IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES by Julia Alvared - S.A

[Elena]

For those of us who want to read this one, too.

[Val]

I have found a reasonably priced, second hand copy and ordered it. It says the author is A Alvarez, not Julia, but I think it is the right book.

Had any of you heard of the Mirabel sisters before this book was chosen? Or read anything else set at this time and place?

[Elena]

Val wrote: "I have found a reasonably priced, second hand copy and ordered it. It says the author is A Alvarez, not Julia, but I think it is the right book.

Had any of you heard of the Mirabel sisters before ..."

No, Val, unfortunately not. The plot just sounded really great. I have not read much South American/Latin American literature to begin with. Why do you ask?

[rosshalde]

I was use my vote for this book. I will buy that as soon as possible :)

[Elena]

rosshalde wrote: "I was use my vote for this book. I will buy that as soon as possible :)"

Sounds good rosshalde. Where are you from, by the way. I think you might of mentioned it. Can you remind us, again? ;)

[Kelly]

My copy just arrived yesterday. I am looking really forward to this book, the synopsis is so intriguing.

[Val]

My copy has arrived now. Books are like buses: you wait ages for one to arrive, then two arrive at once.

[rosshalde]

Elemillia wrote: "rosshalde wrote: "I was use my vote for this book. I will buy that as soon as possible :)"

Sounds good rosshalde. Where are you from, by the way. I think you might of mentioned it. Can you remin..."
of course :) I am from Turkey and I live in Ankara( capital of Turkey). Sorry for late answer by the way. I was bussy my graduation procedures but I am back now :)

[Val]

I have started reading this one now and 'met' all four of the sisters and the author.

How do you all feel about using real people in a novel?
Could Alvarez have told this story with invented protagonists?

[Elena]

thats a good question Val. i will def think about this as i read the book in the future

[rosshalde]

I bought the book today. It was little bit hard to find this book for me because a lots of bookstore's already finished the stocks. But finally I found it.I will start to read as soon as possible.

[Beth (bibliobeth)]

That's a great question Val. I'm not sure how I feel about using the sisters in the novel. I think this is particularly because its fiction - so how much can we really believe? Saying that, I did enjoy the story.

[Val]

The author talked to the surviving sister and got a brief description of each of the dead sisters. This visit is described at the start of the book and is true (I think). She then uses that brief description to create fictional thoughts and conversations around the historical facts of the case.
I think she did a good job of showing a difference between the sisters overall, but she is constrained by only having those few brief sentences for each character. If she had invented them, she could have given them more depth.