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The Sound of Butterflies
Amateur naturalist Thomas Edgar is offered the chance of a lifetime: to travel to the Amazon as part of a scientific exploration. Hoping to discover the mythical butterfly of which he has long dreamed—his Papilio sophia—he eagerly accepts. Yet when he returns, the optimistic young Edwardian gentleman is gone, replaced by a weak, nearly mute shadow of the man.
Unable to break through Thomas's silence, his beloved wife, Sophie, is forced to take drastic measures to discover what has happened. But as she gleans what she can from Thomas's diaries and boxes of exquisite butterflies, she learns as much about herself and their marriage as about the secrets he harbors.
Written in rich, sensuous prose and taking the reader from the demure gentility of turn-of-the-twentieth-century England to the lush, dangerous jungles of Brazil, The Sound of Butterflies is a breathtaking and compelling debut.
Unable to break through Thomas's silence, his beloved wife, Sophie, is forced to take drastic measures to discover what has happened. But as she gleans what she can from Thomas's diaries and boxes of exquisite butterflies, she learns as much about herself and their marriage as about the secrets he harbors.
Written in rich, sensuous prose and taking the reader from the demure gentility of turn-of-the-twentieth-century England to the lush, dangerous jungles of Brazil, The Sound of Butterflies is a breathtaking and compelling debut.
Paperback
First published March 27, 2007
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About the author
Rachael King
9 books101 followersRachael King is a writer, book reviewer, and former literary festival director from Aotearoa New Zealand. When she was young, she played bass guitar in rock bands, rode horses bareback along a beach, and voraciously read fantasy books. She is the author of two middlegrade fantasy novels based on Scottish mythology in a New Zealand setting – Red Rocks (republished in 2025 as Secrets at Red Rocks to coincide with the Emmy-nominated television adaptation) and The Grimmelings; a junior fiction series Violet and the Velvets; and a YA folk horror fantasy due in 2026, Song of the Saltings. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from the Victoria University Wellington, and has also written two books for adults, The Sound of Butterflies and Magpie Hall. In 2023 she was named Best Reviewer at Voyager New Zealand Media Awards for her book reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
February 15, 2016
Ο ψίθυρος της πεταλούδας άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένος με το " πέταγμα της πεταλούδας".
Ένα βιβλίο που αναφέρεται στο μεγαλείο της αδύναμης ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης.
Η ξεφτίλα του πάθους και ο πόνος του λάθος θα μπορούσε να ειναι ένας διαφορετικός τίτλος....
Αναφορικά με την πλοκή και την υπόθεση ο ρυθμός ειναι αργός έως ένα σημείο αλλά αμείωτου ενδιαφέροντος.
Οι πεταλούδες πρωταγωνιστούν σε όλο το βιβλίο κυριολεκτικά και μεταφορικά. Ειναι αυτές που προκαλούν ποικίλα συναισθήματα και εντυπώσεις. Χωρίζονται σε κατηγορίες ανάλογα με το φύλο το μέγεθος το χρώμα την αντίδραση την ανθεκτικότητα την αντοχή τη συμπεριφορά, όπως ακριβώς και η ανθρώπινη ψυχή.
Υπάρχουν πεταλούδες κοινές και άλλες σπάνιες. Μονόχρωμες ή ποικιλοχρωμες. Ξεχωριστά άσχημες ή συνηθισμένα όμορφες. Πεταλούδες που πολύ δύσκολα αιχμαλωτίζονται και άλλες που πιάνονται χωρίς καμία δυσκολία. Τρυφερές και ευαίσθητες ή σκληρές και μαχητικές. Όπως ακριβώς το ανθρώπινο είδος.
Ειναι ένα μυθιστόρημα που ξεδιπλώνει μέσα από το μεγαλείο της ζωής καθημερινών ανθρώπων οι οποίοι αποτελούν ένα ευρύτερο κοινωνικό σύνολο, την αγάπη την ιδιοτέλεια τη ματαιοδοξία το πάθος και την κτηνωδία.
Όταν ανακαλύπτεις το καλό γίνεσαι ίσως καλύτερος,όταν ανακαλύπτεις το κακό τότε η σιωπάς και δηλώνεις συνενοχή και ασυνειδησία ή αποκαλύπτεις και πληρώνοντας τις οποιες συνέπειες έχεις την τιμή να λέγεσαι Άνθρωπος !!
Καλή ανάγνωση!!
Ένα βιβλίο που αναφέρεται στο μεγαλείο της αδύναμης ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης.
Η ξεφτίλα του πάθους και ο πόνος του λάθος θα μπορούσε να ειναι ένας διαφορετικός τίτλος....
