This book was truly a significant disappointment for me.

To be fair, I did gain a bit more knowledge about the Mirabal sisters, who were integral members of the resistance against the cruel dictator Trujilo in the Dominican Republic.

Nevertheless, I never managed to establish a connection with the sisters. I had the impression that some of the atrocities committed under his regime were rather superficially addressed.

In each of the lengthy chapters, we get to hear from the perspectives of the four sisters, with the youngest's account presented through diary entries.

However, I remained detached from these women and didn't have much concern for their difficult situation. I also didn't fully understand what they were up against and how they were actively resisting.

As I learned from the author's note, a considerable number of liberties were taken with the story.

All in all, this is definitely not my favorite piece of historical fiction.

In "In the Time of the Butterflies", a historical romance written by Julia Alvarez, a Dominican author. In this book, she focuses on the lives of the Mirabal sisters and their struggles during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.

Alvarez attempts to describe the lives of the Mirabal sisters (Minerva, María Teresa, Patria, and Dedé) from childhood, adolescence, their defiance of Trujillo, their joining of the resistance group, and finally their fates. Although she tries to present a realistic and unmythologized picture of the Mirabals, at the end of the book, she admits that the Mirabals in the book are her creations and may not have much resemblance to the real Mirabals.

The author makes more efforts to familiarize the reader with a period of Dominican history when the country endured the harshest and bloodiest time under the Trujillo dictatorship. Sadly, Ms. Alvarez presents a stereotypical image of Trujillo to the reader. "El Jefe" in her book is the only womanizer who allegedly aims only to embrace women in his quest for power.

"The Mirabal Sisters and the Brothers of Lila"

Reading "In the Time of the Butterflies" was accompanied by watching the film "The Brothers of Lila". Since the main roles in both the book and the film are played by women, an involuntary comparison formed in my mind between Lila and the Mirabal sisters, although the goals of the film and the book are completely different.

Lila should be considered the unrivaled winner of this comparison. She does not fight on a battlefield. Her fight is not limited to one person, nor even to one time or a period of time. Unlike the Mirabal sisters, Lila has nothing to do with violent struggle, although she is not without education. She stands firm and fights until the end of the story. Although she mocks her brother Manuchehr's intellectual inferiority, it is Lila who shows an intellectual solution in the midst of the chaos and flux that has engulfed her life and her loved ones, unlike her brothers. Lila, a prisoner in captivity, has not lost her respect for the greater good that has destroyed her life and her loved ones. She is the first to fulfill the wish of the "imaginary sick dwarf man" to die. She is the one who exposes the lies of the old peddler and finally educates him in the hope that perhaps her brothers will also become a little more aware.

One cannot talk about the Dominican Republic and Trujillo without mentioning the brilliant work of Mario Vargas Llosa. His book cannot be compared with "In the Time of the Butterflies" in any way.

I first saw the martyrdom of the Mirabal sisters in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and added this book to my reading list. I read it recently with great enthusiasm and think I got the maximum benefit from the book. I highly recommend it.

The story of the Mirabal sisters is a powerful and moving one. Their courage and sacrifice in the face of dictatorship and oppression is truly inspiring. The book does an excellent job of bringing their story to life and making it accessible to a wider audience.

Reading this book not only provides a fascinating glimpse into a dark period of history but also serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right and fighting for justice and freedom. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

When as a young girl, the news of the “accident” regarding the Mirabal sisters deeply intrigued me. Their story remained firmly implanted in my mind. On my numerous trips back to the Dominican Republic, I was determined to uncover every possible detail about these remarkable and courageous sisters. During the terrifying thirty-one-year regime of Rafael Trujillo, any sign of dissent was met with the harshest of punishments, often resulting in the death of the dissenter and their family members. Yet, the Mirabals fearlessly risked their lives. I constantly asked myself, what was the source of their extraordinary courage? It was this burning question that led me to embark on writing this story.

