Julia Alvarez

Julia Alvarez is a Dominican-American poet, novelist, and essayist. She is best known for her novels 'How the GarcĂ­a Girls Lost Their Accents' and 'In the Time of the Butterflies'. Her work often explores themes of identity, family, and cultural assimilation.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. In the Time of the Butterflies

    In the Time of the Butterflies is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of the Mirabal sisters who were activists against the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. The narrative is a blend of fact and fiction, presenting the personal lives and political involvement of the sisters, three of whom were assassinated for their roles in the resistance movement. The book explores themes of courage, sacrifice, love, and the power of women in the face of oppressive regimes.

    The 1586th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

    This novel follows the story of the four Garcia sisters, who are forced to flee from their home in the Dominican Republic to New York City in the 1960s due to their father's political dissent. The girls struggle to navigate the challenges of assimilation and cultural identity, as they attempt to reconcile their Dominican heritage with their new American lifestyle. The narrative explores themes of identity, family, immigrant experience, and the effects of political unrest, as the girls lose their Spanish accents and adapt to their new environment.

    The 1651st Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. Before We Were Free

    This novel tells the story of a young girl growing up in the Dominican Republic during a time of political turmoil. The protagonist and her family experience the fear and uncertainty of living under a dictatorship, as they are constantly surveilled by the government's secret police. Throughout the book, the protagonist navigates her own coming-of-age while also grappling with the larger issues of freedom, oppression, and resistance.

    The 2826th Greatest Book of All Time