By Jennifer Lee
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez shadows four Dominican sisters suffering under their dictator, Trujillo’s, political oppression and harsh cruelty. The sisters become underground resistance workers known as Las Mariposas, or “The Butterflies. Giving hope to the oppressed Dominicans in their darkest hours, the sisters become a symbol of defiance and bravery.
Though not “suspenseful in the sense of a thriller, complete with murdering psychopaths and screaming teenage girls, In the Time of the Butterflies offers another more subtle, yet still relentlessly driving, sense of suspense. Because the sisters chose to forsake safe and happy family lives in the pursuit of freedom, their lives hang in a delicate balance.
Throughout the difficulty and danger, however, Las Mariposas burn with the desire to free their country. Their determination and commitment drive the book with an underlying sense of urgency and purpose, while their humanity brings a moving depth to the story.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez shadows four Dominican sisters suffering under their dictator, Trujillo’s, political oppression and harsh cruelty. The sisters become underground resistance workers known as Las Mariposas, or “The Butterflies. Giving hope to the oppressed Dominicans in their darkest hours, the sisters become a symbol of defiance and bravery.
Though not “suspenseful in the sense of a thriller, complete with murdering psychopaths and screaming teenage girls, In the Time of the Butterflies offers another more subtle, yet still relentlessly driving, sense of suspense. Because the sisters chose to forsake safe and happy family lives in the pursuit of freedom, their lives hang in a delicate balance.
Throughout the difficulty and danger, however, Las Mariposas burn with the desire to free their country. Their determination and commitment drive the book with an underlying sense of urgency and purpose, while their humanity brings a moving depth to the story.
