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A review by nancf
The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld
3.0
3.5 stars. Another strong Naomi story, but it took me a little longer to get into this one. Naomi is now married to Jerome and they are on a quest to find Naomi's sister. The search brings them to Portland, where Naomi is drawn into the plight of the street children. Naomi befriends Celia, a runaway with an abusive past, who also has a younger sister she left behind in the chaos of her home. The title comes from Celia, who escapes into her butterfly fantasies.
Though gritty, sad, and down-right ugly, Denfeld manages to tell the story in an almost poetic, lyrical way. Celia's unseen observation of the butterfly museum (158) is especially poignant.
"Instead it reassured her, confirming that the stories we tell ourselves have more meaning than the facts. That doesn't make them lies. Seeded with every myth was the emotional truth." (121)
"He had the unkempt look of sin, his cheeks peppered with old beard...His face said nap." (176)
Though gritty, sad, and down-right ugly, Denfeld manages to tell the story in an almost poetic, lyrical way. Celia's unseen observation of the butterfly museum (158) is especially poignant.
"Instead it reassured her, confirming that the stories we tell ourselves have more meaning than the facts. That doesn't make them lies. Seeded with every myth was the emotional truth." (121)
"He had the unkempt look of sin, his cheeks peppered with old beard...His face said nap." (176)