Αναφορικά με την πλοκή και την υπόθεση ο ρυθμός ειναι αργός έως ένα σημείο αλλά αμείωτου ενδιαφέροντος.
Οι πεταλούδες πρωταγωνιστούν σε όλο το βιβλίο κυριολεκτικά και μεταφορικά. Ειναι αυτές που προκαλούν ποικίλα συναισθήματα και εντυπώσεις. Χωρίζονται σε κατηγορίες ανάλογα με το φύλο το μέγεθος το χρώμα την αντίδραση την ανθεκτικότητα την αντοχή τη συμπεριφορά, όπως ακριβώς και η ανθρώπινη ψυχή.
Υπάρχουν πεταλούδες κοινές και άλλες σπάνιες. Μονόχρωμες ή ποικιλοχρωμες. Ξεχωριστά άσχημες ή συνηθισμένα όμορφες. Πεταλούδες που πολύ δύσκολα αιχμαλωτίζονται και άλλες που πιάνονται χωρίς καμία δυσκολία. Τρυφερές και ευαίσθητες ή σκληρές και μαχητικές. Όπως ακριβώς το ανθρώπινο είδος.
Ειναι ένα μυθιστόρημα που ξεδιπλώνει μέσα από το μεγαλείο της ζωής καθημερινών ανθρώπων οι οποίοι αποτελούν ένα ευρύτερο κοινωνικό σύνολο, την αγάπη την ιδιοτέλεια τη ματαιοδοξία το πάθος και την κτηνωδία.
Όταν ανακαλύπτεις το καλό γίνεσαι ίσως καλύτερος,όταν ανακαλύπτεις το κακό τότε η σιωπάς και δηλώνεις συνενοχή και ασυνειδησία ή αποκαλύπτεις και πληρώνοντας τις οποιες συνέπειες έχεις την τιμή να λέγεσαι Άνθρωπος !!
Καλή ανάγνωση!!
August 13, 2007
It took me a while to find a way in to writing a review of this wonderful book. I felt that the fact that the author is one of my most treasured friends might be influencing my objectivity and yet, I knew that this was a great book. It is a good read, but I also think it is an important book, one that challenges the reader to face unpleasant truths about our flawed human nature and one that addresses a question that I believe we each must answer for ourselves in the face of the terrible injustice in this world.
Part of the strength of this book comes from Rachael's ability to write characters who, despite their many flaws, are compellingly real and who somehow elicit our empathy. In these characters we see something of ourselves and - most importantly to me - we are forced to confront the choices we ourselves make to either remain silent or to speak out.
For me this is the heart of "The Sound of Butterflies", the terrifying choice to speak the truth. As a human rights lawyer I may have read my own story into Thomas's but whether or not other readers see it I was struck by the accuracy with which Rachael describes the paralysing burden of knowing unbearably terrible things.
Here in Afghanistan I struggle with the temptation to stop trying to communicate the terrible things I see here to those I love, I consider choosing silence. In this context "TSOB" strikes me as being one of the very few novels I have ever come across that explores this very struggle, and I wonder whether it shouldn't be recommended reading for the many stay-at-home partners of humanitarian workers.
By the way: I feel all the more confident in my assessment of "The Sound of Butterflies" now that it won the NZSA Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction. Here is what one of the experts from the judging panel had to say ‘Rachael King’s strength is her rich, lush and sensuous prose; she has a forte for depicting characters we feel compelled to empathise with,’ says Dr Millar.
Yeah - what she said (actually I had come up with the point about empathy all by myself!). Because really, what good would a novel set in the rich, lush and sensous setting of the Amazon river at the turn of the 19th century is the author writing it couldn't rise to the occasion with prose that was rich, lush and sensous enough to transport us all there.
Part of the strength of this book comes from Rachael's ability to write characters who, despite their many flaws, are compellingly real and who somehow elicit our empathy. In these characters we see something of ourselves and - most importantly to me - we are forced to confront the choices we ourselves make to either remain silent or to speak out.
For me this is the heart of "The Sound of Butterflies", the terrifying choice to speak the truth. As a human rights lawyer I may have read my own story into Thomas's but whether or not other readers see it I was struck by the accuracy with which Rachael describes the paralysing burden of knowing unbearably terrible things.
Here in Afghanistan I struggle with the temptation to stop trying to communicate the terrible things I see here to those I love, I consider choosing silence. In this context "TSOB" strikes me as being one of the very few novels I have ever come across that explores this very struggle, and I wonder whether it shouldn't be recommended reading for the many stay-at-home partners of humanitarian workers.
