The story goes through the lives of a family of 5 living in Columbia and migrating to the United States. The story beautifully weaves Andean myths andThe story goes through the lives of a family of 5 living in Columbia and migrating to the United States. The story beautifully weaves Andean myths and Columbia legends while telling a family’s immigration story to the United States. The parents live in constant fear of deportation after over staying their visas. Two of their children were born in the USA making them legal citizens but their mother is still in the country illegally. The third child Thalia is a fugitive running from a crime she committed in Columbia to see her father one last time before she rejoins her mother and siblings in the USA.
I felt as if many of the chapters could be left out because they were too repetitious. I also had trouble following the story because the timelines jumped around too much. But do not let that discourage you from reading Infinite Country. This book has a very important message to tell and I feel as if the more people that can get their hands on this book or books similar, an awareness will be raised to a very important message. A loving, hardworking family has to live in separate countries due to immigration laws in the USA. The mother and the two oldest children remain in the United States but they must suffer in silence and endure unimaginable abuse. Infinite Country is a work of fiction but for many undocumented immigrants this is their reality. Undocumented immigrants are treated less than human.
This is a harrowing and heartbreaking tale that will definitely stay with me for a very long time. Many thanks to the publisher, Patricia Engel, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!...more
I think I've seen How Beautiful We Were on every list of most anticipated book releases of 2021. So needless to say I was very interested in reading HI think I've seen How Beautiful We Were on every list of most anticipated book releases of 2021. So needless to say I was very interested in reading How Beautiful We Once Were to see if it lived up to all of the hype.
This book is a commentary on a greedy oil company that will do anything to monetize the land's natural resources and have little to no concern about the effects it will have on the local ecosystem. The story is told by a family that lives in the village and how their lives were devastated by the exploitation.
The author wrote so beautifully at times the words flowed with the most beautiful prose. Mbue gave the village and the characters so much life and depth. The novel has a strong start that drew me in at the beginning but after about 30% of the way in I found myself struggling to keep reading. I think the author spent too much time on details that ended up being irrelevant to the story as a whole. I found the writing style difficult to follow as well. The timelines skips around a bit too much and was a bit confusing at times. Overall this is a very ambitious story with an endeavoring premise.
How Beautiful We Once Were will be available for purchase on March 9, 2021. Many thanks to Imbolo Mbue, the publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!! ...more
“Was I kind to others? It was hard to nail down an answer. I worried that if I did turn out to have a personality, it would be one of the unkind ones.“Was I kind to others? It was hard to nail down an answer. I worried that if I did turn out to have a personality, it would be one of the unkind ones. Did I only worry about this question because as a woman I felt required to put the needs of others before my own? Was “kindness” just another term for submission?”
I recently read Normal People by Sally Rooney awhile back so I had to give Conversations With Friends a go. Nothing groundbreaking or life alternating happens here but, oh how I enjoy spending time inside Frances and friends. This book made me very reminiscent of my college years and reminded me of my group of friends. I loved all four of the wonderful, complex, difficult, unpleasant, and intelligent characters. I did have to rate this a 4 star read because I felt like the ending could have been more.
Like Normal People, I see how a lot of readers would not like Conversations With Friends, or Sally Rooney’s writing in general(it really wouldn’t hurt to use quotations). I am a member of the few that does adore her writing. Maybe her characters remind me of myself in my impulsive, neurotic, and self-loathing years of young adulthood? Either way, I can’t wait to read her new book, Beautiful World, Where Are You, that comes out this fall! ...more
This novel totally consumed me. In between readings I found myself thinking about passages I had just read. When I finished the last page I found my m This novel totally consumed me. In between readings I found myself thinking about passages I had just read. When I finished the last page I found my mind continued swimming in thoughts.
Some parts are very frustrating. Their miscommunications and things left unsaid had me wanting to scream. But also the pairs awkwardness made the story realistic.
