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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 return of the Blogger Recommends (March list)


Every month, I bookmark some of the strongest book recommendations that I come across. Most are books I hear about for the first time, others are books I've previously not been interested in, but this particular blogger has managed to convince me otherwise. Then, I choose one title from the list to read that month.

My Top Five Finds

Fast Food Nation 1.  Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser is not a new-to-me title. When I first heard of it years ago, I was staying in India, where there are plenty of fast food chains, but I rarely ever went to one (there were always other better options pulling me). Fast forward many years, and I'm now staying in the US. Although I still don't haunt fast food places, and am very careful about what I order if I do end up at one (no chips or drinks for me please!), I know that I've been visiting these chains with far less abandon than before. So there - my motivation for being pulled into Marie's review of this book was because 1) her review is awesome, 2) it's time I read this one and 3) I want to scare myself away from these unhealthy places.

 2.  Having just finished a book by a Japanese author, I'm in mood for more. So when I came across JoV's review of The Devotion of Suspect X, I quickly checked for it at my library. Unfortunately, it's not there, so I'll just have to find some other way to get it. This Keigo Higashino book sounds to be quite a thriller where you already know the whodunnit. I can't say I'm pulled in my the comparison of this author to Stieg Larsson (see cover below), but I'm intrigued enough to want to try it.

The Devotion of Suspect X 3.  The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone has an interesting story about illegal immigration. I had seen a few reviews around recently, but Kathy's review was the first I read about this book. Being quite a sensitive topic, I'm very intrigued by books on illegal immigration.

 4.  I'm not sure what I missed, but last month should probably be called John Green's month. Every blog I visited had a post on one of his books up, especially The Fault in our Stars. I know many who are still reading this one, but I may just wait for you all to forget about it, before I pick it up. Amidst that deluge, I came across Jill's review of An Abundance of Katherines, and I quite liked the premise of the book. I especially like this cover of the book.

 5.  Helen has been reading Chris Crutcher for quite awhile now and each time she raves about his books, I promise myself to read one of them. Unfortunately, I've never got to any yet. Last month she reviewed Deadline and that's another Crutcher I'm thinking of reading. I'm not much into sports, which is a predominant theme in his books, but I like the sound of the emotional and human side of his stories.

My choice

I'm actually not sure about which one I want to read, so it might be a matter of which one is most accessible to me right now. I do want to read Fast Food Nation, but I tend to take a long time reading through certain nonfiction books. I'm already very curious about John Green and Chris Crutcher, and then there's Suspect X, which is what I'm leaning towards the most, right now, but that's the least accessible one, of course! Iguana Tree's topic happens to be very intriguing. So maybe I'll sleep on this a bit or pick one based on mood.

Which one would you go for?


Comments

bermudaonion (Kathy) said…
I really want to read Fast Food Nation too!  Thanks for mentioning my review of The Iguana Tree.  I hope you get a chance to read it.
Jill Broderick said…
Well, obviously I would go with John Green - ha ha!  I like that cover you found.  I know exactly what you mean about the time it takes to read nonfiction versus fiction.  It always amazes me how much longer I take with the former than the latter!
JoV said…
Thanks for the mention. I'm the other way. I read non-fiction quicker than fiction. Looking at your list because I have read Devotion of Suspect X, I will go for The Fast Food Nation. I think Suspect X is an appealing choice, because it is fairly an easy read. :)
Ti said…
After seeing the documentary, Supersize Me, I opted not to read Fast Food Nation but I'm sure it's very compelling stuff. 
Stephanie said…
I agree, it does appear to be John Green's month! I have only read one of his books, so I need to read his others.  I hope you enjoy Fast Food Nation more than I did.  I found it too dry and boring.  And it didn't keep me from fast food either!
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com said…
I was a vegetarian for 6 months after reading FFN.
zibilee said…
I loved Fast Food Nation, and read it so long ago that I forgot a lot of what's inside. I need to reread that one and make some more resolutions...All of these are great picks and I can't wait to see which one you eventually choose!
Helen Murdoch said…
Of course, I go for Chris Crutcher, but the others all sound so good. How's that for not helping you at all? :-)
nomadreader said…
I haven't read any of these, but I'm glad to see you bring back this feature. 
Athira / Aths said…
I hope so too! I wish I could somehow read all five of these.
Athira / Aths said…
I wish I could read nonfiction faster. There are so many of those with great subject matter, but once I read a couple of pages, I find myself reading the rest of the book slower, even if the first two pages were amazing!
Athira / Aths said…
I'm leaning towards both books. If I get Devotion somehow, that will be the one I read.
Athira / Aths said…
I haven't seen that one - should probably check it out. The problem I have with a lot of these health-related documentaries or books is that they can be scarier than they need to be. I'm not sure that's the right approach, but is that why you decided not to read FFN?
Athira / Aths said…
Aww... dry nonfiction turns me off. I guess I'll sample a few chapters and allow myself to give up on it if it is becoming too dry. What did you think of the John Green book you read?
Athira / Aths said…
Yikes! I'm not much of a meat eater, but I'm curious now to see what kind of effect that book will have on me.
Athira / Aths said…
I'm also really curious about which one I'll chose. I'm leaning towards FFN but I don't know how much of it I will read. 
Athira / Aths said…
Haha! I'm definitely hoping to get to Chris Crutcher (my library has plenty of his books), so let's see!
Athira / Aths said…
I'm glad that I finally brought it back too. I've been fattening my wishlist too much lately.
Marie Cloutier said…
thanks so much for shouting out my post on fast food nation! :-) I'm glad you liked the review & hope you get to read the book soon too! <3
Ryan St.Onge said…
I loved Fast Food Nation. I haven't eaten at a fast food restaurant for over 16 years so it didn't have any profound effect on me or my eating habits, but it is such an eye opening read. Definitely worth it!
Athira / Aths said…
You're welcome! I'm looking forward to reading it!
Athira / Aths said…
I am not much of a fast foodie myself, but I could do without those occasional visits too. So glad that you liked it!
christa @ mental foodie said…
I really enjoyed The Devotion of Suspect X. Not like the typical murder/mystery I usually read as this one is almost a bit more character-driven, but I like how the story unfolded. Sorry, haven't done my review yet... http://mentalfoodie.blogspot.com
Emily said…
Add me to the ever-growing list of people who spent too much time on their blog raving about John Green!  Loved The Fault in Our Stars :)  I also really liked An Abundance of Katherines (it was the first JG I ever read(, but it seems like most JG fans didn't like it that much.
Lubna Kably said…
I just finished reading and blogging about The Devotion of Suspect X. There is such a twist in the ending. Good book.
Veens said…
I am a fast - foodie and I am addicted to it :-/ I am not careful at all ab0out what all I eat and when and from where :(
I guess now I really should think about putting an end to this habit.... it is going to be very difficult...
Athira / Aths said…
I'm glad that you enjoyed it too. I will have to check it out.
Athira / Aths said…
So glad to hear that! I am yet to read a John Green, but someday I will!
Athira / Aths said…
Now you are tempting me! I have to check out this book!
Athira / Aths said…
I didn't get to that book. I guess I'll be eating more fast food in the meantime. :)