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Butterfly's Child

by Alan Chin (Goodreads Author)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 69 ratings · 24 reviews

While back in the West to attend his grandmother’s funeral, Cord Bridger uncovers two shocking revelations: his grandmother had a lesbian lover named Juanita; and he has a teenaged son named Kalin. Fate brings all three together, but to preserve his new family, Cord must leave his safe life in New York City behind to carve a living from the harsh ranch lands of Nevada.

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ebook, 280 pages

Published December 3rd 2010 by Dreamspinner Press (first published December 2nd 2010)

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Dec 20, 2011 Jack Urquhart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fine-Tuning the Gay American Protagonist: Butterfly’s Child, by Alan H. Chin
Review by Jack A. Urquhart ©2011

Reading Alan Chin’s powerfully engaging novel, Butterfly’s Child (Dreamspinner Press, 2010) put me in mind of Vito Russo’s groundbreaking exploration of homosexuals in cinema, The Celluloid Closet (book, 1987). Employing painstaking documentation, Russo exposed the long and sorry history of homosexuals portrayed in film as creatures defined by their sexuality—men (and a very few women) pre...more Fine-Tuning the Gay American Protagonist: Butterfly’s Child, by Alan H. Chin
Review by Jack A. Urquhart ©2011

Reading Alan Chin’s powerfully engaging novel, Butterfly’s Child (Dreamspinner Press, 2010) put me in mind of Vito Russo’s groundbreaking exploration of homosexuals in cinema, The Celluloid Closet (book, 1987). Employing painstaking documentation, Russo exposed the long and sorry history of homosexuals portrayed in film as creatures defined by their sexuality—men (and a very few women) presented as the butt of countless jokes, as victims of violence, and destructive self-hatred.

The trend Russo decried is, of course, no less evident or long standing in literature; think Gore Vidal’s The City and the Pillar (1948), Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) and Suddenly Last Summer (1959), Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band (1968), and, yes—Annie Proulx’s wildly popular 1997 short story, “Brokeback Mountain”. Even in so small a sample, the reader is hard pressed to find a single gay character who isn’t brought low by self-loathing or worse, destroyed outright—usually by an act of extreme violence. And while few would question the literary merit of the works cited, it is surely evident that, until relatively recently, there hasn’t been much (at least in literary fiction) that even hints at the possibility of a homosexual “happily-ever-after”.

A few mainstream exceptions do exist; Jane Hamilton’s under-appreciated gem, The Short History of a Prince (1998), Julia Glass’s Three Junes (2002) and its follow-up, The Whole World Over (2006) spring to mind. And now, count Alan Chin among the growing list of artists—more and more of them, self-identified Indie authors—whose work is helping lay to rest the cruel tradition Russo exposed. Witness Butterfly’s Child, Chin’s novel of fathers and sons, gay and straight.

Cord Bridger, the thirty-four year old ‘star’ of Butterfly’s Child, is most assuredly gay; but Chin casts his protagonist in 3-D creating in the process a complex, nuanced, fully fleshed, and yes—ever-so-humanly damaged hero. Cord’s back-story, presented early in the novel, yields suitably operatic clues (a metaphoric link to Puccini’s opera shows up in an early scene) to his psyche. Paternal abandonment, the subsequent suicide of his mother when he was four, and a youth passed on the culturally deprived high desert plains of Nevada, the reader learns, are the precursors to Cord’s adult existence on the fringes of New York City’s gay A-List.

The bearer of formidable musical gifts, including perfect pitch, Cord’s dreams of a career as a concert pianist—flames stoked by his years at Julliard—have long since cooled to smoke and ashes as the novel opens. Instead, Cord has ‘settled’ into a long-term stint at Steinway where he is the senior voicing specialist for the company’s concert grands—a career that brings Cord no closer to fulfillment than the fleeting moments of genius he sometimes experiences in tuning Steinway’s expensive pianos. In many ways, Cord is an instrument awaiting tuning himself, an emotional tuning, that is—a fact that does not sit well with his successful and increasingly dissatisfied lover, Cameron. In short, Cord’s life in NYC seems almost as lifeless and barren as the minimalist perfection of the Central Park West apartment he shares with his seldom-at-home partner.

All that changes when the necessity of settling his recently deceased grandmother’s estate draws Cord back to the Nevada ranch (appropriately named ‘Bitter Water’) that he abandoned years earlier. One could argue that Chin’s novel doesn’t take off until Cord deplanes in Nevada. That is because almost from the moment he returns, Cord confronts a host of jarringly inescapable challenges and responsibilities—not the least of which is the fifteen year-old son (the fruit of a teenage fling) that he never knew he had.

