Selection for May: Read a library book.
Yes, I know, it's a little late for May, but why not?
Yes, I know, it's a little late for May, but why not?
(P.S. I goofed on this challenge. I had two selections for May, so I need to move this to the October challenge.)
I borrowed this book from the New Orleans Public Library to read for the International Fiction Book Club of New Orleans.
Alvarez' book concerns a group of siblings living in the Dominican Republic durint the time of the dictator, Trujillo.
I knew absolutely nothing about this period in Dominican History, so I liked that aspect of the novel.
It also is Alvarez' telling of the resistance of the Mirabel sisters against the dictator. They had comfortable lives as young girls, but there was always a current of fear. In a school play, which Trujillo attended, the sisters were afraid of being too beautiful. Trujillo liked young girls, and he would take them for a bit, until he got tired of them or they became pregnant.
Trujillo not only imprisoned people and had them executed, but he was able to make everday life miserable.
The oldest Mirabel sister finished law school and was ready to start a practice. However, Trujillo was able to have some paperwork revised, and she never was able to work in her profession. She railed and ranted but was powerless to change things.
In 1959, Patricia had a sense of foreboding. "My eighteenth year of marriage, the ground of my well-being began to give a little. Just a baby's breath tremor, a hairline crack you could hardly see unless you were looking for trouble."
This is great introduction to this time period and will help you to understand some of the background of Junot Diaz' The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
I borrowed this book from the New Orleans Public Library to read for the International Fiction Book Club of New Orleans.
Alvarez' book concerns a group of siblings living in the Dominican Republic durint the time of the dictator, Trujillo.
I knew absolutely nothing about this period in Dominican History, so I liked that aspect of the novel.
It also is Alvarez' telling of the resistance of the Mirabel sisters against the dictator. They had comfortable lives as young girls, but there was always a current of fear. In a school play, which Trujillo attended, the sisters were afraid of being too beautiful. Trujillo liked young girls, and he would take them for a bit, until he got tired of them or they became pregnant.
Trujillo not only imprisoned people and had them executed, but he was able to make everday life miserable.
The oldest Mirabel sister finished law school and was ready to start a practice. However, Trujillo was able to have some paperwork revised, and she never was able to work in her profession. She railed and ranted but was powerless to change things.
In 1959, Patricia had a sense of foreboding. "My eighteenth year of marriage, the ground of my well-being began to give a little. Just a baby's breath tremor, a hairline crack you could hardly see unless you were looking for trouble."
This is great introduction to this time period and will help you to understand some of the background of Junot Diaz' The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
3 comments:
We read In the Name of Salome for book group didn't we? I was not a fan of the Garcia Girls book but remember like the other one a lot. I've been meaning to try another of her books. This one sounds very good.
I saw a film about this family once some years back. I don't know the title, I came upon it part way in. It sounds like she did a good job with this book, it should be interesting.
Iliana - Yes, we read Salome. In the Time of Butterflies is set later than Salomoe.
Sandra - I didn't know it was a movie. I'll look for it. Thanks for letting me know.
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