Where to Start Reading Julia Alvarez

In order to move on from dead dreams you have to bury them — but what if they come back to haunt you? A writer’s characters come to life and begin to revise their fates in this funny, life-affirming novel about storytelling, friendship and death. 

Hear more from Julia on Poured Over and in her exclusive guest post.  

What do we owe each other, and how much can we rely on the people around us? This story of immigration and community is a poignant portrait of humanity. 

The Mirabel sisters are immortalized in history as martyrs — and Julia Alvarez helped give a voice to each sister in her timeless novel. A story of courage, home and hope, In the Time of Butterflies directly influenced the creation of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, celebrated every year on November 25^th. 

The García sisters are caught between two cultures, two lives, two worlds. This novel of sisterhood and identity is both a tender coming-of-age novel and a poignant immigrant story.