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Saving the World

julia alvarez

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Latina novelist Alma Huebner is suffering from writer's block and is years past the completion date for yet another of her bestselling family sagas. Her husband, Richard, works for a humanitarian organization dedicated to the health and prosperity of developing countries and wants her help on an extended AIDS assignment in the Dominican Republic. But Alma begs off joining the publisher is breathing down her neck. She promises to work hard and follow him a bit later.

The truth is that Alma is seriously sidetracked by a story she has stumbled across. It's the story of a much earlier medical do-gooder, Spaniard Francisco Xavier Balmis, who in 1803 undertook to vaccinate the populations of Spain's American colonies against smallpox. To do this, he required live "carriers" of the vaccine.

Of greater interest to Alma is Isabel Sendales y Gómez, director of La Casa de Expósitos, who was asked to select twenty-two orphan boys to be the vaccine carriers. She agreed— with the stipulation that she would accompany the boys on the proposed two-year voyage. Her strength and courage inspire Alma, who finds herself becoming obsessed with the details of Isabel's adventures.

This resplendent novel-within-a-novel spins the disparate tales of two remarkable women, both of whom are swept along by machismo. In depicting their confrontation of the great scourges of their respective eras, Alvarez exposes the conflict between altruism and ambition.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7,2006

This edition

Format
384 pages, Hardcover
Published
April 7, 2006 by A Shannon Ravenel Book
ISBN
9781565125100
ASIN
156512510X
Language
English

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About the author

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julia alvarez

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Julia Alvarez left the Dominican Republic for the United States in 1960 at the age of ten. She is the author of six novels, three books of nonfiction, three collections of poetry, and eleven books for children and young adults. She has taught and mentored writers in schools and communities across America and, until her retirement in 2016, was a writer-in-residence at Middlebury College. Her work has garnered wide recognition, including a Latina Leader Award in Literature from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the Hispanic Heritage Award in Literature, the Woman of the Year by Latina magazine, and inclusion in the New York Public Library's program “The Hand of the Poet: Original Manuscripts by 100 Masters, from John Donne to Julia Alvarez.” In the Time of the Butterflies, with over one million copies in print, was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts for its national Big Read program, and in 2013 President Obama awarded Alvarez the National Medal of Arts in recognition of her extraordinary storytelling.

Photo copyright by Brandon Cruz González
EL VOCERO DE PUERTO RICO

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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
heyhoeudoin
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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A truly fascinating story unfolds, one that intertwines two different time periods. In the past, there was a Spanish expedition with a rather controversial mission. They aimed to bring a smallpox vaccine to the Spanish colonies, but in a rather unusual way - via live carriers, specifically orphans. This practice, while perhaps seen as a means to an end at that time, raises many ethical questions.


Fast forward to the present, and we have a story of a writer who is grappling with writing a novel. She is facing numerous challenges and is in a state of creative turmoil. Meanwhile, her husband has gone to the Dominican Republic to manage a sustainable agriculture project. The two stories seem to be worlds apart, but as the narrative progresses, unexpected connections start to emerge.


As the writer delves deeper into her novel, she discovers elements that mirror the events of the Spanish expedition. This parallelism adds an interesting layer to the story, blurring the lines between past and present. Will the writer be able to overcome her writing block and bring her novel to life? And what will be the impact of her husband's work in the Dominican Republic on their relationship? These are just some of the questions that keep the reader engaged and eager to find out more.

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Profile Image for Kimberly .
Coldonylum
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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A double story unfolds before us.

One part is based on a true account of a Spanish woman in the 19th century. She accompanied 22 orphans who were serially vaccinated with live smallpox to Central and South America.

The other part involves the narrator, who is very similar to Julia Alvarez, a writer in residence at Middlebury College in Vermont. Her husband goes to Haiti to offer help after the floods. Additionally, her older woman neighbor friend is also part of this story.

I have always had a deep love for her books. For example, "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent", which is based on her family's immigration from the Dominican Republic to the US, and "In the Time of Butterflies" are both remarkable works.

These stories not only captivate the readers but also provide a profound insight into different cultures and human experiences.
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doubtfullemming
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I've read a couple of books regarding the endeavor to wipe out smallpox. However, I had never before heard about Balmis' campaign to introduce smallpox vaccination to the Americas.

Alvarez's way of telling this story really appealed to me. It was fascinating to learn about this historical event that had such a significant impact.

Nevertheless, I had somewhat mixed emotions when it came to the account of the modern epidemic and the life of an aid worker. While it was no doubt an important aspect to include, it didn't quite engage me in the same way as the story of Balmis.

Next time I pick up a book like this, I think I'll simply skip those parts that don't hold my interest as much.

Overall, I would still very much enjoy discussing this book with a book group. There are so many interesting points and perspectives to explore, and I'm sure it would lead to some lively and thought-provoking conversations.
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J4rra
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I ordered this book from the library simply because I have a great liking for the author. As it turns out, it proves to be an excellent read during the pandemic.

