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Infinite Country by Patricia Engel | Thoughts

   Published : 2021   ||    Format : print   ||    Location : Colombia ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆   What was it about the country that kept everyone hostage to its fantasy? The previous month, on its own soil, an American man went to his job at a plant and gunned down fourteen coworkers, and last spring alone there were four different school shootings. A nation at war with itself, yet people still spoke of it as some kind of paradise.. Thoughts : Infinite Country follows two characters - young Talia, who at the beginning of this book, escapes a girl’s reform school in North Colombia so that she can make her previously booked flight to the US. Before she can do that, she needs to travel many miles to reach her father and get her ticket to the rest of her family. As we follow Talia’s treacherous journey south, we learn about how she ended up in the reform school in the first place and why half her family resides in the US. Infinite Country tells the story of her family through the other protagonist, El

Read-alongs Galore!

I have a very unpredictable schedule for July and August. With that unpredictability comes a tendency for me to sign up for new challenges or read-alongs. I haven't been reading much this month, I wonder how the next two months will fare, but I can always jump ship, can't I? Except that I won't.

Nicole and Heather are hosting a read-along of The Color Purple by Alice Walker. If you remember, I had taken this book from the library a month ago, but have not yet gotten around to reading it. It's a good thing, because now I can take part in this read-along and return the book back when it's due in July. (In case you're wondering, my University has a 3 month checkout period.)

Michelle is holding a read-along of Ulysses by James Joyce. Now, I know this is one hell of a challenging book. I got inspired to read this, ever since I read Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, where the 12-year old girl, Meggie, has already read this book. My! That embarrassed me big time! I wonder how long I can read it before giving up, but at this point, I am not reading anything about the book so that I will have that feeling of newness and excitement when I turn the first page. My friend had borrowed the library book some time, and the sheer size had me faint. Almost. So instead of getting the book, I downloaded it from Project Gutenberg on my nook. The good thing is I can enlarge the font and read, so I can make "good progress".

Are you in any of these read-alongs? Since I'm on this topic, what read-alongs are you participating in during July - October?

Comments

bermudaonion said…
I've never done a read-along. I hope you have fun with them - The Color Purple is a fabulous book!
I've never done a read-along. The Color Purple is intense and really good. I've never read Ulysses and, must confess, don't have the desire since I am not a huge James Joyce fan. You are probably better at "good" literature than I am though. Have fun and good luck! I can't wait to hear what you think of a read-along
I've never done a read-along as I tend to read ahead too much. As far as challenges are concerned, I have taken this year off as I found myself reading only challenge books and not reading books I really wanted to read.

Good luck with your two read-alongs. As they are both on my 1001 list I have requested them fron the library and will try to get them read also. I have read The Color Purple before and really enjoyed it, but Joyce is scary to me; oh well, what does not kill us makes us stronger...right?
Cat said…
You'll enjoy The Colour Purple. I've never read Ulysses and it doesn't really appeal to me.
I'll probably be doing the July readalong at A Literary Odyssey depending what the poll choice is.
Alyce said…
Good luck with the readalongs! I look forward to seeing how far you make it with Ulysses. I tried to read it earlier this year and didn't make it all that far. It's definitely challenging. I would suggest picking up the annotated Ulysses for when you want to know what the heck is going on.
Tales of Whimsy said…
Oooo I want to do a read-a-long some day :)
Athira said…
Kathy, you should try a read-along. They can be fun!!

Helen, I love readalongs! I've done quite a few of them, and they make for interesting discussion. I'm not sure how I will find Ulysses either, but ever since I had an English lesson on it (around the part where Cyclops assaults the ship party), I've wanted to find something out about this book.

Roseann, I feel I am not reading any of the challenge books, and I really really have to get cracking! I hope you will join us for the readalong too. No issues if you read fast, we can read at our own pace.

Cat, I need to look at what the readalong choice is, at A Literary Odyssey.

Alyce, thanks for reminding me about the Ulysses guide. I will definitely need one!

Juju, you should!! It's a great experience!
OK, you talked me into it--my books are in and I have now joined both THE COLOR PURPLE and ULYSSES(GULP!) read alongs!
Athira said…
Yay, Roseann!! I'm so excited that you are joining in! Even I am terrified of the Ulysses readalong!