fill two pages. But there was some specific discussion of the two deadliest snakes in South America -- the coral snake and (IIRC) the pit viper. The coral snake part was interesting to me because I remember being taught the rhyme about the colors -- yellow touches black, yellow touches red -- although I can never remember which one leaves you dead, so I just make it a point to avoid all snakes. But the author pointed out that there are some 200 species of coral snakes in the Americas and not all of them follow the rules of the rhyme about whether or not they're allowed to kill you.

Cheryl wrote: "I think that I will count River of Doubt by Candice Millard, although if you put every reference to snakes back to back it would not fill two pages. But there was some specific discussion of the tw..."

The rhyme I learned was "red then yellow, kills a fellow; red then black, friend of Jack." Which I suspect is consistent with the rhyme you learned, since "red" and "dead" rhyme. Fortunately, I have never had to identify a coral snake (or perish in the attempt). Where I've lived, you just had to watch out for copperheads, rattlesnakes, and water moccasins, all of which are pretty easy to identify. In theory, at least. I've encountered a rattler (who seemed content to mosey along his way) but neither of the others, that I am aware of.

I read Navigational Entanglements, which is a space opera featuring navigational clans, including the Rooster Clan and the Snake Clan. The cover art is pretty amazing.

Looks like fun!

I'm late posting but I read Serpent & Dove. I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading the next installment. Although there were not really any snakes, except the metaphorical kind.

Amy wrote: "I'm late posting but I read Serpent & Dove. I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading the next installment. Although there were not really any snakes, except the metaphoric..."

I've had that one on my TBR for years now. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

Stina wrote: "Amy wrote: "I'm late posting but I read Serpent & Dove. I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading the next installment. Although there were not really any snakes, except th..."

I did! Hope you will, too, maybe in June! LOL