Finally finished that book | Weekly Snapshot

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

Finally finished that book | Weekly Snapshot

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it!

Life

Last week was Spring break for the kids. While we had considered going somewhere, eventually we squashed all such plans. Instead, we have a quiet beach trip planned for the summer. Since neither the husband nor I took the week off, we sent the boy to preschool while the girl kept herself (and me) busy at home.

Before the cold freeze that came mid-week, we also stopped at a local park to enjoy the cherry blossoms. They had so many beautiful cherry trees that it was a nature's beauty overload.

Yesterday, the husband and I got our second Covid shots done - our appointment was one hour away from home, so once the shots were done, we took the opportunity to celebrate with the kids at a nearby Riverside park. The weather was beautiful and there were no crowds out there, so it made for a very good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Later, we stopped at a coffee and chocolate shop and enjoyed a bit of both.

While we are beyond relieved at having our shots done, I don't think a lot will change in our routines. I do want to get my hair done though - it's grown beyond my comfort length over the past year so it will feel good to chop off some of that length. However, what I've always considered a pandemic celebration is a massage, but I don't know if I'm brave for that yet.

Reading

I finally finished Gold Diggers! Woo! I enjoyed that book but I won't lie that many a time, I just wanted it to end. It dragged a bit here and there and often needed to be put down. That said, it turned out to be a book I most enjoyed reading at bedtime (which is usually only a few minutes long because I am exhausted at that time of day). Once I finished that book, I went through a few books quickly and started a few new ones too.

Compulsory is the (very short) prequel to the Murderbot books. I didn't learn about it until last week on Iza's blog. It's a nice introduction to the series (and available online, you may need a Wired subscription though). I started Binti on Friday morning and finished it in the evening - it was a fast read with a very interesting story. Last weekend, mainly because I needed a break from Gold Diggers, I made a short detour to Convenience Store Woman, which I enjoyed reading.

While I typically do read a lot of picture books (both with and without my kids), there were three I wanted to call out. Definitely read these if you are looking for a good children's book - A Scarf for Keiko, The Name Jar, and Boo Who?

Right now, I am in the middle of two good books - one on my Kindle and the other on audio. Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead has one of the best titles I've come across and it's a very fun read so far. As for The Alice Network, it is fast-paced and intriguing but it will take me a while to finish it because I don't listen to audiobooks that often.

Making

I started making a sweater dress for my daughter. I've been looking forward to this project for a while - it's a beautiful sweater and the pattern is easy (see pattern here). Hopefully I'll have some pictures next week.

Watching

Last week, we watched Robots for Friday movie night. It's a 2005 movie that we are only just watching. Other than that, we are still enjoying through Star Trek DS9 - started sixth season this week.