A young man bearing the crushing weight of his own abandonment and long-term abuse issues, Cord’s son Kalin and his seven-year old half-brother Jem soon become Cord’s responsibility in a twist that sets up the series of violent, gut-wrenching confrontations that mark the novel’s climax. Add to the cast a new love interest in the person of Tomeo, a practicing Buddhist; Jesse, the boys’ strung-out mother and her sadistically violent abuser, Jack (as truly a loathsome villain as this reader has ever encountered in fiction), and Blake, Cord’s estranged father, and you have the makings of a bona fide page-turner. It helps that Chin, a skillful storyteller, knows how to string the reader along with scenes that stack up and build—sometimes relentlessly, as Cord, increasingly in-tune with what matters, struggles to build and then protect his new family. The result is that Butterfly’s Child offers an exhilarating, moving, sometimes disturbing journey that nevertheless manages to gallop (literally) to a satisfying conclusion.

Speaking of which, I can imagine that some readers might find Chin’s somewhat tidy, Zen-like finish a stretch (given the formidable violence that precedes it). Likewise, it is possible some readers may stumble over the novel’s arguably un-necessary metaphoric dalliance with the Butterfly (Puccini’s and nature’s own variety) and/or the overlay of Buddhist philosophy that Chin delivers courtesy of several longish exchanges between Tomeo and Cord. But, for my part, these do not detract from the novel’s many strengths; indeed, the mini-dissertations on Buddhism seem central to Cord’s eventual arrival at a place of quiet gratitude and contentment.

As for any possible objections to the novel’s gay protagonist-triumphs-over-all ending, I can only wonder how Vito Russo might have addressed that concern—perhaps with an appropriately dismissive “isn’t it about time”?

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Feb 22, 2013 Nicole rated it 1 of 5 stars

I'm torn about this book because the for the vast majority of the story I was pleased with it. However, the ending parts of this book infuriated me so much that had I not been reading on my Kindle, I would have seriously considered setting it on fire.

The beginning of this story definitely had some flaws, but I was still really enjoying reading it. I became invested in the emotions of these characters, and I really liked the way the author was developing them. Then at like the 80% mark it took a...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Byron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow Alan is definitely on my "stick like glue to his release's list". I really loved the first book and wasn't expecting to be drawn in on this title. From the very careful building of our primary character to the crafting of his history and present, Alan has given a beautiful tale to a life less ordinary. This could have gone to the pits in so many ways, yet it never once faulted in it's steps through the story. The different relationships, the different people they are all finely built.

I think...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Kassa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Butterfly’s Child is a study in relationships more than anything; specifically the dynamic between father and sons but also between brothers, friends, and lovers. The story delves into the complexities of parenthood while trying to figure out one’s own life. There are large leaps in time and the most interesting facets to me are often ignored and skipped over, leaving a weak thread that continues the story to the end. There is a love interest between the main character Cord and Tomeo but this is...more Butterfly’s Child is a study in relationships more than anything; specifically the dynamic between father and sons but also between brothers, friends, and lovers. The story delves into the complexities of parenthood while trying to figure out one’s own life. There are large leaps in time and the most interesting facets to me are often ignored and skipped over, leaving a weak thread that continues the story to the end. There is a love interest between the main character Cord and Tomeo but this is definitely not the focus and almost a side detail. In many respects Butterfly’s Child is well written and fascinating with few technical errors to detract but I find the story tries too hard, often lecturing about topics and the most interesting aspects to me were the least explored.

The story begins with Cord’s life in New York. He works in a piano factory for Steinway and lives a very comfortable life with his partner Cameron. However comfortable and easy that life may be is offset by its obvious emptiness. Cameron and Cord barely speak, never touch, and have forced difficult conversations together. Cord is drifting through life, detached and lonely even as he blames Cameron for their failed relationship. When Cord returns to his hometown in Nevada for his grandmother’s funeral, his life begins to change.

