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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

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell


Attachments
Every woman wants a man who'll fall in love with her soul as well as her body.

At Lincoln's workplace, it is a rule that the work email should not be used for personal purposes, and it is Lincoln's job to enforce that ruling and warn any employee found violating the rule. Some have been fired, while a few have been let off with warnings. Even Beth and Jennifer, two employees in his company know of this, but that doesn't stop them from slowly testing their boundaries by starting off with small talk and then expanding into talking about all their problems through email. Lincoln knows he should stop them, but initially they seem harmless and over time, he starts getting intrigued by these two women. He ends up liking them so much that he starts looking forward to their emails. And then he falls in love with Beth, who doesn't even know him.

I won Attachments couple of years ago on someone's blog, when it first came out. At that time, even though many said that they enjoyed it, I wasn't interested. The premise didn't quite jump at me and I had been having a bad time with similar books. And so it languished on my shelf until Rainbow Rowell burst on the book scene early this year with her Eleanor and Park. I was still not so sure but after all the solid reviews, it was hard to pass by this book and not read it.

I'm glad that I eventually got to this book. Attachments wasn't a five-star read but it was so much fun to be lost in it!

I'm not sure if they still do the monitoring email thing. Lincoln's company seemed to be obsessed with keeping its email filters clean. Lincoln thinks it's a petty priority but he is at a stage in his life when he isn't sure what he wants to do. So he takes up this menial task, while he figures things out. He was also staying with his mom, who loved having someone to pamper. Lincoln doesn't mind it one bit but his sister has been trying to get him out of there. So with the boredom that is his job everyday, when Beth's and Jennifer's emails start showing up in his filters, he can't help but read them.

Beth and Jennifer, however, don't seem too worried about being caught. At least Beth wasn't. Jennifer would still freak out occasionally, while Beth seemed to be tempting the dragon with each email. Almost-happily married Jennifer's big problem is that she doesn't want kids but her husband does. Beth's problem is that her boyfriend isn't exactly behaving like a boyfriend should but she doesn't quite want to be single. As these two spend their days chatting about love matters via email, Lincoln was getting attached to them.

The whole story is really not such a big deal. It's all predictable, and nothing shocking happens. But it's so heartwarming that I enjoyed every bit of it. It gives the same feeling as watching movies like When Harry Met Sally or You've Got Mail or many other romantic comedies does. (It is not a coincidence that almost all the romantic movies I talk about star Meg Ryan!) You can't help but smile throughout. And when you close the book, you feel genuinely happy like the characters were your best buddies. I'm a sucker for romantic comedies. There's nothing better I like to watch on TV than movies that make me feel all girly and warm and happy and smiley without making me roll my eyes. When a book does the same thing, you can't go wrong with it.


This book is from my personal library.

Comments

rhapsodyinbooks said…
Yes, totally agree with your whole last paragraph! :--)
bermudaonion(Kathy) said…
I read Eleanor and Park and loved it and am listening to Fangirl right now. So far, it's terrific too. I'm looking forward to this book soon!
Jenn said…
Attachments is just absolutely fantastic fun. I was hooked on Rainbow as soon as I read this book and have enjoyed her writing so much. Glad you did too.
Helen Murdoch said…
Likening this to When Harry Met Sally is perfect--it just makes one smile.
Jenny @ Reading the End said…
You've Got Mail is a great comparison! I was too bothered by the premise of Attachments to enjoy it as much as it deserved, but I have high hopes for Rainbow Rowell's more recent two books.
Athira / Aths said…
Oh great. I'm off to read yours.! :)
Athira / Aths said…
I'm waiting for Fangirl to arrive at my library and then I'm second in line. So it shouldn't take too long. I can't wait to read it.
Athira / Aths said…
She's definitely a good writer and story teller. She is becoming my next Sophie Kinsella.
Athira / Aths said…
Oh yeah. It was a totally wonderful read. I remember reading your review of this book.
Athira / Aths said…
I think her Eleanor and Park is much better than Attachments so you may enjoy it more. I am yet to read Fangirl but I have high hopes for that book.
Vasilly said…
The premise of Attachments sounds too goo to miss. I love Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail so I have to add this book to my tbr list.
christa @ mental foodie said…
I read it a while back, and thought it was fun (for someone who usually doesn't read chick lit) - Have been hearing so much buzz about Eleanor and Park lately... I think I'd give it a chance! My review for Attachments;
http://mentalfoodie.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-attachments-by-rainbow.html