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What are readers saying about In the Time of the Butterflies?
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-25 06:09:50.
(Language: English)
 
Such a compelling story. This was such a good book, I could not put it down. I will definitely read this one again at some point.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-06-18 04:59:50.
(Language: English)
I LOVE this book! It makes me wonder if I would have the courage these three women had! I thought this was wonderful historical fiction. It gave a sense of what living in a dictatorship might be like from the perspective of an average family through the lives of a family with four daughters. It tells of their lives from childhood through the end of their lives. Based on four real women.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-23 11:33:59.
(Language: English)
Excelente historia. Relata la historia de las hermanas Mirabal en la era de Trujillo.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-16 09:07:31.
(Language: English)
I read this book a few years ago, and it was one of the saddest books I've ever read. (I like sad books, so sad = good.) It's about 4 sisters who are revolutionaries in the Dominican Republic, and the narration switches so that all 4 points of view are given. You know from the beginning that only 1 sister survives, but reading their story to that point is still shocking and heartbreaking. It's fiction, but based on a true story with the gaps filled in imaginatively.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-14 06:27:03.
(Language: English)
This novel should be included in every literature class in high school. The Mirabal Sisters, or las Mariposas/the Butterflies, fearlessly entered a revolution as strong women with the intent to reclaim their country and overthrow General Trujillo (Dominican Republic). Although they paid with their lives, their martyrdom ignited an international movement to combat violence against women, particularly politcal violence. Thanks to Julia Alvarez, who actually retraced and relived each sister's footsteps throughout the Island, we now possess their unwritten history. This novel explores each sister's story through their respective voices, even that of the surviving sister. Everyone should read this book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-16 11:47:49.
(Language: English)
This is a very interesting book. All the way through it you know how it will end and you so badly want to change history. I liked it way more than I thought I would.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-06-21 06:00:51.
(Language: English)
I really did not expect to enjoy this book, especially since I read it for class in college. But I was really moved by the story. I really enjoyed the narrations by the different Mirabal sisters, and it really helped to bring to life their story, struggle, and the tyranny in the Dominican under which they lived and died. Great way of getting some history and making the individuals seem real, thus making you more outraged at their tragedy.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-24 09:54:43.
(Language: Spanish)
Maravillosa historia de las hermanas Mirabal durante Trujillo en Santo Domingo. Aclaro que no es la historia real aunque la autora la basó en la información histórica de la familia y del mismo Chivo. Muy entretenido...
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-28 08:30:17.
(Language: English)
A wonderful writer but this book just wasn't for me - only got half way through.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-06 09:08:03.
(Language: English)
Such an excellent read! Well written and really touching.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-29 03:32:50.
(Language: English)
Am currently reading this harrowing tale of conviction and courage during the Trujillo nightmare in the Dominican Republic. Tremendous.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-16 09:03:41.
(Language: English)
A touching and gripping story
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-09-11 08:12:20.
(Language: English)
Me lo he devorado en unas cuantas noches... la narrativa es ágil y con pasajes intensos. En mi mente ya vuela la imagen de las mariposas.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-17 03:10:53.
(Language: English)
amazing amazing amazing....(her)story is often never told, and often when it is is, it's a collection of uncritical and sentimental reproductions abouut the essence of womanhood.... Julia Alvarez's book, however, tells herstory in a way that is at once unapologetic for feminising the resistance to a revolution, but still maintains a level of objectivity about the really hard life-death choices that both men&women must make when fighting for freedom! Like many others who read the book, I cried (often), and towards the end, meandering with the girls towards their death, my frustration was the realisation they were about to die and I was there witnessing this but was powerless...yep, I felt as much a part of the book as I felt a reader thereof! Brilliant xxx
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-05 03:21:03.
(Language: English)
I researched the true story behind the book after reading it. I was amazed by the political detail in this fiction novel, especially regarding Communism and even the Castro brothers' and Che Guevera's influence on the political climate in Dominican Republic during the 1960s. Or the relationship with Haiti. Got me thinking definitely. Aside from that, the beautiful story of the sisters, their lives, and their sacrifice. I cried as I read every page as fast as I could. Growing up with a sister is like nothing else. Julia Alvarez' writing is descriptive, yet there is a lot of dialogue. In writing I believe that is hard to do; show the setting through dialogue. And what tense scenes, when revolution is near and it is real and the characters react as you or I might. Mariposa is the perfect symbol for these women.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-18 09:09:22.
(Language: English)
true, but stressful
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-15 01:43:50.
(Language: English)
A fictionalized account of the real Dominican heroines, the Mariposa sisters, who become revolutionaries in their country when they saw the evils that were being perpetuated by Trujillo. Told from their four different points of view throughout their childhoods and into their adulthoods as wives and mothers (similar to the Poisonwood Bible in the POV's). It's amazing to think how these traditionally brought up young women transformed themselves into revolutionaries.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-06 09:38:15.
(Language: English)
I really enjoyed this book. Many years before I read this book I took a class in Latin American Studies. We explored the history of many South American, Carribean, and Central American countries as well as Mexico. This book parallels the era of Trujillo. It grabs you and drops you in the midst of the agonizing dictatorship and adds you to the familia de Mirabel and their lovely las mariposas quatro. You cry, fight, argue, tease, flirt, and fear just as if you were la quinta mariposa. Alvarez did a fine job where, as usual, the movie just can't match the potency of the words on paper. Enjoy this one!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-31 01:52:13.
(Language: English)
Es estúpendo!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-31 08:40:30.
(Language: French)
a lire absolument , une histoire de femmes d une meme famille vivant la dictature a st domingue, un livre d aventure plus ou moin biographique mais absolument prenant
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-09 04:03:36.
(Language: English)
This historical fiction takes us to the Dominican Republic during Trujillo's dictatorship. Alvarez's courageous story inspired by the lives of the three Mirabel sisters, who were part of the underground revolution attempting to overthrow Trujillo, effectively communicates the societal and political complexities of the time. Readers will feel the character's despair and hope as they fight to live in a free country. The tough choices they make are frightening and inspiring. The author makes you feel as if you are part of the revolution. At times, you have close the book and remind yourself it's not happening to you.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-16 02:24:29.
(Language: English)
This was a summer reading book. It was kinda bad, but what else do you expect for summer reading. Very boring, but got better towards the end.
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Rosa posted a review at 2010-03-18 11:03:32.
(Language: English)
Although I was a bit dissapointed that this was not the true story of Las Mariposas, I nevertheless liked the book, and it prompted me to want to read more about las Hermanas Mirabal. I could not keep from crying when I was reading the epilogue. The Spanish translation was not good; I found myself having to read some parts over and over to try to make sense of it. I wish I would have read it in English instead. But it was a good book overall.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-19 09:07:43.
(Language: English)
Es importante conocer de personas que dieron sus vidas para que nosotros disfrutemos de la libertad que gozamos hoy, el libro es un bello homenaje a estas mujeres valientes
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-25 01:58:48.
(Language: English)
this book is definately historically innovating, moving, and very deeply captivating. talks about female empowerment when it was still considered out of place for women to be educated and strong, and shows how powerful words truly are against those who wrong many based on politics, money, and power!
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