The Infinite: A Novel

by Nicholas Mainieri

In this suspenseful, tender, and completely absorbing debut set in a perilous post-Katrina New Orleans and cartel-plagued Mexico, two teenagers discover a temporary haven in each other

“Nick Mainieri is the real deal, and The Infinite is stunning. A compelling, brilliantly-told debut, written with power and clarity.”
—Philipp Meyer, New York Times bestselling author of The Son

Jonah McBee has deep roots in New Orleans, but with hardly any family left, he half-heartedly is planning to enlist in the army after high school. Luz Hidalgo, an undocumented Latina and budding track star, followed her father there after Hurricane Katrina. Both have known loss. Both are struggling to imagine a new future. And when Jonah and Luz fall in love, it is intense, addictive, and real.

But everything changes when Luz discovers that she’s pregnant. In a moment of panic, her father sends Luz back to Mexico so her grandmother can help raise the baby. Devastated, Jonah decides to take a road trip with his best friend when he doesn’t hear from her.

Little does Jonah know, Luz is fighting for her life. Her trip has been cut short by a shocking act of violence, thrusting her into the endless cycle of bloodshed perpetrated by the cartels. So Luz does what she does best: She runs. And she goes farther and deeper than she ever imagined.

A breathtaking portrait of post-Katrina New Orleans and a riveting descent into Mexico’s drug war, The Infinite is an utterly unique debut novel about the borders that divide us—and the truths that unite us.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Novels, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Race, Family

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2016

About the author

Nicholas Mainieri’s debut novel is The Infinite, published in 2016.

Born in Miami, Florida, in 1983, Nicholas has also lived in Colorado and Indiana. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, he earned his MFA from the University of New Orleans.

His short stories have appeared in the Southern Review, the Southern Humanities Review, and Salamander, among other literary magazines. He currently teaches writing and literature at Nicholls State University, located in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

He resides in New Orleans with his wife and son.

Reviews

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant debut. Sweeping prose, nuanced characters, dark and troubling times. A wonderful read.

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Hurricane Katrina, teenagers, Luz and Jonah are romantically involved. They both come from broken families and come to depend on each other for comfort and respite from their problems. Jonah has virtually no family left and basically has to fend for himself while Luz, who snuck into the U.S. with her father, only has him to look after her. It is clear that her father loves her but is also struggling to care for her. He has to line up early in the morning at the hardware store, in hopes of getting work, as an un-documented worker.

When Luz becomes pregnant, Jonah tells her that he lov3es her and will quit high school and join the army to support them. However, Luz’s father sends her to live with her grandmother in Mexico instead. This is when the book really heats up. Stuff happens on her journey to her grandmother’s. Stuff that no one should have to deal with or experience!

When Jonah doesn’t hear from Luz, he decides to drive to Mexico. Little does he know that Luz is struggling to save herself and the life of her unborn child!

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It took about 100 pages for it to finally grab me. No, I don’t usually need a lot of action and violence to get into a book, but I did with this book. Once Luz started her journey into Mexico, I really started to warm up to ‘The Infinite’ and I enjoyed it the rest of the way through. I certainly am glad I read it and can recommend it. I will defiantly check out more books by Nicholas Mainier.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infinite

This was truly an incredible novel. Nicholas Mainieri is a fascinating writer. I loved everything about this story. I will be watching out for what he writes next!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant journey from New Orleans to the border to the heart of Mexico. Love, loss, grief, borders, post-Katrina NO and the drug trade all come together in the lives of two teenagers. This is contemporary literary fiction at its finest.

[Lauren Lindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly enjoyable book from a promising young author. It's a great vacation read, especially while south of the border, as it's locations (post Katrina Nola, Texas, and Mexico) and setting not only act like central characters, but are as equally important as it's two young protagonists. I snagged this at Powell's in Portland while wandering the shelves after reading one of my favorite author's endorsements and I'm thankful I did. It was a page turner and it's deftly crafted plot keeps you invested from the start. I expect great things will come from this author.

[Lex · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book from a publisher in exchange for a review.*

I had no idea what to expect from this book because there weren't any reviews about it when I started (not including the ones from authors). Not one! Though it’s understandable because it’ll be published only at the end of this year. :) When I read the blurb for the first time, I wasn’t interested much. But a couple of minutes later I found myself thinking about the story. This strange duality stayed with me through the whole book.