What you will find within these pages are the Mirabals as I have imagined them, a creation of my own, but I sincerely hope that they remain true to the essence of the real Mirabals. – Julia Alvarez, A Postscript, In the Time of the Butterflies

This historical fiction is based on the real lives of the four Mirabal sisters who lived under the repressive dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, mainly set from the late 1940s to 1960. As the book commences, we learn that three of the four sisters have passed away. In 1994, the surviving sister, Dedé, is interviewed by a Dominican American writer to shed light on what actually happened. Each sister takes her turn narrating a portion of the story, offering the reader a peek into their distinct personalities and the reasons that compelled them to engage in revolutionary activities. The sisters are the “mariposas,” which means butterflies in Spanish, as referenced in the title.

This book offers a wealth of information about the daily life in the Dominican Republic during Trujillo’s rule. The characters are vividly portrayed, and the author employs multiple perspectives to tell their tales. At times, this choice might seem a bit unconventional, especially considering that only one of the characters is still alive. However, on the positive side, it provides the reader with a more comprehensive understanding of what the women cherished and what they dreaded, allowing for a deeper appreciation of their motives and actions. The author has a remarkable ability to maintain the reader’s interest, despite the fact that the outcome is known from the outset. The Mirabal sisters are widely renowned in the Dominican Republic, and this book serves as a beautiful homage to their memory, presenting their dramatic, tragic, and heroic story to a broader audience.

This book is truly well-written, even though I found myself flipping through its pages in a somewhat erratic manner. Some parts were absolute page turners, captivating me to the fullest extent. I really got deeply immersed in those sections. However, there were also some parts that I found rather boring and dry, which made the reading experience a bit less enjoyable.

One aspect that I did appreciate was the way the story takes turns presenting each sister's point of view. It was interesting to see how each sister had a distinct style of writing. This added depth and variety to the narrative.

My favorite part of the book was whenever Maria Teresa was writing. She covered a plethora of interesting things in her journal entries. She had a knack for keeping secrets from the reader, which constantly piqued my curiosity and made me eager to read more in order to uncover what she was hiding.

On the other hand, my least favorite part was Dede's point of view. She wrote in the present tense third person, which took some time for me to get accustomed to. She did not come across as a very strong character. Instead, she seemed rather sad and regretful, living too much in the past even though she was narrating from the present. Moreover, she gave away the ending in the very first chapter, which was a bit of a letdown.

The book is a historical fiction, as the Mirabal sisters were real people, although the author has fictionalized them to some extent. It is filled with action and romance, with the emphasis mainly on action. I would recommend this book to girls, as well as any boy who is comfortable with reading from a female perspective.

I loved her <3.

It was a feeling that consumed my heart and soul.

Every moment spent with her was a precious gift.

Her smile could light up a room and make my day.

Her kind heart and gentle nature made me fall for her even more.

I would do anything for her, just to see her happy.

Our time together was filled with laughter, love, and beautiful memories.

Although we may have had our ups and downs, our love always prevailed.

I will always cherish the moments we shared and the love we had.

Even though things may have changed, my love for her will永远remain in my heart.

She will always be a special part of my life, and I will never forget her.

"In the Time of the Butterflies" was a truly remarkable and poignant piece of literature. It was both beautiful and sad, captivating my heart and soul from the very beginning. I found myself completely enamored with each and every one of the sisters. Their sacrifice during the Trujillo regime was truly heart-wrenching and made me deeply question what I would be willing to give up for the sake of freedom. It also made me reflect on my own relationship with my sister.

The image that particularly moved me to tears and filled me with anger was that of the sisters standing in the garden one night, looking back at the lit house as their mama busied herself getting their children ready for bed. Alvarez's description of them looking at the house with longing, as if they were already dead and yearning to watch their children grow up, was simply devastating. The decision they had to make between political upheaval and being with their children and living for them haunted me. How could they possibly sacrifice a life with their precious children?

