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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: Thank God it's the weekend!

The Sunday 
Salon.com

I haven't looked forward to a weekend as much as I did over the past week, from as early as last Sunday itself. It was a super busy week at work and I had to put in plenty of overtime over the whole week. I could have left sooner on Friday but I'd rather save my absence for this coming Friday - start the Memorial Day weekend early!

Memorial Day is the first holiday my company gives after the Christmas holidays. So you can imagine how much a lot of us at work are actually looking forward to it. Five months of no holidays is terrible. Luckily, from here on out, there is the Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays to look forward to. But then another year ends and it's a five-month wait all over again.

(The rose trees in our flower garden finally bloomed last week. I love that they bear flowers up until 
late November. We have more rose bushes in the front of our property and they are just as flowery.)

This weekend, I made it a point to sleep in for as long as I wanted. But then, what do you know, but I woke up before 6 am yesterday. And then, last night, I woke up so many times and struggled to go back to sleep each time. At one point (around 4 am), I decided that if I didn't fall asleep within 5 minutes, I was going to wake up and read a book. (Luckily, that didn't happen).

(It was Rue's birthday two weeks back but I forgot to mention that here. 
We got her some toys, snacks, and fresh ground meat - the hedgehog 
now rests in peace in multiple pieces at the bottom of a trash can. 
The husband and I celebrated with some yummy cannoli cupcakes.)

This past week, I had two appointments and one class to attend so in addition to having a busy work week, it was busy otherwise too. I tried to spend the weeknights reading Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad, which, although a wonderful read, isn't something I can read when I'm tired. Still, I managed to finish, maybe, a chapter and a half, over three nights. Friday, I got back to Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, which is quite an interesting read. I'm still in splits on what I feel about the book or its characters, but it is making me think A LOT, which is always good. I stopped at the halfway point last night and plan to post about it this week. So I may not read the rest of the book, until I have that post written. Care has already posted hers, so head over here to read them.

For now, I'm hoping to make more progress with Goon Squad. Except for an appointment tomorrow morning, my week is just going to be a mix of work and whatever else I want to do outside work. The husband's friend is visiting us during Memorial weekend, so we have a few outdoors trips planned for the entire weekend. I may not go for some of them, but I have been itching to do some outdoors activity for a few weeks now, so it will be nice to just head somewhere in the mountains and take in the views.

Today, we have some shopping to do, some chores to finish, and then hopefully, curl up with a book for the evening. And then, it's time for the Game of Thrones episode - I can't believe we are already on the second half of this season. Bummer!

Comments

JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing said…
Your roses are beautiful and I love that will bloom for so long... do you know what kind they are? A Visit From the Goon Squad is definitely not a book to read when you are tired, but it's so good. Hope you get to rest up over the upcoming holiday weekend!
iliana said…
What beautiful roses! I also had a super busy at work and I have another one coming up but thank goodness Memorial Day is here. I'm looking forward to a three day weekend for sure. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Delia (Postcards from Asia) said…
A Visit from the Goon Squad - I keep stumbling on this book but am somewhat reluctant to pick it up. Too much hype, I think. I look forward to your review.
I had a great weekend, did nothing but read the last book of The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb. I loved it.
Ti Reed said…
What is it with hedgehogs? My dog ripped hers to pieces too and she never destroys her toys.


How are you feeling? Besides the lack of sleep thing. I tossed and turned on Friday night and Saturday night. I just feel antsy. No particular reason and of course Monday came up for me way to fast. Monday. Blech. Who decided the weekend should only be two days long?
I love the hedgehog! It's so adorable and cuddly -- I'm sad that it didn't live out the day!
Athira / Aths said…
Hear, hear! I am all for some good fun or lazy downtime. This week is still busy, but I'm glad a long weekend is just two days away.
Athira / Aths said…
Honestly, I don't know what kind of roses they are. We got a landscaping guy to do our yard for us last year but neither he nor we specified what kind of roses. I'll let you know if I find out.

Glad you liked Goon Squad. It is a good book but I find I have to put it down often.
Athira / Aths said…
Same story here - this week has also been very crazy. I'm definitely looking forward to the long weekend.
Athira / Aths said…
I stayed away from Goon Squad just because of the hype. It didn't sound too good to me initially. But now I love it. I'm only about halfway but it's turning out to be a worthy read.
Athira / Aths said…
My dog rips apart every toy of her. Her goal is to get the source of the squeaky sound. Funnily, this particular hedgehog didn't squeak - I realized it after getting home. And still, she ripped it to shreds. Every time we give her a toy, we have to plan to vacuum the room also because the place gets messy very quickly.

I sure wish weekends were longer. We do get long weekends for two months during summer, but this time I am not doing it. What with being pregnant, I cannot stand the idea of staying at work longer than 8 hours.
Ti Reed said…
We get toys made by Kong. No ripping or tearing.
Athira / Aths said…
None of our dog toys live out the day lol. The first time I got her a toy, she got into the business of ripping it apart. I was miffed, so I hid the toy for a day and then let her rip it apart. Somehow I don't like toys getting damaged the day I buy them, lol.
Athira / Aths said…
We started buying some of that too, after losing too many toys within hours of buying them. Kong and Nylabone don't get damaged. However, she doesn't like them much. So they just kind of pile up. The Kong/Nylabone ones that are like flavored bones - they last. Plus, the Kong toy into which you can stuff treats - always a win-win.