Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This book was over-hyped in my opinion. My heart was in my throat wondering if the family would ever be together again, though.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I couldn't help but compare Infinite Country with a recently read novel, Dreaming in Cuban. Both books cover themes and topics of immigration and familial division with a narrative that splits between generations, time, and location. While I thought Dreaming in Cuban was the more ambitious book, I slightly preferred Infinite Country. I thought Talia, whose story is central to Infinite Country, was interesting to read about.
Infinite Country is one of those works that is very aware of its own importance. There are moments and lines in the book that feel like attempts to connect to the cultural moment but feel artificial and calculated.
Infinite Country is one of those works that is very aware of its own importance. There are moments and lines in the book that feel like attempts to connect to the cultural moment but feel artificial and calculated.
A Colombian family emigrated to America for a better future.
A gripping story of how they got back together.
Book on CD performed by Inés del Castillo
From the book jacket: Talia is being held at a correctional facility for adolescent girls in the forested mountains of Columbia. She urgently needs to get out and get back home to Bogotá, where her father and a plane ticket to the United States are waiting for her. If she misses her flight, she might also miss her chance to finally be reunited with her family in the north.
My reactions:
Engle has crafted a story of immigration and emigration, of oppression and prejudice, of hopes and dreams, and of the bonds of family.
The storyline moves back and forth in time from current-day adolescent Talia, to her young parents’ first meeting and falling in love, the their struggles in the USA, how they came to be separated, and how Talia, a US born citizen, wound up in Columbia with her father rather than in New Jersey with her mother and two siblings. Engel also switches narrators, so we get snippets of the story from Talia, her mother Elena, her father Mauro, her sister Karina, and her brother Nando. We see the sacrifices made by parents for the sake of their children, but also the hurt and feelings of abandonment suffered by the children separated from a parent.
Inés del Castillo does a very fine job of narrating the audiobook. She really brought these characters to life.
From the book jacket: Talia is being held at a correctional facility for adolescent girls in the forested mountains of Columbia. She urgently needs to get out and get back home to Bogotá, where her father and a plane ticket to the United States are waiting for her. If she misses her flight, she might also miss her chance to finally be reunited with her family in the north.
My reactions:
Engle has crafted a story of immigration and emigration, of oppression and prejudice, of hopes and dreams, and of the bonds of family.
The storyline moves back and forth in time from current-day adolescent Talia, to her young parents’ first meeting and falling in love, the their struggles in the USA, how they came to be separated, and how Talia, a US born citizen, wound up in Columbia with her father rather than in New Jersey with her mother and two siblings. Engel also switches narrators, so we get snippets of the story from Talia, her mother Elena, her father Mauro, her sister Karina, and her brother Nando. We see the sacrifices made by parents for the sake of their children, but also the hurt and feelings of abandonment suffered by the children separated from a parent.
Inés del Castillo does a very fine job of narrating the audiobook. She really brought these characters to life.
This was 3.5 stars for me in some parts and 4 in the other. I just can't really decide. I didn't love this book like many others, but I really liked it. And it's weird, because there are parts of the book I truly loved. I was appalled; I was in tears; I was in a glass case filled with emotions. I just couldn't believe people say the things they say and I am learning that it's happening everywhere and to lots of groups, which is just sad. I especially loved the ancient Colombian stories to theme the thoughts of the characters.
What I didn't like was the execution of the story itself. This is a very short book, which will appeal to most people. However, it didn't appeal to me, because for me, it short changed the characters. I couldn't decide if it should have just focused on Talia or just focused on Mauro and Elena. And I only say to remove Talia, because I felt like she was the most short changed of the three characters. And then around Chapter 19 and 20, out of the blue, we get a chapter from Nando and a chapter from Karina. It was weird and it changed the narrative completely. You get another chapter from Nando and two more from Karina. The last chapter is Karina explaining why she wrote this book (which then further changes the narrative) making it seem like the book was non-fiction this whole time. For me, this was unnecessary, weird, and confusing. Those five chapters could have added to the other three characters or the author should have made the book longer to develop everyone. And I definitely would have started the book with Karina's version and why the story exists.
I do recommend this book, especially if you want to know what a family goes through who are not citizens here, overstayed their visas, and had American born children, and then see them separated. And parts of the book are so lyrically beautiful, just know it's short. You will want more like me.
What I didn't like was the execution of the story itself. This is a very short book, which will appeal to most people. However, it didn't appeal to me, because for me, it short changed the characters. I couldn't decide if it should have just focused on Talia or just focused on Mauro and Elena. And I only say to remove Talia, because I felt like she was the most short changed of the three characters. And then around Chapter 19 and 20, out of the blue, we get a chapter from Nando and a chapter from Karina. It was weird and it changed the narrative completely. You get another chapter from Nando and two more from Karina. The last chapter is Karina explaining why she wrote this book (which then further changes the narrative) making it seem like the book was non-fiction this whole time. For me, this was unnecessary, weird, and confusing. Those five chapters could have added to the other three characters or the author should have made the book longer to develop everyone. And I definitely would have started the book with Karina's version and why the story exists.
I do recommend this book, especially if you want to know what a family goes through who are not citizens here, overstayed their visas, and had American born children, and then see them separated. And parts of the book are so lyrically beautiful, just know it's short. You will want more like me.
This was not a book for the weary. It was a very true story about a family that moves from Columbia to the US and the decisions that they make to have a better life. There is sadness, frustration, love and hope in this story. It is a very real story and it does not candy coat anything. I normally don’t like a book that does not tie things up in a pretty little bow, but I felt that the end of this story was very fitting and left me content. Overall a good book, but be aware of adult situations and just real life.
4.5 stars. A short but strong novel by Patricia Engel, that I came to after reading her short story collection.
While not an immigrant myself but married to one, I felt an emotional connection to the plot and themes in this novel. Engel's words on displacement, fear, separation, and home are spot on. The way she is able to articulate so much while often using shorter sentences and fewer words is what makes this extra powerful to me.
My only critique is the abrupt change from 3rd person to 1st person about halfway through (and then alternating between 1st and 3rd for the remainder), which interrupted the narrative flow for me because I had to adjust (ok, whose perspective is this now?).
But overall, a gorgeous novel that I anticipate coming back to again and recommending to many.
While not an immigrant myself but married to one, I felt an emotional connection to the plot and themes in this novel. Engel's words on displacement, fear, separation, and home are spot on. The way she is able to articulate so much while often using shorter sentences and fewer words is what makes this extra powerful to me.
My only critique is the abrupt change from 3rd person to 1st person about halfway through (and then alternating between 1st and 3rd for the remainder), which interrupted the narrative flow for me because I had to adjust (ok, whose perspective is this now?).
But overall, a gorgeous novel that I anticipate coming back to again and recommending to many.
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No