I understand that they were fighting against an oppressive and tyrannical regime, and that they firmly believed their fight for freedom was to create a better world for their children. However, it still bothers me because while I admired the sisters greatly, I don't think I would have been able to make the same choice. I don't know how Dede managed to survive losing three sisters. My own sister is so lovely, vivacious, and passionate, and I truly believe that I wouldn't be able to stop screaming if she were taken away from me. As I read, I couldn't help but wonder if it haunted Dede that her sisters died in fear. They weren't simply shot by snipers; they had to watch their murderers strangle them. As I said, it was a sad book, but one that I firmly believe teens in the U.S. should be required to read in order to learn more about Latin American history and the U.S.'s role in the political insecurity of that region.

I'm currently on a Julia Alvarez kick. So far, I've only read this particular work and iYo!. However, based on these two, it's evident that she is one of the most imaginative and creative authors I've ever come across. This book presents historical fiction in a novel sense. She took the stories of renowned Dominican revolutionaries and fictionalized almost their entire lives. Naturally, the main aspects are true. As I was reading it, I was constantly questioning what was "real" and what was an "Alvarezation". When I completed it, I had a bit of a cry (right there on the train) and pondered about the significance of which parts were "true".

It's no secret, both historically and in the novel, that the sisters are going to meet their demise. Alvarez makes certain that we are aware of this right from the very beginning. Nevertheless, the writing drives the story forward and builds suspense.

She crafts a unique personality for each sister, allowing them to take turns as narrators. Their voices are so distinct that I could quickly determine who was "talking" without even looking at the chapter heading. This adds a wonderful layer of depth and authenticity to the narrative, making the story all the more engaging and captivating.

I know I'm the exception rather than the rule on this one. It's tricky with historical fiction.

On one hand, you have people who know the history and are eager for a story that can personalize and novelize the time period. They want to see how the events unfold through the eyes of the characters.

On the other hand, there are those like me who don't know anything about the story and don't want the ending spoiled. Sadly, in this case, the ending was given away in the first few chapters of the book.

After that, I just lost interest. This really speaks to the writing. I simply didn't care enough about the characters and their lives to read on. The author seemed to give me an abundance of details about the mundane aspects, while that which was truly important was just glossed over.

I managed to get a little more than half way through, and then I thought I'd flip to the back and see if there was anything there that might rekindle my interest. But truth be told, I didn't even care enough to do that.

Unfortunately, I am now just curious enough about that bit of history to try and find out more. Maybe Wikipedia will be my answer? It remains to be seen if I can satisfy my newfound curiosity.

This is a fictionalized account of the lives of the four Mirabal sisters - Patria, Dede, Minerva, and Maria Teresa.

They grew up in the Dominican Republic during the harsh dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Trujillo ruled with an iron fist for thirty-one years, being completely merciless and intoxicated by power. It truly disgusts me how vain and arrogant little men like Hitler and Trujillo could hold so much power and cause such extensive damage.

The book alternates among the "voices" of the four sisters. The first part details their growing up years, including convent school, college, and/or early marriages. This section is a bit slower-paced but still interesting.

The second part讲述了她们与丈夫一起参与旨在推翻特鲁希略的革命，以及随后除了德德之外所有人都被监禁的情况。从监狱释放后，她们每周都会去探望仍被监禁的丈夫。1960年11月25日，帕特里亚、米内瓦和玛丽亚·特蕾莎在从一次探望回家的途中被特鲁希略政权谋杀。故事的这一部分是真实的。米拉巴尔姐妹，“蝴蝶”，是真实存在的，她们因其勇敢和殉道而受到人民的尊敬。11月25日现在在许多拉丁美洲国家被定为国际消除对妇女暴力日。

The author and her family fled the Trujillo regime when she was ten years old, several months before the "Butterflies" were murdered. Her father had also been a revolutionary and had to escape before being discovered. Her personal knowledge of the life and culture of the Dominican Republic gives this story a vivid and colorful authenticity.

In any case, the novel is never a historical document but a way to travel through the hearts of people.

And it seems that there was no other way or method to tell the story of the lives of the Mirabal sisters, the heroines who combined love with struggle and resistance and became "butterflies."

