Gino Tornese Tornese itibaren Dwarkanathpura at Keriya
May contain spoilers The Butterfly House follows Roberta (Bobbie) Lee living her life in the present day and flashing back to her childhood. Bobbie had a difficult upbringing having a alcoholic mother, a small shabby home and an absent father but she does have one best friend who brightens her days, Cynthia (Cincy) Jaines, she also has an absent father but her mother is fantastic and Bobbie warms to Lenora probably more than she should, both having a love of butterflies they work together on a project of Bobbie's about a new species of butterfly and together they become like a mother and daughter, this angers Cynthia of course wanting them to herself equally and not with each other. Bobbie's mother has a different view and thinks Bobbie and Lenora could be lovers. As Ruth Lee's alcoholism carries on to deteriorate, she lashes out more at Bobbie. As Bobbie's story flicks from present to past, so begins a story of mystery, love and friendship. I was recommended this book by a friend, and I really enjoyed it. I quite like mystery books, I like wanting to know what's going to happen next? and trying to come up with my own theories, I could guess a few, or had an idea about a few mysteries but the main mystery I wasn't sure. I thought the story was cleverly written especially going from 1990 (present) to 1980 (past) and matching it all up together. I really felt with the characters, I felt for Bobbie having no father, then finding out he was gay so he didn't abandon her at all, it was nice she got to live with him and have a taste of the "nice life" before Joey screwed it up for them both. I felt for her having to watch her mother drown her sorrows in a bottle everyday and I could understand why she loved Lenora so much, because she was the mother anybody would expect, she was the mother to her she never really had. And Cincy was like the sister she never had. When the first chapter mentioned Lenora in prison and Bobbie visiting her, the prison guard says, "look at her, visiting her mother's killer" I was intrigued and as I got to know both Ruth and Lenora, I could not see how this could be possible, how could this lovely woman, kind natured, loving, friendly woman kill someone? As time drew near and the fire happened I thought obviously it was a accident, but obviously Lenora wouldn't set fire to her own house, with people inside. Obviously the next suspect is Bobbie's mother who suspects Lenora and her daughter of being lovers, and what she says to Bobbie seems to confirm my suspicions but again the question asks, why would Lenora go to prison for something Ruth did? They say it was so Bobbie wouldn't know her mother tried to kill her but I had an inkling there was something more. I was still surprised when I found out that it was Cincy who started the fire and let her own mother take the wrap for her! Obviously Lenora knew all along and then it all clicked into place. It was sad to learn Cincy had cancer and I thought it was a bit cowardly of her to only tell the police the truth because she knew they wouldn't charge her because she was sick, she let her mother go to prison for 10 years for something she did and she didn't even visit her, I didn't like Cincy a lot for that! The ending was expected but still sad, Lenora got out of prison finally and got on with the rest of her life, Bobbie and her husband David got back together properly and (assuming) had their son Peter Benjamin, Cincy had a happy relationship with Rick her nurse, she reconciled with her two favourite women, her mother Lenora and he best friend Bobbie, until the end.
Given that I am presently suffering from Empty Nest Syndrome, this was an appropriate book to read. the author spends a year searching to define what happiness is and to become a happier person. She chooses a monthly theme - time for friends, exercise, mindfulness,etc...and discusses the topic as it relates to her life. An easy pleasant read and some may find it too fluffy. Nothing new to add to what pretty much everyone else writes on the search for human happiness.
After the war, Izzy Umboto (a minor character from the first book) is given independent command and a mandate to keep the peace on the rim. She and her crew uncover a slavery plot. Compared to the first book, this one is far more focused. There is a clear feeling of moving forward instead of flying about all over the place. Note: Mike Moscoe is more well known under the pen name Mike Shepherd. The Society of Humanity series is set in the same universe as the Kris Longknife books, but several decades earlier. http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1008