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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

Books in the Bag (Feb 5, 2011)


Books in the Bag is a feature where Mailbox Monday meets Library Loot.

This week, my book bag just exploded. Literally. I had a few books come in the mail and a huge bunch from the library. I'm surprised by how many I brought in from the library, because I usually have trouble randomly choosing books. This time though, I plonked myself down in front of the graphic nonfiction shelves and took as many as I could.

These three books came in the mail.


- The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers came to me from Goldberg McDuffie Communications. I remember seeing this book on many blogs last year, and looking forward to reading it. So I was pleasantly surprised to see this in the mail. I'm really hoping to read this one sometime this month.
- Radio Shangri-La by Lisa Napoli came to me via TLC Book Tours. What a lovely title! Plus the fact that it is set in Bhutan got me really excited to jump on this tour. That's one South Asian country I know very little about in spite of being literally next neighbors to my home country. I hope this book will change that.
- Faking it by Elisa Lorello came to me from Little Bird Publicity. I hadn't heard much about this book until it arrived at my doorstep. It does sound interesting.

When I looted my library this week, these are the fiction titles I brought home:


- The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown sure needs no introduction. I'm eager to go swoon all over it! My eyes were literally gleaming when the librarian handed me this book and when she said that I'm holding an awesome book, I could only grin back stupidly.
- Shadow Tag by Louise Erdich: I totally forgot where I first heard of this one, but I do remember thinking that this book sounded great. Later, I did read a few mixed thoughts with the prevalent sentiment being that it was a depressive read. Well, I may find out, won't I?
- Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld is a sequel to Leviathan, which I read last year and loved. I can't wait to see what happens in this book.
- 13, rue Thérèse by Elena Mauli Shapiro seems really innovative - both in plot and presentation. There are plenty of pictures in this book and I can't wait to read this one.

Finally, these are the graphic novels I plundered:


- Stitches by David Small: I had meant to read this one last year, but then I forgot all about it. I still don't have much idea of what this book is about, but I'll just wade in and find out that way.
- Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by Greg Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke: I heard about this one on Helen's blog first, so when I saw this one at my library, I decided I wanted to read it.
- Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón: This was a total random pick, as I didn't even know such a book existed. The pictures looked great though and that's what appealed to me the most.
- Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence, A True Story in Black and White by Geoffrey Canada, illustrated by Jamar Nicholas: I hadn't heard of Geoffrey Canada until I read the blurb on this book. Sometimes I wonder which planet I live in.
- Maus I by Art Spiegelman: I am really excited about reading this one, after hearing so much about it. Holocaust in graphic medium is going to be compelling.

So that's the wonderful pile staring at me now - leading to my other big problem in life - which one do I start with?


Comments

Juju at Tales of Whimsy... said…
O I'm interested to learn more about Radio Shangi-la :) Great title!
bermudaonion (Kathy) said…
That is a wonderful pile! I say start with 13, rue Therese or The Weird Sisters - I've heard they're both great.
Samantha said…
You've picked up some really good books from the sound of things. I've been reading good reviews of The Weird Sisters all over the place. And I can't wait to hear your thoughts on some of the graphic novels that you picked up. Always adding to my TBR list :)
Athira / Aths said…
You're so right! From some day last month, this book has been appearing on every other book blog! I usually get turned off by such hype, but I think this book sounds really awesome and is worth all that hype! I'll be eager to hear your thoughts on it!
Athira / Aths said…
I love that title too! Sounds very exotic!
Athira / Aths said…
I'm so glad you made my choice easier. I think I'll start with 13, rue Therese, because I'm too intrigued by it!
Athira / Aths said…
I'm really excited about the books I got too. I can't wait to jump into the graphic novels!
hcmurdoch said…
I've heard good things about Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun so can't wait to see what you think. And, Maus is wonderfully done. Let me know if the Murderer's Daughter is a good mystery as I am doing the Mystery Challenge this year
Anna (Diary of an Eccentric) said…
The Anne Frank and Maus books look really good. Hope you enjoy all these.
Mary (Bookfan) said…
I'm really looking forward to The Weird Sisters. Enjoy all the books, there are some good ones!
Athira / Aths said…
I'm so looking forward to reading Maus and Stitches! I finished a couple of others, but still have to read many more... sigh!