In the Time of the Butterflies

Apr 11, 2008 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not an Alvarez fan, but I enjoyed getting a fictionalized glimpse into a part of Dominican Republican history. Once again, I was so frustrated by history. This story is the same story in so many countries. But, I was encouraged in Alvarez's afterword when she commented that she gave herself room to fictionalize the characters because the Maribel sisters have become so mythic that they are almost superhuman, but through her book, we can see that any one of us can be as courageous as Patria, D...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Tara Chevrestt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, women-that-really-existed-fiction, library

Darn good story with strong Latina characters. A must read for all Hispanic ladies. Until I picked this up, I didn't realize that the Dominican Republic had such a turbulent past. Thus, the book has been educational as well as entertaining.

In the sixties there was rebellion. Revolutionists wanted Trujillo, a dictator, out of the way. This book follows four sisters. Patria is the oldest and appears to be your average stay at home wife and mother who occasionally struggles with her deep Catholic f...more

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Apr 16, 2009 Lorena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Jeremy, Logan

Recommended to Lorena by: Jill

Shelves: gringolombian-bookclub

This was an excellent read, I knew very little about Trujillo's Dictatorship of horrors and that dark part of the Dominican Republic's history. I know this is Historical Fiction, but I have truly enjoyed getting to know Las Mariposas, it makes me feel so bad though about the inaction I have been living on. There are so many people out there that give it all for the wellbeing of the community, even their lives while I just live my confortable little existence and do nothing for others, made me fe...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Glenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-general, good-beginnings-group-reads

Fictional account of the sad and true story of four sisters in the Mirabal family, three of whom were murdered in November 1960 in the Dominican Republic for working against Trujillo, the dictator in power at the time. A decent read overall and I thought it started out well, but got bogged down in the middle for me, with too many characters and shifting time periods between the chapters that I thought made it difficult to follow the story and keep track of the different sisters, let alone all th...more

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Jan 26, 2008 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

The first time I traveled through Mexico, I found this book... and read it in three days. Towards the end of the story, before the impending tragedy strikes, the oldest (and easily the bravest) sister is remembering a moment from her youth... she and her sisters are playing this game, in the dark, behind their parents' farm house: the idea was to walk off the porch, into the pitch black of the night, and to go as far as they could before turning back. What she remembers, is how everyone always t...more

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Sep 05, 2007 Mrs. Reed rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm on a Julia Alvarez kick. So far, I've just read this and iYo!, but based on these two, she's one of the most imaginative, creative authors I've ever encountered. This is historical fiction in a new sense. She took the stories of famous Dominican revolutionaries and fictionalized pretty much their entire lives. The main parts, of course, are true. Reading it, I was always questioning what was "real" and what was an Alvarezation. When I finished it, I had a little cry (right there on the train...more

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Feb 12, 2009 Gina rated it 4 of 5 stars

While the author was not one of the four Maribal Sisters who lived and suffered under the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic, she makes a fifth sister by her total identification with these women.
One sister, Dede', who survived the roadside execution, is the principal narrator although the other women's voices are also integrated into the tale. Dede lives on as the "keeper of the flame" for Minerva, Pretia and Mate (Maria Teresa), and relates the history of how these women and their hus...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

"In the Time of the Butterflies" was beautiful and sad. I loved every one of the sisters. Their sacrifice, during the Trujillo regime, made me question what I would be willing to sacrifice for freedom and it made me think about my sister. The image that made me cry and made me angry was of the sisters standing in the garden one night looking back at the lit house as their mama bustles around getting their children ready for bed. Alvarez says they look at the house with longing as if they were al...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Dian Pranasari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Karena bukunya berdasarkan kisah nyata, jadi boleh dong saya bercerita secara lengkap. Hehe.

Selama lebih dari 30 tahun Republik Dominika berada di bawah cengkeraman Rafael Trujillo. Selama itu pula hanya sedikit yang berani menentang kediktatorannya, termasuk di antaranya Mirabal bersaudari: Patria, Minerva, dan Maria Teresa (Mate), dengan perkecualian Dede Mirabal yang merasa gentar untuk memasuki dunia yang penuh marahabaya tersebut, meski ketiga saudarinya telah berulang kali mengajaknya ser...more Karena bukunya berdasarkan kisah nyata, jadi boleh dong saya bercerita secara lengkap. Hehe.

Selama lebih dari 30 tahun Republik Dominika berada di bawah cengkeraman Rafael Trujillo. Selama itu pula hanya sedikit yang berani menentang kediktatorannya, termasuk di antaranya Mirabal bersaudari: Patria, Minerva, dan Maria Teresa (Mate), dengan perkecualian Dede Mirabal yang merasa gentar untuk memasuki dunia yang penuh marahabaya tersebut, meski ketiga saudarinya telah berulang kali mengajaknya serta.

Minerva-lah yang pertama kali menyuntikkan semangat revolusi ke dalam keluarga Mirabal, sedari kecil dia memang dikenal sebagai anak yang pemberani dan lugas. Dia pula yang pertama kali mengungkapkan keinginannya untuk bersekolah, suatu hal yang dianggap tidak perlu bagi perempuan pada masa itu (apalagi di keluarga pedagang). Di sanalah dia bertemu dengan Sinita yang sebetulnya berasal dari keluarga berada, tetapi karena keluarganya sangat kritis terhadap pemerintahan Trujillo, Trujillo berang dan melenyapkan seluruh laki-laki di keluarganya. Perlahan, Minerva mulai menyadari kekejaman Trujillo. Awalnya dari orang-orang di sekitarnya yang menjadi contoh nyata kesewenangan sang tiran, hingga kemudian Trujillo—yang meski sudah beristri, tetapi terkenal dengan kegemarannya terhadap perempuan cantik— mengundangnya ke pesta dan merayunya. Merasa direndahkan, Minerva menampar Trujilo. Perlawanan yang kelak dibalas Trujillo dengan cara mengizinkannya memasuki sekolah hukum, tetapi menahan lisensi prakteknya sehingga gelar Minerva sia-sia.

Patria, Minerva, dan Mate kemudian membentuk organisasi untuk melawan Trujillo bernama Pergerakan 14 Juni, ketiganya dikenal dengan nama sandi Mariposa (kupu-kupu). Tak lama, terjadi penangkapan terhadap anggota organisasi tersebut, termasuk Minerva, Mate, Leandro (suami Mate), Manolo (suami Minerva), dan Pedrito (suami Patria). Hanya Patria yang tidak ditangkap. Minerva dan Mate kemudian dibebaskan, tapi tidak para suami. Setiap minggu mereka bertiga mengunjungi para suami, meski Dede yang merasa cemas memohon agar mereka tidak melakukannya. Benar saja, pada kunjungan kesekian, ketiganya berikut Rufino—sopir yang sangat loyal terhadap La Mariposas—dibunuh dalam perjalanan pulang. Mobil yang berisi tubuh mereka kemudian digelincirkan ke jurang agar terlihat seperti kecelakaan. Dan tinggallah Dede, hidup untuk menceritakan kisah mereka.

In the Time of the Butterflies merupakan kisah nyata yang direka ulang oleh Alvarez dengan sangat jernih, gaya tuturnya lembut tetapi tetap terasa intens dalam memantik keharuan atau seringnya—keberanian. Dengan sudut pandang yang berganti-ganti antara sudut pandang orang pertama dan orang ketiga, Alvarez memperkenalkan Mirabal bersaudari. Di satu sisi hal ini membuat keempat pribadi tersebut terasa dekat dengan pembaca, tetapi beberapa bagian barangkali akan terasa membosankan (kalau saya agak malas begitu tiba giliran Mate yang gayanya seperti menulis buku harian).
Oh ya, seperti catatan yang ditambahkan Alvarez dalam bukunya, novel ini lebih dimaksudkan untuk menangkap semangat Mirabal bersaudari ketimbang menyodorkan fakta-fakta autentik. Maka banyak peristiwa yang tidak selalu sesuai dengan kejadian aslinya (terutama berkenaan dengan tanggal).
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Aug 12, 2008 Jeanette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jeanette by: Book Lust, by Nancy Pearl

Shelves: four-star-fiction, caribbean, all-fiction, historical-fiction

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 dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Trujillo ruled brutally for thirty-one years, merciless and drunk on power. It disgusts me how these vain, arrogant little men like Hitler and Trujillo can wield so much power and do so much damage.

The book alternates among the "voices" of the four sisters. The first part of the book tells about their...more

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Mar 19, 2009 Books Ring Mah Bell rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the time of the Butterflies is a historical fiction novel. Historical fiction? Hmmmm. Like most of the history books the public school gave me? Truths removed or injected with “filler” to make them sexier?

The story is about four sisters, growing up in the Dominican while Trujillo controls the country. As the sisters grow, they join the resistance against Trujillo. Three of them are killed by the regime. I had no idea about the violent reign of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic less t...more

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Jan 26, 2008 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club-selections, favorites

I read this in Spanish because I thought it was originally written in Spanish, being written by a Dominican author and set in the Dominican Republic. But no; it was written in English and I just got some extra reading practice.

This is a non-fiction-told-as-fiction, the dramatization of real events. It is the story of the real-life Mirabal sisters, who were members of the underground resistance to the Dominican dictator Trujillo. The story is told over many years in separate chapters from the po...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Margaret Murray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Even though I was frightened of the subject matter of In the Time of the Butterflies--based on true and bloody events in the infamous regime of Trujillo in the mid-20th century--I was pulled into it by the narrator, the only sister of four who was spared, speaking in the present as she answers questions from a journalist who, like so many others, reveres and idolizes the sacrifices the four "Butterflies" and their family made to achieve democracy in the Dominican Republic. And when the narrator...more

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Jan 07, 2009 Rebekah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was an amazing historical fiction account of the Mirabal sisters - Dominican Republic revolutionaries. Not only did it capture their heroic struggles for their country, but I enjoyed the themes of sisterhood and friendship. Viva la butterflies! Long live sisters everywhere!

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May 07, 2007 Kristen Boers rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Historical Fiction

While the most popular historical fiction novels seems to center on the Tudors and their immediate descendants, here is a book based on the true story of the Mirabal sisters, who are household names in their home, the Dominican Republic. Martyred during the revolution against dictator Trujillo (1950-1970), three of the four Mirabal sisters were part of the underground revolution. Alvarez uses the remaining sister, Dede, as the storyteller and protagonist. It's a warm, and completely engrossing s...more

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Aug 28, 2007 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story is a fictionalized account of a real family living in the Dominican Republic during the oppressive dictatorship of Trujillo. It is a wartime story, and there are horrible things that happen (as horrible things have a habit of doing in war).
The tale is heartbreaking in many ways, but also amazing because of the unbreakable spirit possessed by Minerva Mirabal. Butterflies is a good read, but I wouldn't hand it to a 13-year -old, even though it is in the "teen" section of the library.
I m...more

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Jul 17, 2007 Francesca Wiseman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of historical fiction

Really interesting book. Fictionalized account of the true story of four sisters in the Dominican Republic, 3 of whom were murdered for working against the dictatorship. I not only found the historical aspects interesting, but I also liked the reflections of the remaining sister whose life is also destroyed by the murders. Although she doesn't come out and ask, was it worth it?, that question resonates. The sisters commitment to the cause varies greatly and although it's a fictionalized version,...more

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Aug 27, 2007 dianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

a brilliant novelized version of las tres mariposas - the name given to the 3 sisters who, despite being from a wealthy, landed family fought bravely to their deaths, against Trujillo. i found one of the loveliest insights was how they came to be political in three VERY different ways - one, a traditional mother became angry about the treatment of children and family, another fell madly in love with a freedom fighter, and a third was intrinsically an activist - righteously furious at the inequit...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Brenda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the most captivating books I've read in a while. What an eye-opener. Reading it took me to the Dominican Republic during the 1960's. Ready to read my next Julia Alvarez book.

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May 06, 2008 Shadi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Alvarez's writing, itself, was so-so but she has a very vivid imagination. This novel was her interpretation of the lives of the Mirabel sisters who were revolutionaries during the Trujillo-era of the Dominican Republic. The book was divided into perspectives of each sister during various points of their lives. By the end of the book, I grew to love the sisters and became obsessed with digging up as much detail about their lives and deaths. A film was made as well, featuring Salma Hayek. Fantast...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Rachel Pp rated it 5 of 5 stars

"In the Time of The Butterflies" falls into the genre of fiction or historical fiction.

1. A family with four daughters grows up on a farm in the Dominican.

2. As the girls mature, they experience the typical struggles of a teenage girl in their home and at their boarding school such as romance, finding their own voice, and the way they are changing.

3. In addition to the girl's personal changes, their country is experiencing changes as well when a dictator named Trujillo slowly gains power. He

...more

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Jan 20, 2009 Jessie added it

Shelves: advisory-books-08-09

I had never read a red book, but because this book was recomended to me, I have found a new author whose books I am interested in. I really enjoyed reading this book because it was very interesting to read about the story of three sisters who strive to make a change in their government for the improvement of their country. The protagonists in the book are sisters who are married to men who have been arrested for plotting against their government in the Dominican Republic. The woman who have chil...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Dannie Dorrilus added it

Julia Alvarez’s novel In the Time of the Butterflies is a thrilling historical novel that narrates the story of four sisters and their lives. The story takes place during tumultuous time period in the Dominican Republic over the span of thirty years. These four sisters’ each tell their own story of courage, sacrifice, and fighting for what they believe is right. All though the Novel has a tragic ending, Alvarez beautifully captures what its like to live a life of fear and uncertainty just as th...more Julia Alvarez’s novel In the Time of the Butterflies is a thrilling historical novel that narrates the story of four sisters and their lives. The story takes place during tumultuous time period in the Dominican Republic over the span of thirty years. These four sisters’ each tell their own story of courage, sacrifice, and fighting for what they believe is right. All though the Novel has a tragic ending, Alvarez beautifully captures what its like to live a life of fear and uncertainty just as the main characters had.
In the Dominican Republic during the 1930’s to 1960’s a powerful dictator held power and caused chaos throughout the island. Just like in other countries, uprisings started and underground revolution groups started as well. Alvarez takes us through the lives of four sisters, Maria, Dede, Minerva, and Patria. Before their eyes were opened to the corruption of their homeland, they lived innocent and fulfilling lives. This novel could also be considered a coming of age due to the fact that the young sisters come to realizations about themselves and those around them by the end of the novel. Each one of them goes through their own experiences is exposed to new people and ideas. As life under a dictator worsens and the girls come of age, they begin to be able to better define their role in society and purpose in life. They risk their lives and engage in revolutionary movements. However, growing in a time period and place where the roles of women were limited, these women defy the lines drawn out for them and exercise their full potential. Alvarez’s novel may also serve as a sort of empowerment for women.
I personally liked this book, it was not one of my favorites but it was definitely worth reading. It was referred to me by a friend and so I read it. It was the opposite of what I thought it would be like. I usually stay away for historical fiction because I tend to find it boring but this book kept me interested the whole time. The narration was split between the four sisters and so you got an insight into the minds of each one and their account of events. My favorite quote would have to be from the most outspoken sister, Maria; she said
"May the limitations of love not cast a spell on the serious ambitions of my mind." This quote is my favorite because sometimes we give so much of ourselves to sometime/someone and lose our own “ambitions” or dreams along the way but it is important to keep them alive. Another reason why I liked this book was because it took place outside the U.S. therefore, I was reading into another culture. However, it was no surprise that many of the aspects of life in the Dominican Republic are similar to that in Haiti. Me being Haitian, I was able to relate. I was also able to connect more easily with the characters because they were females and no matter where we are from we tend to think the same way at times.
In conclusion, In the Time of the Butterflies is a story that talks about the heroism of four sisters that defied the odds. While doing so, it captures readers and you grow sympathetic towards characters and the terrible things that happen to them. I would recommend this book to anyone to read, more so females because they would be able to better relate.
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Feb 26, 2013 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

Young Adult or Historical Fiction?

Either way, this book falls short, but if you begin to read with the expectation that this is meant for young adults, you may be able to see past many of the shortcomings. Please know that in the history of the Dominican Republic, there were indeed three very courageous sisters that inspired a nation with their fortitude and patriotism! I commend Ms Alvarez for choosing to tell the story of these women, but I was disappointed in her story-telling.

If I were to b...more Young Adult or Historical Fiction?

Either way, this book falls short, but if you begin to read with the expectation that this is meant for young adults, you may be able to see past many of the shortcomings. Please know that in the history of the Dominican Republic, there were indeed three very courageous sisters that inspired a nation with their fortitude and patriotism! I commend Ms Alvarez for choosing to tell the story of these women, but I was disappointed in her story-telling.

If I were to begin to read this book with the expectation that Alvarez was writing for the benefit of young adults, I might overlook her simplistic and brief development of the Dominican Republic's Trujillo's dictatorship. Yes, we know that most dictators are cruel and hateful, reigning with fear and terror. However, for her readers, she did not create that world so that we could feel the outrage on behalf the Dominicans! How are we to understand how these sisters could be drawn into the world of the opposition? In addition, she mentions how inspiring Cuba's Fidel Castro is to the Dominican people! How does that help us to understand that Dictator Trujillo must be ousted?

As for the writing itself, I found it lacking. At first, I thought that the author was using "broken English" to add to the authenticity that this was a story from a different part of the world. If that was the author's purpose, it was taken too far, because it became increasingly distracting and at some point, took away from my understanding and enjoyment. I know it isn't Alvarez's command of the language because in the postscript she wrote very eloquently!

In addition, Spanish words were used that I could not glean their meaning from the context. I kept feeling like I was missing something important! I understand that in many cases the use of foreign word/phrase is much more meaningful and that the use of English would not do the story justice, but the reader should be able to insinuate a meaning!

I also would have loved to learn more about the Dominican people and their culture!

Finally, Alvarez did not develop the characters of Maria and Patria enough to explain their immense courage, especially when they denied release from prison! In Maria's case, I understood that she had no interest in the opposition's movements until a very handsome man came into the picture and then suddenly this soft, tender woman is hiding weaponry in her home!

Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful to know of the Las Mariposas and will seek to learn more about these "Butterflies"!(less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought that what this book lacked in moments of literary prowess it made up for in telling a moving story of four sisters growing up under the oppressive regime of Rafael Trujillo. I also thought that there was a lack of flaws in the characters and it was too easy to differentiate between the bad guys and the good guys. I don't find this true to the human experience. Only one character is an exception, and even this character is generally good. All of the main female characters in the story a...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Christina Josling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Have a look at my book review blog- Black Bifocals- for other great books!

I read In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez twelve years ago and it remains a favorite. This historical novel is part fact, part fiction. The setting is the Dominican Republic during the brutal and oppressive dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, who ruled from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Alvarez chronicles the real and imagined lives of the Mirabel sisters, known as “las mariposas” or “the butterflies” be...more Have a look at my book review blog- Black Bifocals- for other great books!

I read In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez twelve years ago and it remains a favorite. This historical novel is part fact, part fiction. The setting is the Dominican Republic during the brutal and oppressive dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, who ruled from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Alvarez chronicles the real and imagined lives of the Mirabel sisters, known as “las mariposas” or “the butterflies” because everyone in the resistant movement had false names. The book spans back and forth over the course of their childhood, teenage years, married adult lives and eventually their role in the subversive movement against Trujillo. Sadly, the book begins with three of the four sisters found dead after visiting their jailed husbands. While their deaths are intended to look like an accident, Alvarez reveals the risks these women took that eventually made them government targets.
While I know this is a book recommendation site, I read this over a decade ago, so I’m a little hazy on the details. This is not what you want to hear when deciding on whether or not to read my recommendation, but what transpired while reading this great book is still so vivid and will prove that it is a must read.
I have to bring you back three weeks prior to my having read In the Time of the Butterflies. For reasons that remain unknown (thank God there is no embarrassing context), I fainted in my Brooklyn apartment one February morning. Apparently I had broken the fall with my chin and my roommate found me face down with my arms at my side. My memory of the event is recorded in snapshots. I remember waking up thinking I had pretzels in my mouth, which were in fact broken teeth. Next I remember hearing my roommate calling 911. Then I remember her holding me in her lap telling me I was ok as I repeatedly told her I was fine. And then the paramedics arrived. When I foolishly asked to see a mirror in the ambulance, I saw missing teeth and a gaping hole in my chin.
I was transported to the nearest hospital- Woodhull Hospital. I have no memory of my entrance, but my mother told me the first thing she saw when she entered was a “de-lousing” room. In short, Woodhull Hospital is a horrifying place. Here are some reviews I found online:
“Do not go to this hospital, even if you're dying. Seriously, if you're dying, you should be in an ambulance headed to any hospital but this one. It has one of the dirtiest, scariest ERs I've ever seen.”
“This hospital caters mostly to drunks and crack heads who need to dry out or come down. If I were to bring a child here, I would have to cover her eyes. The scene is bad enough if you're healthy, but coming here with some sort of illness or injury makes you kind of hope they just kill you. But be careful what you wish for, because it's likely that they will.”
While at this house of horrors, I learned I had a broken and dislocated jaw (aside from smashed teeth and a busted chin) and I would have to stay a week. Upon hearing the news, I started crying. I was obviously very upset, but I was more distraught about the possibility of missing an upcoming trip to Belize.
I spent the night in that crazy hospital, but left the next day against doctor’s orders so I could receive proper care (I had already let a dentist stitch my chin closed). Oh what a sight I must have been. I left with gauze wrapped around my head and chin, not unlike a mummy. I had no shoes, so I walked in the snow to the car in hospital booties. Once I reached the oral surgeon’s office, I started crying again. Not because of the people staring at me in horror, but because I was finally getting adequate care. This care required having my jaw snapped back into place and then wired shut for 6 WEEKS.
Despite my liquid diet, inability to articulate, and rapidly declining weight, I was not canceling my trip to Belize with my friend Christina. My carry on suit case included cases of Ensure, a water pick, books and a bikini-everything I needed in case my luggage disappeared.
The first book I read there was The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami. I know Murakami is hailed as a talented novelist, but this book did nothing for me. My brother has a knack for recommending books that are so unbelievably not my taste. Then I started and finished In the Time of the Butteflies in a single day.
On that day, Christina and I parked ourselves in the sand and we left once for lunch (my lunch for the week was broth, Ensure, and a Coke). The rest of the day I spent buried in my book. I used to take tanning very seriously, but on that particular day I did not re-position my chair with the changing angle of the sun because I was knee deep in the lives of the Mirabel sisters. When I tore myself away for another can of Ensure, I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror of our room and I almost fainted again. I had managed to get a really bad burn on my face- but only half of my face. It was if someone had drawn a diagonal line from the top left of my forehead to the bottom right of my chin. You could almost see the imaginary line that had been drawn on my already battered face.
Christina promised me it really wasn’t that bad. She’s a good friend, but a liar. When we were at the hotel bar later that night, I felt a man sitting next to me sneaking glances our way. Finally he flat out asked “So what happened to your face?” And I had to answer him, through my wired shut jaw. It was not my finest hour.
So while part of my burnt face eventually scabbed, I had at least read a fantastic book. And Julia Alvarez continues to be one of my favorite authors.

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Jan 25, 2013 Kathryn Sanders rated it 2 of 5 stars

"In the Time of the Butterflies" was a good book, but not something I would read again. I was unaware of the historical events that took place during the 60's. Throughout the book there are many Spanish words and phrases that are easy to understand. Using context clues can help you figure out what the words possibly mean or are referred to as. When we started the book in class, we were immediately told that three of the sisters would die by the end of the novel. I kept wondering where in the nov...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Widiia rated it 5 of 5 stars

