I had a really hard time establishing a connection with this book.

To be honest, a significant portion of it appeared to be overwritten. It seemed as if the author was squeezing out every single bit of emotion, which ended up dragging the story along.

However, when I got close to the end, the story finally managed to hold its own. In fact, it turned out to be a truly wonderful story – well worth the read.

I particularly liked the two threads of the story that the author wove together. She did an excellent job of mirroring the early story in the modern one.

I firmly believe that this aspect was the absolute best part of the book. It added depth and complexity, making the reading experience all the more engaging and enjoyable.

Overall, despite the initial struggle, I'm glad I stuck with it and discovered the beauty within this story.

Saving the World took me on a journey that I was completely unprepared for.

It was the journey of mid-life crisis and depression.

This is a truly beautiful story that involves two women in different time periods. They are both dealing with the difficulties of being alone in a bustling world.

The historical and medical perspectives presented in the story are quite interesting. However, the depression of the main character made it a bit challenging for me to fully relate to her.

Overall, I would still recommend this to women who are compassionate and are in the process of learning to deal with reaching a certain level of maturity.

It offers valuable insights and can perhaps serve as a source of inspiration or comfort for those going through similar experiences.

Even though I had some difficulties connecting with the main character's depression, I believe the story as a whole has much to offer and can touch the hearts of many women.

What truly strikes me about this book is the remarkable amount of it that I still recall a significant time after having read it.

Surprisingly, it didn't initially have a profound impact on me. I did find it to be an enjoyable read, yet not one that completely captivated my attention.

However, the way in which the voyage to distribute the smallpox vaccination across the globe, with the use of orphans as live carriers, was juxtaposed with the modern-day AIDS crisis was highly effective.

This novel may not have a fast-paced narrative, but it is undeniably provocative. It has had a lasting ripple-effect that has stayed with me.

I wholeheartedly recommend it. (Bonus: The format, which seamlessly weaves the modern story together with the historical one, makes it extremely convenient to read in small segments!)

It's a book that, despite its initial lack of immediate impact, leaves a lasting impression and offers valuable insights into both historical and contemporary issues.

I am on the verge of finishing this book and have made an interesting discovery.

There are two female characters in the story, and each chapter alternates between them. The interesting part is that Alma appears to be a far more lively and realistic character. However, in these particular chapters, Julia Alvarez makes rather blatant statements to draw parallels between Alma's situation and that of the other character, Isabel. It feels a bit like the show-and-tell activity in kindergarten. It seems a bit excessive in its attempt to force the connection between the two stories.

Personally, I would have preferred the book to focus on just one of the characters, with less explicit telling and more implicit showing. Nevertheless, having said that, the book is not terrible. It's just not the kind of read that I would consider one of my favorites, the kind that I simply can't put down.

Overall, while the book has its merits, it also has some aspects that could have been handled better to make it a more engaging and captivating read.

I really liked this book, but it didn't have that certain something that made me completely hooked.

There was never a moment when I simply couldn't put it down. I read it at a fairly quick pace mainly because it was a rather easy read and I didn't have much else to do at that time.

The historical parts of the book were quite interesting. However, I have no idea if they are true as I haven't done any research on the subject yet. The modern parts were also engaging.

I had some difficulties relating to the main character. She is 49 years old and I'm only 25, maybe that's the issue. She seemed rather uninteresting to me as she was constantly complaining throughout the book. Moreover, she never took any real steps to improve her situation. I don't know, she was just a tough character for me to get into.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Isabel and her story. She was a total badass for her time!

I did feel that this book was quite predictable. I could almost guess the ending from the very beginning. It just seemed so obvious where the story was going to lead.

I mostly bought this book because I had read "In the Time of the Butterflies" which completely blew me away and I have read it multiple times since. It's such a great book! I guess I was expecting the same level of writing in this one, but unfortunately, it wasn't there for me.

A fascinating book so far...

It has alternating chapters of a present-day writer and her husband, and chapters of a book that she's writing about a Spanish scientist. The scientist sailed into The New World with a ship full of orphans and the rectoress to help stop the spread of smallpox. This concept is truly very interesting!

As I read on, this one definitely grew on me. However, I'm still not entirely sure that I liked Alma, the protagonist of the story taking place in Vermont.

It was quite unusual and captivating to have a book that was essentially two novels in one. I thoroughly enjoyed and empathized with Isabel, the rectoress, and her journey with Don Francisco, the doctor and scientist. His passion was to cure the world of the deadly smallpox.

The parallels between Alma's husband, Richard, who traveled to Alma's own country to "do good" in the green movement, and the doctor whom Isabel admired but with whom she never got close, were very interesting. Likewise, the parallels of Alma and Isabel sailing along both figurative and literal seas added another layer of depth to the story.

Overall, this is a very well-written book. I also appreciate that Alvarez wove in the plight of the people in the D.R., whose lives are burdened with injustices and comparisons to which their daily experiences pale in comparison.

The connection between contemporary and historic times holds great potential for being interesting. It not only involves the exploration of how the past has influenced the present but also delves into the fascinating realm of linguistic and psychological issues.

Comparing the original English with the Spanish can offer unique insights. It allows us to see the differences and similarities in language structures, idiomatic expressions, and cultural connotations.

