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vereisnthere's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Police brutality, Sexism, Torture, Car accident, War, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Violence, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia and Xenophobia
phoebe_phorreal's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Alvarez attempts to give a human element to the story of the Mirabal sisters, told so many times in history and in legend, and mingle her voice with theirs- and does so wonderfully. The characters of the girls are perhaps the most powerful part of the narrative, though their love, losses, perils, and triumphs certainly captivate as well.
I admit I related more to Patria and Dedé at first than Maria Teresa (Mate) and Minerva, but they all won me over by the end of this soul-baring novel of a suffering but brave and loving family, imperfect but still strongly devoted in its own way. There's a reason Mate's "I can write the saddest things tonight" is so memorable, and Alvarez captures each voice perfectly- Patria's unconventional faith; Minerva, strong and struggling; Dedé, exasperated but thoughtful; and Mate, soulful and poetic.
This is a novel devoted to freedom, written both as a call to reflection and to action, and it truly both breaks your heart and makes you smile. I cannot recommend it enough. Read it if you're interested in Dominican history, sure, but most importantly, read it to free somebody else, as Alvarez says when she quotes Toni Morrison, even if that may be a somebody you never meet.
I admit I related more to Patria and Dedé at first than Maria Teresa (Mate) and Minerva, but they all won me over by the end of this soul-baring novel of a suffering but brave and loving family, imperfect but still strongly devoted in its own way. There's a reason Mate's "I can write the saddest things tonight" is so memorable, and Alvarez captures each voice perfectly- Patria's unconventional faith; Minerva, strong and struggling; Dedé, exasperated but thoughtful; and Mate, soulful and poetic.
This is a novel devoted to freedom, written both as a call to reflection and to action, and it truly both breaks your heart and makes you smile. I cannot recommend it enough. Read it if you're interested in Dominican history, sure, but most importantly, read it to free somebody else, as Alvarez says when she quotes Toni Morrison, even if that may be a somebody you never meet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Grief
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