dlberglund's review
3.0
I appreciate the importance of this book, and the stories it tells. I learned a great deal from it, and by the final third of the book was swept into their turmoil and risk.
I struggled more than I'd like to admit with the first half. If I put it down for more than a few days, I had to reestablish which sister was which. I'm not sure that right now I could draw out the family tree with husbands and children. The voices of 1950's Dede and Patria were not distinct enough for me, and I got lost in the details. I often wished for it to be solely Minerva or Mate's story, to be honest. However, the race to the finish was well paced and satisfying, and I may have shed a tear.
I struggled more than I'd like to admit with the first half. If I put it down for more than a few days, I had to reestablish which sister was which. I'm not sure that right now I could draw out the family tree with husbands and children. The voices of 1950's Dede and Patria were not distinct enough for me, and I got lost in the details. I often wished for it to be solely Minerva or Mate's story, to be honest. However, the race to the finish was well paced and satisfying, and I may have shed a tear.
brookeje60's review
3.0
slow read. wasn't a very big fan. i didn't find the plot to be very exciting. i was expecting for action. definitely interesting though and i learned a lot about the Dominican Republican and Trujillo.
sophiaxlm's review
4.0
以因反抗特鲁希略而被谋杀的米拉瓦尔三姐妹的成长故事为背景的小说。狄狄，四姐妹中活下来的那个、幼时就被父亲预言“会为我们所有人送终”的女儿，守着纪念三姐妹的博物馆，并负责讲她们的故事。四姐妹在“觉醒”量表上天生就分布得有高有低，米内尔瓦好像生来就寻求被剥夺而应得的权利，狄狄则是要经过点醒才意识到他们“实际生活在一个极权国家里”。男人们自有一套“朴素”的世界观：“人生总是充满妥协……你妈妈不得不跟你爸爸妥协，大海和陆地不得不为海岸线妥协”，而女性总会有猛然睁开双眼的一刻。“……我从眼角一直看到他们。在田地里弯腰耕作的男人、骑马的男人、坐在路边的男人，他们的椅子向后倾，嘴里嚼着草叶，终于我非常清楚地知道自己正在看着的正是我所想要的。”
isabelmirandakidwell's review
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
h_banana_books49's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
atran122's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5
I loved reading from the different points-of-view, seeing each of their struggles and thoughts especially in regards to the revolution (one that I was not too familiar with), but it dragged on in some places and felt much longer than its roughly 300 pages.
I loved reading from the different points-of-view, seeing each of their struggles and thoughts especially in regards to the revolution (one that I was not too familiar with), but it dragged on in some places and felt much longer than its roughly 300 pages.
agirlsnightbookbash's review against another edition
5.0
What an incredible story. This is biographical fiction. Alvarez does a wonderful job recreating the story of the Mirabal sisters, their lives, and the struggles they faced in the revolution against dictator Trujillo. This is beautifully written and well executed. Even just the glimpse the novel gives to the living conditions of the Dominican Republic during Trujillo's presidency is worth the read. I wish their story was taught in US schools.