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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

Look at what just arrived! - August 9, 2010

mailboxmonday This meme was originally hosted by Marcia @ The Printed Page. It goes on tour beginning August '10 and is hosted this month by Chick Loves Lit. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do).

So here's another set of four books I received last month. This time, the theme is World War 2, which is one of my favorite themes. I won these books at Jen's blog, The Introverted Reader. They were part of her birthday giveaway to one lucky reader. I have to say that I considered them as a birthday gift to Moi truly, since my birthday was just 15 days before hers, plus all four books were in my top wishlist for so long! (Thanks again, Jen!)

So first off is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, written in epistolary format. I have mostly heard positive reviews of this book. Readers either agreed or disagreed with the book presentation - told wholly in letters. The first such book I read is Dracula, and I loved the letter style mainly because there is so much to be told from the timing and the address of each letter. Anne Frank's Diary was another book of that category. So this is one I am definitely looking forward to.

The second book is Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Now I know this is a must-read. I've been recommended this book so many times that I am ashamed to say that I still have not picked it up. I blame it on the hype. The Book Thief is the story of a girl who steals books. She shares the books she steals with her neighbors during bombing raids and the Jewish man in the basement of her house. Well, I don't have an excuse anymore! This time, I can't wait to really read it. I've heard the premise of this book and it sounds definitely promising to me!

Lately, Chris Bohjalian's Secrets of Eden has been doing the rounds. It was later that I came across this book by him - Skeletons at the Feast. I haven't read either of his books, but I have been more curious about Skeletons at the Feast, which focuses on a group of people trying to cross the remnants of the Third Reich.

And finally, Gone to Soldiers by Marge Piercy. This is a story of six women and four men, who fought and died, worked and worried through the WW2. So now you can see why a WW2 buff would be excited with this set! As a side-note, I still have HBO's The Pacific to watch. I prefer watching them on a stretch, rather than one episode a week. So that's what I have for the week!

Have you read any of these books?

Comments

Lisa said…
What a great bunch of books!
Marg said…
I have read the first two books and those were both excellent! Good mailbox.
DCMetroreader said…
All of your books sound terrific! Someday I will get around to reading the Gurseny book -- everyone loves it so I am told.

Congrats on the wins & Happy reading!
The Book Thief is a great read!


Have a great reading week ahead!
Here are my Monday: Mailbox/Whereabouts and Musing Mondays posts!
Dazzling Mage said…
Oh, The Book Thief! Loved this book.
Great books so far!

Enjoy!
bermudaonion said…
Wow, what a great win! I've read Guernsey and Skeletons at the Feast and I loved both of them.
Tales of Whimsy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tales of Whimsy said…
Ooooo Potato! I have been curious about that one. I'm looking forward to your review :0)
Mystica said…
I like the sound of the WW2 book and The Book Thief which has got very good reviews all over.
Molly said…
GREAT books! You have several hours of good reading ahead of you :)
Anonymous said…
Great books! I loved Guernsey a lot, but I do remember reading reviews from people who didn't enjoy the format. I can't wait to hear what you think!

Also, I haven't read The Book Thief either, and I think I blame it on the hype. I have this weird relationship with hype books--I always end up reading them a year or two after everyone else.
Wow, I haven't read any Marge Piercy in SO long! I'd forgotten about her, but that book looks really good (since I am another WWII reader)
Alayne said…
Umm I pretty much want all of these. Especially Guernsey. :) My mailbox is at The Crowded Leaf.
I loved the Guernsey book. All the others are books I hope to read someday. You got some pretty good titles there! Enjoy!
SarahEm said…
I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society a while ago and loved it. I don't normally like books written in epistolary form but it worked for me in that book. I've also read The Book Thief and it's REALLY good. I hope you enjoy them!

Best,
Sarah
Gwendolyn B. said…
Terrific titles to win! Enjoy!
The Potato Peel book is on my TBR shelf -- I must remember to read it!

I am hosting a giveaway on Rose City Reader for one of the books in my mailbox.
You got some great titles. I love Bohjalian's writing.