I had a hard time finding a category for this novel. When I read the blurb I was sure it’ll be a romantic story with some drug dealing, abuse and fleeing, but all in all the focus will be on love. But I had to realize it’s not a love story (although I’m sure some will try to claim it is). Growing up, surviving the ordeals, drug wars, corruption, family ties are more important in it, but yeah, okay, there is a poorly designed love in the background too. Why do I say that it’s poorly designed? Because I can't believe in there love and really it just couldn’t touch me. I didn't feel the whole world will come crashing down if these two can't be together. The biggest problem is that their relationship hasn’t got a prelude, you can’t see as it develops, the author starts in the middle of their relationship shortly before Luz gets pregnant. So the lovers spend about 20-25% of the story together in total.

I usually don’t read about drug cartells, I think this was my second book of that sort. I'm not particularly a fan of drug-abuse-murder stories. But! It was “good” to read about the Mexican situation, I’m glad I got to know the country, the people, the operation of the cartells and the corruption better. And it’s a fact that as the story progressed, I found myself increasingly interested in it and I was very worried about the characters. So the plot and the tension are very good. It’s a pity that I was bored at the beginning, especially because I wasn’t interested in Jonah’s parts for a long time.

Mainieri’s style is very good, but I don't like when an author tells the stories all the time and don’t give a chance to the characters to speak. I’m a dialogue loving person, but it’s really my problem. And I find it strange that the book has two main viewpoints but there are some other ones too. I don’t understand why they are necessary.

I don’t know how much of a blooper it is, but I noticed that Luz hasn’t got any papers (so she’s an illegal immigrant), and I find it hard to believe that she can go to school without papers and board a plane without consequences.

The cover has a great atmosphere and it fits the story. It could have been better but somehow this is great too.

In case of stars I have to stay in the middle, because I can’t decide that I liked this book or I didn’t. It was good and it wasn’t. Something was definitely missing for me.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This. Now this is quite a story. Great book!

[Guy Choate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenage love often runs the risk of melodrama, but The Infinite places the love between Luz and Jonah into a perspective that extends far beyond the scope of its teenage characters. Mainieri juxtaposes the authentic beauty of a post-Katrina New Orleans and the complicated dynamic of different populations within the city with a vast and dusty swath of Mexico ruled by drug lords—each a landscape of self-destruction that yearns for forgiveness and hope.

Like most teenagers, Luz and Jonah are eager to come to terms with the events of their lives they had no control over while also attempting to navigate the dodgy waters of young adulthood. The Infinite captures that time for its characters in a way that is somehow both believable and astounding in its suspense, but above all, in a way that is sincere.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

From New Orleans to Mexico, I enjoyed this suspenseful tale. I won it in a contest and enjoyed reading this "new" author!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What starts as a love story spins quickly, and unexpectedly, into a thrilling drug cartel tale mixed with a coming of age and journey story. I loved both main characters, completely caught up in their individual stories and shared history. The delicate weave of elements of dark violence with poetic description, desperate escapes with a sweet romance was compelling. This was definitely one that I stayed up far too late to finish!

[Teenage Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighty-five hurricanes don the earth each year, according to NASA. Some out at sea, some just minor storms, but it is the devastating ones that rake the lands, destroying everything in its path, are the ones you have to worry about. Hurricane Katrina took the western world by storm in August of 2005. Category Five (the highest) with the highest wind speeds of 280km/h, the storm killed over eighteen hundred people. It was devastating to all areas affected by the hurricane, some more than others. In the United States, with so many areas affected there is only so much relief and money to repair what the storm damaged. Places like New Orleans never recovered, and might never. The hope was sucked dry from the city, and not even the miracle of young love could survive.

