Internationally acclaimed author Angela Davis-Gardner draws inspiration from Puccini's Madame Butterfly to craft this deftly imagined furthering of the famed opera's main characters. Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton and his wife Kate bring a three-year-old Japanese boy home to their Illinois farm. But when their neighbors learn the truth about the boy's heritage, the fallout is devastating. "In its way, it holds its own alongside the modern Western masterpieces of Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy."-Kirkus Reviews
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"This novel is a sequel to Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly. But where the opera is concerned with the dramatic love between Lt. Pinkerton and the Japanese geisha Butterfly, the novel is about Benji, the child of these two lovers. When Benji is a toddler, his mother commits suicide and he is taken away to America to live with his father and stepmother on a farm. After many difficulties Benji settles in but there remain a lot of issues between the three of them. Benji wants to know more about his mother and Japan but has to keep quiet, Frank cannot forget about Butterfly and drinks away his sorrows, and Kate tries to fulfill her Christian duty but struggles with the fact that she has to raise Butterfly's child and regrets her marriage to Frank. All these facts are beautifully and convincingly worked out. After Benji runs away from home, I found the story a bit farfetched but the real surprise at the end made up for that. A moving story about a boy that is lost between two cultures; in America people regard him as Japanese and in Japan people see him as an American. A must for people that are interested in works of historical fiction and have an interest in Japan. You don't have to know anything about the opera to enjoy this novel."
— Janet (4 out of 5 stars)
" A good read. Unexpected developments in the story. I was left wanting more. "
— Janine, 2/18/2014" Love the idea of the storyline tying in with the opera Madame Butterly. Still thinking about the book although I ultimately decided that I didn't end up liking either of the main characters. Also, the ending left me with some questions but I don't feel like the author tied up the most important story lines and left us with an idea as to what happened with some of the other characters. Although I would have liked more loose ends tied up, I can live with how she ended things. The book wasn't necessarily a page turner til half way through however, it was well written and I liked the parallel story lines. I would recommend this to others. "
— Nathalie, 2/9/2014" A very interesting "after Tale" of the famous opera Madame Butterfly. A "whatever happened to..." story. I really enjoyed it. Lush with intriguing yet deeply flawed characters. "
— Tracy, 2/9/2014" It's not often you begin a novel feeling you already know a character, but in Butterfly's Child, author Angela Davis-Gardner creates a life for Benji, the child of Co Co San and Pinkerton from Puccini's opera, Madama Butterfly." This is a lovely read, the unfolding of Benji's life with his family in America. To read this book is to travel on an adventure - the plains of Illinois, Denver, San Francico, and finally Japan. The poetry of Davis-Gardner's descriptions envelop and hold the reader. This was a story I wished would continue. "
— Richard, 1/18/2014" Just didn't speak to me. The ending was poorly written and the characters unbelievable. Leave this one on the shelf. "
— Julie, 1/17/2014" creative story with a plot twist that sold me only after a while. I appreciated it. "
— Jennifer, 1/12/2014" I thought this was a well-written book and the author did a great job of developing characters who were complicated and generally sympathetic, despite doing ugly things. The end fell a little flat for me, but otherwise I enjoyed this take on the principal characters from Madama Butterfly. "
— Anastasia, 1/4/2014" It was an interesting concept, but the story moved too slowly. Unfortunately, I found I was skimming to get to the end of the book. "
— Roz, 1/4/2014" I really liked the story. It is not important that you have seen the opera- a short synopsis will do fine. I am not sure I really liked the ending, although I can't come up with a better idea. The ending doesn't take away from the beautifully written story. "
— Dagny, 11/6/2013" Lovely and lyrical, strong characters, good story. Deeply felt. "
— Nell, 10/30/2013" Great book!!! Now I want to see "Madame Butterfly"!!! "
— Sharon, 7/19/2013" Would give it a 3.5-about 4. Interesting concept basing an historical novel on what could happen to the characters in the opera Madame Butterfly (and the lack of racial acceptance in early 1900's US). "
— Sheila, 5/15/2013" I liked the first half very much. In fact, I found it so intriguing that I couldn't put it down. For some reason, the second half just didn't have the same effect on me. "
— Chloe, 5/14/2013" Enjoyed the story of acceptance (or lack thereof) of race at the turn of the 20th century and the undying quest for truth by the child. In the end, truth is different than he thought it was! "
— Pam, 2/11/2013" Davis-Gardner has written a beautiful story of the life of Madame Butterfly's son after her tragic death. A wonderful choice for book clubs - there is a great deal to think about after reading this book. "
— Mary, 1/14/2013" Loved it. A great novel, beginning with the ending of Madame Butterfly, the story takes Benji's life from Nagasaki to America and the trials and family drama that occurs because of this change. A page turner for me. "
— Sharon, 12/18/2012" well written and enjoyable. historical fiction is one of my favorties and this was very good. she has written 3 other books and i would definately look them up "
— Lori, 10/4/2012" The premise of this is so elegant and many reviewers extolled the plot twists in later pages, but I found the bigotry and violence portrayed in the first third so repulsive I could not read the whole book. "
— Britta, 7/16/2012" A solid 2 1/2 but not quite enough for a 3. First 1/2 infinitely better. "
— Andrea, 6/9/2012" A tight, beautifully crafted meta-fiction novel. Characters are believable and fully imagined. I didn't want it to end. "
— Yvonne, 4/3/2012" I really liked her writing style. beautifully written and captures drama of Madame Butterfly thru a compelling story. "
— Mary, 3/25/2012" This is a great story and a quick read. I seemed to just end and we're left hanging on several issues that need to be resolved. "
— Linda, 1/27/2012" So many miserable people. And I guess I'm a little bit of a purist -- I think they changed too much from the opera - which I like a lot. Didn't want it tampered with. "
— Cathy, 1/13/2012" Interesting. Good characters, though you don't like them all, you come to understand them. Good read. Maybe even a good book club selection. "
— Laurie, 6/6/2011" Lovely and lyrical, strong characters, good story. Deeply felt. "
— Nell, 6/2/2011" creative story with a plot twist that sold me only after a while. I appreciated it. "
— Jennifer, 5/28/2011" Enjoyed the story of acceptance (or lack thereof) of race at the turn of the 20th century and the undying quest for truth by the child. In the end, truth is different than he thought it was! "
— Pam, 5/17/2011" If any novel deserves to be called a page-turner, this is it. One surprising event leads to another, blending comedy, tragedy and history. And all of it in luminous prose that you want to read aloud. "
— Peter, 5/2/2011" Novel as opera...interesting idea. What happened to Butterfly's child after Pinkerton and his wife meet his child? "
— Susan, 4/28/2011" Davis-Gardner has written a beautiful story of the life of Madame Butterfly's son after her tragic death. A wonderful choice for book clubs - there is a great deal to think about after reading this book. "
— Mary, 4/27/2011" A tight, beautifully crafted meta-fiction novel. Characters are believable and fully imagined. I didn't want it to end. "
— Yvonne, 4/27/2011Jennifer Ikeda has been narrating audiobooks since 2002. Among her readings are When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park; Just Listen by Sarah Dessen; and After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away by Joyce Carol Oates. She has won six AudioFile Earphones Awards.