I don’t read romance novels. They always seem so unrealistic and untreatable to my real life relationship experiences that I just can’t get into them. Normal people is a love story but not in the traditional sense. It is a story about the best kind of love, unconditional. An endearing friendship through the worst of times and the best. It is about two people who never give up on each other and are always there for each other.
I do see how this book has readers divided. You will either love Normal People or you will hate it. The writing is so different for example, there is no quotation marks anywhere in the story. It wasn’t a big deal to me but I can see how some would be annoyed. Also there are huge jumps in the timeline and also backtracking. Which made it a little harder to keep up with some of the storylines.
Overall this is one of my favorite books I’ve read in a long time! I would definitely recommend. ...more
I feel like this will be one of the books that everyone will be talking about in 2021. The writing style is so different, there are a lot of witty notI feel like this will be one of the books that everyone will be talking about in 2021. The writing style is so different, there are a lot of witty notes that the writer wanted to spotlight. It’s a satire/sales manual/self help/memoir all in one.
I loved Darren/Buck! He was so ambitious and had such positive a positive outlook, even during his struggles. When I was younger I worked in sales so I was able to relate to Buck in that sense. I only had issue with one terrible choice that he made(if you read it, you understand what I’m talking about), which absolutely broke my heart. But needless to say I rooted for Buck and wanted to see him succeed.
While reading this book my ratings went back and forth. It took me a few days after finishing the book to gather my thoughts on the story. This book has a very strong point to make and what the author did here is pretty incredible. I feel like the more white people that read books like this on the subject of modern day racism and exclusion of people of color will open us up to a more universal understanding, that will make our world a better place for everyone. Books like Black Buck that make their way into the main stream will open up doorways and open peoples eyes to the issue.
The book is a hard slap in the face and will make you feel uncomfortable at times. But it is also very necessary.
Nevertheless whatever Mateo Askaripour is selling, I’m buying.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and Mateo Askaripour for the advanced reader copy!!!...more
I feel like this will be one of the books that everyone will be talking about in 2021. The writing style is so different, there are a lot of witty not I feel like this will be one of the books that everyone will be talking about in 2021. The writing style is so different, there are a lot of witty notes that the writer wanted to spotlight. It’s a satire/sales manual/self help/memoir all in one.
I loved Darren/Buck! He was so ambitious and had such positive a positive outlook, even during his struggles. When I was younger I worked in sales so I was able to relate to Buck in that sense. I only had issue with one terrible choice that he made(if you read it, you understand what I’m talking about), which absolutely broke my heart. But needless to say I rooted for Buck and wanted to see him succeed.
While reading this book my ratings went back and forth. It took me a few days after finishing the book to gather my thoughts on the story. This book has a very strong point to make and what the author did here is pretty incredible. I feel like the more white people that read books like this on the subject of modern day racism and exclusion of people of color will open us up to a more universal understanding, that will make our world a better place for everyone. Books like Black Buck that make their way into the main stream will open up doorways and open peoples eyes to the issue.
The book is a hard slap in the face and will make you feel uncomfortable at times. But it is also very necessary.
Nevertheless whatever Mateo Askaripour is selling, I’m buying.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and Mateo Askaripour for the advanced reader copy!!!...more
If I could be at any fictional place it would be at the house in the Cerulean sea.
Out of the many books I’ve read in my life The House in the CeruleaIf I could be at any fictional place it would be at the house in the Cerulean sea.
Out of the many books I’ve read in my life The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of the kindest, joyous, and heartwarming stories I’ve ever read. TJ Klune brought all the characters to life with such a vivid and wonderous imagination. The huge lesson learned is to never judge someone because they are different from you. I borrowed this book from my local library but after finishing it, I immediately ordered my own copy.
This magical story is just what I needed right now. ...more
What I wouldn’t give to spend 300 years in the island of Aeaea, sigh This book is so beautifully written, the details and imagery is like reading a beWhat I wouldn’t give to spend 300 years in the island of Aeaea, sigh This book is so beautifully written, the details and imagery is like reading a beautiful day dream. ...more
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