Well, I have never perused this author's other literary works. Therefore, it is rather strange to read about a renowned author grappling with writer's block. Both writers, however, seem to find a way to surmount their personal difficulties by reaching out to others. This act of reaching out might involve seeking inspiration from different sources, collaborating with fellow writers, or simply sharing their thoughts and feelings with a trusted confidant.

It is through these interactions and connections that they are able to break free from the constraints of their writer's block and continue to create beautiful and meaningful works of literature.

This is an extremely interesting study that delves deep into the lives of two women and how they interact with the men in their respective orbits.

One of the women is wholeheartedly dedicated to the noble cause of "saving the world." She is driven by a passion that consumes her every waking moment, as she tirelessly works towards making a positive impact on a global scale.

The other woman, on the other hand, takes a more traditional approach. She stands firmly by her husband's side, offering unwavering support as he endeavors to save his own small corner of the world.

Listening to the inner dialogue of each woman as she navigates through the challenges and joys of life is truly fascinating. It provides a unique insight into their thoughts, fears, and dreams.

The interplay between the two women adds an extra layer of complexity to the story, making it all the more engaging and captivating.

I thoroughly enjoyed this study and truly appreciate the author's ability to provide such a realistic and thought-provoking ending. It leaves the reader with much to ponder and reflect upon.

Overall, it is a remarkable piece of work that offers a fresh perspective on the lives of women and their relationships with the men around them.

Saving the World was an interesting book. However, it didn't quite measure up to some of Alvarez's other works like How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, In The Time of the Butterflies, In the Name of Salomé, or ¡Yo!.

There were numerous disparate plot threads that seemed to lack a full connection. Similar to In the Name of Salomé, Alvarez uses alternating Arabic and Roman-numeraled chapters to tell two stories in different timelines. But in this case, one of the stories is fictional even within the already-fictional world. Alma, the main character of the Arabic-numeraled story, is writing the Roman-numeraled story.

Isabel's story, the novel-within-the-novel, is the strongest aspect of the book. It would have been even more powerful if it could have been expanded to fill an entire book instead of just half. There is a significant amount of summarizing in her later chapters, and it would have been better if they were more fleshed-out.

On the other hand, Alma's story has three different semi-interesting plotlines that feel rather unnaturally thrown together. A story about neighbors helping their dying friend could have been engaging. So could one about an AIDS clinic/green center/terrorists in the Dominican Republic. And perhaps one about mentally ill activists threatening people with "psychic AIDS" and "monkey pox" could have worked. It seems that the Isabel chapters should have been a full novel, and the Alma chapters could have been a series of (maybe) interconnected short stories, much like ¡Yo!.

I have always been fascinated by quotes that offer profound insights into the human condition. Two quotes that particularly resonate with me are:

"There has to be a place left in modern life for a crisis of the soul, a dark night that doesn't have a chemical solution." This quote speaks to the importance of acknowledging and addressing the deeper emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives that cannot be simply cured with a pill or a quick fix. In a world that often emphasizes material success and technological advancement, it is easy to overlook the need for inner reflection and growth.

"People don't just belong to themselves, they belong to the people who love them." This quote highlights the interconnectedness of our lives and the importance of relationships. We are not孤岛, but rather part of a larger community of people who care about us and whom we care about in return. Our actions and decisions have an impact on those around us, and we have a responsibility to live in a way that honors and respects the love and connection we share with others.

These quotes serve as a reminder to me to slow down, to look within, and to cherish the relationships that matter most in my life. They also inspire me to continue to explore the mysteries of the human soul and to share my own insights and experiences with others.

Alvarez has truly shown remarkable improvement. Among all her novels, "In the Time of the Butterflies" stands out as my absolute favorite. The writing in this novel is so fluid, as if the words simply flow like a gentle stream. It delicately and humanely addresses the themes of tremendous repression and loss, making it a truly moving and thought-provoking work.

However, "Saving the World" doesn't quite measure up. The characters of Alma and her friends in Vermont are rather predictable, lacking the depth and complexity that one would hope for. The siege of the clinic in the Dominican Republic seems rather ridiculous and far-fetched, almost bordering on the absurd. Moreover, Alvarez appears to be trying too hard to extract some kind of profound eloquence from the actions and words of the young captors, which comes across as forced and artificial.

Furthermore, the dialogue of her characters from the smallpox expedition is stilted and often trite, failing to bring the story to life in a convincing way. Overall, while "Saving the World" has its moments, it doesn't reach the same heights as "In the Time of the Butterflies" and leaves something to be desired.

I found this book to be an extremely captivating read. It vividly demonstrates how two men, separated by two hundred years, endeavored to save the world through curing disease.

The writer's struggle to commence a novel for which she had already received $50,000 upfront added an extra layer of intrigue. The seamless weaving between the two women, Alma and Isabel, is masterfully written. One can truly empathize with the pain, suffering, and joys of both characters.

Unlike other books I have favored, this one is a real page-turner. After finishing it, I was so intrigued that I looked up Isabel. I discovered how she ingeniously used her 22 orphans to carry the smallpox virus from Spain and assist with the vaccination efforts in South America. It was an incredibly interesting and little-known fact that I would never have learned otherwise. This book not only entertained but also educated me, making it a truly remarkable read.