In The Time of The Butterflies ini adalah buku yang bersetting di Republik Dominika, menceritakan kisah nyata Mirabal bersaudara yang kesemuanya perempuan yang menentang kadiktatoran rezim Trujillo. Namun karena penentangannya Mirabal bersaudari mencapai ajalnya, mereka juga sering disebut sebagai Kupu-Kupu bersaudara. Kematian dan perjuangan mereka pada akhirnya turut mendorong revolusi di Republik Dominika yang berhasil menumbangkan kediktatoran Trujillo.
Dari tahun 1930 hingga 1961 Jenderal Le...more In The Time of The Butterflies ini adalah buku yang bersetting di Republik Dominika, menceritakan kisah nyata Mirabal bersaudara yang kesemuanya perempuan yang menentang kadiktatoran rezim Trujillo. Namun karena penentangannya Mirabal bersaudari mencapai ajalnya, mereka juga sering disebut sebagai Kupu-Kupu bersaudara. Kematian dan perjuangan mereka pada akhirnya turut mendorong revolusi di Republik Dominika yang berhasil menumbangkan kediktatoran Trujillo.
Dari tahun 1930 hingga 1961 Jenderal Leonidas Trujillo berkuasa secara diktator di Republik Dominika. Kediktatorannya untuk berkuasa menjadikan dia dapat dengan lama menguasai Republik Dominika. Rumus kekuasaannya agar berlangsung lama adalah menghabisi siapapun yang menentangnya. Karena itu pada masa kekuasaannya dia telah membunuh lebih dari 30.000 rakyat Dominika.
Di masa kekuasannya itulah di sebuah desa kecil di Dominika ada keluarga Mirabal, keluarga yang tinggal di peternakannya yang luas. Keluarga Mirabal mempuanyai 4 anak yang kesemuannya perempuan. Mereka adalah Patria, Dede, Minerva, dan Maria Teresa (Mate). Diantara keempat anak itu, Minerva adalah anak yang paling kritis dan banyak bicara.
Masalah mulai muncul ketika Minerva dan kakaknya ingin meninggalkan desanya untuk bersekolah di kota. Walaupun dengan berat ayah mereka akhirnya mengijinkan. Jadilah Minerva dan kakaknya bersekolah di sebuah sekolah gereja. Di situlah Minerva mulai bertemu dengan Jefe Trujillo, pada saat Trujillo menghadiri pementasan di sekolahnya. Pada saat pementasan itu juga Minerva kecil mulai tersadar dengan realitas yang ada tentang Trujillo, dengan kejadian kawannya yang ingin membunuh Trujillo karena ingin membalas dendam kepada trujillo yang membunuh keluargannya, dan temannya lagi yang cantik diambil Trujillo untuk dijadikan istri. Selanjutnya juga diketahuinya, kawannya yang ingin membunuh Trujillo hilang, dan kawannya yang dikawini Trujillo dibuang di Miami.
Selepas bersekolah, Minerva kembali ke peternakan keluarga Mirabal, ia mempunyai cita-cita untuk kuliah hukum dan menjadi pengacara. Hal tersebut sebenarnya mustahil, karena di republik Dominika saat itu, wanita tidak boleh kuliah hukum apalagi menjadi pengacara. Di tengah kebimbangannya itu, dia bertemu dengan Virgilio (Lio) seorang mahasiswa hukum, yang akhirnya menjadi cinta pertama Minerva. Lio memberikan buku hukum yang cukup revolusioner kepada Minerva untuk dikenangnya dan nama Butterfly (Kupu-Kupu). Pada selanjutnya diketahui bahwa Lio merupakan bagian dari para pejuang revolusioner yang melawan rezim Trujillo. Karena itu hubungannya tidak disetujui oleh keluarganya karena takut membahayakan nyawa mereka.
Karena kuatnya tekanan rezim Trujillo kepada para pembangkang Lio dan kawan seperjuangannya memutuskan untuk pergi ke luar Dominika dan meneruskan revolusinya dari luar negeri dan menghindar dari kejaran rezim Trujillo, walaupun pada akhirnya Lio dan kawan-kawannya tetap mati di luar negeri karena dibunuh tentara bayaran Trujillo. Hubungan Minerva Mirabal dengan Lio sang pemberontak bukannya tidak diketahui Trujillo, karena itu ia juga mendekati keluarga Mirabal.
Pada suatu ketika secara tiba-tiba keluarga Mirabal mendapat undangan dari Jefe Trujillo untuk menghadiri pesta kenegaraannya. Hal yang mengejutkan lagi Minerva diberikan tempat khusus di jamuan makan itu di tempat Jefe biasanya bersama istri-istrinya. Nampaknya Trujillo sengaja ingin memanfaatkan kecantikan Minerva sekaligus melihat hubungannya dengan para pemberontak. Di pesta tersebut Trujillo mengajak berdansa bersama Minerva, dan kejadian yang menegangkan terjadi ketika Trujillo mulai melakukan kegiatan yang tidak senonoh kepada minerva saat berdansa, secara refleks Minerva menampar muka Trujillo sang diktator Republik Dominika. Kejadian yang akan membekas dan mempengaruhi kehidupan keluarga Mirabal selamanya.
Kejadian itu membuat seluruh keluarga Mirabal ketakutan akan tindakan yang akan dilakukan Trujillo kepada mereka. Ayah Minerva segera mengirimkan permintaan maaf kepada Trujillo. Namun nampaknya tidak cukup, sang ayah diminta untuk mempertanggungjawabkan tindakan anaknya dengan dijebloskan ke penjara. Minerva sangat terpukul atas kejadian itu dan berusaha membebaskan ayahnya bagaimanapun caranya. Titik terang muncul saat kepala polisi di wilayahnya memberi jalan dengan meminta Minerva menemui langsung Jefe Trujillo.
Minerva menemui langsung Jefe Trujillo untuk berusaha membebaskan ayahnya. Trujillo menawarkan ayahnya akan bebas dan bisa pergi dengan keluarganya, jika Minerva tetap tinggal di istana Trujillo (untuk menjadi gundiknya mungkin). Namun Minerva menolak akhirnya Trujillo membuat permainan dengan dadu, jika Trujillo menang, Minerva harus tinggal bersamanya dan ayahnya bebas dan pergi bersama ibunya, namun jika Minerva menang ayahnya bebas dan dia bisa pergi dengan ayah dan ibunya. Minerva menyetujui dengan penambahan syarat, jika ia menang dia harus boleh bersekolah di sekolah hukum. Dan pada akhirnya Minerva memenangkan perjudian itu, dan dia akhirnya boleh pergi dan membebaskan ayahnya.
