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
It didn’t help that Norma had all the girlish charm of a boulder.
Girl Waits With Gun has one of the most fascinating premises that I have come across. A woman made a Sheriff (US's first) after she stands up to some goons? Give me more! I'll happily drink up to that!
Constance Kopp and her sisters - Norma and Fleurette - were riding into town on their buggy (this is 1914) when an automobile driven by Henry Kauffman comes smashing into them. The rogue Kauffman denies any wrongdoing and gets his muscled henchmen to intimidate the women. Towering over most men in her town, Constance barely registered any fear and so sent letters to Kaufmann asking him to pay. Kauffman however knew where the women were staying and his threats reached their home as well. This drives Constance to complain to the Sheriff, who resourceful as he is, struggles with Kauffman quite a bit.
I don't know if that sounds like an enticing enough summary to you, but if it does not, please ignore most of it and go read the book anyway! Right from the beginning of this book, I was hooked. The three sisters - even pessimistic Norma - felt very realistic and I couldn't help but cheer them along the way.
Constance Kopp was quite a feminist especially by 1914 standards. She believed women can do anything they set their minds to. As spinsters, both Constance and Norma would have easily kicked up a scandal in any town but they didn't seem to care. Sheriff Heath was a wonderful character and a feminist too (almost but certainly exceeding 1914 standards), especially when he alone refuses to appear condescending or paternal to the sisters because they are women and don't have a man to protect them.
Much of this story is rooted in facts. The Kopp sisters were indeed involved in an accident while riding on their buggy and Henry Kauffman did indeed refuse to pay for the damages. Sheriff Heath did spend a considerable amount of time trying to establish grounds to arrest Kauffman. But there are sundry other minor characters who add plenty of flair to the novel but didn't exist in reality. Amy Stewart also includes several genuine letters and published news articles that add to the atmosphere of the book.
I received this egalley from the publisher for free for review.
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