By the way: I feel all the more confident in my assessment of "The Sound of Butterflies" now that it won the NZSA Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction. Here is what one of the experts from the judging panel had to say ‘Rachael King’s strength is her rich, lush and sensuous prose; she has a forte for depicting characters we feel compelled to empathise with,’ says Dr Millar.
Yeah - what she said (actually I had come up with the point about empathy all by myself!). Because really, what good would a novel set in the rich, lush and sensous setting of the Amazon river at the turn of the 19th century is the author writing it couldn't rise to the occasion with prose that was rich, lush and sensous enough to transport us all there.
August 9, 2007
A novel with the common theme of The White Man entering a primal jungle and finding himself succumbing to his primal instincts. This one is a bit different. The protagonist Thomas, loves butterflies. I mean he really loves butterflies "When he caught sight of his first Morphos, their blue wings shining in the sun like stained glass, he felt a familiar stirring in his trousers. This was something he couldn't explain and had long ago given up trying to. Ever since he was a young lad, his body had occasionally--only occasionally--reacted this way to the excitement of spotting and catching butterflies."
November 14, 2014
The premise of The Sound of Butterflies was incredibly promising: a scientific expedition through the Amazon, paralleled with a deep mystery to be solved on explorer Thomas Edgar’s return to England.
Unfortunately, what could have been made into a thrilling, complex drama by author Rachael King, is fairly placid for the most part. It’s a little like Heart of Darkness meets Anna Karenina, but without the resonance of either. Actually, maybe that’s not quite fair. There are some very strong moments of gore in those 353 pages, and a few grotesque murders that have certainly seared an image on my brain!
However, much of it is slow, especially the first 150 pages where the pace really lags. If you’re in a rush, you could probably skip a lot of it, particularly the present day chapters in the first half of the book. This is the main issue I had with King’s writing: what plot there is unfolds quite quickly in places, presumably leaving the rest of the novel for character development, but unfortunately it’s hard to feel an attachment to any of her characters. They’re either evil or dull, take your pick from that.
As it moves on though, King introduces some heavy issues: racism, abuse, sexism, power – all hot topics that blend quite well into the one story.
This novel did grow on me. I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it, but after coming close to chucking it out the window after just an hour of reading it, it at least gave me something to think about, was mildly entertaining for a few hours, and a fairly easy read.
Originally published on www.thislittlethought.com
Unfortunately, what could have been made into a thrilling, complex drama by author Rachael King, is fairly placid for the most part. It’s a little like Heart of Darkness meets Anna Karenina, but without the resonance of either. Actually, maybe that’s not quite fair. There are some very strong moments of gore in those 353 pages, and a few grotesque murders that have certainly seared an image on my brain!
However, much of it is slow, especially the first 150 pages where the pace really lags. If you’re in a rush, you could probably skip a lot of it, particularly the present day chapters in the first half of the book. This is the main issue I had with King’s writing: what plot there is unfolds quite quickly in places, presumably leaving the rest of the novel for character development, but unfortunately it’s hard to feel an attachment to any of her characters. They’re either evil or dull, take your pick from that.
As it moves on though, King introduces some heavy issues: racism, abuse, sexism, power – all hot topics that blend quite well into the one story.
This novel did grow on me. I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it, but after coming close to chucking it out the window after just an hour of reading it, it at least gave me something to think about, was mildly entertaining for a few hours, and a fairly easy read.
Originally published on www.thislittlethought.com
August 3, 2008
This novel raced to the top of New Zealand's best seller charts- the author, Rachel King, is the daughter of one NZ most-celebrated historians and writers (Michael King, The Penguin History of New Zealand). King is also the step-sister of a member of my then-book group. I will hold confidential the discussion we held at PLONK, a frou frou wine bar in Christchurch (I recall having a pot of herbal tea...),
I tried hard to like this novel. The narrative- which moved between Victorian England and the wild, dangerous Amazonian jungle- flowed at good pace and the characters were well drawn, but I found the story and the themes it utterly derivative of AS Byatt. Rampant sex and violence, colonialism, the noble savage, homosexuality, infidelity, women's liberation, corporate greed, science, mental illness, tropical diseases- what more other than the kitchen sink could King have tossed into the mix? What suffers from this thematic potpourri is credibility and depth.
But I would read a second novel by King- she's a good storyteller- to see if she can curb her enthusiasm and present a more carefully thought out but equally-entertaining yarn...
I tried hard to like this novel. The narrative- which moved between Victorian England and the wild, dangerous Amazonian jungle- flowed at good pace and the characters were well drawn, but I found the story and the themes it utterly derivative of AS Byatt. Rampant sex and violence, colonialism, the noble savage, homosexuality, infidelity, women's liberation, corporate greed, science, mental illness, tropical diseases- what more other than the kitchen sink could King have tossed into the mix? What suffers from this thematic potpourri is credibility and depth.
