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Dancing With Butterflies
by
Reyna Grande (Goodreads Author)
Dancing with Butterflies uses the alternating voices of four very different women whose lives interconnect through a common passion for their Mexican heritage and a dance company called Alegría. Yesenia, who founded Alegría with her husband, Eduardo, sabotages her own efforts to remain a vital, vibrant woman when she travels back and forth across the Mexican border for che...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
October 6th 2009
by Washington Square Press
(first published 2009)
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Dancing with Butterflies is one of the best books I've read. I simply could not put it down. The novel is written from the point of view of four different characters: Adriana, Elena, Yesenia, and Soledad. Each character is struggling with an epic problem related both to her age and to her culture. All of the action of the novel unfolds in front of the backdrop of Folklorico, a style of dance I was made aware of (in my gringa ignorance) just a short while ago.
The content of the novel is graphic,...more
The content of the novel is graphic,...more
There is nothing in this world (or probably the next) quite like Mexican Folkloric dance -- the Aztec dances are strong and tell the story of the times with strength and grace and understanding. The more modern regional dances each has it's own set of costumes -- from the fluffy lace-ruffled Vera Cruz dress with the black apron covered with embroidered flowers to the wonderful black velvet straight dresses embossed with a rainbow of huge splashy flowers to the Vestida de listones -- the beribbon...more
I dance Mexican folkloric, and if there was this much drama going on in the studio we'd never perform. While it was nice reading about some of the dances and costumes and hearing terms and events common to the folkloric world (in California at least), a lot of the story was WAY over done. There were too many name brands thrown out and too many UCs mentioned. While I'm sure the author's intent was to make the novel feel more personable, the effect was more kitschy and trendy (and slightly annoyin...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I read this for my book club this month. I really wanted to like it and it had some redeeming qualities. I loved learning about the dance, the cultural, the costumes. That part of it was so interesting.
However, the stories were mind-numbing. The ladies were terrible, the stories were terrible. The writing was wonderful, but I really felt the author did a disservice to those of that are just learning about what Folklorico is. It deserved some really good, really strong stories to surround the cul...more
However, the stories were mind-numbing. The ladies were terrible, the stories were terrible. The writing was wonderful, but I really felt the author did a disservice to those of that are just learning about what Folklorico is. It deserved some really good, really strong stories to surround the cul...more
The author made the four main characters in this book come alive for me. I felt like I was sharing their experiences with them--their experiences with family, friends, dreams, heartbreaks, etc. My only criticism of the book was that there was too much crude language, and I sometimes felt that it was used only for effect...and didn't even fit. There were also some sexual descriptions that were a little too detailed for my taste. Yet, the book was hard to put down because I so wanted all four wome...more
This book took me through so many emotions; from pride in my heritage, nostalgia as a former folklorico dancer, anger and rage at racism and prejudice exhibited by ignorant people, to sadness at the very real and too-often ocurring stories of being satisfied with just getting by. These four women went through so much, yet persevered in their own way without every really thinking of themselves as victims.
This book is an interesting read for those who don't identify with the culture, and it well m...more
This book is an interesting read for those who don't identify with the culture, and it well m...more
BOOK REVIEW:
Dancing with Butterflies
By Reyna Grande
http://www.reynagrande.com/
Reviewed by:
Zulmara Cline
Dancing With Butterflies
Reading Reyna’s newest book Dancing with Butterflies” is to truly immerse yourself in an artistic experience, the sights, the sounds, the images, the poetry in motion bring together a cacophony of artistic experiences that will take you on a journey through the many regions of Mexico, as well as the hearts and soul of 4 powerful women and the men that shape their lives....more
Dancing with Butterflies
By Reyna Grande
http://www.reynagrande.com/
Reviewed by:
Zulmara Cline
Dancing With Butterflies
Reading Reyna’s newest book Dancing with Butterflies” is to truly immerse yourself in an artistic experience, the sights, the sounds, the images, the poetry in motion bring together a cacophony of artistic experiences that will take you on a journey through the many regions of Mexico, as well as the hearts and soul of 4 powerful women and the men that shape their lives....more
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting how the lives of four women intertwined through dance. They all have their individual struggles and although they try, they don't fully understand the struggles of the others. The book is written from the perspective of all four women. It is easy to see yourself and your friends in these four women as they strive to find love, beauty, a true home and overcoming the loss of a child. It isn't a "sappy" book, but rather a book that reflects reality. I...more
I loved this book. Reyna based her characters on 4 different women, all living in L.A., all
involved in Folklorico dancing. Her characters are vivid, each with different personalities, 2
are sisters, another is one of the older dancers, having knee problems, unable to continue dancing,
and you will just love these ladies, and you will love the book. Sometimes you cry with them and
other times you burst out laughing.
