Afterlife
​Julia Alvarez

A remarkable new work from one of our most celebrated Dominican-American novelists, Afterlife provides a penetrating insight into the life that comes after – not for those who leave, but for those who are left behind.

A Dominican immigrant who has recently retired from her job as a college professor, Antonia Vega is still reeling from the loss of her husband Sam. A year later, her days in Vermont are spent remembering other people’s words – Rumi’s, Tolstoy’s, Sam’s – and fielding calls from her concerned sisters, who each take turns checking up on Antonia. But her quiet routine is suddenly upended by the appearance of Mario, an undocumented worker who has come to ask for Antonia’s help in getting his Mexican girlfriend, Estela, to Vermont. Antonia is initially reluctant to get involved, becoming even more so when her unpredictable but generous sister Izzy goes missing on the day of Antonia’s birthday. But Antonia soon agrees to take in the young Estela, caring for her even as both their paths continue to take unexpected turns.

In this novel, Julia Alvarez imbues her protagonist’s thoughts and words with accurate and heartrending grief, carefully exploring the difficulties of rebuilding one’s life in the wake of a great loss. The nuances of sisterhood, as well, are exquisitely rendered, resulting in a portrayal of family that is as complex as it is realistic. Afterlife is a deeply moving read, one you won’t want to miss.

Julia Alvarez is a poet, novelist, and essayist. Originally from New York, Alvarez and her family moved to the Dominican Republic in 1950, but fled to the United States ten years later due to her father’s involvement in a plot to overthrow dictator Rafael Trujillo. She is the author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents, In the Time of the Butterflies, and In the Name of Salomé, among other works.

Afterlife is a publication by Algonquin Books. Click here to purchase.
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Reviewed by
Isabella Pilotta Gois
​10/10/2020

Isabella Pilotta Gois is a Venezuelan writer and recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied Comparative Literature. She currently resides in Puerto Rico.

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