In the Time of the Butterflies

I have read Ms. Alvarez' other book, How The Garcia Girls lost their accents, and it definitely was not my cup of tea. I had to read it in the fall for school and was not a huge fan of the story. This book,however, is another story. I loved how all of the characters were so different and relatable, with many layers unfolding as the novel continued on, as as the drama built up until the climax. I originally had to read this book for summer reading, and was disappointed; but I am so lucky that I read this book. I have annotated my first copy, then bought a second. I just think the Mirabel sisters are amazing, especially for someone as myself who had no idea about the DR and it's history. This was my first book of the summer, and the first chapter definitely sets in. This is the kind of book where you take in every single word and it paints a beautiful picture in your mind, which is what Julia has done here. I highly recommend this book, and also the discussion guide included also gives great points to think and talk about. Long live the Mariposas!!

I had to read this book in high school and I strongly disliked it. Sure, the story is interesting, but if you want to truly learn about what happened in the Dominican Republic during Trujillo's rule, I'm not sure if this is for you. The whole "character development" part was taken almost a little bit too far, as there were some depictions of sex written way too often and they were honestly unnecessary. They did not add to the plot and they made me feel really gross about reading this in class. I wanted to learn about the Dominican Republic, not who these girls were flirting with or who they were having sex with. Reading a diary is fine if you want random details that are unimportant and small plot lines here and there that have no point, but if you are buying this for informational text then this will disappoint you.

Also, please do not have your 10th grade students read this- it's going to make them really uncomfortable.

All the characters in this book are two dimensional. While the narrators switch from chapter to chapter, they all sound the same. There is not historical context around the era, the country, the government regime...and really barely any context on the main villain Trujillo. Just a very, very poorly written book that was superficial and boring.

If you read the first chapter of books to determine if you like it, you would like the first chapter of this book.
After that you will be searching for a story line, and a way of writing that keeps you turning pages. Just not a very good read.

I am sad that I didn't like this book more. It had promise. But I wanted to connect with the characters more, wanted to feel their emotions. I didn't. I think that there was too much going on in this book and I didn't relate to their culture enough to "get it". But she seemed to gloss over things.. She's give you something and then not go in to detail---like Dede's breast cancer...this poor woman lost all her sisters AND succumbed to breast cancer? Or the pairing of the sisters with their eventual husbands was so quick. I wanted to know more about the underground activities these girls were really involved in besides Minera's outspokenness. I wanted to know more about their prison time. This had the potential but I kept finding myself wanting to know the end of the story since it was told to me at the beginning, that they would die. I also didn't like the switching back from each person's voice and time period...it was hard to follow and contributed to not being to fully connect with the characters. I connected probably with Dede the most, and maybe that was the point? Then why go in to Mate's diary? I wish it was a better book. I really do.

I was hoping to like this book but found it a little plodding. Unlike Junot Diaz's Mirabel sisters who are portrayed as larger than life, the sisters in this book are domestic and petty and seem to stumble upon their revolutionary status. I liked the intimate portrayals of El Jefe (a great intimate study in megalomania!), but he along with the schoolmate who fell in love with him early on in the book ended up being my favorite characters.

I would have preferred to spend more time hearing from the savvy, guilt-ridden reflective voice of Dede, rather than Maria Theresa or Patria. I would have preferred to hear some reflection from Dede period. As it is, the book is told in in-the-moment journal entries that are absolutely realistic but plodding. All throughout the book, you know what's coming, but in the end Alvarez doesn't even give us the dramatic ending we've been waiting for! Dede has to tell us about it in an anti-climactic epilogue.

Inspired by the true story of the three Maribal sisters in the Dominican Republic during Trujillos dictatorship.The three sisters were killed because they were part of an underground plot to over throw the government., but it was made to look like a car accident.
What they don’t mention is that a fourth sister was spared because she refused to make that trip with the other three sisters. They were known as Las Mariposas- the Butterflies 🦋
While this story is based on true events, the author uses her fictional storytelling to give readers the 4 different points of view from all of the sisters at different points of time , leading up to the “accident”.

Patria- the oldest , very into her religion and raising her kids
Dedé- the soul surviving sister , the level headed an reliable one.
Minerva- the activist and one of the founder of the underground movement. Brave and outspoken.
Maria Teresa- the baby of the 4 that so badly wants to be a freedom fighter.

I personally resonated with Minerva, there were times in the book where her mouth gets her in trouble and her blunt honesty is something I admired. This book also really interested me because like the four Mirabal sisters, I too am very close with my 3 sisters. You get to see what lengths they go to just to protect each other and fight for what is right during a time of political oppression.
I didn’t know much about the Dominican Republic other than it’s nice beaches and tropical weather so this was a really good opportunity for me to learn about their history.

The only reason I didn’t give it a 5/5 was because the 4 points of view were hard to keep up with and a bit confusing if you don’t pay attention. Also, I found it weird that the sisters married their primos (cousins).

I'm afraid I found the writing - putting words in the mouths of the teenage girls, especially - did not make them seem real to me. All young girls write insipidly, so this may have been realistic, but it lessened the impact of the tragedy for me. These were real young women - who cared deeply about a movement for freedom from dictatorship - but that just did come through, due to the choice of voice used by the author. It diminished their loss for me. It became maudlin.

Found little of value in this book. I enjoy reading for philosophical and intellectual expansion and this just didn't do it. If I cared to learn about the Dominican Republic under Trujillo I would rather read a historical nonfiction than this.

Either way, this book falls short, but if you begin to read with the expectation that this is meant for young adults, you may be able to see past many of the shortcomings.  Please know that in the history of the Dominican Republic, there were indeed three very courageous sisters that inspired a nation with their fortitude and patriotism! I commend Ms Alvarez for choosing to tell the story of these women,  but I was disappointed in her story-telling. 

If I were to begin to read this book with the expectation that Alvarez was writing for the benefit of young adults, I might overlook her simplistic and brief development of the Dominican Republic's Trujillo's dictatorship.  Yes, we know that most dictators are cruel and hateful, reigning with fear and terror. However, for her readers, she did not create that world so that we could feel the outrage on behalf the Dominicans! How are we to understand how these sisters could be drawn into the world of the opposition?  In addition, she  mentions how inspiring Cuba's Fidel Castro is to the Dominican people!  How does that help us to understand that Dictator Trujillo must be ousted? 

As for the writing itself, I found it lacking.  At first, I thought that the author was using "broken English" to add to the authenticity that this was a story from a different part of the world.  If that was the author's purpose, it was taken too far, because it became increasingly distracting and at some point, took away from my understanding and enjoyment.  I know it isn't Alvarez's command of the language because in the postscript she wrote very eloquently!

In addition, Spanish words were used that I could not glean their meaning from the context. I kept feeling like I was missing something important! I understand that in many cases the use of foreign word/phrase is much more meaningful and that the use of English would not do the story justice, but the reader should be able to insinuate a meaning! 

I also would have loved to learn more about the Dominican people and their culture! 

Finally, Alvarez did not develop the characters of Maria and Patria enough to explain their immense courage, especially when they denied release from prison! In Maria's case, I understood that she had no interest in the opposition's movements until a very handsome man came into the picture and then suddenly this soft, tender woman is hiding weaponry in her home!

 Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful to know of the Las Mariposas and will seek to learn more about these "Butterflies"!