Saving the World delves into the remarkable measures taken to distribute the smallpox vaccine globally. It involves the use of orphan boys who are inoculated in pairs, with the pustules from the previously vaccinated boys being used - in a tag-team fashion - throughout long ocean voyages. This story intertwines with the account of a frustrated writer whose husband is engaged in AIDS research in the Dominican Republic.

At times, I was frustrated with the book. It seemed to go into excessive detail on certain subjects while then skipping over essential ones. And I was a bit confused at times. A map depicting the stops along the journey would have been highly beneficial. However, despite these drawbacks, I found myself compelled by the book. Even though I did skim-read some sections, it still managed to hold my attention and interest.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging read that offers a unique perspective on both the historical efforts to combat smallpox and the personal struggles of the characters involved.
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AnnaVk
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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This belongs to that hit or miss category of novel which attempts to connect a contemporary story, deeply rooted in the modern woes of a writer/journalist, with the subject of her historical research.

The novel then becomes the story of two women from vastly different circumstances and eras, and gradually their stories start to merge. However, the great risk in writing a novel with such distinct story lines is that one will inevitably be far more compelling than the other. Such is precisely the case with "Saving the World".

The story involving an expedition of twenty-two orphan boys and their guardian, Isabel Sendales y Gomez, on a 19th-century quest to rid the world of smallpox, is truly a fascinating one. Isabel is a complex and courageous woman, and the circumstances surrounding her create a compelling plot line. By contrast, the story of Alma Huebner, a novelist pulled into Isabel's story amidst a mid-life crisis and writer's block, is far less riveting.

Where things really go awry, as they so often do in these narrative duets, is when the author attempts, either through plot or theme, to intersect the lives of the lead protagonists. What was initially believable then turns into a silly coincidence. Plot twists feel forced into shape, leaving the reader to divest themselves of any connection they might have once felt for the modern characters.

Alvarez is indeed a skilled writer. However, I think she attempted to do far too much with this story. She didn't seem to trust in the original inspiration for the story (a footnote on the Royal Smallpox Expedition that had been turned away from the Dominican Republic) to carry the novel. It should be noted that not every novelist can take on historical fiction in a truly compelling way. Nevertheless, Alvarez is more than up to the task.

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fluffsnake
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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This book offers a profound exploration into the intense clash that exists between the noble ideals of healing humanity and the unethical politics that pervade global health.

Isabel finds herself in a desperate struggle, fighting tooth and nail for the rights of the children. These innocent boys are in a perilous situation, running the constant risk of being callously discarded the moment they have served their purpose.

Alma, on the other hand, emerges as the powerful voice of the Dominicans. They are being unjustly exploited for clinical trials of HIV vaccines that are developed by North American pharmaceutical companies in first-world countries.

I am deeply moved by the silent condemnation of the hypocrisy that lies within the so-called philanthropic endeavors of capitalist countries. There is a nagging question that constantly weighs on my mind: why is it always the most unfortunate and helpless among us who are the victims of immoral exploitation?

This, in a sense, serves as a reflection of the increasingly capitalistic attitude towards healthcare. It involves a heartless trading in the human misery of those whose only simple longing is to be treated as human beings.

Even the nobler souls like Dr. Balmis and Richard, who set their hearts on saving the world, ultimately have to yield to the bureaucracy of a world that is so fixated on saving its own lives at the expense of others'.
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
dnllsr
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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A Latina writer is grappling with depression and the inability to complete a contracted novel. While her husband departs for the Dominican Republic, her homeland, to oversee an environmental project, she remains in Vermont.

Her focus then veers away from the multigenerational Latina saga she was meant to pen and instead zeroes in on the story of a woman. This woman is a preceptress of an orphanage in Spain and participates in an expedition from 1803 - 1805 to transport a smallpox vaccination across the globe.

In both these narratives, the main characters have to strike a balance between their urge to "save the world" and their commitments to their personal loved ones.

This is a rather strong novel, as recommended by Darlene. However, for some reason, its style didn't quite resonate with me on a personal level. Maybe it was the pacing, or perhaps the way the characters were developed. Nonetheless, it's a novel that has its merits and is worth considering for those interested in exploring complex themes and diverse storylines.
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DerExcelsior
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I know I've reviewed this book, but evidently Goodreads ate it up!

I truly enjoyed this book which is told from two different points of view (POVs) and set in two very distinct eras.

The 19th century era protagonist was particularly captivating. It was utterly fascinating to envision being on a ship filled with little boys who were transporting the smallpox vaccine across the sea to the new world.

I can understand what Alvarez was attempting to achieve with the parallels drawn between Alma and Isabel. However, Isabel was just so much more likeable.

She had a charm and a personality that really drew me in. Overall, it was a good read that kept me engaged from start to finish.

I would recommend it to others who enjoy historical fiction with multiple storylines and well-developed characters.

The different eras added an interesting layer to the narrative, and the way the two stories intertwined was quite clever.

Despite my slight preference for Isabel's character, both POVs contributed to a rich and engaging reading experience.

I'm glad I picked up this book and look forward to reading more from Alvarez in the future.
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