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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...

A late Monday Salon after a crazy week


Hello fellow bloggers and readers! It's been a while since I popped my head into the bloglandia! I can honestly say that I haven't even looked at the reader out of fear of all the posts that I have to navigate through. One of those times when the 'Mark all as Read' is dreadfully handy and necessary.

It's been a crazy week out here! My brother and the husband's brother both came to visit us last week for spring break. It was pleasantly busy and fun out here, so much so that I miss the company now that all the fun is over and it's back to the usual ho-hum. It wasn't all fun though. Some of you probably remember (or maybe not) that my brother had once been admitted to hospital a year plus ago after he got some seizures. Although he recovered quickly from it (if you could call 5 weeks quick), one unfortunate consequence of that was that he now has epilepsy. He has been on medication since, but once in a while, he still gets seizures. It's been a really really rough period since (and that's still an understatement). Amidst all the fun of last week, he had a few such episodes that rattled me as usual. Hence the blog absence. I hate to blog when I'm upset - I tend to write whiny/grouchy/grumpy reviews, even if the books were hilarious. Imagine reviewing Tina Fey's BossyPants or any Sophie Kinsella book as if they are such Debbie Downers!

I was planning to take this week off too, but I do miss the blog and catching up with you guys, so off with that plan. Let's talk about some books, shall we?

I didn't read at all last week, but I did finish two books this weekend - kind of a record for me this year, and I am midway through another book that I had been looking forward to for a while. On Saturday, I finished Sophie Kinsella's I've Got Your Number. The timing was perfect (I was either in a car or on the train), the mood was perfect (I desperately needed something that would take my mind off things), and the book was typical Sophie Kinsella - crazy, wacky, implausible, silly, and tons of fun. Sunday, I finished The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu, which was a really wonderful read. I'm looking forward to reviewing both of these.

And I'm reading Veronica Roth's Divergent right now. Just a few pages in, I can see the whole appeal of this book. It does have a Hunger Games-ish and a Giver-ish touch, both books I enjoyed tremendously. Speaking of Hunger Games, the husband and I are going for the premiere this Thursday! Well, it's more like I'm dragging him, but we're both looking forward to it. I've watched the trailer a ton of times already and I still love that moment when the timer counts down and the tributes race to grab their supplies. Makes me want to reread the books.

So, what have I missed during the past one week?

Comments

bermudaonion (Kathy) said…
It sounds like you had a great time with your family.  I'm sorry to hear that your brother is still struggling with medical issues and hope his prognosis is good.
Amy Reads said…
I'm sorry to hear about your brother, understandable to take some days off to avoid the Debbie Downer  review of Bossypants (though I'm sure it would make your review stand out from the others on the book, heh). I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on The Hairdresser of Harare as I really enjoyed it as well.
zibilee said…
Oh, man, I'm sorry to hear about your brother, Aths. It can be so hard to watch a family member suffer. He will be in my prayers. I also can't wait to see The Hunger Games, though in the previews that I have seen, nothing looks like it did in my imagination! The Hairdresser of Harare looks interesting as well, and I can't wait to see what you think of it. It sounds rather intriguing. I hope that you have a great week over there, and get lots and lots read!
Athira / Aths said…
The prognosis is good.. I just wish the seizures would stop. It's crazy getting them in the middle of grad school - kind of impacts his performance too. But otherwise he's great.
Athira / Aths said…
I first heard of the Hairdresser of Harare on your blog and chose to read it because you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reviewing it. It was an interesting read.
Athira / Aths said…
The Hairdresser of Harare was pretty intriguing. I liked it. And I'm so excited about the Hunger Games movie! The trailer doesn't look like what I imagined either but it still looks enticing.
Athira / Aths said…
Thanks! I'm looking forward to the HG movie! I can't wait to hear what you and Sophia think!
Jenn said…
I am fiercely protective of my brother and sister, so I can totally see why you would just need to close off and take some time. I hope things get better for him, though I know that's something that isn't simple to fix.

On a happier note, so glad you liked the Kinsella, and I can't wait to see your review of The Hairdresser of Harare. The cover is fantastic!
Fizzybeverage said…
That's scary about your brother. :-(

And I'm boycotting (well, not really) the Hunger Games. I just want to remember the books as is.
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com said…
I've been meaning to read Divergent! Glad you've been having fun! :) 
Samantha 1020 said…
I'm SUPER excited to hear your thoughts on Divergent when you finish.  I just recently read and adored it as well :)  Enjoy!