I truly wish that I had a more in-depth knowledge of the actual history of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. This particular work is a historical fiction that is based on a real-life family. From the book, I was able to catch glimpses of the history that I could potentially learn, but unfortunately, I didn't know enough to fully understand the magnitude of what had occurred.

Moreover, I had a rather difficult time following the format of the book. It alternates between chapters that focus on one generation and then switches to chapters about another generation. One story progresses forward in time, while the other goes backward. This back and forth narrative made it a bit challenging for me to keep track of the events and the connections between the different generations.

Despite these difficulties, I still found the book to be an interesting read as it provided some insights into the history and culture of the region. I hope to learn more about the actual history of the DR and Haiti in the future to better understand the context and significance of the events described in the book.

This story is from the 1800s, a tale of a mother and her daughter.

It is set in the Dominican Republic during a time of constant political upheaval. The mother, who was a talented poet even as a teenager, wrote poetry that was widely read throughout the country.

The words she penned had a profound impact on many people's lives. In fact, her poetry was so powerful that it actually motivated the men to take up arms and fight for their country.

The author also delves into the relationship between the mother and daughter, and how they both influenced each other.

It is a story of inspiration, courage, and the power of words. Through the mother's poetry, we see how one person can make a difference in the lives of many.

And through the relationship between the mother and daughter, we see the importance of family and the impact that our loved ones can have on us.

This story is a reminder that even in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty, there is always hope and the possibility of change.

Once again the book club selection this month took me to a place that I know very little about, the Dominican Republic.

This is a historical fiction novel based on real people, with literary liberties taken by Ms. Alvarez for a bit of interest.

The story follows Salome Urena, the national poet of DR during its early days of independence from Spain, and her only daughter, Salome Camila. The book begins with Camila in her sixties, retiring from her teaching position at a university and trying to figure out what to do with her life. She looks to her mother's poems, who died when she was only three years old, for clues. Her story line continues to go backwards, as far back as her earliest memories just before her mother's death. Salome's story starts from her earliest memories as a child and goes forward to her death.

At first, this unusual time shift in the novel was unsettling and difficult for me to adjust to. However, as the story continued and I got to know the women better, it made absolute sense and was in fact, quite touching when their stories met. I thought it was a wonderful and creative way to show how we are connected to our past, even as we move forward into our future.

The characters themselves are interesting. I love that Ms. Alvarez is giving a female perspective to historical incidents, which tend to be dominated by male points of view. She highlights the women's great accomplishments and activism. However, I felt like she portrayed them as rather weak and uncertain about themselves. Like they sort of stumbled upon history making. I suspect that there was a lot more intention and strength. Perhaps Ms. Alvarez wanted to showcase their humanity, their frailties, despite their accomplishments, which I can appreciate because it's something we can all relate to.

Overall, it's a really good read and one I would recommend. It offers a unique look into the lives of these remarkable women and the historical context in which they lived.

Family Saga in Turbulent Times: The Story of a Real Person, the Poet Laureate of the Dominican Republic

In the midst of the Dominican Republic's turbulent times, there is a remarkable family saga that unfolds.

At the heart of this story is a real person, who has been honored as the poet laureate of the nation.

The poet laureate's life is intertwined with the history and struggles of the Dominican Republic.

During these difficult times, the family has faced numerous challenges, yet they have remained resilient.

The poet laureate has used his or her words to express the pain, hope, and love that exists within the family and the nation.

Through poetry, the family's story has been preserved and shared with the world.

The family saga serves as a reminder of the strength and courage that can be found within a family during the most trying of times.

It is a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

This is a captivating story about Salomé Ureña. It commences in the 1850s in the Dominican Republic, a time rife with numerous Haitian invasions, Dominican revolutions involving the Blue liberals and Red conservatives, and the Dominican war against Spain.

Salomé Ureña was not only a talented poet but also the founder of Women's Higher Education in the Dominican Republic. The narrative also delves into the life of her daughter Camila, who grew up in the United States.

This story is penned by Dominican writer Julia Alvarez, and I highly recommend it to those eager to learn more about this remarkable woman's history and that of her family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it vividly portrays some of the complex history of the Dominican Republic in both the 1800s and 1900s. It offers glimpses into various perspectives when discussing Dominican politics and the relationship between the Dominican Republic and its Caribbean neighbors.

During Salomé's time, Haiti and the Dominican Republic were the only independent nations in the Caribbean. Many Puerto Ricans and Cubans, including revolutionaries longing for their people's freedom from Spanish colonialism, lived in the Dominican Republic.

Although at times this book can be a bit perplexing, overall, it is an engaging read that provides valuable insights into a significant period of Dominican history.

I found this book to be rather tedious.

It was told from the perspectives of two different people who hardly interacted with each other.

Moreover, it had several flashbacks, which made the story not flow smoothly.

The story of the national poetess Solome Urena was interesting enough to stand on its own.

However, the addition of the story of her daughter seemed to muddy the waters and made the overall narrative less clear.

Perhaps if the author had focused solely on Solome Urena's life and work, the book would have been more engaging and easier to follow.

As it is, the combination of the two stories left me feeling confused and uninterested in the end.

I hope that future books about Solome Urena will do justice to her remarkable life and contributions.

Bad is a very simple and common word. It can describe many things or situations. For example, we might say that the weather is bad if it is rainy or cold. We could also say that a movie is bad if it is boring or has a poor plot.

