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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I picked this up because Julia Alvarez is our Author-in-Residence here at Midd, though I'm not entirely sure where she resides. I had actually seen this book around and had heard of it anyway, so I had other motivations as well, believe me.
It was a lovely book, reminiscent of "The Poisonwood Bible" due to its four-sister narrative format and its subject matter (20th century dictators, maybe?). Still, it was a book all its own and quite engaging. Who knows, maybe Alvarez lived in Stewart Hall and she herself read books snuggled under her covers as well?
Truly though, the worst of it all is knowing when the sisters die (which is not a spoiler okay it's on the front jacket) and then Alvarez dating that specific day in the narrative. "Mounting" anxiety indeed.
...Was that too soon?
It was a lovely book, reminiscent of "The Poisonwood Bible" due to its four-sister narrative format and its subject matter (20th century dictators, maybe?). Still, it was a book all its own and quite engaging. Who knows, maybe Alvarez lived in Stewart Hall and she herself read books snuggled under her covers as well?
Truly though, the worst of it all is knowing when the sisters die (which is not a spoiler okay it's on the front jacket) and then Alvarez dating that specific day in the narrative. "Mounting" anxiety indeed.
...Was that too soon?
WOW. I couldn't believe what i was reading. I had never heard of Trujillo before i read this book. The fact that the US did nothing to help out a country that was so close to them astounds me. THis will definitely open your eyes to the HIspanic culture. The book is about sisters who fought against a famous dictator, but that isn't doing them any justice. This is a must read for EVERYONE.
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Interesting and honest exploration of the pressure and emotional hardship in preserving the Dominican revolutionary legacy, especially as something personal and not ideological.
Where it falls flat is its weak characterisation of the martyred sisters : they become flat charicatures only occasionally given nuance.
Where it falls flat is its weak characterisation of the martyred sisters : they become flat charicatures only occasionally given nuance.
A tragic story of struggling against dictatorship beautifully told.
Very good historical novel about sisters in the resistance against the Dominican dictator Trujillo; based on the lives of actual women.
Sometimes it's hard to judge whether I'm trudging through a book because of the book or because of life. It's been a busy month, it seems, and I've only just finished September's book club read!
In the Time of the Butterflies centers around a time of history I didn't know much about. I like learning new things; though this book is fiction, it's based on the real story of the Mirabel sisters, three of whom were killed for their opposition to the merciless dictator Trujillo. The characters were well-developed (the author really gave them a lot of depth, I thought) and it was the characters that really drove the book; each had a distinctive voice as each takes their turn in telling pieces of the story (Mate, the youngest sister, was my personal favorite -- her portion is told in diary format, which I like). And the writing -- ooh, it was superb! Lots of little insightful gems about humanity, lots of subtle metaphors that, were I grading this novel like an English teacher would, I'd have to scribble "excellent word choice!" in the margins over and over again.
All that said, I did struggle with this book. For all it had going for it, I just couldn't get into it very well. I'd read spurts of fifty pages or so and then go days without picking it up again. Like I said before, maybe this has more to do with life right now than with the book itself. But then again, it is pretty heavy reading. I kept thinking, as I read, that if books had ratings, it would need an "M" for "mature" -- not because it was dirty, per se (there was a lot of sexuality infused in this book, but nothing graphic, really) but because the topics were just, I don't know, weighty.
So ... how's that for a mixed review? :-)
In the Time of the Butterflies centers around a time of history I didn't know much about. I like learning new things; though this book is fiction, it's based on the real story of the Mirabel sisters, three of whom were killed for their opposition to the merciless dictator Trujillo. The characters were well-developed (the author really gave them a lot of depth, I thought) and it was the characters that really drove the book; each had a distinctive voice as each takes their turn in telling pieces of the story (Mate, the youngest sister, was my personal favorite -- her portion is told in diary format, which I like). And the writing -- ooh, it was superb! Lots of little insightful gems about humanity, lots of subtle metaphors that, were I grading this novel like an English teacher would, I'd have to scribble "excellent word choice!" in the margins over and over again.
All that said, I did struggle with this book. For all it had going for it, I just couldn't get into it very well. I'd read spurts of fifty pages or so and then go days without picking it up again. Like I said before, maybe this has more to do with life right now than with the book itself. But then again, it is pretty heavy reading. I kept thinking, as I read, that if books had ratings, it would need an "M" for "mature" -- not because it was dirty, per se (there was a lot of sexuality infused in this book, but nothing graphic, really) but because the topics were just, I don't know, weighty.
So ... how's that for a mixed review? :-)
incredible. breathtaking. devastating. absolutely a must read.
Incredibly beautiful book. I got so involved I read this with a fiery spanish accent in my head!
Inspiring and heartbreaking. A must for any fan of historical fiction.