What readers think of Afterlife, plus links to write your own review.

Antonia, a retired English Professor, is recently windowed. She is doing her best to move forward in life but troubles and memories keep piling up. Her troubled sister is missing, a young pregnant Mexican immigrant begs for Antonia's help and what can Antonia do to help or better yet what should she do.

Powerful questions that will appeal to any Book Club members that choose to read this book which I hope they do. The author makes you laugh and cry as she tells this story. I highly recommend this book!

In the book Afterlife, our main character Antonia Vega is trying to deal with the sudden loss of her husband, Sam, when life throws her a several curve balls, retirement, an older sister with mental health issues goes missing, sibling drama, and an undocumented teen at her doorstep.

Antonia admits that she is not the best person to deal with these problems and out of the two of them; Sam was the one to jump in and help others in need. Throughout the book we see how Antonia uses her memories of Sam and what he would have done in those situations to help others. I loved Sam's mother saying "Let's see what love can do".

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my book club.

Afterlife is a thoughtful, nuanced book whose title conveys the great changes in its characters' identities - only some associated with death and mourning and others with longing and an immigrant's sense of being "other". Antonia has relied on words and literature to guide her and her frequent quotes reflect her life before the loss of her husband and her retirement. Her journey away from being the stable rule follower to bold and illegal acts feels credible and powerful. The external challenges and crises which arise stimulate the need to move forward which she ultimately can do successfully. The writing is poignant at times and sharply political at others. I would very much recommend this book which used subtlety and emotional detail to tell a complex multifaceted and often sad story.

I have read and enjoyed Alvarez's books before but none were as impactful as this. She authentically portrays all the emotions one feels after losing someone they truly love. I believe that anyone who has had a current loss will appreciate her approach to understanding how difficult a period of life it is.

Her approach to the present day suffering of immigrants in this country gives insight to how awful it is for the migrant trying to survive. To date, I haven't read anything written from their point of view.

She struggles with many issues and thinks to herself that it would be easier to just not get involved. I am sure that many in society today are taking the same approach. Afterlife makes the reader think about not what is right or wrong but about what is important and humane.

I highly recommend Afterlife not to just the grieving reader but to the socially confused one as well.

I was delighted to be selected to get a copy of this novel as I'd never read anything by Julia Alvarez. Although she won't become one of my "go to" authors, I did enjoy reading AFTERLIFE. It took me a while to get used to her style and into the book. When I appreciated the way she developed the characters, both individually and as the sisterhood. Though the story focused on Antonia, each supporting character brought out a part of Antonia's personality and that was very effective.

The premise seemed to be ripped from the headlines, but it was too compact and concise to really appreciate. I felt as though I was reading a detailed recap of the original. I liked the main characters, and was sympathetic to the plight of the illegals, but I wish there was more detail to really get to know them. I came away feeling that something was missing. There were 3 major events in such a short span, and it left me wondering what the real takeaway was. That being said, I still enjoyed it for a quick read.

I'm thrilled that Julia Alvarez has finally written another adult novel. "Afterlife" is the story of Antonia Vega and her life after unexpectedly becoming a widow. It's about four sisters, Mona, Antonia, Tilly and Izzy and life after upheaval and intervention within the family. It's also life after a young pregnant undocumented Estela arrives to join Mario, also without papers.
The novel is ultimately a story of love - spousal love, sisterly love, young love and love of our fellow human being.
I love her prose and the moments of humor actually provided a physical release in some of the more tense moments between the sisters.
I think the story would make an excellent book club selection with much to discuss. So glad to have read this.

On surface, a very easy read. Antonia is reeling from her husband's death. She looks to him for guidance through the many upsets in her life.

Having lost a Mom and two siblings within the past 3 years, I too have found great comfort in 'mind-talking' to them thus keeping them 'alive' thru the afterlife. I guess we all do that...

This novel is filled with ethical questions left for the reader to answer and would be suitable for book clubs. Loved the ending!