Told in third person from various points of view, the novel is a character study in relationships. The opening scene at the opera Madame Butterfly is meant to show Cord’s lingering wounds from his mother’s suicide and how his pain is mirrored by the staged tragedy. This of course comes close to mirroring Cord’s newly discovered son Kalin’s life. The theme of father abandonment is the first and most obvious concept introduced and used frequently. Cord feels abandoned by his father and in turn, Cord abandoned his son Kalin. Of course Cord didn’t know about Kalin but that doesn’t change the emotion Kalin feels, one that Cord can relate to but at the same time doesn’t use that similar anger and emotion to any productive end. There is resolution on many levels but often this is prompted by outside events rather than a slow understanding and more realistic change.

While Cord is developing new relationships with his new children – Kalin his biological son and Jem, Kalin’s half brother – Cord is also dealing with what he wants his new life to be. This is where the story stumbles for me. Cord leaves his extremely comfortable, if empty, life in New York for a very rural, difficult existence in Nevada. While I don’t question Cord’s impetus for change and motivation to be a strong force in his sons’ lives, I also feel the change comes way too easily. The new ranch house has no electricity, no running water, no car, and there are no scenes about the difficultly in adjusting. Perhaps it’s because I’m a girl but I can’t imagine living that far off the grid - no shower, no lights, no cell charger, no phone at all – without some sort of adjustment period. I find it too unrealistic that Cord and subsequently every other character takes to the life without complaint or problems. Not even muttered complaints from the children about the lack of cartoons.

Another issue I have is that Jem, the adorable seven year old, acts and thinks like a miniature adult. Jem is often the lighter perspective and offers a child’s glee at life and wonder at new discovery. These scenes and Jem’s entertaining view on teenage and adult actions offer a bright and bubbly addition to the story. Yet the thoughts and dialogue afforded to Jem are way too mature and adult, especially considering Jem has yet to start any kind of schooling. The language is simply too sophisticated and most of the time I liked the comments, dialogue, internal thoughts and musings yet couldn’t forget how adult and inappropriate they were. Part of this is that there is no discerning difference between the various characters. They feel too similar and Jem’s voice is practically the same as Cord’s with only a few more giggles. Unfortunately this takes away a lot of Jem’s effectiveness as he’s a great character but way too mature.

While the characters are all fully complex and developed with varying degrees of interest and depth, there is a lot of interesting information offered in other areas. From opera and piano tuning to ranching and Buddhism, the story contains a wealth of knowledge. Some of these details are quite fascinating while others take on a near lecturing tone. There are several concepts with heavy emphasis that feel less in line with the characters and their choices and more in line with what the story wants. Whether the reader finds these inclusions annoying or interesting will be very subjective. The story is careful to show more than tell though and these are the obvious exceptions.

Although the story is at heart a character dependant journey, there are numerous outside forces that serve to advance the time line and keep the story moving. Some of the issues are too easy and pat – the school teacher issue is by far the most over the top, although the drug dealer is semi ridiculous – the real strength of the story is depicting the relationships between the men. From Cord and Tomeo to their sons, the scenes that really stand out are those that show how fluid and complex these relationships are. Often the scenes are cut short and the depth of emotion kept light and easy. Most arguments are avoided by letting things go and not talking, others are simply given time. The few disagreements between Tomeo and Cord that potentially come up are forgotten and let go almost immediately, leaving me wondering why they were included at all. Yet the complications of these various men as they fit together are what kept me reading. The language has a natural flow and pace that never feels boring, even as large chunks of time are skipped entirely.

I didn’t altogether enjoy the story for all the reasons outlined but for the right reader I think the complexity can really sing. Chin can write a great story and has a command of language that definitely appeals. The quiet moments and underlying intensity will connect with the right reader. This has the potential to really engage the reader and leave a lingering impact. It didn’t with me but I wouldn’t let that scare any readers away. Butterfly’s Child has a beautiful message that will reach its reader.
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Dec 24, 2010 S.L. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 03, 2011 Cole Riann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, m-m-contemporary, m-m-diverse, m-m-western, m-m-family-kids, m-m-musicians-rockers, jessewave