But I would read a second novel by King- she's a good storyteller- to see if she can curb her enthusiasm and present a more carefully thought out but equally-entertaining yarn...
September 30, 2009
In Rachael King's The Sound of Butterflies, Thomas Edgar, an amateur naturalist; travels to the Amazon in search of a butterfly he isn't even sure exists. Things start out fine for Mr. Edgar and his three companions: George, Ernie, and John. Catching wonderful specimens, and ever on the look-out for what will be his prize catch - his Papilio Sophia. A yellow and black swallow-tailed butterfly.
In their travels of scientific exploration in the jungle's of Brazil, they meet Mr. Santos, a seemingly harmless man in the rubber business. Harmless, at first, that is. He takes them to his home in Manaus, and that, I think, is where things truly begin to unfold completely for Thomas.
This was such a wonderfully written book I hated to finish it. The chapters alternated between Thomas's time in the jungle, and Sophie's (his wife's) time in Richmond, England - taking place in 1904, Ms. King's lovely writing transports the reader there with her interesting, likeable - and some not so likeable characters. It was very interesting to see this story unfold along with Thomas's horrifying secrets and Sophie's struggle to cope with a man that resembled her husband, who had changed drastically by his return.
The story begins with Thomas's return - he is mute, and has alarming red welts on his body. Sophie tries her best to get Thomas to speak but has no luck after trying everything she can think of, which finally drives her mad enough to drag his crates full of specimens he'd collected while away, outside to burn them, which actually, finally does get a response out of Thomas. I was so glad for that, because I was beginning to go a little mad at his not speaking right along with Sophie. Due to the fact that in the chapters of his time Brazil, pieces are revealed, but nothing quite yet that was the cause to push Thomas over the edge. It was as if I were finding out with Sophie the darkest secrets he had been keeping. With an ending that was truly shocking - and heartbreaking, this book may prove haunting for days after reading it.
In their travels of scientific exploration in the jungle's of Brazil, they meet Mr. Santos, a seemingly harmless man in the rubber business. Harmless, at first, that is. He takes them to his home in Manaus, and that, I think, is where things truly begin to unfold completely for Thomas.
This was such a wonderfully written book I hated to finish it. The chapters alternated between Thomas's time in the jungle, and Sophie's (his wife's) time in Richmond, England - taking place in 1904, Ms. King's lovely writing transports the reader there with her interesting, likeable - and some not so likeable characters. It was very interesting to see this story unfold along with Thomas's horrifying secrets and Sophie's struggle to cope with a man that resembled her husband, who had changed drastically by his return.
The story begins with Thomas's return - he is mute, and has alarming red welts on his body. Sophie tries her best to get Thomas to speak but has no luck after trying everything she can think of, which finally drives her mad enough to drag his crates full of specimens he'd collected while away, outside to burn them, which actually, finally does get a response out of Thomas. I was so glad for that, because I was beginning to go a little mad at his not speaking right along with Sophie. Due to the fact that in the chapters of his time Brazil, pieces are revealed, but nothing quite yet that was the cause to push Thomas over the edge. It was as if I were finding out with Sophie the darkest secrets he had been keeping. With an ending that was truly shocking - and heartbreaking, this book may prove haunting for days after reading it.
March 20, 2008
Good story- extremely violent and gory in some parts so not for everyone, but interesting to read about the rubber barons in Brazil and their financial connection to Europe. It is a story of the many physical and moral dilemmas a man must face while on a butterfly expedition in the Amazon in 1904 which render him mute upon his return to his wife, Sophie. Through his journal entries and past letters, Sophie attempts to piece together what has happened to her beloved husband during his travels.
January 25, 2015
I came across this gem on the bookshelves of the holiday home we rented this week. Those bookshelves made shivers run down my spine, because the owner of the home (also named Sue, and also from the UK) seemed to be, well, me, actually. All my favourite authors were there, from A.A. Milne and Michael Bond through to adult contemporary fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and classics I have loved. My husband asked me if this was in fact my secret hideaway, given it was exactly as I would have furnished it, with my favourite types of art on the walls.
As I scanned the shelves, Rachael King's 'The Sound of Butterflies' caught my eye, mostly because I 'know' Rachael from a Facebook authors' group and Twitter, but also because I was a little bit obsessed with butterflies as a child; it was set in an exotic location (I am a sucker for exotic locations) and, well, other Sue had read it so I should read it.
