Julia Alvarez's latest book is an exciting and unique work that is set in both the present day and the 1800s.

It presents a parallel story with two main characters. One of the storylines is based on a historical account of a group of orphans who played a crucial role in bringing the smallpox vaccination to the "new world".

This aspect of the book adds an interesting historical dimension and offers readers a glimpse into a significant event in history.

I currently have a copy of the book that a friend is reading. However, I will be able to lend it out soon.

I am really looking forward to sharing this wonderful book with others and hearing their thoughts and interpretations.

The combination of the present-day and historical narratives, along with the engaging characters, makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in history, literature, or a good story.

I highly recommend it.

So, I made a rather fortuitous blunder. I forgot to take this particular book on vacation with me (thank goodness). Instead, I embarked on reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (which turned out to be a much better choice).

The concept of saving the world held great potential at the outset. I was initially intrigued by the two intertwined story lines. In particular, the one set in the 1800s, revolving around the smallpox vaccine, piqued my interest. However, as the story progressed, it became excruciatingly slow. By the middle of the book, I found myself completely disenchanted with all of the characters. It's almost难以置信 that I managed to slog my way through three-quarters of it.

Perhaps if the pacing had been better or the characters more engaging, my experience would have been different. But as it stands, I'm left with a sense of disappointment and a longing for a more captivating read.

When I turned to the first page of Saving the World by Julia Alvarez and discovered it was written in present tense, I was very put-off. The old English teacher in me knew I couldn't read a longish book all in present tense. However, I don't give up easily, and I'm glad I did not. Ms. Alvarez reeled me in early and kept me with her to the end.

I too have a story about an author writing a story buzzing around in my brain, deflecting my energies from the final book of a trilogy with which I have grown really bored. So, I approached this book with some anticipation, curious as to how Ms. Alvarez would accomplish the task. Alternating chapters and present tense/past tense verb changes helped.

Her protagonist, Alma, struggles (notice the present tense) with the realization that everything in her life will now be about loss. She is fifty and sees the future that those of us who have reached the mid-point understand - our loved ones will die, we will lose our abilities, and, though there are still triumphs ahead, the path will inevitably be strewn with loss. It is a form of depression that all who live into those years must walk through. There is no overcoming. Alma understands this and is walking through. Her chapters drift episodically, as her life drifts - a good life with good friends and a sweet husband who loves her. I made my peace with the present tense verb, realizing that Alma is very present tense, the past is finished and the future ominous - she sees trouble coming and expects it in familiar places.

Alma's protagonist, Isabel, is an outgrowth of Alma's malaise. She is a determined young woman, scarred by smallpox, who makes her way heroically through life, as Alma can no longer do. Isabel is who the author wishes she could be, and as Alma's life unravels, her imaginary other sustains her.

Chapters alternate between the present with Alma unable to complete a book she has promised her publisher and the historical past with Isabel, the rectoress of an orphanage, shepherding her boys through a long expedition to the New World as they carry the serum for smallpox eradication transmitted from one to another through the voyage. The English teacher relaxes with the familiar narrative past tense of the historical chapters.

Both women must confront the concessions that are made to fulfill noble missions and experience the tensions and disappointment, even tragedy, attendant on living for a Higher Cause. Both women must learn to live with their love for men who care more about saving the world than the women in their lives. What Alma cannot work out in her own life, she works out for Isabel. That's what authors do.

Ms. Alvarez pictures for her readers the interior life of a writer. Everything is framed by story, all of life is story. Alma sees her acquaintances as stereotypes - the Activist, the Saintly Friend, the Unbalanced Catalyst. She fears her beloved husband is the Unfaithful Husband. Events play out according to her interior script. There is the Ominous Stranger who may (or may not) have evil designs on his mother. Alma reacts according to her interior script and the reader must decide whether she sets in motion her own tragedies or whether there truly are sinister undertows. Life lived by story is very untidy.

In contrast, the story within a story is under control from beginning to end, and readers disturbed by the messy realities of Alma's life will find familiar sailing here. Heroine, conflict, resolution - It's what we want. It's what Alma wants.

There is a poignancy here, endings in which both author and her creation move on, one given a satisfactory ending, the other facing loss, but both putting one foot in front of the other, characters now outside their own stories for good or ill.

Best for women after 45, or men out to Save the World.

