In the Time of the Butterflies

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Summary: The tension is in knowing the inevitable conclusion
Review: Based on the true story of the three Mirabel sisters who were murderedin 1959 at the hands of the Trujillo regime, this 1995 novel by JuliaAlvarez, mixes fact with fiction to bring to life this very darkperiod in the history of the Dominican Republic.

Using alternatingchapters written in the first person by each of the sisters, we watcheach take on distinctive personalities. I identified completely witheach of these women, whose story takes the reader from their childhoodin the late 1930s and includes the voice of the one surviving sisterwho lives to tell the story.

Throughout, there is the hauntingpresence of Trujillo. As young girls, they see him select an olderclassmate to be one of his many mistresses. They hear stories of howhe has murdered all the men in some families. They see how theirfather and the people around them are forced to bend to the dictator'siron will.

The reader gets to know each one of the sisters. Weshare their romances and their hopes and dreams. We see their thirstfor education and the cold hand of repression. We watch the girls fallin love, marry, have babies, and slowly but surely get involved inpolitics. We're right there with them in prison. And we see theircourage and compassion and terrors.

I identified with each one ofthe sisters, and loved the way the author used seemingly simpledetails in beautiful language to constantly reinforce their humanity.The focus is on the women and their extraordinary strength. The malecharacters are handled with less depth and their weaknesses brought tolight. But yet we also see how their culture shapes them all.

As theending is an already-known fact in history, the tension was in theknowing the inevitable and not being able to stop it. For this reasonI tried to read the book slowly, but as it moved along I was hurtledthrough the story in much the same way the characters were hurtledthrough their lives.

It is on the pages of this book that Iencountered some unforgettable characters. And learned some historythat I had been only vaguely aware of before. I therefore give thisbook one of my highest recommendations.

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Summary: The Story of Four Sisters and Their Struggle
Review: Based on actual events, "In the Time of the Butterflies," is a tragic look at the four Mirabal sisters and their struggle to bring an end to the tyrannical regime of the Dominican Republic's most notorious dictator, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Known for his ruthlessness and his ability to make his political enemies disappear without a trace, Trujillo's regime was one of the most brutal in Latin American history.

After taking over the country with the assistance of the military, Trujillo began a campaign of making himself somewhat of a demigod, even renaming the nation's capital from Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo ("Trujillo City"). During this time, four sisters unified the Dominican resistance in trying to bring freedom and justice to that nation. While their husbands suffered in the nation's worst prison, the Mirabal sisters face uncertain perils and repression from Trujillo's henchmen.

While the author doesn't really discuss the main reason for Trujillo's infatuation with one of the sisters, their story is one of the most memorable cases of human rights abuses on record. Trujillo, son of biracial parents, never was accepted into traditional Dominican society due to his skin color. In a country where race plays a very important role in your social standing, this was a slap to the face, and after meeting one of the Mirabal sisters before his ascent to power, and getting rejected by her, it seems like the main motives for their murders was primarily for vengeance.

Told from the point of view of the only sister to survive the accident that claimed the lives of the other three, Dede's view is somewhat blurry to an extent. Seeing that some of the novel has fictional dialogue, it is understandable why the novel moves in a slow, yet respectful approach.

Julia Alvarez, who also wrote "Yo!" and "How the Garcia Sisters Lost Their Accents" is probably the best writer to come out of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean in recent years. A resident of Vermont, Ms. Alvarez is an intelligent, well-researched woman who has given the world works that explore the trials and tribulations faced by many Dominicans on and off the island.

The Mirabal sister's legacy has been remembered worldwide. The date three of the sisters died now has become the United Nation's "International Day Against Violence Towards Women." Also in an ironic twist, one of Dede's sons became Vice-President of the Dominican Republic in 1995 when he and presidential candidate Leonel Fernandez defeated incumbent Joaquin Balaguer in that year's elections. Joaquin Balaguer was Trujillo's protege and right-hand man, and it was at Balaguer's insistance that Trujillo be buried at Paris' Pere LaChaise cemetery (final resting place of "Doors" singer Jim Morrison and author Oscar Wilde) in order to prevent his grave's desecration.

Presently, Mexican superstar Salma Hayek has purchased the rights to this novel, and is currently filming the story of the Mirabal sisters into a motion picture that will air on the Showtime cable network in 2001. Hopefully, Ms. Hayek's film will capture the importance of Ms. Alvarez's novel without leaving out any details. Overall, "In the Time of the Butterflies" is a tragic, yet moving tribute to four heroes and their struggle for liberty in a country where justice, equality, and democracy are all threatened.