Jonah McBee decorated his house with pictures of his family. A habit his father did not like, but now that Jonah was on his own, all he wanted was to see the smiling faces of his family. There are only a few memories Jonah had of his whole family: his mother, father, oldest Bill, and second oldest Dex, then he; Jonah. When he was little his mother died in a car accident, causing his father to grow cold hearted. Few years later, Bill graduated and joined the military, a common thing boys did, only to be killed by a land mined on his first tour of Afghanistan. Dex grows cold and distance, moving away, it was not till their father died of a heart attack, did Dex come back to do the rearrangements. Left in the world of only Jonah and Dex, Jonah was not surprised that once Jonah turned eighteen, releasing Dex up from his guardianship that Dex left, leaving Jonah and his pictures to finish out his final year of high school. Jonah dream was to help rebuild New Orleans, by opening up McBee Auto Shop again, a store that closed after the hurricane. With no money the shop stayed that, a dream. His only friend Colby, knew he was going to join the army fresh out of high school, and Jonah went along half heartily with his best friend’s plans. Where on the side Colby sold drugs, a common past time kids in New Orleans did, that could get him arrested if found by the police. The only thing stable in Jonah messed up life was Luz, his girlfriend. Luz was an illegal immigrant from Mexico, who followed her father to New Orleans for work. Going to school was a challenged as she barely knew any English. Yet with Jonah helps her, Luz began a relationship with Jonah, joined the school track team and became one of the best runners, and praying to her deceased mother, as well as Jonah’s mother to keep their life safe, as she and Jonah made plans for the future.

Her ghost runner was always with her. Picking up speed Luz felt her presents just below her hip, pushing her forward, trying to outrun her. Where the other runners were trying to beat the person next to them, Luz had her own competition, one that pushed her ahead of the other girls, trying to outrun her. It was the presents of her ghost runner along with Luz newfound information that made her lose the four hundred meter dash, the only race her father watched her run. Her newfound information that she was pregnant with Jonah’s child. She told Jonah, who promised they would work it out, but when telling her father, he was not pleased. Yelling, saying he would send her to her grandmother’s in Mexico he left the house. Coming back hours later, broken and bloody from being mugged, Luz could not break her father’s wishes and began packing for Mexico. Knowing things were going to be ruff, Luz never expected that on the car drive from the airport to her grandmother’s house the driver and other passengers would be caught and Luz is taken prisoner by the Cartel, and taken up into Mexico’s drug war. Jonah, after not hearing from Luz takes a road trip down to Mexico to bring her and his child home, where Luz does what she does best: run, and runs away from the cartel, Jonah, her ghost runner, and herself.

A brilliant debut by Nicholas Mainieri! This story tells a tale of young love between Jonah and Luz, as well as family problems from both Luz side and Jonah’s. Taken at the point of view of both lovers we got to see the world of New Orleans from a young man, as well as an illegal immigrant women's side of things. Mainieri’s story revolved a lot about culture and how that affected the youth of the city. The post-hurricane Katerina world of New Orleans bough a lot of drugs in the lives of many of the young trying to make some money (Colby). The hurricane brought up workers from Mexico (Luz and her father) some legal but most illegal for work that was running out. The war of Afghanistan that took the lives of many Americans (Bill) and how the loss of a family member made some distant (Dex) and let other’s feeling alone in the world (Jonah). The livid and horrors of Mexico drug war brought to life, the horrors of what it does to the people, brought before you by Luz eye. The writing was fast pace, switching between Luz and Jonah, with the chapters divided up into short parts. A passionate read of young love, drug wars, and fighting for your life, this book brings tears to your eyes, and an ending that is worth the crying for.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! Wonderful story, but heart-breaking at the same time.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harrowing. Beautifully written. Spell-binding and heart-breaking.

[Millie V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not long into this book, I was thinking I would not rate it very high. As a native New Orleanian, I found the local color a bit cliche. I continued reading, however, and am very glad I did. As the book progressed, the character development, especially of Luz, and the imagery became more complex and interesting. The juxtaposition of New Orleans/Mexico, violence/harmony, drug trade/drug use, and good/evil give the reader much food for thought. I also found the animal imagery particularly compelling. I would never have guessed that this is a first novel.

[Daniel J. Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story with some great imagery and locales. The characters are engaging even if the plot runs away with itself at times.

Well worth picking up for a summer read.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautiful, weaving together the stories of two teens coping with a world they never should have had to touch. It was a fresh view on cartel violence in Mexico, the far-reaching impacts of Katrina, and the experience of living life in America as an undocumented immigrant or refugee. Highly recommend.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced, intricate story. So many complexities but still moves along weaving through multiple issues: post-Katrina NOLA, public school systems, illegal immigration issues and the Narco dominance of life in Mexico. Add to this an exploration of philosophical issues related to all of the above and life itself. Outstanding result for a first effort!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different read for me but liked the story...Post Hurricane Katrina in NOLA, young people in difficult situations, what its like just over the border in Mexico.

[Christi M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, emotional, haunting, and wholeheartedly enjoyable.