~mary

Unfortunately, I have to admit that although I have a great affection for Julia Alvarez and she ranks among my favorite authors, this particular book failed to captivate my attention to the extent that I could continue reading it without interruption.

Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that it is a very interesting book. The story and the writing style have their own unique charm. However, for some reason, it simply did not manage to hold my attention for a long enough period to keep me engaged in the reading process.

I still have the intention to give it another try in the future. I believe that perhaps under different circumstances or with a different state of mind, I will be able to fully appreciate the beauty and depth of this book. After all, Julia Alvarez is such a talented writer, and I am reluctant to give up on her work easily.

I hope that when I pick up this book again, I will be able to discover the hidden gems within it and have a more fulfilling reading experience.

The provocative ideas and themes presented in Saving the World are, without a doubt, the most outstanding aspect of the work. To such an extent that one might argue that the author would have been better served by penning an extended essay instead of a novel.

The storytelling, unfortunately, frequently comes across as somewhat lackluster. This is particularly true in the present-day sections, where the protagonist is often frustratingly passive. His struggles with writer's block and the publishing industry, whether fairly or not, give the impression of being overly self-referential and cloying.

It seems that while the ideas are rich and engaging, the execution in the form of a novel may not be the most effective way to convey them. Perhaps a more in-depth exploration in the form of an essay would have allowed for a more thorough examination of these thought-provoking concepts.

Nonetheless, Saving the World still has its merits, and the ideas it presents are worth considering. It just might not be the most satisfying novel in terms of its narrative structure and character development.

This is my fourth Alvarez novel, and while I don't believe it was her absolute best work that I've read thus far, it most definitely held my interest throughout.

I didn't fully make the connection between the two stories (as she writes a story within a story) until I reached the middle of the book. The story about Isabel serves as a beautiful coping mechanism. When Isabel is strong, Alma also finds strength within herself.

The language used in the novel is extremely easy to read, and Alvarez always manages to skillfully incorporate her Dominican roots into her narratives. It adds a unique flavor and depth to the story, making it not only an engaging read but also a cultural exploration.

Overall, despite not being her top-notch work, this Alvarez novel still has its charm and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

I had a particular preference for the smallpox storyline in the book. Discovering that the royal expedition was a real event was truly fascinating. It added an element of historical authenticity that made the story even more engaging.

However, I felt that the book dragged on for both storylines. The contemporary one, in particular, had a certain quality that felt a bit off. It didn't quite gel with the rest of the narrative as well as I would have liked.

Despite these drawbacks, it was still a relatively quick read. It managed to touch on a wide range of themes that I found interesting. Themes such as history, science, and human nature were explored in a thought-provoking way.

One major pet peeve of mine, though, was the discussion of AIDS. It seemed that the author had done a significant amount of research for the novel, but she could have delved deeper into this aspect. It frustrates me that many people don't understand the difference between HIV and AIDS, and from her writing, I'm not entirely convinced that she grasped this either.

Well, there you have it. That's my rant about the book.

I absolutely adored this book.

I was initially introduced to Julia Alvarez via her exquisitely beautiful and tragic book, In the Time of Butterflies, which is set in the Dominican Republic. Having visited that country twice, I was extremely intrigued by the idea of reading something penned by a Dominican author.

Saving the World was equally as impressive. The author masterfully weaves together two tales that occur centuries apart.

The modern story revolves around Alma Rodriguez, a Dominican author residing in Vermont. She is grappling with the task of writing a saga novel while simultaneously dealing with her neighbor friend's cancer and her husband's work on a green center in the DR.

The other story is set in the 1800s and focuses on Isabel, the sole woman who accompanied the Balmis voyage to transport the smallpox vaccine from Spain to the New World, using children as live carriers.

The chapters alternate back and forth between the two stories, and I found myself completely engrossed. I simply couldn't put the book down. I would have to at least reach "the chapter after the next one" to discover what transpired! It was a truly fantastic read!

I'm truly sorry to pen this, but this novel was simply far too long and dull. Julia Alvarez is indeed one of my favored writers, having devoured How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and Yo!. Regrettably, this particular novel failed to captivate me. I made a genuine effort to immerse myself in the story, yet the beginning and middle seemed to stretch on for an interminable number of pages. Alma was not a character with whom I could easily identify, and her first-world problems often proved tiresome.

