In the Time of the Butterflies, Paperback

As Alvarez tells the story of the three Mirabal sisters who were assassinated by Trujillo’s regime in the Dominican Republic (and the one Mirabal sister who survived to tell their story), she demonstrates the power of fiction and its ability to construct a kind of truth that may be beyond the reach of “pure” history. Of course, no historical account of any event or era is truly objective—for many reasons (inherent narrative bias, unrecoverable facts, the passage of time) history is simply a sincere attempt (one hopes) to depict, to the best of our knowledge and ability, what actually happened. In an author’s note appended to the end of this 25th anniversary edition of the novel, Alvarez admits that the Mirabel sisters in this text—albeit based on the real Mirabal sisters who resisted Trujillo and were murdered for their activism—are creations of her imagination, characters she crafted in order to depict the oppressive conditions of life under Trujillo’s dictatorship.Sometimes difficult to read, sometimes amusing, and always forceful, Alvarez’s novel blends history and fiction to tell an undeniable truth.

gifted author, good story I read right through

Inspired by the true story of the three Maribal sisters in the Dominican Republic during Trujillos dictatorship.The three sisters were killed because they were part of an underground plot to over throw the government., but it was made to look like a car accident.What they don’t mention is that a fourth sister was spared because she refused to make that trip with the other three sisters. They were known as Las Mariposas- the Butterflies 🦋While this story is based on true events, the author uses her fictional storytelling to give readers the 4 different points of view from all of the sisters at different points of time , leading up to the “accident”.Patria- the oldest , very into her religion and raising her kidsDedé- the soul surviving sister , the level headed an reliable one.Minerva- the activist and one of the founder of the underground movement. Brave and outspoken.Maria Teresa- the baby of the 4 that so badly wants to be a freedom fighter.I personally resonated with Minerva, there were times in the book where her mouth gets her in trouble and her blunt honesty is something I admired. This book also really interested me because like the four Mirabal sisters, I too am very close with my 3 sisters. You get to see what lengths they go to just to protect each other and fight for what is right during a time of political oppression.I didn’t know much about the Dominican Republic other than it’s nice beaches and tropical weather so this was a really good opportunity for me to learn about their history.The only reason I didn’t give it a 5/5 was because the 4 points of view were hard to keep up with and a bit confusing if you don’t pay attention. Also, I found it weird that the sisters married their primos (cousins).

The book came in perfect condition. The book itself is a great read. It will definitely tug at your heart strings.

Oh. My. Goodness. This is an exceptional book. This is a book that—bit by bit—will suck you into the story. You will feel you are a part of it. (And that means you won't be able to stop reading…just so you know that up front.)This is a story about the power of the human spirit to do what is right for humanity under the most terrifying circumstances. This is a story about the power of smart, strong and confident young women to battle the worst kind of evil.The Mirabal sisters, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa, were born to a farming family in the Dominican Republic in the 1920s and 1930s. It was while they were in a convent boarding school that they first learned of the brutality of dictator Rafael Trujillo, who was responsible for between 20,000 and 30,000 deaths of Dominicans and Haitians. With Minerva taking the fearless lead, Patria and María Teresa (all three of whom were married with children), do their part to battle the man nicknamed El Jefe. Taking on the same underground name of 'Mariposa," the three become known as The Butterflies. And many Dominicans secretly supported them, doing what they could to assist the women and keep them safe. This isn't a spoiler because it's history: The three, along with their driver, were violently assassinated. But their murders were not in vain, because it was the beginning of Trujillo's downfall and eventual assassination. And their legend lives on today.While this is a vitally important book to read, it is more than that. It is also an engrossing and expertly-crafted novel. The sisters take turns chapter-by-chapter narrating their own story with passion and grace, wisdom and wit. Author Julia Álvarez has taken the bare bones of history and with brilliant storytelling has transformed dry facts into something profound and provocative. Written 25 years ago, the story is still fresh, vibrant and point-on for the times in which we now live.

This came in the package and the cover was bent

lo utilizo en la escuela

Based on real-life happenings, 'In the Time of the Butterflies' is the story of the four Mirabal sisters, who set out to undermine the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic (a regime that forced Alvarez and her parents to leave their homeland). The Mirabal sisters grow up in a middle-class farming family. Their parents urge them to put up with the dictatorship and so they do - until the third sister, Minerva, goes to university, realizes what Trujillo is doing, and then becomes a victim of 'El Jefe' herself when she refuses to be seduced by him. Soon Minerva is working fervently with a group of rebels to topple Trujillo. Her younger sister Maria Teresa soon joins her, and both sisters marry prominent men in the rebel groups. It's not long before the oldest of the sisters, Patria, and her husband also join - they have come to feel that Trujillo's brutality makes them morally obliged, as Catholics, to take action. Only the second sister, Dede, holds back - her macho husband refuses to let her get involved and put him and his family at risk. Over the course of several years Minerva and Maria Teresa endure long periods in prison; both their husbands, and Patria's are also imprisoned for revolutionary activity. But the sisters maintain their indomitable spirits to the last.Alvarez paints a vivid picture of the Trujillo regime, and her painterly depictions of the Dominican Republic and of social life there are very beautiful. I found the characters in this book far more interesting than in her first, 'How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents', particularly the fervent Minerva and the gentle, religious Patria, and followed their struggles with keen interest. Even though it's clear from Chapter 1 that Dede is the only Mirabal sister to survive the regime, the fate of Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa still comes as a great shock. All in all, the novel is a fascinating historical document and beautifully written. If I stop short of five stars it is because I found Dede, the surviving sister, rather bland by comparison with Minerva, Maria Teresa and Patria, and thus the sections narrated by her (many of which take place after her sisters' assassination) relatively uninteresting - Dede seemed too placid for a woman who'd suffered so much. However, I would still wholeheartedly recommend the book to anyone interested in Latin American fiction and in 20th-century history, and am looking forward to reading Alvarez's later novels next.

