Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
I took a multi ethnic literature class a few years ago. Though we had no required reading, we were given a list of recommended books. This was on the top of the list. I interpreted it as an amazing story of struggle and strength. I am glad I read it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage
As I prepare for a service learning to trip to the Dominican Republic, I am reading and learning. I certainly have a greater appreciation for the people of the DR and their struggles after reading this novel. Alvarez has a compelling and authentic voice describing the Trujillo reign of terror. She spent her first ten years in the DR until her family fled for political reasons. This novel weaves in the facts with fiction to recreate a heartbreaking story of extraordinary bravery. I certainly preferred this over Diaz's accounts of similar events in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
Literary fiction is not my jam. This is my library's 2021 Big Read title. It is beautifully written with beautiful passages. Still, I found it pretty boring (sorry!) for most of the book. Which made me feel guilty, being bored by the daily lives of three martyrs, but since the author didn't actually know the sisters maybe my guilt is unnecessary? There is a lot of religious content, not just religious but Catholic, that really did not resonate with me. The best part by far was the Epilogue.
Should be a good discussion book in any event.
Should be a good discussion book in any event.
DNF. Writing was good, the setting was interesting. I couldn’t really follow the plot. I wasn’t invested enough in the characters to keep going (there are also a lot). I really liked the beginning, but its just not holding my interest. I don’t think this was the book for me.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
On the cusp of the 60th anniversary of the murder of the Mirabal sisters, and during the reign of a wannabe dictator in the US, I listened to the audiobook created from Julia Alvarez' amazing book. The production engages multiple female readers for the sisters, and is extremely well done. On to another Alvarez novel!!!
First read review: Incredible story-telling, wonderful direct, warm and effective treatment of history and the impact on individuals and families.
First read review: Incredible story-telling, wonderful direct, warm and effective treatment of history and the impact on individuals and families.
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
“A novel is not, after all, a historical document, but a way to travel through the human heart.” (324) from Julia Alvarez’s postscript of In the Time of the Butterflies.
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book, but it’s come at the perfect time in my life; the perfect time in history. It’s happened before somewhere else, and it can happen (is happening?) here, too.
Viva las Mariposas!
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book, but it’s come at the perfect time in my life; the perfect time in history. It’s happened before somewhere else, and it can happen (is happening?) here, too.
Viva las Mariposas!
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated