Julia Alvarez is such a strong writer. I love recommending her books to students and others. This story was very enjoyable. Looking forward to reading more from her.

Julia Alvarez" lyrical novel, "The Cemetery of Untold Stories" challenges readers to follow, admire, and relate to a plethora of characters. They include Alma, who inherits land in a barrio in the Dominican Republic, and who decides to bury the manuscripts of the eponymous untold stories she has attempted to write in her newly inherited garden. Alma expects those who ring the bell by her gate to tell her compelling stories whose value and impressions she can judge and appreciate, but mostly she is concerned about their place in her cemetery.

Filomena, a local woman who lives across the street from the cemetery, assumes the role of listening to the buried stories and being a sympathetic companion and caretaker, trying valiantly to understand the direction of Alma's stories. The strongest aspect of the book is the retelling of the stories, including that of Bienvenida, the shunned second wife of the dictator Trujillo and Manual Cruz, a politically motivated doctor who struggles to reinvent himself and who subsequently betrays his accomplished wife. Alma's sisters all play a strong part in the inventive story telling of the book. The characters weave in and out of their own stories, and the reader is enticed to follow them in order to attempt to lay them to rest.

Powerfully, this book pushes its characters to tell their own stories and to refuse to be stereotyped or cast into roles with which they are uncomfortable.

Thanks to Algonquin Publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this remarkable book.

I love stories within stories and this book has that in abundance. It is always fun to have different points of view when it is cohesive. Alvarez does a wonderful job of engaging us with all the characters. This is a must read for fans of Latin magical fantasy,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Being a first-time reader of Julia Alvarez, “The Cemetery of Lost Books,” wasn’t really what I expected because it was very slow-paced; the story lines were garbled and non-linear; and some of the dialogue of her characters was disturbing at times.

The protagonist, Alma, starts her story discussing a deceased friend who was a famous black female novelist. This never named person is described as brash. For example, she once snapped back at one Q & A attendee who commented that understanding some of her novel’s dialogue was difficult. The author, answering with a withering glare, that she didn’t write for white people.

In another reference about this friend, Alma wondered to herself if this famous author only chose her as a friend for firsthand knowledge about white people—although being from the DR—everyone there knows that they have some black behind their ears.

Perhaps these ‘racial slurs’ shouldn’t bother me; however, I find them troubling, disturbing, and offensive. Trying to get past these descriptions that appear in the first quadrant of the novel, the story just never seemed to get better for me.

I found that I was truly surprised, shocked and disappointed that this collection of ensemble stories, characters and dialogue didn’t intrigue me as I hoped. Although, I must commend Alvarez on the original idea/concept of the novel.

This concept is using a plot of inherited land as a cemetery to bury unfinished literary works. It’s sort of like Stephen King’s “Pet Cemetery”—things buried there don’t remain quiet. They have minds and voices of their own—with revisionist histories to share.

The title of this book attracted me because one of my very favorite books, “The Shadow of the Wind,” by Spanish Author Carlos Ruiz Zafon features in it a ‘library of lost books.’ Whereas the labyrinth of lost books in 1940s Barcelona is intriguing, sadly the cemetery of lost books—not so much.

Zafon, Sylvia Moreno-Garcia, Isabel Allende, Zoraida Cordova—all Spanish authors—are absolute gems and favorites of mine, so my difficulty with appreciating the style of Alvarez—just shocks me. Again, perhaps my appreciation of the book was determined after reading the initial crude remarks referenced above.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Julia Alvarez, and Publisher Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill an imprint of Workman Publishing Co., Inc., a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, Inc. for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

I'm not usually a big fan of magical realism, but I hadn't read a Julia Alvarez book in many years so was excited to grab this one when it became available. Her writing is as luscious as I remember and the story didn't disappoint. As a reader (and occasional writer) the idea of a "cemetery" to bury the books that plague us and taunt us is phenomenal. And Alvarez brought that part of the story to life beautifully and gracefully. I loved Alma and I loved the story that takes place in the DR, The tropical setting came to life under Alvarez's skillful pen.

However, I found the constant switching to Spanish jarring and annoying. It took me right out of the story, and because it happened so frequently, I was never able to really enjoy the journey and fall into the book. Each time I started to really connect, a sentence would be in Spanish. And, while sometimes the English translation became clear as you read the next sentence, often it did not. I had to go back and reread more than once and even then still wasn't sure what I was supposed to be reading. It was a bummer. I really wanted to love this book.

