in the time of the butterflies

November 25th is observed as International Day Against Violence Toward Women in many Latin American countries. That was the day in 1960 when three young sisters who had been fighting to overthrow a brutal dictatorship in the Dominican Republic were assassinated. Known as the butterflies (originally their underground code name), the Mirabal sisters became beloved national heroines. They and their era are the subject of Julia Alvarez's devastating, inspiring book. Good novels with political themes are …

…prison of patriarchy in which so many women live. "I have melted down sadness and joy into a single blade with which to carve out a life. And I am just beginning to discern the shape that was there all along, just beginning to become me." On her journey, Maria rejects the traditional white god; this is the only way to assert her spirituality. The god she embraces is one who suffers with the poor.