In the 1940s and 1950s the Dominican Republic was ruled by a brutal dictator called Trujillo. Unable to remove him by the ballot, opponents turned to the bullet. Three sisters, code name the Butterflies, were part of the revolutionary movement. Their memory is celebrated today in their homeland, but they are less well-known outside it. This novel will bring them and their time alive for many more people.Julia Alvarez herself was born in the Dominican Republic, but her parents fled to America in 1960. To supplement her own memories and family stories, she returned to the country and met with people who knew the sisters. This is a novel of course. As she writes in an afterword, she wanted neither to retail simply the known facts of their lives, nor to burnish the many myths and legends. She combines fiction or imagination with truth.For many the Latin American revolutionary is a dashing macho hero in the manner of Che Guevara or Fidel Castro. The butterflies tells of a different kind of rebel. They were girls and women, sisters and daughters, lovers and mothers - and revolutionaries.The narrative weaves between the political and the personal. Minerva, Patria, Mate and Dede, the fourth sibling, share the narrative. Use is made of a diary, but I don’t know if this is genuine. The youngest is 8 years old when the story begins so Julia Alvarez takes us through childhood friends, school, adolescence, love, marriage and mother hood. Sex was an important part of their lives and some may find what is said or implied “earthy”.Alvarez offers a view of a whole society – the poor peasants or campesinos, the state bureaucrats and the rich ruling clique, and the middle class from which the sisters came. She shows the position of women – at home and in society. Some have said the sisters are portrayed here as feminists, but I am not sure about that – each reader can judge for herself or himself.We know early on what happens as the novel begins in 1994. However, the tension and drama are sustained through the skill of the author. I have been encouraged to read more by Julia Alvarez and to find out more about Latin American politics and history.

I'm really sorry but it was a real struggle to finish the book. There are way to many characters and perspectives to catch up with. The plot is ok, I guess, but nevertheless I did not enjoy the book at all. Don't get me wrong, I read English books all the time and usually I get along pretty well but this one here was just confusing and boring. In comparsion for example, a couple of months ago I read "The Siege" from Helen Dunmore and it was better in every way.

Sie waren "Las Mariposas", "Die Schmetterlinge", Schlüsselfiguren der kommunistischen Untergrundbewegung in der Dominikanischen Republik zu der Zeit des grausamen Diktatoren Trujillo. Sie waren die Schwestern Mirabal - Minerva, Patria, Maria Teresa und Dedé. Noch heute werden sie im karibischen Raum als Heldinnen verehrt.Diesen vier Revolutionärinnen hat Julia Alvarez dieses atemberaubende Buch gewidmet. Historische Fakten mit herrlicher Erzählkunst vermischend, schildert sie die Kindheit und Jugend der vier Mädchen, ihre ersten Kontakten mit dem kommunistischen Untergrund, und schließlich den Kampf Minervas, Patrias und Maria Teresas gegen eine grausame Diktatur, für Freiheit, der ihnen im November 1960 das Leben kosten sollte.Im Nachwort schreibt Julia Alvarez, dass es nicht ihre Absicht gewesen ist, einen historischen Roman oder eine Biographie zu schreiben - was sie wollte, ist mit einem Roman, der auf einer wahren Geschichte basiert, die Herzen der Leserinnen und Leser zu berühren und ihnen eben diese Geschichte von vier tapferen Frauen nahe zu bringen. Das hat sie auch geschafft. Sie hat den Mirabal-Schwestern Leben eingehaucht, vier unterschiedliche Charaktere geschaffen, die ein gemeinsamer Traum vereint. Julia Alvarez lässt die vier Schwestern abwechselnd erzählen, zum Beispiel in Form von Tagebucheinträgen und der schmerzhaften Erinnerungen der überlebenden Schwester Dedé.Und es wird Sie packen und nie mehr loslassen. Julia Alvarez verhilft den Mirabals zur Unsterblichkeit, indem sie sie auferstehen und in den Köpfen der Leser umhergeistern lässt. Ihre Geschichte ist ebenso inspirierend wie deprimierend - absolut große Klasse. Dieses Buch garantiert schlaflose Nächte, weil es direkt zum Herzen spricht, vor allem wenn Unruhe und so mancher unerfüllter Traum darin wohnen. Es wird Ihnen keine Ruhe lassen.Was für ein Meisterwerk und was für eine unglaublich begabte Autorin!