However, I still enjoyed the story, so would definitely recommend it to the right audience. My middle and high school students, however, are not that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I liked the concept of a cemetery of untold stories. However the multiple timelines and characters didn’t work for me. It felt disjointed and I didn’t connect with the characters.

This book drew me in with its premise of untold stories. Where do stories go that have no ending, or are left unfinished. The concept of the cemetery for such stories was interesting. This book had magical realism in it which is not typically my cup of tea, but it did add to the story. Thank you to Netgalley, Algonquin Books and Ms Alvarez for the ARC.

There is just something with books about books that I cannot resist! Additionally, the title and cover are so intriguing that I had very high hopes for this book.

The main character, Alma, is an accomplished author who decides she is ready to stop writing. She has so many stories that she began but didn't finish. How can she put these untold stories to rest but give them the honor they deserve? A cemetery.
The book flows between different character narratives with their own "untold" stories which weave together with Alma's buried storylines.

It took me a while to get in to this book. In the beginning, I couldn't figure out the purpose of Alma's author friend - a writer who worked so hard to finish a book that it impacted her mental health. I had some trouble keeping track of the two writers and figuring out which was which as Alma's author friend is unnamed (I think; I hope I'm not misremembering and there was a name given!). Regardless, the storyline felt unimportant and somewhat boring at the time. Now I understand that this provides the foundation for Alma's decision to create a cemetery for her stories - but it felt choppy and random.
Once the book moved into other characters, and the cemetery was finally built - I became invested and finished the book quickly.
There were many Spanish phrases throughout the book that weren't translated that I wish would have been. Most of the time, context clues were enough to get the gist, but I felt frustrated when I couldn't read the exact text.

After finishing the book, I thought a lot about my own "untold" stories and those of my parents, grandparents, etc. In my opinion, a great book keeps you thinking long after you've read it - and this was the case for me. However, when I look back, I don't know how much I actually enjoyed reading this book. I had some difficulty keeping track of storylines and characters. I also felt that some characters weren't explored enough to justify their actions.

I also feel that it wouldn't be a bad idea to review the trigger warnings for this book prior to reading. There was one violent scene that I was completely shocked and unprepared for.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Stories truly do make up so much of our lives. Everyone and everything has a story.

This novel definitely made an impression on me. The premise was intriguing- an author builds a cemetery to bury unfinished stories- but what drew me in was the shifting narration and the stories of the other characters. Alma, the author, was integral to the book, but I actually enjoyed Filomena's narration and stories much more. I liked that Alvarez integrated Spanish/Dominican words and phrases throughout the book. It helped me to understand the characters and their culture even more so than the descriptions. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys realistic characters and stories.

This book did an amazing job at demonstrating how intricate and beautiful the stories we live really are.

I'm thankful to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Intriguing premise that carries through to the end of the story, but the execution feels clunky at times. The narration shifts and the number of characters can be distracting and I found myself taking too long to orient myself. That said, I loved the sister relationships and hearing the buried stories. The message that “everyone has a story” resonated best with me but I would have liked to have read it more clearly, without so many distractions.

If you are a lover of the written word, of stories told around a roaring fire, this book is for you. An exquisitely written, emotionally absorbing tale of stories told and stories untold. All things, living and dead have stories to tell if we only listen. Our stories do not end with death but remain with us always. This book is one that will make an impact on all who read it.

Highly recommended!

Alma Cruz, a Dominican novelist and professor nearing retirement, has enjoyed considerable professional success since emigrating from her native land to her current home in Vermont. Like all writers, though, along with the successes, there have been failures in the form of books she cannot seem to finish. These untold stories haunt Alma to the point that when she and her three sisters inherit some rundown properties in the Dominican Republic, she returns home to commit the symbolic act of burying those failed literary efforts in the ground. But the characters in those stories refuse to give up on their tales being told, even if Alma has. Two characters in particular—Bienvenida Trujillo, the second wife of the brutal dictator who terrorized the island for decades, and Manuel Cruz, Alma’s own father who was exiled for his political views—find a way to communicate with each other as well as Filomena, the caretaker in the unique cemetery. While most unfinished books go away quietly—as one of Alma’s colleagues put it: “Some stories don’t want to be told”—these are two that insist on being heard. And what surprising and heartbreaking accounts they end up telling.

