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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

The Sunday Salon: A November review


The Sunday 
Salon.com

I had a great November in reading. Not so much in blogging. It appears as if whatever time I didn't or couldn't spend on blogging ended up being used as reading time. I hadn't read more than 8 books in a month since April - I'm not sure how I managed 9 books in November, since it was crazy busy, but the two long train trips probably helped there. Better still, I found it really hard to decide which the best books of the month were. I kept going back and forth between 5 of them! The bad news (for me) is that I am many reviews down in the pit!

Books of the months

Good NeighborsThe Buddha in the AtticThe Night Circus

Notable Mentions
(As if I'm giving away Oscar awards!)

Repeat It Today With TearsThe Silent Land

Other Reads

The Secret of LiesBefore I Go to SleepDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

Reviews posted
  1. Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch
  2. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks (My September Blogger Recommend, which I loved)
  3. Green River Killer by Jonathan Case and Jeff Jensen
  4. Repeat it Today with Tears by Anne Peile
  5. The Secret of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate
Other posts
  1. Blogger Recommends - October Finds
  2. 'Tis the Season of Challenges
  3. About my vacation in 10 days
  4. My Thanksgiving week
  5. 2011 books I wish I had read
Traveling with my books this year
So far this year, 30 of the locations in the books I read have been in the US, while 33 have been non-US. Not exactly the ratio I was hoping for, but I'm not disappointed. Next year though, I'm hoping to include more literature from non-US countries, but that will also require that I accept even less ARCs, since most of the ARCs I receive are set in the US.

View Traveling with my books (2011) in a larger map

Comments

Vasilly said…
I'm so glad that you enjoyed Buddha in the Attic. I can't say that enough.  I hope December is a great reading month for you.
Kim @ Sophisticated Dorkiness said…
I had a really good reading month in November too. I'm not sure why, since I've been reading so slowly lately, but I'll take it. That said, December got started really slowly... so it all evens out :) 
Now that is an amazing reading month.  I have added many books from your reviews this month, I really can't wait to get to them, which one do you think is more me?  Wasp? Tears? Buddha?
Amy M said…
You read some great books in November, several which I'd like to read especially Buddha in the Attic.  I also read The Night Circus in November but haven't reviewed it yet and I have The Secret of Lies and Before I Go to Sleep on my shelf.  And you're not the only one behind in refuses...my list grows longer by the day, it seems!
I hope December is as good a reading month for you!
Helen Murdoch said…
33 non-US locations is pretty darn impressive! I love the title, The Buddha in the Attic, so I'll have to go see what that book is about, especially since you liked it so much
 I think I've mentioned before how much I love that you chart the locations of your books, but if I didn't -- I love it! I'm going to make it a personal goal to do the same thing in 2012. I love "visiting" other places through my reading, and my OCD nature lends itself nicely to making lists.
Care said…
I just bought The Night Circus.  My November wasnt' too great, actually.  December isn't looking much better.
zibilee said…
I am hoping to start the audio for Before I Go to Sleep sometime this week, and am super excited about it! I can't wait to see what I think of it. I have heard others say that it's a pretty good read. I also have to agree that The Buddha in the Attic was one of my best books of the month too. Such a heart-wrenching collective tale. It seems like you had a great month in reading this time around!
Lenasledge said…
You got a lot of reading accomplished. I love the cover for The Buddha in the Closet. And I'm finishing up, The Night Circus. It's really good. My reading has been slow, like a baby turtle slow. Holidays keep me so busy, I'm surprised I'm blogging at all. And I miss visiting all my favorite blogs.
Amy Reads said…
Your map is wonderful, so many places tagged! I think it's been a fantastic year travel wise in books for you so far.
Bookd Out said…
Great books! I notice you read no books from Australia - that's an oversight! If you want recs - let me know!

Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
I love long train rides. They always give me the chance to read half of a book. lol. :)
softdrink said…
Oooh, The Night Circus. I could just stare at that book all day long, it's so gorgeous.
Athira / Aths said…
I would recommend Tears and Buddha on top, closely followed by Wasp! I hope you get to read all three.