It didn't disappoint, and I spent a good deal of my holiday in the Amazon Basin, intrigued to find out what had made Thomas Edgar come home from his butterfly hunting expedition mute and terribly disturbed. It's a beautifully written page-turning mystery that eloquently describes the weirdness and horrors of life for both the Europeans and the Amazon Indians, in the rubber-boom years, when an opera house was built in the middle of the jungle, furs were imported from Europe, and horses drank from buckets of champagne. Rachael King's book is a unique read and highly recommended by me - and the other Sue, I feel.
As I scanned the shelves, Rachael King's 'The Sound of Butterflies' caught my eye, mostly because I 'know' Rachael from a Facebook authors' group and Twitter, but also because I was a little bit obsessed with butterflies as a child; it was set in an exotic location (I am a sucker for exotic locations) and, well, other Sue had read it so I should read it.
It didn't disappoint, and I spent a good deal of my holiday in the Amazon Basin, intrigued to find out what had made Thomas Edgar come home from his butterfly hunting expedition mute and terribly disturbed. It's a beautifully written page-turning mystery that eloquently describes the weirdness and horrors of life for both the Europeans and the Amazon Indians, in the rubber-boom years, when an opera house was built in the middle of the jungle, furs were imported from Europe, and horses drank from buckets of champagne. Rachael King's book is a unique read and highly recommended by me - and the other Sue, I feel.
Read
June 9, 2015that was a good read.
December 10, 2017
3,5 stelle
Il romanzo si svolge tra gli anni 1903 e il 1904.
Thomas è un giovane naturalista che va in Brasile per catturare, raccogliere e catalogare farfalle, quando torna a casa, un anno dopo è incapace di proferire verbo.
In Amazzonia è successo qualcosa che l’ha sconvolto, da qui la mia decisione di prendere il libro, insomma finalmente un po’ di sana sfortuna dopo i due libri pieni di fronzoli e insulina per endovena che ho letto, invece la delusione più nera.
Il perché del suo mutismo è veramente sciocco e spiegato ancor peggio nelle ultime 100 pagine del libro.
La moglie, Sophie, mi è stata antipatica a pelle, e dalle reazioni isteriche che ha tenuto, l’avrei volentieri presa a schiaffi in più di due occasioni.
Ho trovato simpatica l’amica Agatha con il suo disinteressarsi di quello che pensano in paese di lei (ha una relazione clandestina), forse mi assomiglia in quanto a disinteresse per le voci che girano, poiché nei paesi e nelle piccole comunità è meglio fregarsene che farsi venire la bile.
I due protagonisti vivono in una sorta di limbo dell’ingenuità, totalmente contrapposto di personaggi con cui si relazionano.
L’ambientazione è ben descritta, anzi è veramente suggestiva, soprattutto l’amazzonia che tralasciando le zanzare sembrava di camminare in mezzo alla foresta e alle sue creature, ho trovato migliore queste descrizioni che la storia narrata.
Nonostante questo il passaggio tra l’Amazzonia e l’Inghilterra tra date e anni diversi, ha reso la lettura un po’ più affascinante, le lettere che Tom scriveva alla moglie e all’amico sono state un ottimo modo per spezzare o chiudere un capitolo un po’ ostico alla lettura.
Non sono una cima quando scrivo, ma ho trovato che forse l’autrice ha ecceduto nella punteggiatura, forse poteva usarne di meno e creare frasi un po’ più lunghe, che soggetto, predicato e complemento. Sicuramente usa molto i punti, in più capitoli se ne contano anche sette in una diecina di righe, forse troppi.
Il finale, sarebbe ottimo, se nel libro fosse presente più oscurità di quanta ne è stata messa, perché il vissero, felici e contenti (circa) ci sta bene, se ne hanno passate di cotte e crude e qui non mi sembra.
Il romanzo si svolge tra gli anni 1903 e il 1904.
Thomas è un giovane naturalista che va in Brasile per catturare, raccogliere e catalogare farfalle, quando torna a casa, un anno dopo è incapace di proferire verbo.
In Amazzonia è successo qualcosa che l’ha sconvolto, da qui la mia decisione di prendere il libro, insomma finalmente un po’ di sana sfortuna dopo i due libri pieni di fronzoli e insulina per endovena che ho letto, invece la delusione più nera.
Il perché del suo mutismo è veramente sciocco e spiegato ancor peggio nelle ultime 100 pagine del libro.
La moglie, Sophie, mi è stata antipatica a pelle, e dalle reazioni isteriche che ha tenuto, l’avrei volentieri presa a schiaffi in più di due occasioni.
Ho trovato simpatica l’amica Agatha con il suo disinteressarsi di quello che pensano in paese di lei (ha una relazione clandestina), forse mi assomiglia in quanto a disinteresse per le voci che girano, poiché nei paesi e nelle piccole comunità è meglio fregarsene che farsi venire la bile.
