Winter Break Book Review

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a woven story of fact and fiction, which describes the lives of the Mirabal sisters. Based from 1939 to 1960, this book describes Trujillo’s reign in the Dominican Republic and the underground struggle for freedom. The author herself lived through the time of El Jefé. Julia’s family fled the country in 1960 due to her fathers work against Trujillo. In the novel and history, the four main characters: Dedé, Minerva, Patricia, and Maria Teresa Mirabal became revolutionary symbols, also known as the butterflies. Each chapter is written in from one of the sister’s point of view. Dedé’s recalls the past in third person while the other three sisters are written in the first person.  This shows a flagrant contrast between the sisters who were murdered and the one who survived.

            From the beginning of the book it is made clear that Patricia, Minerva, and Maria Teresa were brutally killed on November 25^th 1960, along with their driver. In Dedé’s first chapter it foreshadows the Mirabal’s futures; “A chill goes through her, for she feels it in her bones, the future is now beginning. By the time it is over it will be the past, and she doesn’t want to be the only one left to tell their story.” The story then reverses in time to their childhood, before the girls became involved with a revolution. The reader learns about their family struggles and daily lives in the oppressed Dominican Republic. Eventually, each girl rebels and joins the revolution.

            Although a fairly easy read, In the Time of the Butterflies contains a fair amount of Spanish (which actually helped me learn a few new words). It isn’t too long considering that a lot of information is packed into it. I recommend this to everyone, especially to those who enjoy history.