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Summary: read only if bored
Review: I had to read this book for an english paper, and I didn't like it at all. I could barely finish it. It just seemed like it went on and on about one thing forever, and another thing would happen.
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Summary: Review of In the Time of the Butterflies
Review: In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez is based on the true story of three Mirabal sisters who were murdered in 1960 becuase of their part in a plot to overthrow the government. The book is set during the rise of the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. This book is not only a statement about politics, but a story of girls going through every day issues and eventually becoming women. Throughout the novel the narrator changes, showing the different perspectives of the four sisters. Brave Minerva, faithful Patria, timid Dede, and the baby, Maria Teresa. The novel is able to skillfully depict the difficulty of everyday life under a harsh dictator, and the courage of the Mirabal sisters, that we all strive to possess. It keeps you enthralled from the first page, and is a hard book to put down.
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Summary: in the time of the butterflies
Review: It is one of the best literary works I have ever read. It is inspiring and motiviting. The mirabal sisters were truly martyrs.
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Summary: Invited to my book collection of excellent women writers!
Review: I love the work of Angeles Mastretta, Isabel Allende, and Marcela Serrano. This was the first novel I read of Julia Alvarez and definetly will not be the last. I am a PH.D student in Economics with no time to read for pleasure. However, I could not put this book down. I recommend this book to any women who likes reading about the relationship between friends/sisters. Also, the historical setting allowed me to begin to understand the dictatorship of Trujillo. I think Julia Alvarez has accomplished her job of educating north americans on this dark time period in the history of the D.Republic.
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Summary: Praise for In the Time of the Butterflies
Review: The novel In the time of the butterflies is an inspiring story of rebellion and truth. It is about standing up for what is right, even if the outcome of your pains is not always in your favor. Julia Alvarez writes in a way that shows four young women as down-to-earth individuals, not only as the heroic freedom fighters they are. Julia Alvarez is one of the most fabulous writers of today!
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Summary: Great! Wonderful! Excellent read!
Review: I won't get lengthy in my comments. All I'll say is this book was incredible! My aunt gave it to me, and I always know anything she gives me is going to be wonderful. I couldn't put it down! I laughed and cried and got angry all in one book! If you love to read, this is a must have for your shelf!
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Summary: Becoming a Mirabel
Review: Reading about the Mirabel sisters brought them closer to life than I would expect. Not only could I fully imagine them, I felt like they became part of my family, like Dede, Mate, Minerva or Patricia would ask me for opinion or something. This made the tragic truth even more painful. I cried like I lost a family member.
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Summary: Women on the Uprise
Review: I love that this book is written from what is supposed to be the perspective of the four sisters. Each gives their own voice about how their involvment in the revolution against the Trujillo dictatorship. I also like that these women were real characters, not just caricatures of people. They had their flaws and they were truly human.
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Summary: Could Have Been Better...
Review: I received this book from my school as a summer reading book, and promptly attempted to read it. Unfortunately, the story of the Mirabel sisters was so hard to read in the format Ms. Alvarez wrote the book in that I was unable to stick with it. The childhood of the four girls is over in ten pages, but then the time of the book slows down, and each girl has a perspective on one event. Alvarez' portrayal of Maria Theresa in particular was childish, even after she was eightteen. The voice of a person in their writing will change over the years. Patria was melodramatic to the point where one wants to hit her (or the author), and tell her to get a grip. Also, the fact that the sisters were martyrs was drummed into my head so many times, while many other avenues of the personalities of the Mirabel sisters.
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Summary: Mesmerizing and brilliant
Review: This book is the best book I have ever read. Julia Alvarez brings power and emotion to the lives of the Mirabal sisters. Her writing style, almost identical to How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, adds so much to each of the sisters and their lives. She makes legends real. The beginning of the book is a little rough to read but as you familiarize yourself with the sisters, the story becomes more and more simple. This is destined to become a classic. After reading this, I was greatly interested in the Mirabal sisters, and it sparked my interest in the horrors of living under Trujillo. Before reading How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents and this one, I had no idea how horrible it was. After reading this, be prepared to care.
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