However, the meaning of bad can also be more subjective. What one person might consider bad, another person might not. For instance, some people might think that a certain type of food tastes bad, while others might love it.

In addition, bad can have different connotations depending on the context. Sometimes it can mean something is of low quality or inferior. Other times it might imply that something is immoral or unethical.

Overall, bad is a versatile word that can be used in many different ways to express our opinions and feelings about various things.

I read it, I liked it, and there is nothing more to say about it.

However, upon further reflection, this book is a very pink one that attempts to represent one of the greatest Dominican poets in a very weak manner.

It seems to lack the depth and authenticity that one would expect when dealing with such a significant figure.

The portrayal feels rather superficial, perhaps skimming over the true essence and complexity of the poet's life and work.

While it may have had some initial appeal, upon closer examination, it fails to truly do justice to the subject matter.

There is a sense that more could have been done to bring the poet to life and to offer a more comprehensive and engaging exploration of her contributions.

Overall, it is a book that leaves something to be desired in terms of its representation of this important Dominican poet.

Based on my daughter's handwriting on the note I was using as a bookmark, I first started this book when she was 4, which was nine years ago. It was a chaotic time. Between taking care of the children, dealing with work, and the emergence of smart phones, my ability to read books was gradually fading away. As a result, I didn't get very far in this one.

However, as time has passed and with a purposeful focus, I have relearned the art of reading books. I decided to start this one over from the beginning. Now, I can understand why this book wasn't a good fit for me at that time. The story jumps around in time across two women's lifetimes, which requires a great deal of focus to keep track of the characters, the geopolitics, and the plot events. But this time around, with my full attention, I truly enjoyed the book.

I was impressed by how contemporary the voices of both women are, despite the fact that many of the events took place more than 100 years ago. At its core, this is a character-driven book that explores family connections within a specific geopolitical context. It also touches on a wide range of issues, including race, sex, sexual orientation, the treatment of women, family, betrayal, forgiveness, coming of age, grief, and aging. Overall, I really liked it.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

"The struggle to see and the struggle to love the flawed thing we see - what other struggle is there? Even the struggle to create a country comes out of that same seed. In the name of Hostos, Salomé, José Martí... 'I am indeed surprised,' Rodolfo was saying playfully. He had caught his agnostic sister making the sign of the cross. Of course, he had not heard my sacrilegious prayer."

This remarkable book delves into the lives of two real women. Salomé Ureña, a Dominican teen in the 1860s, became an inspirational poet during her country's quest for independence. Her daughter, Camila, attempts to discover her mother through her poems and, at age 60, by returning to Cuba, the country where she grew up without her mother, to engage in the revolution. The author states: "Given the continuing struggles in Our America to understand and create ourselves as countries and as individuals, this book is an effort to understand the great silence from which these two women emerged, and into which they have disappeared, leaving us to dream up their stories and take up the burden of their songs."

Similar to How the García Girls Lost Their Accents, Camila's story is mostly told in reverse, from old age to childhood, in the third person. Salomé's chapters, on the other hand, progress forward in the first person. This has two effects: A) the stories eventually intersect at the end, with Camila's birth, and B) one gets the sense that the spirit of Salomé might be narrating the story of the daughter who so deeply desires to know her. However, we conclude with a first-person perspective from 70-something-year-old Camila, reflecting on family, love, and the pursuit of self-determination: "For I had never thought of the real revolution as the one Fidel was commanding. The real revolution could only be won by the imagination. When one of my newly literate students picked up a book and read with hungry pleasure, I knew we were one step closer to the patria we all wanted."

Regarding love, both of our protagonists experience a lasting romance (one heterosexual, one homosexual) that is both incomplete and simultaneously true and untrue. I appreciate that, as Salomé observes, both women come to realize they have hearts and bodies, yet also understand that these love stories are not the essence of who they are or what their lives entail. The loves are significant, but they also have other people they care about and far more crucial matters to attend to!

3.5 estrellas

This rating of 3.5 stars indicates a certain level of quality and performance. It suggests that the product or service in question has both positive aspects and areas that could potentially be improved.

With 3.5 stars, it implies that there are features or qualities that are well-received by the users or customers. These could include good functionality, decent design, or satisfactory customer service. However, the rating also indicates that there may be some drawbacks or areas where the product or service falls short.

It could be that there are minor glitches or inconveniences in the user experience, or perhaps the product does not quite meet the expectations in terms of certain specific requirements. Nevertheless, a 3.5-star rating is still a relatively good score, indicating that the product or service has a lot to offer and is worth considering.

Overall, when seeing a 3.5-star rating, it is important to take into account both the positive and negative aspects and make a well-informed decision based on one's own needs and preferences.

In the Name of Salome is an outstanding book that holds great significance not only for Latinas but for all women. It delves into the complex and touching story of a mother's life and that of her daughters. The narrative of the mother is presented in a chronological order, allowing readers to follow her journey step by step. On the other hand, the daughter's story is told in reverse, adding an interesting and unique twist to the plot. This book not only provides a vivid portrayal of the Dominican Republic but also explores the constant struggle of a daughter to measure up to her mother. Salome, the mother, dedicated everything she had to her patria, making great sacrifices. Meanwhile, Camila, feeling inadequate and believing she will never equal her mother, defers her dreams and even suppresses her feelings for the person she loves.

This is truly an amazing book that offers deep insights into the relationships between mothers and daughters, as well as the challenges and sacrifices faced by women. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the human experience and the power of love and sacrifice. So, don't miss out on this wonderful literary work!