I did find the Alma-Helen segment of the narrative somewhat interesting, but it felt unresolved at the end, or perhaps I simply overlooked that part of the novel. It seemed that the climax of Alma's storyline arrived rather suddenly towards the conclusion, and unfortunately, it was brief. Surprisingly, I found Isabel's portion of the story more engaging. The fact that it was based on true events piqued my interest, but I felt that the author had an abundance of material and potential, yet this part also dragged. I believe she could have done so much more with the character of Isabel.

I understand that perhaps she aimed to adhere to the true events within the realm of historical fiction, but at times it was overly technical for my taste. I prefer to read in order to lose myself in the story, to be so enthralled that I find myself making time to read whenever possible. This book, however, did not possess that quality at all. I awarded the novel 2 stars because I truly appreciate Julia Alvarez's writing style, but I feel that she could have accomplished so much more.

I thought this book had its good moments.

Particularly during the siege at Richard's clinic, the tension was palpable and kept me on the edge of my seat.

However, I also had some reservations. I felt that Alma was too self-absorbed, which made it difficult for me to fully empathize with her.

Moreover, the proliferation of characters surrounding Isabel and the many locations she ended up at sometimes got me confused.

Despite these drawbacks, I did learn something valuable from this book. I gained some insights into the history of the late Spanish empire as it was collapsing in the early 19th century.

The Balmis expedition, in particular, was a fascinating concept. It was interesting to learn about how this expedition was able to successfully vaccinate a large number of people against smallpox.

This book was narrated by Blanca Camacho, and she did an excellent job. Her narration added an extra layer of depth and emotion to the story.

Overall, while this book had its flaws, it was still an engaging read that provided me with some new knowledge and perspectives.

This book wasn't an easy read for me.

However, since my Mom gave it to me, I persevered until the end because she liked it.

What I didn't like was that the pace of the book was extremely leisurely.

The path it took was that of depression and self-absorption to the extent that one of the main characters, Alma, became oblivious to the people around her.

She sorta snapped out of it too late.

I'm not sure what the author was aiming for in the ending as it was bleak.

But I guess it's a fittingly bleak ending for a bleak story.

The plot twists in the Alma story seemed a little too unrealistic, more like the author was using the story as a platform to express certain views rather than presenting credible situations.

On the other hand, what I liked was that the chicken pox story was very interesting.

I found myself highly interested in Isabel and the boys.

I also liked the historical fiction part, which was set near the end of Spain's Colonial era.

The author did an excellent job of describing the effects of depression, as those who haven't experienced it don't truly understand what the sufferer is going through.

While I wasn't overly excited about reading this story, it was compelling enough for me to keep reading and tell my Mom it was good.

Alma realizes she has fully entered the mid-life crisis when she starts to question the significance of her life.

Although she is a beloved wife and a published author, there is still a sense of something lacking. Her book's deadline has already passed, yet she has nothing to show for it.

To make matters worse, while she loves her husband, she receives a distressing call from an anonymous woman, claiming that she had slept with Alma's husband and transmitted AIDS to him.

In the midst of all this turmoil, Alma begins to learn about a woman named Isabel. Isabel volunteered to travel from Spain to the Americas to bring the Smallpox vaccine to those in need.

Accompanied by 22 orphan boys from the orphanage where she has dedicated her life, Isabel embarks on a two-year voyage to save the world from Smallpox.

Meanwhile, Alma's husband, Richard, leaves for the Dominican Republic to embark on a similar mission, where he will work in an AIDS clinic.

As Alma's life intersects with Isabel's, she discovers the great cost that comes with "saving the world."

I did have some enjoyment from this book. However, for the first 150 pages or so, not much occurred. Isabel's story remained rather static, filled with shipbound days and restless orphans.

Alma's life also didn't vary much, consisting of the stress of not writing a book and worrying about her neighbor's health.

Towards the end of the book, a lot of real action began to take place, but it almost seemed out of place after such a long and drawn-out beginning.

I found both Alma and Isabel to be slightly dull. They were not very complex characters and did not experience much change by the end of the story.

I thought this book had the potential to be great, and I was indeed interested in the subject matter. However, it was an "almost" book for me. It was almost life-changing, almost interesting, and almost important.

But it never quite reached the point of being any of those things. While I liked it to some extent, it was ultimately a bit of a disappointment.