involved in Folklorico dancing. Her characters are vivid, each with different personalities, 2
are sisters, another is one of the older dancers, having knee problems, unable to continue dancing,
and you will just love these ladies, and you will love the book. Sometimes you cry with them and
other times you burst out laughing.
view 1 comment
I bought this book for $1 at Half Price Books, and was hesitant because I didn't like the title. I ended up getting completely sucked in to this book! I love the 4 different voices, and how the characters stories are intertwined. The inclusion of foclorico is interesting, but not overwhelming. I love the diversity of the main characters, and how real their situations are.
Aug 02, 2011
Alma Garcia
added it
I loved this book. When I finished, I really missed keeping up with the characters. The book fallowes several members of a Bailet Folklorico, there is personal losse and pain, sacrifice and hope. Ther is healing and acceptance. And, of course, un que otro escadalo.
I thought this was extremely interesting. It gave a very insightful perspective on different emotions women may experience. It deals with aging, death, feeling inferior, family loss and self esteem. I don't think it was extremely well written but I thought it was interesting.
This book uses the voices of four different women which are all connected through their Mexican heritage and a dance company. It goes through some of their struggles living in America and really shows the complex parts of life especially if one person is "legal" or not. I enjoyed the book and learning more about their culture.
I picked up this book in the store because I loved the subject of the book. I really liked it until the end. I know that the book was centered around these four women but the end left me wanting to know more about certain characters that were involved.
I loved this book.It made me miss Mexico very much.I have not visited since the early nineties.It also made me homesick for California and the chicano population there!
I love the all the references to the folklorico dancing and other things Mexican.
I especially enjoyed the way the author gave you a view point of three different women and their many similarities inspite of their different circumstances.
I will be looking for this authors first book!
I love the all the references to the folklorico dancing and other things Mexican.
I especially enjoyed the way the author gave you a view point of three different women and their many similarities inspite of their different circumstances.
I will be looking for this authors first book!
LOVE the way she describes ballet folklorico! I now have a new perspective of folklorico dance and I see how important it is to keeping our culture vibrant. The drama was as indulgent as a classic spanish novela.
This story told the stories of four Mexican-American women whose lives intertwined through a dance company. The story stayed basic and the writing simple, but to good effect.
Aug 01, 2011
Kuwana
added it
Modern read. A teaching book about choices and consequences, Mexican American issues, Monarch butterflies, and Mexican Folklorico dance.
This was a good book, I am now reading another book from Reyna Grande. The four characters are real and the story line is excellent.
If you like Mexican soap operas, this book is right up your alley.
I enjoyed the characters most of all.
Aug 05, 2012
Michelle Collins
added it
a pleasant surprise. These women were strong individuals and a mighty force when they came together.
Very telenovela-like. I get sucked into multi-women narrators, but the decisions made by these women were a little over the top for me.
Wonderful story of four different Latina women in California who deal with life in their own way. And each is transformed, as butterflies are, to grow as a person. Colorful characters relating to each other through Folklorico. I couldn't put the book down until I was finished with it. I love Reyna Grande's ability to tell a story!
Loved it! Couldn't put it down! And I was sad when it ended, I hate saying goodbye to such dynamic characters!
Mar 14, 2013
Tory Joyce
added it
Depressing, contrived, read like a bad made for TV movie.
My review: http://silviavinas.com/2012/10/12/boo...
I liked the premise and character development but 1/2 way into book the story becomes predictable and repetitive
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Reyna Grande is the author of two novels, Across a Hundred Mountains, which received a 2007 American Book Award; Dancing with Butterflies, which received a 2010 International Latino Book Award. Her new book, a memoir titled The Distance Between Us, was published on August 28, 2012 by Simon & Schuster. In it, Reyna recounts her experiences as a child left behind in Mexico when her parents emigr...more
More about Reyna Grande...
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