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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

A Toast to a New Year!

Happy New Year!

2014.. I'm still getting used to that number. Whenever I see that year popping up somewhere, it feels weird for an instant, making me wonder but where is 2013 before I realize it's the new year now. I am supposed to be back at work today but the husband and I took the rest of the week off, so we are still enjoying a long cozy holiday.

Two days back, we set up a reading nook near our patio. I've been lamenting to the husband that I don't have a cozy corner where I can escape to with my books and although I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted, it wasn't exactly easy to find something to match the picture within a reasonable budget. After months of hemming and hawing, we finally got the nook almost-done. We got a nice push-back recliner with a lovely faux sheepskin rug set up next to the patio door. There would be enough daylight in that area to let me read until the evening. The only item missing is a tall lamp. I have my eyes on a few arc lamps, which are currently exorbitantly pricey but I plan to snatch one when a sale comes along.


Yesterday, I started reading The Time Regulation Institute by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar, a book considered to be a classic in Turkey for its tongue-in-cheek references to the cultural turmoil the country has suffered over the last century. I am not very far in, but part of me wonders whether some of that impact gets lost in translation. But we'll see. It's a very different kind of read from what I've been reading last year, when I've found myself reading quick or fun reads for the most of the year because I didn't want to push myself through any book that requires me to put it down after every chapter. The Time Regulation Institute is the kind of book that does require me to take frequent books but I am persisting this time. Something about the optimism of a new year is to blame for that.


For this year,
  1. I'm hoping to not shy away from such long or time-consuming reads.

  2. I want to read more books from around the world. I did better on this the year before the last, but last year was more about guilt-reading.

  3. Read at least five books from my PIE list. These are books I've had for ages and haven't gotten around to. 5's healthy right? 5's doable.

  4. I've been getting The New Yorker subscription since the middle of last year but haven't kept up with it. Although I enjoyed the few articles I read, I'm not great with magazines. I need to find a way to read it off my PC or on my iPad.

  5. In 2012, I used to read a short story a week but later the rigidity of that schedule got me lazy about it. I want to change it a little bit so that I read one short story for each book I finish. Or at least read them more often, whenever I want to. I don't want there to be rules for this, but I enjoy reading stories a lot.
That should be a simple enough list with no big requirements. The less the number of bullet-points, the better.



Comments

rhapsodyinbooks said…
What a lovely reading nook! So sunny and happy looking! :--)
bermudaonion(Kathy) said…
Your little nook looks very inviting! I'm sure you're going to enjoy it. Happy New Year!
Oh hon I love it and the header.
Ti Reed said…
I love your cozy nook. I have one in my bedroom but it was put together using what I had on hand so it's rather dated but cozy. I would love to figure out how to work a club chair into my living room set-up since I tend to do a lot of reading there Right now, I can't figure out a way to do that I have this thing about being symmetrical with the fireplace.
Tea Time with Marce said…
Love your reading nook Aths, well done. Has it been a year in the house yet? Happy New Year to you hon.
Five-Eyed Bookworm said…
I really love your reading nook! That chair is perfect! Have a great reading year this 2014!
Alex (Sleepless Reader) said…
I also want to read more from around the world, in particular books in translation. Was thinking that a related Challenge might help - know of any?
iliana said…
I love your reading nook! I recently bought a new reading chair and now I need a lamp too. Wishing you a great reading year ahead!
Diane D said…
I love your little reading nook, and the recliner is so pretty unlike those masculine leather ones my DH fancies:)
Helen Murdoch said…
Such good reading goals for the year! Getting a magazine is so much fun (especially the New Yorker), but it sometimes does feel like a burden when we see them stack up on the coffee table. Now that you have a reading nook, maybe keeping up with the New Yorker will be easier! Have a great start to 2014!
Lisa Sheppard said…
Love your reading nook! I've been trying to figure out where I could put one that would be quiet and I think I've finally figured it out. Now I just need to find the chair! I'm hoping to be more willing to pick up big reads this year, too.
Your reading corner looks lovely. I wish I had one. :-)
Athira / Aths said…
Thank you! I love it too.
Athira / Aths said…
Thank you! I love it already!
Athira / Aths said…
Cozy is great! You don't want a good looking uncomfy chair! I have a thing with symmetry also, that's what took me so long to make my nook. Now I need to get a clock and a lamp to complete the picture.
Athira / Aths said…
It has been a year and a month now. :) Happy New Year to you too!
Athira / Aths said…
I think I saw plenty of challenges dealing with reading around the world, and also maybe one for translation. You can check out this link for 2014 challenges: http://novelchallenges.blogspot.com/
Athira / Aths said…
I cannot wait to see your reading chair! It will be lovely!
Athira / Aths said…
Yeah, I don't like those leather chairs. I don't like leather furniture. I have one leather piece that I'm looking to get rid of sometime later.
Athira / Aths said…
Right now, the mags are stacking up. I need to do better about reading them.
Athira / Aths said…
Thank you! It was pretty hard finding a perfect spot.
Athira / Aths said…
Yay! I cannot wait to see any pics of your reading nook that you may share! :)