laura_buecker's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
rditchek's review against another edition
5.0
WOOOOW. This is another book where I saw it as a BOTM pick and did not buy it, then it happened to be sitting available as a Libby audiobook and I GOT LUCKY. Narration was stellar for the book. I think this may be the fastest audiobook read of mine all year. I could not stop listening and finished "Infinite Country" in less than 24 hours. This was a true immigration story, despite being fiction. It humanized the struggles of immigrant families and should be required reading. Engel made her characters come to life and I enjoyed every minute of the book.
not_mike's review against another edition
5.0
Novel.
Multi-generational family set in Colombia and the United States. A discussion of borders, immigration, migration, injustices, American Imperialism, and the complexities of raising others and living an honest life in a hostile nation. A necessary work that explodes with love, humor, and power from the jump.
The author beautifully paints scenes taut, compassionately written strokes--layering details in small and large moments with such brevity and grace, that readers follow these characters through entire days, months, or even years in just a few lines. The way she captures point of view through the third and second is a lesson in storytelling. It is the bold minimalist style of the author that shines here, weaving a complex story to give voice to such a devastating and fraught real life issue: immigration and the aftermath of exploitative Western governments and businesses in Brown and Black countries--specifically in Colombia.
Multi-generational family set in Colombia and the United States. A discussion of borders, immigration, migration, injustices, American Imperialism, and the complexities of raising others and living an honest life in a hostile nation. A necessary work that explodes with love, humor, and power from the jump.
The author beautifully paints scenes taut, compassionately written strokes--layering details in small and large moments with such brevity and grace, that readers follow these characters through entire days, months, or even years in just a few lines. The way she captures point of view through the third and second is a lesson in storytelling. It is the bold minimalist style of the author that shines here, weaving a complex story to give voice to such a devastating and fraught real life issue: immigration and the aftermath of exploitative Western governments and businesses in Brown and Black countries--specifically in Colombia.
vritika_kanwal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kimba13's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ssco9's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Short but packs a powerful punch. Infinite Country is the story of a family separated by immigration and deportation trying to reunite. As daughter Talia navigates the trials of leaving Colombia to return to where she was born in America, we hear the perspectives of her parents, Mauro and Elena, as they navigated their own emigration many years before. This novel is raw in its illustration of what U.S. immigration law does to families and is worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Deportation, Rape, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Addiction and Grief
Minor: Gun violence
gigiluvsreads's review against another edition
5.0
It really speaks to what lengths family will go to protect each other and want the best for them. It is such a beautifully written story about a family torn apart by artificial borders. It continually breaks my heart that it reminded me how criminalized immigration is, when it is truly just people looking for opportunity or hope. Infinite Country truly made me think deeply about family and the sacrifices made to hope for a better life.
katie_archer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
laura_reads_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0