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martinj's review
emotional
reflective
sad
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mpatronik's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a quiet yet strong, liminal collection of very character-driven stories. While I enjoyed Engel's observant, intimate writing, there were high and low points for me, just as any short story collection. My favorite was "Libélula", the only one written in second person. Often times the endings would be ambiguous or unfulfilled, but not in a way where the story itself felt unfinished or I wished for more.
As another reviewer mentioned, Engel is very talented at writing unlikable characters and still making you feel empathy for them and their situations rather than annoyance or irritation. So while I wasn't always eager to pick up this book (as the themes were not uplifting), I am captivated by Engel's work and interested to read more such as "Infinite Country".
As another reviewer mentioned, Engel is very talented at writing unlikable characters and still making you feel empathy for them and their situations rather than annoyance or irritation. So while I wasn't always eager to pick up this book (as the themes were not uplifting), I am captivated by Engel's work and interested to read more such as "Infinite Country".
abbynordman's review
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
kerri_f2003's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
asolis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Engel is a talented and evocative writer, and I really enjoyed Infinite Country. I think I was not in the right mindset for these stories, which were much heavier than I was looking for. Many of these are very dark and aching, and reminded me of the mood of Mariana Enriquez's work.
sittingwishingreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
lunabbly's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The title is so fitting because each short story explores body as place, location, land, empire, temple, freedom, constricting.
Each story explores different aspects from aging to beauty to brokenness and how we all seek refuge in our bodies. How bodies can ground us and bring us to appreciate the present moment and/or even transport us to what feels like a faraway world, transport us to limitless possibilities, endless conclusions about ourselves and each other.
Engel does an amazing job writing about the physical overlap between bodies/touch and land -- worlds. While many characters feel stuck in their homeland, want to escape, some also yearn to return. It was a dramatic, funny, sad, romantic read.
I read while on vacation and I think I'm going to continue reading short stories while on vacation as they're fun and easier to digest.
Each story explores different aspects from aging to beauty to brokenness and how we all seek refuge in our bodies. How bodies can ground us and bring us to appreciate the present moment and/or even transport us to what feels like a faraway world, transport us to limitless possibilities, endless conclusions about ourselves and each other.
Engel does an amazing job writing about the physical overlap between bodies/touch and land -- worlds. While many characters feel stuck in their homeland, want to escape, some also yearn to return. It was a dramatic, funny, sad, romantic read.
I read while on vacation and I think I'm going to continue reading short stories while on vacation as they're fun and easier to digest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Xenophobia, and Miscarriage
Minor: Domestic abuse, War, and Violence