Fiction/Non Fiction: Fiction
Themes: Immigration, family.
Pages: 208
One sentence summary: Get lost in Columbian landscapes and be reminded of the struggles of borders.
Overview:
Infinite Country is the story of a split family. We first join Talia in present day as she escapes from a correctional centre. Her journey to be reunited with her mother and siblings is not without risk and is peppered with flashbacks of stories from her parents.
We flick between timelines: present day with Talia and her father plotting her escape and also the moments building to the present; how Mauro and Elena met and how they ended up in their current situation
Personal Thoughts:
This book well and truly transported me away to Columbia, from the cityscapes and homes to the jungle tracks ran through. The imagery was so clear and so poetic, despite the sometimes-unfortunate situations they were described in.
The stories of Columbian mythology really stuck out for me and are something I want to learn more about. Mauro tells Talia stories of jaguars and condors throughout her childhood, with the latter being my favourite. There was something quite special about their bond and especially when he was sharing his culture with her.
The split storyline is a favourite of mine and it’s used incredibly effective here to slowly explain more and more of Talia’s family’s history, adding another piece to the puzzle every so often. It makes for an enticing read and one I struggled to put down.
Favourite quotes:
“From the lake we come and to the lake we will return..[]. We’re all migrants here on earth.”
“leaving is a kind of death. You may find yourself with much less than you had before.”
“You’ll be okay niña. It’s like driving these mountain roads. You can’t see what’s ahead of you if you keep looking in the rear view mirror.”
“And maybe there is no citizenry; they’re just territories mapped in place of family, in place of love, the infinite country.”
Would I read it again? Definitely. I already want to re-read about the myths again.
Read this? Plan to read it? I'd love to know! Let me know in the comments below.
Available for purchase as part of our subscriptions this month here.