I due protagonisti vivono in una sorta di limbo dell’ingenuità, totalmente contrapposto di personaggi con cui si relazionano.
L’ambientazione è ben descritta, anzi è veramente suggestiva, soprattutto l’amazzonia che tralasciando le zanzare sembrava di camminare in mezzo alla foresta e alle sue creature, ho trovato migliore queste descrizioni che la storia narrata.
Nonostante questo il passaggio tra l’Amazzonia e l’Inghilterra tra date e anni diversi, ha reso la lettura un po’ più affascinante, le lettere che Tom scriveva alla moglie e all’amico sono state un ottimo modo per spezzare o chiudere un capitolo un po’ ostico alla lettura.
Non sono una cima quando scrivo, ma ho trovato che forse l’autrice ha ecceduto nella punteggiatura, forse poteva usarne di meno e creare frasi un po’ più lunghe, che soggetto, predicato e complemento. Sicuramente usa molto i punti, in più capitoli se ne contano anche sette in una diecina di righe, forse troppi.
Il finale, sarebbe ottimo, se nel libro fosse presente più oscurità di quanta ne è stata messa, perché il vissero, felici e contenti (circa) ci sta bene, se ne hanno passate di cotte e crude e qui non mi sembra.
June 5, 2019
3.5 out of 5 stars
I was tempted to read this book by it’s gorgeous cover and lovely title but it did unfortunately disappoint me. This is the tale of a man Thomas Edgar who goes on a journey to Brazil to find an illusive butterfly which has never been found or caught before. Set in 1903 his wife is at home in England having no idea what is taking him so long and we he returns traumatised and not talking she seeks to find out what happened there. It goes between the two characters story Sophie and hers both present and while he was away and Thomas take in Brazil. His tales are brutal and have major trigger warnings which shocked me and I found very difficult. On the other side I felt for Sophie and wanted to shake Thomas. Maybe I found this hard as I expected it to be more gentle and more historical but it’s more of a mystery and more violent. The ending gave it an extra half a star as it improved and did tie up the loose ends very well.
I was tempted to read this book by it’s gorgeous cover and lovely title but it did unfortunately disappoint me. This is the tale of a man Thomas Edgar who goes on a journey to Brazil to find an illusive butterfly which has never been found or caught before. Set in 1903 his wife is at home in England having no idea what is taking him so long and we he returns traumatised and not talking she seeks to find out what happened there. It goes between the two characters story Sophie and hers both present and while he was away and Thomas take in Brazil. His tales are brutal and have major trigger warnings which shocked me and I found very difficult. On the other side I felt for Sophie and wanted to shake Thomas. Maybe I found this hard as I expected it to be more gentle and more historical but it’s more of a mystery and more violent. The ending gave it an extra half a star as it improved and did tie up the loose ends very well.
January 9, 2018
The characters in this book are not likable. Even the third-person omniscient narrator frustrated me. There were unnecessary gruesome details as well as a lot of missing details. The story was not compelling, and the way it unfolded was extremely predictable. I was so annoyed with the book that I wanted to stop reading, but I don’t like giving up on books. Do yourself a favor and don’t start reading it.
April 11, 2023
Wow! This is one of those books I found by chance and I am SO GLAD I did.
So incredibly good, mystery, brutality, butterflies, the heat of the Amazon... a perfect blend. Intense in the very best way
So incredibly good, mystery, brutality, butterflies, the heat of the Amazon... a perfect blend. Intense in the very best way
October 17, 2013
This is Rachael King’s debut novel, set around the turn of the century. It has an interesting construction, using narrative, diary pages and letters to tell the story. These work well and bring an immediacy to the writing, conveying a powerful sense of place and time.
There’s a whole array of themes in this novel: a love story which includes betrayal and devotion, travel to colonial settings and the Amazonian rainforest, sex of various kinds, snobbery and shocking brutality. The main characters are Thomas, an amateur lepidopterist, who leaves his wife in Richmond (with her blessing), not long after they are married, to take the opportunity of the trip of a lifetime to Brazil with professional collectors. He returns emaciated and mute, to the shock of his wife Sophie. She must try and find a way to improve his condition and return him to his former health, and must take increasingly drastic measures in order to get a breakthrough. I really warmed to her as time went on. Through the backstory we find out why he ended up in such a state. There’s a whole host of other characters who play pivotal roles in the story – all are well-drawn and the way King links and interweaves their parts is very skilful. The reader wants to know what eventually happens to ALL of them.
