It's a movie...?

Guys, "In the Time of the Butterflies" is a movie! I want to see it! :D Here is a trailer that Amanda found! :D

-Gabby and Amanda

You can see it here
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/255132/In-the-Time-of-the-Butterflies/trailers

Sorry, I thought I would be able to post the video itself but the computer won't let me. It's pretty cool though. No offense to Julia Alvarez, but I think the movie will be better then the book for me. If I think of a specific person to go along with each name, I will be able to remember the characters more easily. Did that make sense? As in, when I am reading the book, the four different characters confuse me, and I forget who is who. If I think of a certain person every time I read a name, I will be able to remem,ber who is who. Get it? Ha ha.

I think I should have seen the movie and THEN read the book. :)

Julia Alvarez Biography

Hey guys! I found a really good Julia Alvarez biography on a website, and I thought I'd share it with you guys! ENJOY

-Gabby

"Julia Alvarez was born on March 27, 1950, in New York, New York, but she spent her early years in the Dominican Republic. She and her sisters were brought up along with their cousins, and were supervised by her mother, maids, and many aunts. Her father, a doctor who ran a nearby hospital, had met her mother while she was attending school in the United States. Alvarez's family was highly influenced by American attitudes and goods. Alvarez and her sisters attended an American school, and, for a special treat, they ate ice cream from an American ice cream parlor. The entire extended family had respect and admiration for America; to the children, it was a fantasy land.

When Alvarez was ten years old, her father became involved with a plot to overthrow the dictator (military ruler) of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina. His plans were discovered, however. With the help of an American agent, he was able to get his family out of the country before being arrested or killed. The Alvarez family returned to New York. Describing the scene in American Scholar as their plane landed in the United States, Alvarez wrote, "All my childhood I had dressed like an American, eaten American foods, and befriended American children. I had gone to an American school and spent most of the day speaking and reading English. At night, my prayers were full of blond hair and blue eyes and snow.… All my childhood I had longed for this moment of arrival. And here I was, an American girl, coming home at last."

I thought one of the reasons this one was so good was because it talked about Trujillo, and that is where she got her inspiration for the book "In the Time of the Butterflies", I assume. I had no idea that this was such a personal book for her to write!

You can read the rest of her biography at http://www.notablebiographies.com/A-An/Alvarez-Julia.html if you want to. I just thought I would put in the part that I feel relates with our group's book.

Chapters 1-4 summary (1938- 1946)

CHAPTER 1 : The book starts off in 1994 with Dedé, the surviving Mirabal sister. She meets with an American writer who has come to interview her about her family. She recalls a time in 1943 when Enrique, her dad, was predicting his daughters' futures. He tells Dedé that she will bury them all "in silk and pearls."

CHAPTER 2: The second chapter is narrated by Minerva and depicts events in 1938, 1941, and 1944. Minerva and Patria go to boarding school at Inmaculada Concepción. Minerva befriends girl named Sinita Perozo. Sinita's male family members were murdered for opposing the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Minerva is shocked to learn of Trujillo's cruelty, since all Dominican children are taught to love him. In 1941, the married Trujillo seduces the prettiest girl in Minerva's school, Lina Lovatón. After Lina becomes pregnant, Trujillo ships her to live in Miami. In 1944, Minerva, Sinita, and their friends Elsa and Lourdes perform a play for the country's Independence Day celebrations and win the opportunity to perform before Trujillo. During their performance, Sinita points a bow and arrow at Trujillo. Sinita is stopped by Trujillo's son, Ramfis, and Minerva intervenes by having everyone chant "Viva Trujillo," or "Long live Trujillo." This chapter has a lot of stuff going on and its some thinking to fully understand who is who and what's going on.

CHAPTER 3: The third chapter consists of María Teresa's diary entries between 1945 and 1946. She describes her child hood clothing, her favorite memories. She talks about her friendship with Hilda and the fight with the Trujillo. When Hilda is caught, Maria hides her diary so the police don't find it.

CHAPTER 4: Chapter four is narrated by Patricia and begins in 1946. In this chapter Patricia struggles on whether to become a nun or not. She soon falls in love and has a child with Pedrito González. They have a son and daughter. But their child is born deaf, where Patricia loses her faith and the regains it back by going to church

Trujillo...?

Did that come up as a picture? I hope so. Anyway, I can't believe that is Trujillo. He doesn't even look that mean! WHOA!

-Gabby

Introduction Summary

This book is split up into four parts because each chapter has a different narrator. This is set in the Dominican Republic and decipts the lives Mirabal family from the years 1938 until 1994. This is a true story written about her family. The chapters are narrated by the four Mirabal sisters, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa, or Mate. The book is written in chronological order, thugh Julia Alverez cuts out many years and only briefly talks about the years from 1069- 1994.

Post By Robin

Quick Quote :)

I just wanted to say that this book kind of reminds me of the movie "V for Vendetta" (a.k.a the best movie of all time). One quote from that movie is "People should not be be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of their people." That is something I completely agree with. Stupid Trujillo. :D

-Gabby

Word Watcher

1. perturbed- to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate
2. inanely- lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly
3. gaunt- extremely thin and bony; haggard and drawn, as from great hunger, weariness, or torture; emaciated

Post by Amanda