In The Cemetery of Untold Stories, celebrated author Julia Alvarez spins this inventive tale, which effectively combines elements of historical fiction and magical realism with a multi-generational family saga in roughly equal measure. That is an impressive feat, especially given how tricky magical realism can be to pull off on its own, much less in concert with other genres. Alvarez does a nice job of moving between the plethora of storylines, starting in the present day with Alma and her family before regressing through the decades where we learn the histories that the spirits of Bienvenida and Manuel have come alive to tell. The writing throughout the novel is sharp and affecting; these are characters that we come to care about, both those in the present (Alma and Filomena) and those from the past. If there was any shortcoming in the book it would be that some of the family dynamics and backstories—usually a strength in the author’s fiction—were a little underdeveloped, particularly those involving Alma’s sisters and mother. Still, this is a minor complaint about what was a highly enjoyable reading experience. It is an easy book to recommend without hesitation.

Magical realism is my favorite subgenre. I read everything I can find in that area. This book was good, but I felt it could have been longer. Usually stories about families, especially with magical realism are long, slow, and rewarding. This book was definitely rewarding but I just wanted a bit more.

This is my first NetGalley book! I have loved Julia Alvarez for a long time and I’m glad to find that she still has such a poignant voice. This is such a creative celebration of literature and folklore, of how stories not only live, but can morph, grow, or die depending on the reader. Or the storyteller! That hallmark magical realism of Latinx literature is there to keep the reader guessing as fact and fiction blur with history and sentiment. I kept thinking that omniscient revelations would come together in the characters’ individual storylines, but when they didn’t, I found I was not disappointed by this intentional loose thread, since it’s only loose for me the reader - not for the characters. Beautiful prose.

"The Cemetery of Untold Stories" is a unique blend of literary fiction with elements of magical realism. I loved the concept of the cemetery and the questions that brought up about when and how to tell one's stories. Julia Alvarez does an excellent job of twining together the lives of many different people and the stories they hold in their hearts. While the book was interesting, the story is a bit all over the place plot-wise.

I am a huge Alvarez fan, having read everything this amazing author has written. It astounds me that she continues to exceed my expectations with entertaining, well written books that touch on deep subjects in a light hearted manner.

The Cemetery of Untold Stories is just such a book. I will recommend it widely to all kinds of readers as I am sure that most readers will find it an enjoyable read. There is definitely some magic going on but I was along for the ride. This is where we learn the history of some long forgotten characters and that made the magical aspects work for this reader who normally prefers reality!

Alvarez is an expert at developing characters we care about and if you have a sister, you will love her portrayal of her three sisters. I love the parallels between the successful writer and the storyteller who can’t read.

Thanks to Julia Alvarez, NetGalley and Algonquin Books for allowing me to access The Cemetery of Untold Stories before publication.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The writing in this book was really great. It was just not for me. I found it hard to ground myself into the story. The whole book seemed very fantastical and hard to follow.

The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez is a lovely book about life, family, and untold stories. The book is about two authors as they go through the fazes of life. And how our protagonist chooses to deal with her own unfinished stories.

Amazing as always! Definitely an emotional read but also so creative. Not everything stays untold, and not every story remains as it was. Always a fan!

Everyone has a story to tell. Some take their stories to the grave, but if you listen close enough, those untold stories are longing to get out- to the right listener.
At the heart of this story are people needing to tell their stories- the untold stories that have been forgotten, tucked away, or hidden. Alma, a successful writer, has gone back to the Dominican Republic from Nueva York City and settled on a piece of land left in her father's will. She has retired from writing, and wants to give her many untold and unfinished manuscripts a final resting spot. Thus the cemetery of untold stories is created, and watched over by sympathetic caretaker Filomina, who listens closely and gives those stories a way to be told. Filomina has her own stories, and hers and Almas stories are closely linked in only ways the buried stories can reveal.
Julia Alvarez beautifully weaves together the lives of these two women, who are unknowingly brought together and have a bond they are both unaware of. Family & love, secrets & betrayal; haunting and devastating.
I did get lost in all the connections, and at times skimmed heavily. But overall the theme of everyone wanting their story to be told, to be seen, to be loved, comes through.