This is an impressive, well-crafted novel but the story does start slowly – you may have to bear with it for a while - then it suddenly takes off, with many twists and turns along the way to dramatic conclusions on both continents. Just occasionally there’s a very small ‘blip’ which seems to be the writer finding her voice. Nevertheless, this novel is well worth the reading time. I shall be following up her other work. (Jones)
There’s a whole array of themes in this novel: a love story which includes betrayal and devotion, travel to colonial settings and the Amazonian rainforest, sex of various kinds, snobbery and shocking brutality. The main characters are Thomas, an amateur lepidopterist, who leaves his wife in Richmond (with her blessing), not long after they are married, to take the opportunity of the trip of a lifetime to Brazil with professional collectors. He returns emaciated and mute, to the shock of his wife Sophie. She must try and find a way to improve his condition and return him to his former health, and must take increasingly drastic measures in order to get a breakthrough. I really warmed to her as time went on. Through the backstory we find out why he ended up in such a state. There’s a whole host of other characters who play pivotal roles in the story – all are well-drawn and the way King links and interweaves their parts is very skilful. The reader wants to know what eventually happens to ALL of them.
This is an impressive, well-crafted novel but the story does start slowly – you may have to bear with it for a while - then it suddenly takes off, with many twists and turns along the way to dramatic conclusions on both continents. Just occasionally there’s a very small ‘blip’ which seems to be the writer finding her voice. Nevertheless, this novel is well worth the reading time. I shall be following up her other work. (Jones)
October 21, 2008
Overall I thought this was a good book. Rachael King has a way with words that paint the most exquisite landscapes. While there were many great aspects of this book, the best of them all has to be her command of language.
The begining of the book seemed to take off slowly, more effort seemed to be placed on painting the landscapes as opposed to character development. However, as the book goes on the characters begin to take shape and the lack of explanation in the begining is seen as appropriate for the development of the story itself.
I think that the book was very well written and the journey into Sophie, her husband, and the mystery surrounding his muteness was well put together. Never giving too much to give away the ending, but not leaving the reader wanting for more. This book also takes a dive into the human experience, the emotions and thoughts that lead to the actions that people take.
Overall I would say this book was a good read. I didn't find myself not wanting to put it down, but while I was reading I was definitely drawn into another world, that of the rain forest and England. I would not say this is a re-read, but it leaves me looking forward to Rachael King's next novel.
The begining of the book seemed to take off slowly, more effort seemed to be placed on painting the landscapes as opposed to character development. However, as the book goes on the characters begin to take shape and the lack of explanation in the begining is seen as appropriate for the development of the story itself.
I think that the book was very well written and the journey into Sophie, her husband, and the mystery surrounding his muteness was well put together. Never giving too much to give away the ending, but not leaving the reader wanting for more. This book also takes a dive into the human experience, the emotions and thoughts that lead to the actions that people take.
Overall I would say this book was a good read. I didn't find myself not wanting to put it down, but while I was reading I was definitely drawn into another world, that of the rain forest and England. I would not say this is a re-read, but it leaves me looking forward to Rachael King's next novel.
July 3, 2013
I'm a sucker for Brazilian jungle novels (LOVED Patchett's "State of Wonder"), and when you add in the 1904 rubber baron and corrupt Manaus angle, I'm totally hooked.
The parallel story structure of Thomas in the jungle and Sophie back in Richmond is great, and as the former story unfolds, an element of mystery develops. Sophie's struggles to understand what has so severely traumatized her mute husband is full of pathos. Thomas is revealed as a failed human being who keeps as silent as the butterflies in the face of violence and abuses by rubber baron Santos--and his realization of this forms the moral crux of the novel. When he finally tells the story of his failings (and Sophie learns of his adultery), his wife rises to new independence, and the marriage's balance of power shifts.
Loved the lush descriptions of the jungle and its inhabitants: Indians, mestizos, Manaus prostitutes, rich and poor Portuguese immigrants. My one complaint is the 8-years-later "happy ending" seemed a bit tacked-on and forced.
The parallel story structure of Thomas in the jungle and Sophie back in Richmond is great, and as the former story unfolds, an element of mystery develops. Sophie's struggles to understand what has so severely traumatized her mute husband is full of pathos. Thomas is revealed as a failed human being who keeps as silent as the butterflies in the face of violence and abuses by rubber baron Santos--and his realization of this forms the moral crux of the novel. When he finally tells the story of his failings (and Sophie learns of his adultery), his wife rises to new independence, and the marriage's balance of power shifts.
Loved the lush descriptions of the jungle and its inhabitants: Indians, mestizos, Manaus prostitutes, rich and poor Portuguese immigrants. My one complaint is the 8-years-later "happy ending" seemed a bit tacked-on and forced.