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Summary: IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES..AN AMAZING "TIME"
Review: Not since I was a kid in school have I found myself highlighting portions of a book as I did with this one. I found myself laughing and crying outloud. Based on political and historical facts, Ms. Alvarez manages to bring the "Mirabal Butterflies" to splendid and colorful life. It is as if she gives you a bird's eye view of their lives. She brings their youth and their upbringing to life and you are given the opportunity to adore four playful young girls; share the coming of age of four teenagers as they find love and make commitments; four mothers; four political prisoners; four rebels;four wifes and four heroines. When I finished the book, I found myself mourning the loss of these friends and sisters I did not have...until I read the book. I was proud to see the description and examples of the sense of pride and responsibility and honor I, as a hispanic woman, was raised with outlined for all to read and hopefully understand. To learn and understand that the Butterflies were not fearless, quite the opposite affords you an opportunity to respect their actions more so. Bravo!! Ms. Alvarez, muchas gracias.

Rating:
Summary: really great book
Review: i was assigned to read this for my english 9 world lit. class in school.i really enjoyed this book, and wish i could find more on the mirabal sisters, for they seem to be a forgotten part of the DR.although i would have to agree that when at the end of the book she said they were not the true mirabal sisters of legend,for she couldn't find enough info on them,really spoiled it.if this is so how come she thanks dede and minou in the end of it?i think the gringa that goes to visit dede, might have been model after her.i highly recomend this book to everyone. ¡vivans las mariposas!

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Summary: Interesting, explicit and very insightful
Review: Ms. Alvarez eloquently brings to life a group of three sisters that dared stand up for freedom and their beliefs, in a country and in a time when this was not permissable. From my parents, I have heard what a strong grip Rafael Trujillo had on the Dominican Republic, and it's impressive to read about the heroins that risked their lives, and that of their loved ones, to speak out for their country's freedom and independence from dictorship.

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Summary: Julia's best!
Review: This novel is by far my favorite from Ms. Alvarez. I have interviewed Ms. Alvarez for Urban Latino Magazine. She is truly a great writer and deserves more credit, coverage, and praise, as do other Latino authors, such as Junot Diaz and Cristina Garcia. Ms. Alvarez weaves her tales expertly, giving the reader insight into her characters that most other authors do not. This book, and her new novel, "In the Name of Salome" introduce us to real characters and concepts from a history that we are not taught in school, that of the Dominican Republic and of Latin America.

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Summary: QUE VIVAN LAS MARIPOSAS : LONG LIVE THE BUTTERFLIES
Review: EVERY NATION HAS THEIR NATIONAL HEROES BUT FEW SURPASS THE COURAGE AND LOVE EXIHIBITED BY LAS HERMANAS MIRABAL. ALVAREZ'S MARKED STYLE OF HOPSCOTCHING BETWEEN CHARACTERS IS SO CONDUCIVE TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS NOVEL. YOU COME TO KNOW ALL FOUR SISTER'S (DID YOU KNOW THERE WERE 4) INTAMATELY , THEIR HOPES , FEARS AND FLAWS. THE CHAPTER THAT RECOUNTS THEIR DEATH WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS AND IN TEARS BECAUSE THROUGH OUT THE NOVEL YOU GOT KNOW THE SISTERS AS IF THEY WERE YOUR OWN.

THE NOVEL'S IMPRESSION IS LONG LASTING AND YOU WILL WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE TRULY COURAGEOUS WOMEN.

ALVAREZ BEST NOVEL TO DATE AND BELIEVE ME IVE READ THEM ALL.

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Summary: A MUST READ BOOK!
Review: It is great. The lives of each one of the Mirabel girls in the book touches you and you live each one of their lives as you read. It is moving, touching and a great book. It will make you feel glad that you are not in their world, but then again, make you wish you were there with them and fought their battle with them.

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Summary: Sisters Struggles
Review: I thouroughly enjoyed this book. From the start I became a part of the realistic and vivid adventures of the Mirabel sisters. The characters and situations were so realistic and brought the book to a personal level. The courage and determination of the characters inspires me greatly. The unbreakable tie that binds the sisters through good and bad is amazing. This tie is not only shared by sisters but with people that "the butterflies" encounter along the way. Their devotion to oneanother aids them through tragic times.

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Summary: Beautiful!
Review: I just loved this book.. it's become one of my favorites.. I've bought it 3 times and given it to different friends (who never return it) and they have all loved it too. I liked it even better than the Garcia Girls and Yo!

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