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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
While based on real people and events, as the author Julia Alvarez states directly in the Postscript, this is solidly a work of historical fiction, and what a fantastically written novel. I was initially concerned that both my lack of familiarity with the history at the center of the story, combined with the shifting character perspectives, would make the events difficult to fully connect with, but I am so happy to say that from the very first pages I was immediately engaged with the Mirabel sisters individually and as a group. Each of the sisters is crafted carefully to present them with distinct voices and personalities that are given the space to evolve and change as their lives and circumstances demand and, most importantly, never loses sight of these women as human beings. They are allowed flaws, emotions, contradictions, and Alvarez keeps each of them at the center of the story, while still working in a solid sense of place for both the community and larger political situation. While I understand that the versions of the characters, particularly the Mirabel sisters, presented in the book are largely the author’s creation, this was a still a fantastic introduction to this period of history and an opportunity to give voice to a group of incredibly strong women. Whether you are already well-acquainted with Dedé, Minerva, Patria, and Mate or (like me) knew very little about the political history of the Dominican Republic, I highly recommend this book.
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
No
I loved the story, but didn’t always love the writing. I loved feeling immersed in the DR and the Mirabal family through multiple decades and to learn about the dictatorship and political history from such a person point of view from 4 women was beautiful. If I could give 3.5 stars I would.
This was on the high school summer reading list at my kids’ school and, never having read it, I decided to give it a try. What a powerful story of female revolutionaries in Latin America. I knew very little about these historical events, and even though this is a fictionalized telling, I feel both informed and inspired. I’m glad to know the Mirabel sisters and their incredible story.
UGH. I'll probably write a half-assed review of this book at some point in the future. But since I had to read it for school, I will have to analyse the shit out of it in class, and right now it's the summertime and I don't want to think any more about In the Time of the Butterflies than I absolutely have to.
EDIT 10/15/15: So here's my astoundingly brilliant review... This book sucks. I shouldn't say it sucks, I should say that I didn't like it, but any way you phrase it, this book bored the shit out of me. I could not sympathise with any of the characters and it was more about who married whom and who is pregnant and what all the sisters are wearing who has a weird breastfeeding fetish (swear to god, it was in the book TWICE, I am not making this up).
The writing was quite bad as well- lots of telling and not much showing, and the plot just got swallowed up by the unbelievably insipid tone of the writing. I was expecting sisters banding together to fight an oppressive regime, what I got was a four hundred page account of fashion and periods and giggling and unhappy marriages that nobody does anything about, with an occasional paragraph thrown in to remind the reader that it takes place in the República Dominicana and that bad government stuff is happening. It is so vague when it should be specific and so specific when it should be vague.
I wish I could donate or sell my copy, but I was so frustrated whilst reading it that I scribbled angry annotations all over it. I'll include some pictures of my notes once I figure out how to put my own photos into a review.
EDIT 10/15/15: So here's my astoundingly brilliant review... This book sucks. I shouldn't say it sucks, I should say that I didn't like it, but any way you phrase it, this book bored the shit out of me. I could not sympathise with any of the characters and it was more about who married whom and who is pregnant and what all the sisters are wearing who has a weird breastfeeding fetish (swear to god, it was in the book TWICE, I am not making this up).
The writing was quite bad as well- lots of telling and not much showing, and the plot just got swallowed up by the unbelievably insipid tone of the writing. I was expecting sisters banding together to fight an oppressive regime, what I got was a four hundred page account of fashion and periods and giggling and unhappy marriages that nobody does anything about, with an occasional paragraph thrown in to remind the reader that it takes place in the República Dominicana and that bad government stuff is happening. It is so vague when it should be specific and so specific when it should be vague.
I wish I could donate or sell my copy, but I was so frustrated whilst reading it that I scribbled angry annotations all over it. I'll include some pictures of my notes once I figure out how to put my own photos into a review.
I wish I had read this before "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents", because it gave me much more of an appreciation for Alvarez as a writer. More fiction than historical, it nevertheless gives a window into what it was like during the Trujillo regime.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
Harrowing. Poignant. Heartbreaking.
This book took over my life for a few weeks. For the last 150 pages, I couldn't put it down.
Alvarez gives a fictionalized account of the lives of the Mirabal sisters, who were murdered by Dominican dictator Trujillo in 1960. Over these three hundred pages, we meet and fall in love with Dede, Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa (Mate). We see them grow, marry, have children. In the midst of living their lives, they join the resistance against Trujillo and they and their families are punished accordingly.
The narrative of this novel unfolds in much the same way as Barbara Kingsolver's "Poisonwood Bible." The four sisters each tell their own stories, but our main guide is Dede, the one surviving sister. She tells of her struggle, being the keeper of her martyred sisters' memories and of her journey to make peace with her loss.
Alvarez's narrative unfolds smoothly and naturally. Less is more definitely seemed to be her motto. Her characterizations are so vivid, that the action of each young woman seems to be taking place right next to you.
This work is amazing, beautiful, breathtaking and shattering. It's not exaggerating to say this story is permanently seared into my memory.
This book took over my life for a few weeks. For the last 150 pages, I couldn't put it down.
Alvarez gives a fictionalized account of the lives of the Mirabal sisters, who were murdered by Dominican dictator Trujillo in 1960. Over these three hundred pages, we meet and fall in love with Dede, Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa (Mate). We see them grow, marry, have children. In the midst of living their lives, they join the resistance against Trujillo and they and their families are punished accordingly.
The narrative of this novel unfolds in much the same way as Barbara Kingsolver's "Poisonwood Bible." The four sisters each tell their own stories, but our main guide is Dede, the one surviving sister. She tells of her struggle, being the keeper of her martyred sisters' memories and of her journey to make peace with her loss.
Alvarez's narrative unfolds smoothly and naturally. Less is more definitely seemed to be her motto. Her characterizations are so vivid, that the action of each young woman seems to be taking place right next to you.
This work is amazing, beautiful, breathtaking and shattering. It's not exaggerating to say this story is permanently seared into my memory.
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A