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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Beautiful, lyrical, and heartbreaking, Infinite Country traces the challenging and difficult paths immigrants face in trying to reach America and become citizens. Colombia is a country plagued by violence and corruption. Elena and Mauro meet and fall in love and have a daughter. Facing grim prospects, they decide to make their way to the United States. Living as undocumented immigrants, they are constantly under threat of discovery and deportation, all while trying to work and save money to improve their situation. Mauro is discovered and deported, and Elena is faced with an impossible choice. It is hard to describe much more without giving away the story, but the entire book is told in such beautiful prose I wanted to keep reading, long after the book was over. Infinite Country is a story about loss, heartbreak, the pain of doing the right thing even though it is difficult, the power of forgiveness and starting over.
A heart-breaking reality. I enjoyed this book and the details, but it was hard to read at times.
This is a story of immigration and family separation. Ultimately, it was a fine book, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as others with similar themes. The daughter whose story begins the novel, Talia, is the most interesting character, but the other characters were flatter. The themes were not subtle and at times the novel almost took on a preachy tone that was not enjoyable or appealing.
Ahh a solid 4.5/5 star book. I finished the last couple of chapters in tears. It’s heartbreaking and honest, and it makes you want to do SOMETHING, anything... to change our immigration laws. I’ve read stories about families running from South America to escape dangerous cartels and life-threatening situations, but in this case... it’s just a family that’s been separated and desperately wants to be reunited, proving that you don’t need a dramatic reason to want to cross our borders. The book briefly will mention policies and laws put into place from the Trump administration and how they affect everything, from how legally documented U.S. citizens with non-American background are treated to the fears and hurdles families have to face.
This book is short- under 200 pages- but yet it tells you everything you need to know in this story. Told between alternating characters in a family- half in Columbia, half in the US, it posed a handful of deep questions that left me thinking about what it truly means to leave a place, what makes a “home” a home, and strong family ties. It’s one of those books that I’ll think about for awhile afterwards.
Definitely recommend.
This book is short- under 200 pages- but yet it tells you everything you need to know in this story. Told between alternating characters in a family- half in Columbia, half in the US, it posed a handful of deep questions that left me thinking about what it truly means to leave a place, what makes a “home” a home, and strong family ties. It’s one of those books that I’ll think about for awhile afterwards.
Definitely recommend.
My book of the month for February
Absolutely amazing. Don’t speak to me until you’ve read this books. I read it in a day and cried at work at the ending
Absolutely amazing. Don’t speak to me until you’ve read this books. I read it in a day and cried at work at the ending
At under 200 pages this is a short novel but one that packs a powerful emotional punch.
The book focuses on a family from Columbia – Mauro, Elena and their three children. When the eldest is a baby Mauro and Elena move to America – the land of hopes and dreams far away from the crime and economic downturn of Bogota. They work hard and before long they overstay their visas. Then the younger two children are born and as a family they now balance precariously between two countries. Mauro, Elena and Karina are Columbians who are in the country illegally and Nando and Talia are undocumented – born in America but without papers.
While the first half was quite slow and heavy, the second half really picked up the pace and I powered through to the end. The ending while satisfying was a little unrealistic but this is a very minor point overall as the rest of the book was so strong.
The book switches perspectives between all the family members, although some voices are heard more often. I loved how Mauro’s chapters brought in elements of mythology – his stories of the mythical animals of the Colombian culture were rich and wonderful. On the other hand the racism and poverty that the family experiences in America was heartbreaking. Emigrating for this family was experienced as a constant feeling of not belonging. Where are you? Who are you? Where are you from?
The desire to leave your homeland for America despite the uncertainty of being an immigrant and the kind of life that awaits was deftly explored and summed up in the following quote:
“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.”
I was moved by this book and definitely recommend it!
The book focuses on a family from Columbia – Mauro, Elena and their three children. When the eldest is a baby Mauro and Elena move to America – the land of hopes and dreams far away from the crime and economic downturn of Bogota. They work hard and before long they overstay their visas. Then the younger two children are born and as a family they now balance precariously between two countries. Mauro, Elena and Karina are Columbians who are in the country illegally and Nando and Talia are undocumented – born in America but without papers.
While the first half was quite slow and heavy, the second half really picked up the pace and I powered through to the end. The ending while satisfying was a little unrealistic but this is a very minor point overall as the rest of the book was so strong.
The book switches perspectives between all the family members, although some voices are heard more often. I loved how Mauro’s chapters brought in elements of mythology – his stories of the mythical animals of the Colombian culture were rich and wonderful. On the other hand the racism and poverty that the family experiences in America was heartbreaking. Emigrating for this family was experienced as a constant feeling of not belonging. Where are you? Who are you? Where are you from?
The desire to leave your homeland for America despite the uncertainty of being an immigrant and the kind of life that awaits was deftly explored and summed up in the following quote:
“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.”
I was moved by this book and definitely recommend it!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars. Loved this book and the unfolding of all the different stories. Great choice for an audiobook
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
An amazing adventure read
An incredibly powerful story about homeland, family and Andean myths. This book was a humble reminder of how privileged my family and myself were in our ability to move to Canada, legally. Truly a great and touching story.