The Cloud Library has come through for me once again, allowing me to easily access and read Infinite Country by Patricia Engel. I made a decision to read more books set in South America, and was excited to see that today's book is even partly set in Colombia, a country I have actually been to.
The Situation: Mauro and Elena were teenagers when they met in Colombia, in a time when the country was wrecked by violence, political unrest, and a wilting economy. Even so, they fall in love and even start a family, though it becomes clear that they may want to search for a better future up north, both for them and the children they hope to raise. While life in the US proves to be tough, Mauro and Elena both agree to stay past their visa expiration dates, though such a decision may be even more dangerous than a return to their home country, especially for their son, who is born in the US and therefore a citizen. Should his parents and older sister be deported, who will take care of him when he is left behind? It is after their growing family welcomes its third child that the unthinkable does happen, and Mauro is deported alone. Once again, the couple makes a crucial decision and decides that Talia, the youngest, will also go back to Colombia to live with Maura, and Elena's mother, Perla. It is a decision meant to help the family stay together, but could also splinter it even further.
The Problem: When Talia is 15 years old, she is sent to a facility for young girls who have gotten in trouble with the law. Having never caused any trouble all of her life, it comes as a surprise to both Mauro and Perla when Talia is arrested for hurting a coworker, putting in jeopardy her planned departure to the US to rejoin her mother and older siblings. Back in the US, Elena struggles to raise two children, one a citizen and one not, on her own. When Mauro was with them, things were already difficult, and the difficulties continue as Elena navigates life as an undocumented mother doing her best to make things work. And while she is glad her youngest is in Colombia with her husband, she misses Talia and looks forward to the day when she will return to her. Every member of the family must reconcile how they feel about both Colombia and the US, and their place in each one.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set partly in Colombia, and partly in the US, as the reader follows the family on their journey across state boarders as they chase stability and security. Beginning when Mauro and Elena are teenagers, the story moves through the family's early struggles, and continues into the presidency of Donald Trump, though it does not say so specifically. Key points in history are named and described, allowing the reader to piece together the year and season. For the most part, the book is told by a third-person omniscient narrator - switching between Elena's story in the US, and Mauro's story in Colombia - with only a handful of chapters focusing specifically on events as Talia's older siblings see them. With three members of the family being born in Colombia, and two being born in the US, the family is already split in a way, and then the chasm becomes deeper once Mauro is deported and Talia joins him. It is a complicated situation where hard choices must be made, and it is never clear if Elena and Mauro did the right thing.
My Verdict: Though the book jumps around through time, and the narrator is sometimes third-person, and sometimes one member of the family, the overall story is fairly easy to follow. Even after the family becomes split between Colombia and the US, it is easy to track the experiences and struggles of both groups, though their situation is incredibly complicated. Engel somehow handles Elena's constant struggle over whether staying in the US was worth it with incredible ease. And Mauro must deal with the separation from his wife and older children, as well as Talia's arrest. Possibly what amazes me the most about this book is that it is less than 200 pages, and yet it contains so much: exploring family dynamics, what it means to call a country your home, the issue of citizenship, and of course, the power of love when attempting to hold everything together while miles apart. Engel takes a situation that is anything but simple and makes it easy to understand, while not removing its complexity.
Favorite Moment: Talia's escape from the prison for girls is pretty genius.
Favorite Character: Talia's determination to travel through Colombia to make it back to her father is certainly impressive. There is plenty of opportunity for things to go horribly wrong, but she stays resolute in her mission.
Recommended Reading: There is something about Engel's writing that reminded me of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
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