Synopsis
Blending fact and fiction, this story follows the Mirabal sisters during the Trujillo era. From their childhood to their death, Julia Alvarez imagines their lives, putting a strong emphasis on the small details.
Backstory
This is the first book I’ve read from Julia Alvarez. I’ve been meaning to study their work. I thought it would be very interesting to read something from a Dominican author. I tend not to read books that take place in my birth country or from authors who are Dominican. Nothing against them. I just don’t know many.
I first heard about this book during high school. I can’t remember how it came up in conversation, but my Spanish teacher somehow mentioned the book. I definitely remember the Mirabal sisters were a part of whatever conversation we were having, but I can’t remember anything about it.
I found the book in Spanish on Bookshare, an accessible online library for people with reading barriers. Since I was taking a Spanish class at the time, I thought it would be interesting to attempt reading it in its original language. The last time I tried reading a book in my native tongue I didn’t understand it. I was hoping it would be different this time.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t. I believe I got to page 25 before I gave up on it. The book was still on the back of my mind, though. I really wanted to read it. Although I’m not very knowledgeable about Dominican history, I was still very interested in learning about it.
A few weeks ago, I found it on NLS Bard, another accessible library. I knew the audiobook wouldn’t be the best, but it wasn’t terrible. It was produced in 1994, so it was meant for a cassette. I decided to pick it up and finally read it.
Review
I enjoyed this book. I had no expectations when I started reading. Since I never read anything by this author, I had nothing to compare it to, so it was difficult to guess what it might be like. Also, I didn’t know enough about the Mirabal sisters. I knew some basic information, but that was all. For me, this was an entirely new experience.
The writing is good. Very accessible and easy to read. This is especially great if you’re very new to who the sisters are. It’s a good way to get people to learn about the real women portrayed in this story.
The themes could have been explored better. They’re not necessarily glossed over, but they’re not given enough page time. For the length of this book, too many things happened. The story would have benefited if it was longer.
This feels like it was written for a Dominican audience, even though it seems like the author wanted to write for everyone. It can be read by Dominicans, but it can also be read by those who have no idea about these events. The accessible writing can definitely do that. However, there’s a lack of world-building here. A lot of locations are mentioned and nothing interesting is highlighted about them.
This is a bit subjective, but this book has one of my least favorite things. Although it doesn’t do this often, point of views switch between third and first person. You’ll have Ded€’s point of view in third person and everyone else’s in first person. I find that this tends to take me out of the story, but this might just be me.
The one point of view that works really well in first person is María Teresa’s. Her chapters are written in journal entries. It’s an interesting addition to the book and it makes her character the best developed out of all of them. She’s actually my favorite.
This is a very character-driven story. There’s a lot of focus on the sisters and their lives. They feel like real characters. Real people you could have known. Credit to the author for making them real rather than putting them on a pedestal. For treating them like the women they are and not like legends.
Conclusion
Overall, it’s a great story. It’s a great way to introduce readers to very remarkable women. I rated it four stars. It should have been longer and themes and characters could have been explored better.
Author’s Note
Hey, everyone! Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this review.
This book is based on the true story of the real Mirabal sisters. They were part of a revolutionary movement whose objective was to overthrow Rafael Trujillo, a dictator that ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 until he was assassinated in 1961. Do not take this story as fact as the author explains that they took creative liberties when writing this book, such as changing dates of events. If you’re interested in learning more about the Mirabal sisters, consult nonfiction sources.
I’ve found that it’s hard not to reflect on this story, especially as a Dominican. It’s very different from what I usually read. Not all literature is meant for reflection, but I think this book is worth thinking about. I definitely encourage you to do so and to learn about these wonderful women.
Unfortunately, my in-depth review of this book will not be out until 2023. If you want to be the first to see it, subscribe to my channel using the link below.
Anexis Matos 
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