Sarah's review
In the Time of the Butterflies
by Julia Alvarez
Sarah's review
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Sarah's review
rating:
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) and wondered about the importance of which parts were "true."
It's no secret, historically or in the novel, that the sisters are going to be killed. Alvarez makes sure we know that right from the start. Still, the writing propels the story and builds suspense.
She creates a distinct personality for each sister, letting them take turns as narrators. Their voices are so distinct that I could soon tell who was "talking" without looking at the chapte
It's no secret, historically or in the novel, that the sisters are going to be killed. Alvarez makes sure we know that right from the start. Still, the writing propels the story and builds suspense.
She creates a distinct personality for each sister, letting them take turns as narrators. Their voices are so distinct that I could soon tell who was "talking" without looking at the chapte