I have only read one other book by Alan Chin, Island Song, but I can safely say that he writes some of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. His prose is lyrical and he has a way of showcasing his characters so that they're cut open on the table, all of their inner self laid out bare for us to see. In fact, the title of this book portrays that a bit and is alluded to once Cord returns to the Bitter Water. He sees a model of a butterfly pinned to a board and he thinks that that is the p...more I have only read one other book by Alan Chin, Island Song, but I can safely say that he writes some of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. His prose is lyrical and he has a way of showcasing his characters so that they're cut open on the table, all of their inner self laid out bare for us to see. In fact, the title of this book portrays that a bit and is alluded to once Cord returns to the Bitter Water. He sees a model of a butterfly pinned to a board and he thinks that that is the perfect metaphor for how he feels -- caught, trapped, and pinned down for everyone to see. This is primarily a novel about family, and thought there is a romance element, between Cord and Tomeo, it is only lightly portrayed. It is often in the background, and only a couple of times throughout the novel is it given time on the page. Even then, it is mostly shown as a meeting of minds -- and though Cord and Tomeo do end up together playing father to Kalin and Jem, there are only one or two physical scene between them. For most of the story, Tomeo is Cord's mentor, or at least a rock to hold tight to in the swift current. Tomeo is Buddhist, and there is always and underlying thread to the story of Cord trying to understand his life through the tenets that Tomeo lives by, most notably the idea that unhappiness in life is attributed to the human's need to covet the constancy of things, in the midst of things that are always changing. Also, as someone who has grown up in a town like the town in this novel, I can attest to the hostile feeling that Cord feels as a gay man here. Part of this is because the town think's he's a deadbeat father, no matter that he never knew he had a son, but the tone of the novel was very well done. Also, just like the idea of Buddhism in the novel, Juanita, who Kalin and Jem believe to be a bruja, is the personification of a connection to life and nature. Here is a paragraph about Juanita that shows the beauty of the writing as well:

Juanita had taped collages of Jem's crayon pictures on every wall: smiling suns, dancing dogs, turquoise lizards whispering in a boy's ear, swarms of butterflies flaunting rainbow-colored wings. They had transformed the bleak kitchen into a vivid, happy space. These wild pictures hadn't come from Jem's imagination, but rather from Juanita. Every night they gathered at the fireplace and she told the boys folktales while Cord, half-listening, played the piano. She spun her tales like a master weaver fabricating gold-threaded cloth. The power of her narration lay in the tempo of her words, the inflection of her voice, and her well-timed pauses. Her tales were of another reality—people who turned into crows as the moon rose, coyotes who spoke Spanish and danced the rumba, lizards who slithered onto your shoulder and whispered secrets into your ear. Her stories described the mysterious unseen powers she claimed surrounded them all. All those colorful tales found their way into Jem's drawings.

Later in the story, there is a scene where Cord looks up to the boys' treehouse and he sees Jem calling butterflies. Mystified that the boy believed Juanita was telling the truth about calling animals, he watches in wonder as butterflies swarm from all around, alighting on Jem's head and arms. I felt like this was a metaphor for Cord, that in getting to know his family and making a new life for himself, the pins had been pulled out of his wings and he was no longer a trapped insect on display.

For the full review, please visit Reviews by Jessewave.(less)

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Jun 13, 2012 L-D rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: doctor-emt-vet, m-m, musician-rock-stars-bands, romance

Not quite 4 stars.

There were many things about this book that I really enjoyed. First of all, as I read it, I really noticed the writing style. Typically I blow through books so fast that I pick up on character and plot development and notice if there's a bunch of editing errors, but there aren't too many writing styles that make me sit back and take notice. I really did notice Alan Chin's style and liked it a lot. It flowed nicely and it used a good amount of adult vocabulary without sounding p...more Not quite 4 stars.

There were many things about this book that I really enjoyed. First of all, as I read it, I really noticed the writing style. Typically I blow through books so fast that I pick up on character and plot development and notice if there's a bunch of editing errors, but there aren't too many writing styles that make me sit back and take notice. I really did notice Alan Chin's style and liked it a lot. It flowed nicely and it used a good amount of adult vocabulary without sounding pompous. This is my second book from Alan Chin - the first being Match Maker - and I really enjoyed both.

Cord is a musician that failed to make a name for himself but is content with his life in NY with his lover Cameron. When he finds out his grandmother passed and left him her ranch, he travels for the funeral to take care of his affairs. He gets two big shocks - his grandmother had a female lover that will move over her dead body, and he has a teenage son that he didn't know about. This book was about relationships and there were quite a few to get around.

It starts with Cord's relationship with his lover, Cameron, adds his relationship with his son Kalin and Kalin's half-brother, Jem, renews his relationship with Kalin's mom, Jesse, and builds new relationships with Juanita (his grandmother's lover) and Tomeo (Jesse's friend). There is a lot going on in this story and I was fairly engrossed.

I think Cord changed dramatically over the course of the book from going through the motions in life, to really living. I liked watching his transformation as well as the transformation of all the relationships.

