Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Infinite Country is about a Colombian family who are split between two countries: some live in Colombia, some are illegal immigrants in the US. As with the brilliant [b:Homegoing|27071490|Homegoing|Yaa Gyasi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1448108591l/27071490._SY75_.jpg|47113792] (which is otherwise a very different book), you realise that there is no "best" place to be: both have issues and neither is perfect.
It kicks off with 15 year old Talia escaping from a correctional facility in the Andean mountains (the killer first line is: "It was her idea to tie up the nun") and then it moves backwards and forwards in time as we learn about Talia's parents' journey to the US and why the family is now divided between two countries.
It's a short book but it packs so much in and I thought it was brilliant. I don't always like Reese's bookclub recommendations but I absolutely loved this one.
It kicks off with 15 year old Talia escaping from a correctional facility in the Andean mountains (the killer first line is: "It was her idea to tie up the nun") and then it moves backwards and forwards in time as we learn about Talia's parents' journey to the US and why the family is now divided between two countries.
It's a short book but it packs so much in and I thought it was brilliant. I don't always like Reese's bookclub recommendations but I absolutely loved this one.
In March 2021, 172,000 migrants were detained at the U.S.-Mexico border. That number is unfathomable to me. This novel humanized migration and the loss and benefits of immigration and emigration. Told in two complimentary story lines, we see Talia, youngest US-born child of Elena and Maura, who is on the run from a reform school after a nasty act of aggression in Columbia but is chasing her dream to return to the US. We also watch Elena and Mauro overstay their visas in the US and eventually Mauro is detained and deported. Elena, now the sole bread-winner for their 3 kids, decides to send the youngest, Talia, back to Columbia so that her mother and Mauro can take care of her--it's hard to get off the grid childcare for infants, evidently. The stories intertwine and catch up with each other with Talia's departure from Columbia to the US. So much about the deaths people experience when they leave their home country and the longing they feel for home, this brief but beautifully written novel helped me understand migration in a very intimate way. This is a Reese's book club choice and I'm so glad I read it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So much of what it feels to be an immigrant is beautifully explained in this book. I had tears in my eyes as I read the pages.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
QOTD: What's the first line of the current book you're reading?
Infinite Country started off with "It was her idea to tie up the nun," & I immediately had to know what was going on! When I tell y'all it ended up taking me on a ride, I mean it! Like everything else I read, it was an emotional ride. But it was also a physical ride with the chapters taking you back and forth between US and Columbia and across multiple timelines! To me, the pacing felt slightly up and down. There were several chapters toward the beginning of the book that felt slow/not needed. But characters voices were strong and I honestly can't believe how much happened in such a short book.
If you enjoy own voice, multigenerational stories with themes of love, family, and the concept of home - check this one out! It's short books with short chapters that'll have you reflecting on belonging and your ties to your family and mother country.
Infinite Country started off with "It was her idea to tie up the nun," & I immediately had to know what was going on! When I tell y'all it ended up taking me on a ride, I mean it! Like everything else I read, it was an emotional ride. But it was also a physical ride with the chapters taking you back and forth between US and Columbia and across multiple timelines! To me, the pacing felt slightly up and down. There were several chapters toward the beginning of the book that felt slow/not needed. But characters voices were strong and I honestly can't believe how much happened in such a short book.
If you enjoy own voice, multigenerational stories with themes of love, family, and the concept of home - check this one out! It's short books with short chapters that'll have you reflecting on belonging and your ties to your family and mother country.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes