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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 Sunday Salon: Finally reading something

The Sunday 
Salon.com

Good morning, readers! How has your week been so far? It has been a wonderful week out here - warmish and colorful. Perfect for doing some work around the house. I had been doing some decluttering for the past couple of weeks and now have things in pretty good order. There is still a lot of spring cleaning itself to do but everything seems to have a home now so that should make it easier to get things done. Today, we're planning to do some cleaning around the house, make raised beds for our vegetable garden, mow the lawn, and later curl up watching a nice movie.

Yesterday, the husband and I went to watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and loved it. I thought it was a little slow at the beginning but that didn't dampen my enjoyment. I think this guy is probably my favorite superhero character to date, but I think that always after watching one of these movies. I never used to enjoy reading or watching superhero comics - they used to be too unrealistic for my tastes - but I may not have watched too many of them before because I really enjoy them a lot now.

I finished two books last week - CĂ©lestine Vaite's Frangipani (which I reviewed as well) and Shilpi Somaya Gowda's Secret Daughter, which I struggled with quite a bit. I'm hoping to review the latter some time this week, once I get my thoughts in order, but let me just emphasize for now that narrators can make or break a book. I also started listening to Child of Dandelions by Shenaaz Nanji - a very intriguing book about the expulsion of Indians and Pakistanis from Uganda in 1972. Child of Dandelions is fiction, but the author herself lived through the expulsion and her protagonist, Sabine, shares a lot of her confusion at being disowned by her birth country. So far, I'm liking it and it's short too - just 5 hours.



I've also been thinking about starting The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry. I have the library book on my Kindle and am excited about losing myself in it. This seems to be THE book to read now and if I do read it, it will be the first book this year I'm choosing to read outside my Armchair Traveler project. I had given myself permission to read books outside the project but nothing has really jumped at me so much like this book.

How's your Sunday going?

Comments

I just read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and I think you'll like it. I might not have been as enamored with it as others have been, but it was very good. My wife and I are going to see Captain America: Winter Soldier tonight, I think...good to hear it's so good.
bermudaonion(Kathy) said…
Vance saw Captain America yesterday and liked it a lot too. As you know my sister loved A. J. Fikry.
Lisa Sheppard said…
Oohhh, Child of Dandelions sounds like something that I would really enjoy!
Jenny @ Reading the End said…
I saw Captain America on Saturday! I liked it a lot. Actually, I thought the first half was stronger than the second half -- I was okay with the movie starting a bit slowly with the broader plot. It was fun to spend some time with Captain America and Black Widow when they weren't in full crisis mode before the crises exploded everywhere.
Helen Murdoch said…
Oh no! You didn't like Secret Daughter; I loved it when I read it. I'm interested to hear what didn't work for you.
Athira / Aths said…
I still did not start the Fikry book yet but I've been thinking about it everyday. I guess that means I will definitely read it.


Did you like Captain America?
Athira / Aths said…
Your sister's review is what threw me over the fence. I was able to hold myself firm until then. :-)
Athira / Aths said…
It's definitely intriguing!
Athira / Aths said…
I guess I thought it slower because I don't really know too much about these characters and all I'm usually sitting in the theater for is some fast paced action. My superhero (fan) husband loved the first part though so it's probably just me. Still, I only thought it a little slow - it was definitely enjoyable.
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you enjoy Captain America! I need to check out Noah. There are a lot of good movies running right now.
Athira / Aths said…
I'm hoping to put my review together by tomorrow. I liked the story, I just did not enjoy some of the characters or the narration.
Delia (Postcards from Asia) said…
I watched Captain America today and I have to say I enjoyed Noah a lot more. I hope you get to watch it too.
christa @ mental foodie said…
I have reserved The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry - I think I became aware of it after reading some blog reviews... so will love to hear your thoughts on it!