Ternyata tidak seindah itu, ayahnya memang bebas namun dengan bekas penyiksaan fisik dan psikologis yang berat sehingga dia meninggal tak lama setelah dibebaskan. Kejadian itu yang membuat Minerva lebih bersemangat untuk kuliah hukum dan ‘membalas’ kematian ayahnya dengan bertekad menumbangkan Trujillo dengan kemampuannya membela rakyat dengan ilmu hukumnya.
Di universitasnya belajar Minerva akhirnya juga menemui anggota lain dari kaum revolusioner terpelajar yang melawan kediktatoran Trujillo, yaitu sahabat Lio yang mengenal Minerva sebagai Butterfly yang nantinya dia menjadi suami Minerva. Di situlah dimulai konsolidasi gerak dari mahasiswa-mahasiswa dan rakyat yang mulai melakukan gerakan kesadaran dan perlawanan terhadap penindasan Trujillo dimana Minerva menjadi salah satu motornya dengan sandi Butterfly. Saudarinya Mate akhirnya turut bergabung dengan gerakan itu untuk turut membalaskan dendam kematian ayahnya.
Gerakan yang dilakukan Minerva dengan kawan-kawannya terus dilakukan untuk membangkitkan kesadaran rakyat untuk melawan penindasan berlangsung terus sejak mereka di bangku kuliah. Minerva pun menikah dengan pemimpin dari gerakan itu. Antiklimaks dari perjuangan Minerva untuk bersekolah hukum terjadi saat kelulusan dimana Trujillo yang memberikan ijazah mereka, Minerva tidak diberikan ijazah oleh Trujillo dengan dalih perjudian mereka lakukan dulu adalah agar minerva kuliah hukum, bukan untuk bisa berpraktek sebagai pengacara.
Tidak diakuinya kemampuan hukum yang dipelajari Minerva tidak membuatnya putus asa, bahkan perjuangannya melawan Trujillo lebih nyata lagi. Minerva bersama Mate dan suaminya bahkan mulai memulaikan perjuangan bersenjata dengan menyelundupkan senjata untuk melawan Trujillo. Selain itu mereka juga memperluaskan propoganda perlawanan terhadap Trujillo dengan menggandeng para pemuka agama dan tuan tanah yang masih peduli. Dengan cepat kepopularitasan para pejuang ‘Kupu-Kupu’ membahana ke rakyat Dominika.
Gerah dengan gerakan pembangkangan ini, pasukan Trujillo akhirnya menggerebek kediaman saudari Minerva tempat mereka menyimpan senjata dan menjebloskan Minerva, Mate dan suami-suami mereka ke penjara. Penangkapan Minerva dan saudarinya malah menjadikan mereka semakin populer bagi rakyat, bahkan para sipir penjara dan tahanan lain mendukung mereka dengan semangat ‘hidup kupu-kupu’.
Karena tekanan dari dunia luar dimana Trujillo semakin menurun kredibilitasnya karena dugaan perencanaan pembunuhan presiden Venezuela dan buruknya perlakuan terhadap tahanan serta pelanggaran HAM. Minerva dan Mate akhirnya dibebaskan oleh Trujillo setelah mereka meminta tolong kepada petugas PBB yang menjenguk mereka. Namun tidak bagi suami-suami mereka yang masih dipenjara.
Setelah dibebaskan, Minerva dan saudari-saudarinya meneruskan untuk berjuang, khususnya berjuang untuk membebaskan suami mereka. Perjuangan mereka nampaknya berhasil ketika Trujillo menemui Minerva di rumahnya untuk menerima terimakasih dan berkata akan membantu mereka. Akhirnya Minerva dan Mate diberi kesempatan untuk menemui suami mereka di penjara.
Ternyata itu adalah kesempatan terakhir yang diberika Trujillo untuk mereka bertemu suami mereka. Setelah menemui suami mereka di penjara, di perjalanan pulang Minerva, Patria, dan Mate dihentikan oleh orang-orang Trujillo dan mereka dibunuh dengan sadis bersama-sama di sebuah perkebunan.
Pembunuhan itu terjadi pada sekitar tahun 1950, yang dikenal sebagai insiden Betancourt. Mirabal bersaudara yang terdiri dari Patria, Maria Teresa, dan Minerva adalah termasuk pihak yang menentang kediktatoran pemerintahan Trujillo. Hal tersebut menjadi perusak hubungan antara Trujillo dan Amerika Serikat yang selama ini mendukungnya. Kematian Mirabal bersaudari menjadi salah satu pemicu dari perlawanan-perlawanan rakyat lain yang memuncak pada jatuhnya kekuasaan Trujillo yang terbunuh 6 bulan kemudian. Hari kematian mereka 25 November di Amerika Latin ditetapkan sebagai hari internasional melawan kekerasan terhadap perempuan.
Kisah hidup Trujillo berakhir dalam sebuah penembakan ketika ia sedang berada di luar pusat kota Dominika. Dalam sebuah mobil, ia dikepung oleh sekawanan orang yang anti pemerintahannya dan sempat terlibat baku tembak hingga akhirnya Trujillo meninggal terkena tembakan si pelaku. Hari itu menutup kisah kontroversial sang presiden, Selasa, 30 Mei 1961.
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Dec 26, 2012 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I learned about the oppression of people in the Dominican Republic under the rule of the dictator Trujillo in "In the Time of the Butterflies". Julia Alvarez reveals the lives of the Miribal sisters and they become our own. We experience the inconveniences and the terror of Trujillo through Alvarez's insightful character development. Patria, Minerva, Martia Teresa and Dede lives are followed separately in the novel. We learn about how oppression has touched each of their lives and how they are a...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Ann Sloan rated it 4 of 5 stars

