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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...

The Week in Books (1/28 - 2/3 2013)


Hello blog! I'm still here. mumbling.. mumbling... Last week, we got the gaming/workout room downstairs set up almost completely, and I finally started playing to the Zumba songs on the Wii. Let me make this clear - I had never played on the Wii until this week and for the first time, I feel that I have finally found a gaming device that was made just for me. I loved how much fun it was to dance, and play tennis and boxing with my husband on the Wii that I couldn't wait to get home each day this past week. Let's expect my love affair with this awesome gadget to continue for a while while the blog and the books become unwitting victims!

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour BookstoreThis week I read...
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane: This book, written for bibliophiles and computer programming aficionados, captivated me on one level but bored me on another. Luckily, it was a quick read, and the bookish/computerish aspects of this book called out the geek in me. But the plot was very thin and the characters one-dimensional.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer: I picked this audiobook after loving Krakauer's Into Thin Air but didn't enjoy this one as much. I loved some of the argumentative and philosophical aspects of this book, and occasionally, I felt infuriated at Chris (the twenty-something guy who leaves his family and begins his attempts to live on the road and in the wild) for his attitude towards his parents and his stubborn reluctance to keep in touch but I couldn't care much for the dragging prose or some of the adventures of Chris.

Where'd You Go, BernadetteCurrently I'm reading...
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple: I had absolutely no intention of reading this book because I imagined it was just not my fare. But when I saw this title on the 2013 Tournament of Books list, I was really intrigued. I didn't think this was anywhere close to literary fiction. Boy, could I have been so wrong on this? Halfway through this title, I am enjoying this book immensely! The epistolary format of this book is just perfect for this kind of story! Plus, did I say it's hilarious?


Comments

bermudaonion(Kathy) said…
I really liked Where'd You Go, Bernadette too! Enjoy the Wii with your hubby!
Tanya Patrice said…
I thought the same thing about Bernadette, but I have the book so I'm going to read it since I've since it's been on so many best seller lists.
Tanya Patrce
Girlxoxo.com
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying it!
Athira / Aths said…
Thanks! Glad you liked Bernadette! It's definitely a page-turner!
I can't wait to listen to Where'd You Go, Bernadette!
Athira / Aths said…
It's great so far! I hope you'll enjoy it!
zibilee said…
I just bought Bernadette, and can't wait to get to it! I am glad that you are liking it so much. It gives me hope! I am listening to Skinnydipping by Bethany Frankel because I needed something light and frothy, and am reading Creature Features, a hilarious memoir about life on a farm. Enjoy your reading this week!
Athira / Aths said…
Your books sound wonderful! I hope you enjoy Bernadette - this book is turning out to be wonderful!!
Helen Murdoch said…
I've never even heard of Bernadette! I hope it stays good to the end
IntrovertedJen said…
I love Zumba at the gym, but I like it on the Wii as well. The gym is so crowded right now I have more room to thrash around ungracefully at home! I really enjoyed Into Thin Air too but I've hesitated over Into the Wild. I think I saw part of the movie and was not impressed. It's good to know I'm not missing much. Enjoy your week!
Vasilly said…
Hey! *waving* It seems like everyone is reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I think I need to read it. Have a good week.
Athira / Aths said…
So far, so good! I have another hundred pages to go but I think it's going to be good!
Athira / Aths said…
Thanks! I wasn't sure about this book because it has received a lot of hype, but I think it's really worth it.
The Bookstore book looks really good. I think I'd want to read Bernadette so I'm glad to see that you're enjoying it.
Athira / Aths said…
It is a real fun and clever book. I loved how the author uses so many different ways (letters, blog posts, etc) to tell the story.
Athira / Aths said…
I love zumba at the gym too, but I'm with you that it seems more fun at home. Many have told me that they didn't enjoy the movie of Into the Wild, so you're not alone. I don't think I will watch it either.
Kim Ukura said…
I like Into Thin Air better than Into the Wild too. It's a little less maddeningly introspective, and the adventure is just amazing. I can't remember if I did audio or print for Into the Wild, but remember it didn't seem quite as good.
Athira / Aths said…
What bugged me about Into the Wild was how digressing it seemed. The book talked about more things than I cared about. It was well written though.
Care said…
Intersting mix of books but all are ones I want to read. Pls forgive the typos, For some reason, I can only type but cannot edit when I comment from my iPad. Anyway, I have read Into the Wild and am still on the fence about ever attempting Into Thin Air. have fun with the Wii; I have never tried it.
Athira / Aths said…
I thought Into Thin Air was so much more intriguing than Into the Wild and many have been saying the same thing - so you may like it too. I hope you will give it a try. :)
Fay_C said…
Mr Penumbra has been on my wants list for such a long time - i will get it eventually. I haven't been to your blog in a while and this is a great post to come back to. I hope you are well and from reading looks like you are having a great time with your console! I have to admit the wii is fun! :D
Diane said…
I've always wanted to try the Wii, but I wouldn't buy it as i think it would be a passing fad for me LOL


I like your weekly updates. Have a great week.
Nishita said…
The wii sounds like so much fun. I'd love to try one out, but I don't know how it would work here in India, plus I don't think I'd sustain the interest for very long either :(
Athira / Aths said…
Thank you! Yes, the Wii is a lot of fun - it can be quite addicting. :)
Athira / Aths said…
Thank you! I wouldn't have bought the Wii either - luckily my husband already owned one and I "discovered" it that way. :)
Athira / Aths said…
Yeah, I wouldn't have bought it either for the same reason. Luckily, my husband already had one and that's how I "discovered" it.