The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because (view spoiler)That's why this book didn't make 5 stars for me. I actually almost knocked it down to 3 stars as I typed this, but decided to go with my initial impression.(less)

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Oct 05, 2011 Lena Grey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Using the recurring reference to a butterfly, as Alan Chin did in his quite appropriately titled book 'Butterfly's Child', was a brilliant idea; the butterfly, a universally accepted symbol of transformation, is perfect for a story about change and growth.

I loved how Alan Chin went to such lengths to show Cord Bridger's state of mind in the beginning of the story. I could feel Cord's anguish, his uniqueness and the isolation he experienced. Music was a great vehicle with which to emphasize his g...more Using the recurring reference to a butterfly, as Alan Chin did in his quite appropriately titled book 'Butterfly's Child', was a brilliant idea; the butterfly, a universally accepted symbol of transformation, is perfect for a story about change and growth.

I loved how Alan Chin went to such lengths to show Cord Bridger's state of mind in the beginning of the story. I could feel Cord's anguish, his uniqueness and the isolation he experienced. Music was a great vehicle with which to emphasize his great longing for a peace that he could never quite achieve. He may have had perfect pitch, but Cord was definitely hitting the wrong cord when it came to life.

When circumstances forced him to move back to Bitter Creek, Nevada, Cord quickly learned that continuing to live in isolation, as he did in New York City, was not possible in Bitter Creek. Life was harsh and problems were relentless. His survival in this beautiful, but hostile land depended upon how fast he could learn to deal with the problems which arose for him and the family which he inherited along with his grandmother's farm.

'Butterfly's Child' ran me through a gamut of emotions and sometimes had me laughing and crying at the same time; it definitely had me pulling for Cord and his family as they struggled to make sense of life's confusion. The characters in 'Butterfly's Child' were well defined and multi-dimensional, each adding his or her distinct contribution to the plot, helping it mesh together quite effectively.

Of all the characters, Kalin was the one who instantly earned my admiration with his intensity and compassion, particularly as it pertained to his little brother, Jem. He fiercely defended Jem even when it meant sacrificing his own wellbeing. Having life narrated through a seven year old boy's eyes was both funny and poignant, especially with the knowledge that Jem wouldn't have been the carefree little boy he was if not for Kalin's intervention. Kalin's strength of character was best expressed by Cord. “...eyes that, while shrouded in anger, revealed something that a stoic and lonely life had not been able to touch. Beautiful, my son is beautiful; not merely a handsome teenager, but a conspicuously beautiful human being whose quality shines from his inside out.”

'Butterfly's Child' is suspenseful and unpredictable; it is as compelling as it is profound. If you enjoy a book that is not only entertaining but enlightening as well, reading 'Butterfly's Child' is an experience you will not want to pass up.

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online
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Nov 22, 2011 Shanna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, m-m, 2011

From start to finish this book was just bad, the characters didn't seem authentic. They seemed like characterizations of standard romance fare. You have the man who left home who never came back, the stoic local who teaches him what home is and then the two abused boys just add a dash of spice to a rather bland stew. First the points of view switch from Cord the man who left home and the 7 year old abuse victim. Cord's voice is pretty typical and rather dull. The 7 year old, Jem, who it's unclea...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa by: michelenjeff-reviews.blogspot.com

Shelves: contemporary-romance, drama, m-m-romance

Butterfly’s Child is the story of a man, Cord Bridger, whose childhood was scarred by his parents’ abandonment — his father’s unintentional, his mother’s via suicide.

This is the story of a man who has symbolically cocooned himself from the white noise of the millions of inhabitants of New York City, becoming so isolated from the cacophony that assaults his highly sensitive ears that he seeks little more from his existence than the sanctuary of his job and his apartment.

Cord is a man who had le...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Gregory Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was the first book I have read by Alan Chin and I know I will want to read more. I'm not one to give the details on the story as you can get that elsewhere. What I will say is that I love how Chin puts his gay characters into situations out of the 'norm' for many gay novels - where it is not the overriding theme of the book. Here, it is a true exploration of what it means to be a father and a son (with some beautiful prose used to illustrate this story). The book didn't always go where I th...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Snowtulip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

I really enjoy Chin's storytelling and weaving together so many poignant issues. I felt strong emotions to the characters (whether good or bad), which indicates I've been fully snatched into the story. This was a heavy read with difficult sections for me to read through (child abuse). Butterfly's Child missed the 5 star mark because I sometimes felt there was too much being captured, but overall, this was great writing.