My introduction to this book was in a World Literature class I was assigned to teach. I had little knowledge of world lit – my experience has been mainly in British and American lit, so I had to read out of my box. I found this book, In the Time of the Butterflies, to be one of the most memorable book we read that summer (#1 was One Hundred Years of Solitude. If I had been able to I would have gotten all my students T-shirts labeled I Survived One Hundred Years of Solitude – but more about that...more My introduction to this book was in a World Literature class I was assigned to teach. I had little knowledge of world lit – my experience has been mainly in British and American lit, so I had to read out of my box. I found this book, In the Time of the Butterflies, to be one of the most memorable book we read that summer (#1 was One Hundred Years of Solitude. If I had been able to I would have gotten all my students T-shirts labeled I Survived One Hundred Years of Solitude – but more about that another time.)

I am old enough to remember the overthrow of Trujillo, but young enough to not have understood what was involved. This book makes it clear what was at stake in the Dominican Republic and what was American policy during the Cold War. If a dictator was anti-Communist, anything he did was just fine by the US. This book is a well-written work that illustrates the unspeakable horrors of the Trujillo Dictatorship and political oppression throughout the society. She has immortalized the Mirabal sisters as national heroines.

In the Time of the Butterflies is a skillful mixture of fact and fiction. It is based on the true story of the three Mirabal sisters who, in 1960, were murdered for their part in an underground plot to overthrow the government. They were known as "las mariposas," or "the butterflies," in the underground and Alvarez imagines their teenage years and their gradual involvement in the opposition. Although the reader knows how the story ends, Alvarez creates mounting tension as "the butterflies" meet their horrific deaths when they were ambushed and assassinated as they drove back from visiting their jailed husbands. This event was, if not the last straw, significant in the overthrow of Trujillo a few months after their deaths.

The novel begins with the recollections of Dede, the fourth and surviving sister, who feared the consequences to her family and could not bring herself to join her sisters. We also learn the stories of the other sisters: fearless and outspoken Minerva; pious Patria, who forsakes her religious calling faith to join her sisters; and sensitive Maria Teresa, who, in a series of diaries, records the physical and spiritual anguish of prison life.

My students thought highly of this book; it was part of the theme I was following of political and cultural repression throughout the world. Some things haven’t changed, unfortunately, for many peoples in many countries.

Related videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-Sis... Half of this is in Spanish, without subtitles, but it gives you a memorable view of the sisters' home and the respect and love that the Dominican people hold for them. It features Dede, the surviving sister, and how she has lived her life without her sisters. Then, http://www.youtube.com/watchv=FBC23nK... briefly outlines the American Involvement in the Trujillo Era. There are several other YouTube videos on the subject; unfortunately, for English speakers at least, they are in Spanish. Watching Trujillo in action, however, gives you an idea of his power and intimidating demeanor.
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topics	posts	views	last activity
Spanish language entries in In the Time of the Butterflies	3	30	Jul 09, 2012 10:17pm
Dominican Republic	3	19	May 22, 2012 08:49pm