I have been enjoying my time working at my local renaissance fair this summer. It is a beautiful blend of fantasy and reality and allowing mw to embrace my creativity while also getting paid!

Another reason why working at the faire, is that it gives me more time and excitement when it comes to bringing audiobooks back in my life. One book that I read this week and has encapsulated me, was The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A Chakraborty.

Media about pirates have been comfort ever since the days of Pirates of the Caribbean and Treasure Planet. A band of misfits who do not belong in society, find there way and their place on adventures with a found family. And that is one of the themes that caused many a voice notes during my drive while listening to this book.

One thing I do want to note is that by listening to the narrative rather than reading it, it felt more like a recorded notation of a true story due to the characters manner of speaking and their performance. It felt like a documentary and I loved it.

Okay, now to explore the themes and how they helped weave the narrative.

Family

From the beginning, it is clearly understood that Amina loves her family. While the definition of that changes throughout the years as well as whom she places on "importance" shifts, whether it be found family or blood ties, it all comes to a halt when her daughter is born.

Stepping into motherhood is the shift within Amina that halts her exploring ways. We as the reader also come to know that there was something else that aided, but for the most part, it was her daughter.

I think motherhood or parenthood in general becomes that shift within any person's life, forcing the impending parent to make a decision on where they want their life to lead, and it "tames" Amina into leaning more into her new role as well as leaning on the family that raised her. It also can be seen as a step back into "her role as a woman" but we will put a pin in that for later.

We also see how that "taming" ultimately leads to her over sheltering her daughter.

So, the only thing that could possibly usher Amina back into her pirate role would be the potential to help her family. Also, it brings her found family back into the frame because this conflict brings back guilt when it comes to her old life and one that she called friend.

So, the adventure of aiding her family puts herself back into the path of her chosen family, and Amina has to come to terms with the fact that even through the passage of time, her family was always and still will be there to support her.

Religion

Within tying family and redemption within this adventure, we also speak on religion and in the ways that it shapes the actions and motives of the characters. It also touches on the diversity and how one society's religion can persecute and demonize another.

The older one gets they often wrestle with their immortal soul and will often beg for forgiveness and vow to live a life that aligns with eternal happiness and not damnation. We see how countless depictions of this but, of course, this is highlighted within Amina's life post retirement and into her journey. We see a "reformed" Nakhuda or Captain who longs to atone for the mistakes and choices she made that haunt her, as well as wanting to not be demonized or let the demons back into her life to mess it up. Of course, the nature of this journey does call into conflict with Amina as well her mortal soul.

It also blends into redemption and the need to beg for forgiveness when you know you do not deserve it. For Amina, this manifests on the looming presence of the real reason she quit as well as is what brings her back into the fold. Needing to seek redemption is often a tenant when it comes to most religion, but she also feels that the weight of it all must be paid somehow.

Girl Power and Identity

We are told on countless occasions how powerful and commanding that Amina is, and yet all of that is constantly erased and washed away due to the fact that she is also a woman. Whether folklore as well as historical context within the area, her womanhood was often seen as her shortcoming, and something that got her pushed aside for. This forced her to build up strength both the physical embodiment as well as mentally for her to become this bigger than life pirate who made the marks of a legend. Stepping back into that role of "femininity" and becoming a mother, Amina has to reconquer some of those hurdles in order to move forward. For example, how the crew of her ship have little faith in her because she is a woman, and it takes proving herself in order to restore her title as well as challenge her.

On the other scope, Dunya faces trials as well. Thorough the "kidnapping", the journey, and the self expression that is faced in order for Dunya to come to terms with what femininity personally means, and what forcing tradition and an older way of thinking does to a person within their journey of expression.

Final thoughts

Adventurous and cunning. Heartfelt and moving, this book has something for everyone. From the historical and folklore weavings of the narrative that spurn delight within any historian buff, to the beautiful prose and heart that will hold your heart, I loved this book. I loved it so much that finding out that there is an impending second book made me scream with delight. The world that was crafted with such care, it caused the characters to come alive, all complimented by listening to it as an audiobook. I am upset that it took me this long to read it, but I also believe that books are meant to find you when you need it most. And ren faire season, is definitely a great time!