Julia Alvarez is a renowned writer who pens her biographical essays with great skill and charm.

Here, she imparts worldly words of wisdom in a humorous and engaging way to us all. Her essays are always full of interesting anecdotes that make for a captivating read.

Alvarez's writing is a truthful counterpart to her book Yo!, offering readers a unique and personal perspective on her life and experiences.

Whether you are a fan of her fiction or simply interested in reading about the life of a talented writer, her biographical essays are sure to delight.

I highly recommend them to all literary aficionados out there.

It was an extremely good book!

I truly relished the stories that pertained to her childhood. The way they were presented made me feel as if I was right there with her, experiencing those moments.

I would also highly recommend "When I Was Puerto Rican" and "Almost a Woman" by Esmeralda Santiago. Her writing style is wonderfully entertaining. It engages the reader from the very first page and keeps them hooked until the end.

Her vivid descriptions bring the characters and settings to life, making it easy to imagine everything.

Whether you're interested in memoirs or just enjoy a good story, these books are definitely worth reading.

You'll be captivated by her experiences and inspired by her journey.

So, don't hesitate to pick up these books and embark on an amazing literary adventure.

Wow - I absolutely adored this book!

I am truly sorry that I allowed it to remain on my shelf for such a long time before finally selecting it. I initially thought I would read one essay at a time over the course of a few weeks, but in reality, I ended up reading it in just two sittings.

I have read several of this author's novels and poems and have always been captivated by her unique voice. Reading these essays was no different - it was like indulging in a rich and satisfying menu of stories that beautifully convey themes of transition, commitment, and the importance of honoring a life dedicated to words.

I especially love this sentence: "In a world without any books, we would not be the same kind of critter." Amen to that! It perfectly encapsulates the profound impact that books have on our lives and our very essence as human beings.

I only had the opportunity to read a few of these essays in order to decide which ones I would teach. However, after perusing through them, I found myself completely captivated by her writing style. It is truly remarkable and engaging. Her words flow effortlessly, painting vivid pictures in my mind and evoking a wide range of emotions. Each sentence is carefully crafted, filled with depth and meaning. I can sense the passion and dedication she has put into her work. It is not just about the content, but also the way she presents it. I am excited to share her essays with my students and introduce them to this wonderful writing style. I believe they will also be inspired and learn a great deal from it.

This book was exquisitely written, and I simply couldn't tear myself away from it.

It provided me with profound insights into the world of children who are compelled to mature in a foreign land, away from their home country.

Their arduous struggle of seeking their rightful place and their native heart language is vividly depicted.

One can almost feel the confusion, the longing, and the determination within these young souls as they navigate through a strange environment.

The author's ability to bring this world to life is truly remarkable.

It makes the reader empathize with the characters and understand the challenges they face.

This book is not just a story; it's a powerful exploration of identity, belonging, and the power of language.

It leaves a lasting impression and makes one reflect on the importance of cultural roots and the significance of finding one's true self.

Overall, it's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the human experience in a globalized world.

Something to Declare: Essays is a charming collection of essays penned by Julia Alvarez over the years. Her essays often touch on the time when her family had to flee from the Dominican Republic to New York City after her father was involved in a plot to assassinate dictator Trujillo. As Alvarez notes, Dominicans view the death not as an assassination but as "an ajusticiamiento, a bringing to justice... after thirty-one years, Trujillo was brought to justice, found guilty, and executed." Many essays explore the immigrant experience as her family adapts to life in America while most of their relatives remain in the Dominican Republic, where Alvarez spent many summers. She emigrated with her parents and sisters at ten. Many essays are about her grandparents and godmother, discussing her early childhood in the Dominican Republic. It's fascinating to see how well they adapted and assimilated in America. However, Alvarez felt that the issues in her "secret soul" had no place in this world and culture, leading to a secret inner life that contributed to her becoming a writer.

One of her most beloved books, In the Time of the Butterflies, is an historical fiction novel about the Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, and their murder. Alvarez discusses her father's shock as the sisters were part of the same underground he had escaped. The sisters had to make a perilous journey on a lonely mountain road as their husbands were transferred to a distant prison. Alvarez felt haunted by them due to this connection. In the essay Chasing the Butterflies, she talks about the impact of her father bringing home a Time magazine article about the sisters' murders. Forbidden to read it as a child, she later looked up the article while researching the Mirabals. She returned to the Dominican Republic, met Dede, the surviving sister, and traveled with her husband to gather research. Despite her parents' warnings not to publish the book, Alvarez inscribed a copy to them with a note thanking them for instilling in her a desire for freedom and justice through their sufferings.