The truth is that by the end of the book, I had become more convinced than ever of the legitimacy of the novel in reconstructing historical events. Where is the dry and linear account of the lives of the Mirabal sisters that "Julia Alvarez" describes for us?

The Mirabal sisters are a symbol of the Dominican Republic, a country that has all the conditions of dictatorships in South and Central America. A place where right-wing dictators have the full support of the "gringos" to form a government and a state like "Allende" in Chile or the "Castro brothers" in Cuba, even if it comes at the price of genocide, abuse, corruption, and everything else.

All of these sisters have their own special love, a love that either takes shape in the heart of the jungle and fields or goes to the city and comes out of the heart of the struggle but is safe from the story of "Minerva." She is the chosen sister, the one who allegedly is not afraid, who even spits at the dictator for her honor, falls in love and does not shy away from the death of her beloved, hides her feelings to fulfill her revolutionary duty, and... could there be anything more heroic than these?

"In the Time of the Butterflies" follows a long timeline, starting from the birth and childhood of the sisters and ending with their adolescence, youth, studying, falling in love, fighting, being arrested, resisting, and finally their fateful destiny. One of them survives, and it is not the one with more pain in her heart but the one who must live and tell the story of the butterflies.

Like all revolutions and sacrifices, when the dictator leaves and dies, in fact, nothing changes. Their world passes from one dictator to another, and the one who survives asks herself, did the girls die for this? No, they went for the preservation of life and hope.

"In the Time of the Butterflies" is a love story, a love story that revolves within the Mirabal family and lights up hearts. It seems that revolution and struggle are something that tries to show itself behind these love stories!

"I must admit that love is deeper for me than struggle. I mean, a revolutionary love is deeper."

"If only the shackles of love would not open my serious desires from my heart."

I read the electronic version of the good publisher with the translation of "Hassan Mortazavi." An excellent and flawless translation that does the best job in transferring the language and feeling. The sample reading and text editing were also flawless and excellent. All these help to make the novel a memorable and unforgettable book.

"I don't know, but I wanted to trust my Dominican compatriots again. Because the dictatorship had blackened all our past memories. The real revolution should be that we forgive each other for everything we have done for each other's sake."

Long live the butterflies.

I think I've decided not to re-read this, so I can't review it properly because I've forgotten my thoughts.

I'm glad this was brought to my attention by the year of reading women selection because it's an amazing story and an important piece of radical history. As other reviewers note, by focusing on the personal and making the sisters distinct (even idiosyncratic) and flawed, Alvarez demonstrates that extraordinary courage comes from people like you and I (Malala Yousefzai's book comes to mind here).

Also, La Mariposas come across as awesome and heroic, but generally very feminine in the sense of a familiar traditional gender socialisation; nurturing, caring, with integrity stemming from avowed emotion, conscious of self-presentation, and aspiring to a passionate and stable family life, especially young Mate. I am inevitably projecting my own experiences onto Latin@ culture however.

My favourite voice was Patria's, although I related more to willful Minerva in general. Patria's self-awareness seemed extraordinary, and her religious faith challenged my (generally negative) perceptions of Catholicism and faith generally. If I felt the girls/women were bourgeois and privileged, that's probably why Alvarez devotes a lot of time to conveying the texture of their experiences in prison and the relationships they built there.

I appreciated Alvarez's focus on women; the many men in the story remain peripheral. The limited attention to race is my main disappointment in a generally satisfying read. Brief mentions of the Taino and Trujillo's white supremacy are included, and there is a little space for raising awareness in the jail, but we don't see much confrontation with racism in the extensive character development.

For me what makes this so worthwhile and exciting is the depth and detail of characterisation. Sometimes I was really struck by the thoughts behind the thoughts, mostly of Patria, but also others, such as Mate's confession: 'I think I'm going to burst' in a context that causes this to position the soul as desire and desire as a kind of fullness, the opposite of the classic formulation. On the level of the personal, this story gives much food for thought.