Afterlife

De: Julia Alvarez

Narrado por: Alma Cuervo

The first adult novel in almost 15 years by the internationally best-selling author of In the Time of the Butterflies and How the García Girls Lost Their Accents.

Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has had the rug pulled out from under her. She has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and Antonia returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves - lines from her favorite authors play in her head like a soundtrack - but now she finds that the world demands more of her than words.

Afterlife is a compact, nimble, and sharply droll novel. Set in this political moment of tribalism and distrust, it asks: What do we owe those in crisis in our families, including - maybe especially - members of our human family? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another or ourselves? And how do we stay true to those glorious souls we have lost?

©2020 Julia Alvarez (P)2020 Recorded Books

Highly recommended

A beautiful, moving story read with such care and tenderness . Loved the relationships in the sisterhood and will take away the thoughts on the afterlife.

Realistic, thoughtful, timely

The characters were not offered formulaic answers to their complex human challenges of grieving and loneliness. But they were all encouraged to find energy and desire to love and hope and reach out again

Beautiful, heartbreaking, hopeful.

This is the first book I’ve read by Julia Alvarez and I can’t wait to read more. As books often do, this one called to me from the shelf at just the right time.

still thinking about main character

short novella. well written. meaningful story leave you pondering about life
situations, and issues surrounding us

Always so real for me

I love how she speaks from Dominican culture right out of life in the motherland. Even when the action doesn’t happen there she just connects you to her culture ( which is mine too). It’s like living in a Dominican home. I loved the characters, the sisterhood, what a wonderful family she created for this book. Makes me wonder if she had a ton of siblings too. It’s just so real to me. Doesn’t feel like fiction. Loved it.

Good enough

A well-written story, but not overwhelmingly good. Descriptions of the central character's widowhood are moving. But the resolution of the story is pretty trite.

Excellent

Julia Alvarez at her best!! But also this is the 4th book I’ve listened to narrated by Alma Cuervo and she is absolutely fantastic. I was so moved by both the story and the incredible narration. I wish Alma Cuervo narrated everything!

Loved this book.

Julia Alvarez never disappoints. This story of the widow Antonia navigating family issues with two of her sisters regarding the disappearance of the eldest sister, Izzy, beings home family issues of dealing with mental health issues. She also is involved with an undocumented pregnant teenager with nowhere to turn. This is a thoughtful book with a caring narrator. Alma Cuervo did an excellent job as narrator. For the Taylor Jenkins Reid fans, she was the voice of Evelyn Hugo.

Life After?

Really enjoyed this book and the reader was perfect for the subject. Topical, facing directly the very real issues of migration, mental illness and loss. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who cares about quality of life, about personal involvement and about both the limits of and the possibilities for one individual to make a difference.

Breathtaking story

The story is captivating on many levels. The performance is excellent. I enjoyed every minute of this recording.