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book in the new releases section of my local library. I was really drawn to the cover. But I do this thing where I read books because of their covers and they end up sucking. So I didn't pick it up. But I kept thinking about it, and the next day I went back and it was checked out. I put a hold on it and got it three weeks later...

I read this book in less than 24 hours. It was such a rush to read. I was hanging on the edge of every part of Luz's story, and when there were chapters without her I couldn't put the book down because I just needed to get back to Luz (not that the other parts weren't interesting -- they were!). I loved her character somehow more than I think I've ever loved a book character.

I really liked the short chapters (and multiple sections) of this book, and the pacing of the story in general. I actually really liked that it didn't focus on the start of the main characters' relationship, and that it didn't flash back too much to it either -- because the story was about more than the start of their relationship. I liked the NOW. It wasn't a love story, and I expected it to be some young-adult love story... but I got much more than that. It also felt very authentic with the New Orleans setting. (side note: I didn't know what a nutria was before reading this book...)

Sad to find out this was Nicholas Mainieri's first book, because I really want more! Love his writing style, I'll be anxiously awaiting his next work.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Infinite is Mainieri's first novel. It maintains a casual tone, using colloquialisms and interjecting Spanish. The text is clear, with the storyline being mostly easy to follow. Chapters are very short, making the book easy to pick up and put down. The characters are developed enough, and descriptions allow the reader to envision settings described. While violence occurs, it is not overly graphic or drawn out. This novel would work well for somewhat hesitant high school or college age readers, or others with short attention spans. Mainieri has crafted a very digestible read that keeps up a decent pace throughout.

In New Orleans, a few years after Hurricane Katrina, high schoolers Jonah and Luz are in love. Each with a troubled past, having dealt with parental deaths and other difficult events, Luz and Jonah continue to struggle when they become pregnant and Luz's father demands she return to Mexico. Jonah decides he must follow her across the border, but all bets are off when Luz doesn't show up at her Grandma's on time.

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.

[Tobi · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW

This novel left me breathless, heartbroken, and agitated from puzzlement. How dare the author leave me in such suspense? I think it's enough knowing that Jonah will never see Luz again, which was terribly depressing, but for most of the secondary characters to go their separate ways in the end? That killed me. Nicholas, you really know how to grab the audience's heart and utterly crush it.

Really, though, I loved the characters and found delight in their complicated emotions and motivations. The plot was unique, profound, and dreadful in beautiful aspects. I have no doubt that this book will find its way among beloved classics for generations to come, if not at the present time. Honestly, Mainieri's masterpiece left me regaining contact with feelings I have been burying for a long time: deep nostalgia, a fear for the future, and the ultimate pang of loneliness.

Bookworms, I beg you... pick this one up.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was super sweet and action packed. Some of the dialogue started getting on my nerves when the boys would talk slang. I don't know why this bothered me, it just did. I loved the short chapters, it makes for an easy read, and I could pick it up and read for just a minute or two at a time. All the setbacks Jonah and Luz kept running into were fun and exciting.

But what was with that epilogue?! There was absolutely no point to it, and I got no resolution for the end of the story. I need to know if Luz and Jonah get back together or not. Super frustrating!

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways.

[Sheri Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written story, hard to believe it's a debut novel. It left me with that wonderfully unsettled feeling I get from reading Steinbeck. That's who I would compare him to, a modern Steinbeck. I am anticipating more to come from this new voice in American literature. Its amazing how Louisiana nurtures great writers.

[Tiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down. This was a great story with so many layers of meaning. I felt so much for both of the main characters as they went through a journey. In addition to caring for the main characters, Mainieri also does a great job of making the secondary characters well developed people.

[Leah Angstman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sad, powerful, and painful trek through post-Katrina New Orleans and the violence of the Mexican Gulf Cartels. Doesn't shy away from the violence and gray-areas of poverty, cultural differences, and drugs.

[Ann Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story -- set partly in New Orleans -- enthralling. I knew there would be violent scenes as it is also involves Mexican drug cartels, but the graphic parts were contained in easy-to-skip paragraphs. (Okay, I'm a wuss.) But I liked this book.

[Greg Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty, violent, action-packed, and atmospheric. Spanning from New Orleans to the Mexican drug wars, this is a terrific debut. Really enjoyed it.

[Andy Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut novel worthy of the accolades it's receiving, THE INFINITE is a lyrical, heartbreaking portrait of first love and the mysteries that lie beyond it. Can't recommend this highly enough.

[Melissa Remark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. The Epilogue killed me.