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 Vacation in the Mountains | This Week's Five

1. Cabin in the mountains

Last weekend, we headed to Boone with our best friends and their little one to spend a couple of days high up on a mountain cabin with an awesome view. Of course, it was also the weekend that Hurricane Matthew battered much of the Southeast US with rains, floods, and winds. We were inland enough to not feel the worst of it but it rained during much of the weekend. So while this was not the kind of vacation I had in mind when we rented the cabin, we still had loads of fun. The cabin was gorgeous and the view from the deck was beautiful. We went out both days to visit nearby attractions, ate at a few good restaurants, and played some board games.

2. #DamAlong

Sorry, Care and JoAnn, but I think I'm bailing on Amsterdam. I only got a couple of chapters in before life got in the way, and when I'm reading a print book, that usually means that I rarely go back to the book. I didn't even realize that I was bailing on the book until I found the library book yesterday and put it along with the rest of the books heading back to the library. I feel bad about this - McEwan's writing is poetic enough that I know I can get lost in it. But it's also a little slow going and I know I will need to spend quality time with it - not the kind of rapid reading books I mostly read now.

3. Postal book club

Have you guys ever been part of a postal book club? I remember reading some of you mentioning something like that. Wendy? Care? There are several postal book clubs formed in Litsy and having never been a part of one but loving the idea of it, I signed up for one of them. At this point, everyone is going to start mailing their books and I cannot be more excited. I already have my book and notebook, and yesterday, I bought a few goodies as well. I am hoping / planning to mail my package tomorrow. The only thing I am worried about is my track record with print books - see #2 above.

4. Fall

Raise your hands if you are excited that Fall is here! At least for those of you in the Northern hemisphere and living in places where the colors make their presence known. Over here, the leaves are just about turning (a little too late this year, if you ask me). However, we drove to the Grandfather mountain last weekend when we were at the cabin via the Blue Ridge Parkway and saw the wonderful flora all decked in beautiful reds and oranges. Love!

5. Spooktober

Probably, for the first time ever, I am reading a spooky book in season. I rarely read horror honestly, but want to explore this genre more - at least read some of the well known lit out there. My pick is The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. I had watched the movie when it first came out and it scared the heck out of me. I've been promised that the book is just as scary and I'm looking forward to it. I'm just about a quarter in and nothing spooky has happened yet but it's very atmospheric and I love it.