Julia Alvarez is widely considered an icon in the realm of literature, and when you get the pleasure of reading her prose, you completely understand why. Her words are effortless and timeless. Having just passed the age of 74, it’s no surprise that she would become reflective on the stories that she never told, the manuscripts that remain boxed and bundled, only having been digested by the hand that penned them. It’s a beautiful and wonderful question. What becomes of these stories?

In the Cemetery of Untold Stories, Alvarez introduces us to Alma Cruz, an aging novelist who returns to her homeland in the Dominican Republic following the death of her beloved father. She takes land she inherited and creates a cemetery for her untold works. The manuscripts that still plague her imagination are interred and memorialized with the help of a local sculptor and friend. Locals are encouraged to visit and pay homage to the stories by sharing a story of their own, their price for admittance. One such visitor is Filomena, a local woman hired by Alma as the groundskeeper for the cemetery.

In a touch of magical realism, Alma’s characters speak to Filomena from beyond their graves, sharing their real and true stories. Chief among them is Bienvenida, scorned wife of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, and Alma’s own father, Manuel Cruz. As their stories unfold, so does the heartbreaking and sometimes shocking story of Filomena and her family. The book can be a bit disjointed, skipping from voice to voice and time to time in a dizzying way. In a way, I feel like this is a purposeful action on the part of Alvarez, similar to the way our long-term memories become muddled and fluid over time, dancing flickers that come and go from our imaginations without second thought.

I feel very conflicted about this book. On the one hand, I’m in awe of Alvarez’s ability to capture the true beauty of language and the power of history in such a unique and original way. On the other hand, I always felt a bit at arm’s length which made it difficult to connect with the characters. One particular event was so shocking and tragic, I found myself thinking about it over and over and it made it so difficult to sympathize with the character involved. This is life, I suppose, coming to terms with the things we could never understand. It’s a frustration with how much we all take each other for granted and the repercussions that result from selfish actions.

The most accurate thing I could say about this novel is that I appreciate it. I don’t love it, and I doubt I would ever read it again, but I’m glad I picked it up. It’s a short and lovely tale and helps to gain perspective on the complexity of life, the importance of history, and the importance of forgiveness. It’s an enduring testament to the fact that people and pages may turn to dust, but stories never truly die as long as there’s someone there to listen.

Published April 2, 2024 by Algonquin books. ISBN 9781643753843. Hardcover. 243 pages.