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Jan 26, 2011 Meggie rated it 5 of 5 stars

The perfect word for this book is DEEP.
This feeling of melancholy is so tick in the air you can feel it in your skin. The human mind is so full of deepness mixed with melancholy... whoa...
We get a story of a man, who is so lost in his own mind that Hi's melancholy, his loneliness is starting part of this story and true the whole book the main characters, who are troubled or broken, heal with time and love.
The book pined me till the end...such fine example of AWESOME, DEEP, EMOTIONAL story is ju...more

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Dec 27, 2011 unchatnoir rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

This book was a little weird. It started good but at one point I felt like I should go back and check the cover to make sure I was reading the same book. Cord's transformation was a little unconvincing and some of the characters (especially the bad guys) were downright caricatures. And am I the only one who felt like this was written by two different authors?

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Dec 11, 2010 Eyre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: somebody-needs-to-be-smacked, romance, gay-glbt-mm-mmf

This is the first book I've read by Chin, and I really liked it. I had a couple of personal niggles that probably wouldn't be noticed by most readers. I did shed a tear or two while reading. I'll be looking for more by this author.

I also want to point out that this book does contain instances of child abuse that I know some of my online friends will want to know about before deciding to read the book.

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Aug 26, 2011 Alan rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

While back in the West to attend his grandmother’s funeral, Cord Bridger uncovers two shocking revelations: his grandmother had a lesbian lover named Juanita, and he has a teenaged son named Kalin. Fate brings all three together, but to preserve his new family, Cord must leave his safe life in New York City behind to carve a living from the harsh ranch lands of Nevada.

To forge a life with Juanita and Kalin, Cord must first discover the dark secret burning a hole in Kalin’s heart. With the help o...more

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Dec 13, 2011 E.E. Montgomery rated it 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant. Chin knows how to write a story so that the words disappear and all that's left is the world he's created. Cord is a man with believable weaknesses who finds incredible strength to protect those he loves. Telling part of the story through the eyes of a seven-year-old also works well.

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Jan 27, 2013 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cowboys-ranches-the-south, mm, kids-in-the-story, nookbook, social-issues, romance

I wasn't quite convinced that the relationship between Tomeo and Cord was really working for me. But it was a good story and kept me glued to my reader to finish it. It's definitely disturbing in places and not a fluffy story. Will look for more books by this author.

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Dec 11, 2010 Penny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hopeful story. Heartfelt. A writer that has a strong voice. 4.25 Stars Story: A man Leaves NYC to help with a funeral, settle a estate, and finds a new outlook on life. Realises that he hasn't been living at all. Recommended read.

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Apr 03, 2011 Fadia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ever read a book and it was not what you expected. This book is well written and shows how characters goes thru rebirth and acceptance. Story made me look within and appreciate the world me

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Aug 20, 2011 Tanya rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW! Hmm let me repeat WOW! Beautifully written, excellent story!

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Apr 10, 2012 Nightcolors added it

Shelves: didn-t-finish, ebook, glbt, contemporary

I'm going to let this book sit for a while. I read about 70% of it. Interesting story, but a few things really started to bother me more, keeps pulling me out of the story flow. Jem's voice, especially. He doesn't always, or rather, he usually doesn't sound like a 7-year-old kid. I may still finish this book at some future date.

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Feb 13, 2011 Matthew Vandrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

Too complex and too emotion-stirring to put it all in a single review.

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May 29, 2012 Mysterious added it

Shelves: contemporary, m-m

Slogged through to p. 42 (~15%) a few months ago and have felt absolutely no desire to pick it up again. I'm calling this one DNF.

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May 13, 2013 Plainbrownwrapper marked it as to-read

Shelves: i-own-it

May 13, 2013 PaperMoon rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 11, 2013 Amanda marked it as to-read

May 04, 2013 Heather Skye marked it as to-read

Shelves: waiting-to-be-read

Apr 24, 2013 Jack rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 21, 2013 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Alan Chin

Alan Chin was born in Ogden, Utah, where he was christened, Alan Lewis Hurlburt. He was raised in San Jose, California where he enjoyed an undistinguished childhood. After graduating high school, Alan served four years in the U.S. Navy where he learned and practiced the trade of aircraft mechanic while stationed at the naval air station in Kingsville, Texas.
Alan attended four years of night schoo...more

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Butterfly's Child

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