Have to admit I am a bit disappointed.

I picked this up at a Little Free Library, thinking it was a work of fiction of hers that I had not read yet.

She is one of my favorite authors and I was really looking forward to losing myself in one of her stories.

When I got home, I realized it was a collection of essays.

They're not bad, but just not what I was expecting.

I also have no ambitions of being a writer, which is what a lot of the essays touch on.

I enjoyed the ones about her childhood much more.

In fact, those essays about her childhood were like little windows into her past.

They gave me a better understanding of who she was and how she became the writer she is today.

Even though it wasn't the fictional story I was hoping for, I still found some value in this collection of essays.

It made me appreciate her writing even more and reminded me why she is one of my favorite authors.

I absolutely loved this book.

It was so incredibly honest, laying out the characters and their stories with a raw authenticity that made it impossible not to be engaged.

The author's ability to convey the emotions and experiences in such a vivid and touching way was truly remarkable.

Each page seemed to pull at my heartstrings, making me laugh at times and bringing tears to my eyes at others.

The story was not only entertaining but also deeply thought-provoking, making me reflect on my own life and relationships.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly engaging and moving read. It is one that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.

I really liked the first half of the book.

It vividly describes Alvarez's experiences as a girl in the Dominican Republic. We can picture her life there, the cultural background, the daily activities, and the challenges she faced.

It also tells about her experiences as an immigrant. The difficulties of adapting to a new country, the language barrier, and the longing for her homeland are all presented in a very touching way.

However, I didn't like the second half of the book as much. It mainly describes her experience of growing into being an author. While this is an important part of her life, it didn't engage me as much as the first half.

Maybe it's because I'm more interested in her personal life and the events that shaped her character.

Overall, I still think the book is worth reading, especially for those who are interested in learning about the Dominican Republic and the immigrant experience.

This book truly turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

Alvarez, in a series of short and beautiful essays, delves into her upbringing and writing life. It's as if she is sharing her most precious memories and experiences with the reader in a gentle and engaging way.

The pages of this book are filled with beautiful bits of wisdom that are not only thought-provoking but also deeply inspiring. I found myself constantly highlighting passages and taking notes, eager to carry these pearls of wisdom with me throughout my own life.

Each essay is like a small window into Alvarez's world, allowing us to see the challenges she faced, the joys she experienced, and the lessons she learned along the way. It's a remarkable journey that I'm so glad to have taken with her.

This book is not just a collection of essays; it's a treasure trove of inspiration and wisdom that I will cherish for a long time to come.

I got Something to Declare in my Page 1 Books subscription. It's a wonderful service where a bookseller hand-picks something special for you each month. They even look through your Goodreads!

I had no idea that Julia Alvarez had an essay collection on life and writing. It was published when I was six years old, lol. But the moment I saw it in my box, I knew they'd hit the nail on the head with this recommendation.

As I read the collection, I truly enjoyed it. It couldn't have come to me at a better time. It was Latinx Heritage Month, and I had started to feel a stronger pull towards writing fiction. So, I was in the perfect frame of mind to read about Alvarez's childhood under Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, her immigration to and adolescence in the United States, and her long and bumpy journey to becoming a successful author.

I think this book is especially perfect for anyone dealing with imposter syndrome when it comes to writing. In hindsight, we know that Julia Alvarez has sold a huge number of books. But she spent many years grinding away, unpublished, yet firmly believing in her heart that writing was what she was meant to do. To me, reading about an author's journey to publishing later in life and against all odds is so much more relatable and helpful. We don't have to graduate from an MFA program at Iowa and win awards for our debut novels in order to become the writers we are meant to be.

This was an extremely good book. However, I only gave it a three-star rating because I read it within a short time frame.

I firmly believe that this is a book that is best relished in small portions over an extended period. It is composed of numerous exceptionally well-written essays, which are divided into two sections.

The first section, titled Customs, was the most delightful as it encompassed many stories from Julia's childhood. The second section, Declarations, is all about her writing. Although it was interesting, it became a bit muddled for me.

Once again, this was largely because I didn't take the time to savor what I read over a longer period. Overall, my favorite essays were: Grandfather's Blessing, My English, My Second Opera, Of Maids and Other Muses, and Chasing the Butterflies.

These essays truly stood out and left a lasting impression on me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written and thought-provoking essays.