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A review by poisonenvy
Butterfly by V.C. Andrews
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I was not expecting much from this novel, written by a man (Andrew Neiderman) using a dead woman's name to sell his books, and I was not disappointed.
Janet has never known her biological mother or father. All she remembers is living in the orphanage, and for 12 years she remains there, I adopted. Until Céline and Sanford, a very rich couple, come to adopt her. Celine had once been a ballerina, but her dreams were shattered after she got into a car accident that left her in a wheelchair, and she is bound and determined to relive that life through Janet.
The story was entertaining enough, I suppose. I am, I guess, going to read the next book in the series because I was entertained? I guess? But aside from "this book was entertaining so I guess it did its job," I don't actually have much positive to say about this.
- Somehow, every woman in this novel (the orphanage director, Celine, Celine's mother) are the worst people you have ever met in your life. But it's okay! All the men are fine! Sanford's got all the backbone of a wet cardboard box, and the grandfather isn't much more than a friendly piece of set dressing, but whatever.
- There were so many potential plot points that were mentioned and then just never brought up again? Sanford says don't take the rowboat out unattended. Janet's crush asks to take the rowboat out unattended. Janet says she her father told her not to, so they do not. And that is the end of that entirely pointless diversion.
- There's an older boy that sexually assaults Janet (who is twelve) a couple of times, and then is just completely written out of the story, never go appear again. The sexual assault, likewise, is never mentioned or alluded to again. Guess it just exists to exist or something. Whatever.
- Just a whole bunch of casual ableism, where the main antagonist of the story is both in a wheelchair and mentally ill, both of which are depicted incredibly shallowly.
Anyway. Like I said, I guess I'm reading the second book in this mini-series, even if I don't really know why.
Janet has never known her biological mother or father. All she remembers is living in the orphanage, and for 12 years she remains there, I adopted. Until Céline and Sanford, a very rich couple, come to adopt her. Celine had once been a ballerina, but her dreams were shattered after she got into a car accident that left her in a wheelchair, and she is bound and determined to relive that life through Janet.
The story was entertaining enough, I suppose. I am, I guess, going to read the next book in the series because I was entertained? I guess? But aside from "this book was entertaining so I guess it did its job," I don't actually have much positive to say about this.
- Somehow, every woman in this novel (the orphanage director, Celine, Celine's mother) are the worst people you have ever met in your life. But it's okay! All the men are fine! Sanford's got all the backbone of a wet cardboard box, and the grandfather isn't much more than a friendly piece of set dressing, but whatever.
- There were so many potential plot points that were mentioned and then just never brought up again? Sanford says don't take the rowboat out unattended. Janet's crush asks to take the rowboat out unattended. Janet says she her father told her not to, so they do not. And that is the end of that entirely pointless diversion.
- There's an older boy that sexually assaults Janet (who is twelve) a couple of times, and then is just completely written out of the story, never go appear again. The sexual assault, likewise, is never mentioned or alluded to again. Guess it just exists to exist or something. Whatever.
- Just a whole bunch of casual ableism, where the main antagonist of the story is both in a wheelchair and mentally ill, both of which are depicted incredibly shallowly.
Anyway. Like I said, I guess I'm reading the second book in this mini-series, even if I don't really know why.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Car accident