April 16, 2019
I was sucked into the world of Rachael King's writing from the very first page. I know that many readers have commented on the way the beginning takes off somewhat slowly, but that wasn't a problem for me, as I like slow-moving novels. Anyways, the story starts to take off until it's a whirlwind of intrigue and subtle tension. I've seen numerous glowing reviews praising the richness of both her narrative and her descriptions, and every word of them I found to be true. The story shifts from the staid and strict world of small-town Edwardian England to the hot and sultry jungles of the Amazon, throbbing with mystery and corruption. Once again, I cannot praise the worldbuilding enough.
The characters are complex and at times even relatable. I was wholly drawn in by the portrait of Thomas Edgar, a promising young scientist almost driven to madness by his obsessive search for the mysterious black and yellow butterfly.
Obsession, murder, beauty and pain await in this thrilling, gripping novel.
The characters are complex and at times even relatable. I was wholly drawn in by the portrait of Thomas Edgar, a promising young scientist almost driven to madness by his obsessive search for the mysterious black and yellow butterfly.
Obsession, murder, beauty and pain await in this thrilling, gripping novel.
July 20, 2016
I was extremely disappointed with this book. I really thought I was going to like it. I mean what's not to like about a scientific expedition into the Amazon? And the story was set up nicely. It starts off with the main character Thomas coming home to his wife from the Amazon very badly shocked. He is shocked in to silence. He won't talk. So I'm thinking maybe he got into some trouble with the locals. Maybe his life was in danger and he saw some and did some unspeakable things. But no! I was more than half way through with the book and all that had happened was And then it just got weird. Plus I was getting really annoyed with how naive Thomas was. I just couldn't handle it. This book left me feeling negative and annoyed. But that's just my opinion. And I guess I should also mention that my rating of 1 star is only because I "did not like it". It has nothing to do with the content, the writing, or the author.
April 29, 2013
Great page turner - every wilder thing that happened next was unpredictable but seemed set in concrete and unavoidably necessary not to mention convincing once it had occurred. Wee exceptions like Santos would have known Thomas was doing what he was doing, as he had spies and control... but character is fate, and oh Thomas we've all been young. Clever too with the readability - easy to follow despite the flowering plot lines and flashbacks and flash-forwards that kept the suspense. Liked the characterisation of Agatha and how her non-conformity was important to Sophie. And loved the Fitzcaraldo-like setting in Brazil. Beautifully written too - looking forward to Magpie Hall.
February 26, 2015
On the outset, it appeared to be a wonderful book. The premise is fascinating, the language descriptive, and the settings are my cup of tea. BUT.... way too detailed descriptions of disgustingness, characters were unlikable, and the plot just was ridiculous. The reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because she can paint a vivid picture with her words. Bleh.
January 7, 2009
Turn of the century English butterfly seeker in the Amazon. Books set in the Amazon are always so exotic and this one right up there. Salvation at the end but a lot of strange goings-on in the middle.
March 14, 2017
A deftly woven tale with strings connecting many people. The description was lovely; I felt as though I really WAS in the balmy rainforest looking for butterflies--a welcome respite from the snow falling outside as I read.
August 15, 2017
Loved this book, couldn't put it down. It drew me in, had me fascinated with the various characters and even interested in the Edwardian period which I know little about, but want to know more about now through further reading.
June 22, 2008
This is a nicely crafted book alternating between the present(1904) and Thomas's story. He has returned from the Amazon hunting his elusive butterfly and his wife is dismayed at his silence.
Want to read
December 27, 2012Because Nenia loved it. :3
June 13, 2017
One of my favorite books of all time.
April 11, 2025
Review published in the NZ Herald, 29 July 2006
"Obsessions and a steaming end to innocence"
The Sound of Butterflies
Rachael King
(Black Swan, $27.99)
Reviewed by Philippa Jamieson
Brazil in 1903-04, with its lush jungles, abundant wildlife, and the opulence funded by the rubber boom, is the main setting for Rachael King's first novel The Sound of Butterflies.
Thomas Edgar is a naïve young butterfly collector whose quest is to find a rare, possibly mythical butterfly. He is one of four English naturalists on an expedition funded by Senhor Santos, a wealthy rubber baron. Santos hosts the group at his mansion in Manaus, at the confluence of the Amazon and the Rio Negro, where there is no road access, yet a grand metropolis has been built with imported materials from Europe, all carried upriver by boat.
At first the naturalists are assiduous in their task of collecting specimens, but gradually become accustomed to a slower pace of life and indulge in the temptations offered by the largesse of their benefactor, and a frontier town with a lax morality. They discover that Santos has a cruel side to him, and each of them becomes entangled in a sticky web of vice.
The expedition should be the opportunity of a lifetime, but the opening lines of the novel suggest that something went very wrong. Apart from a few physical ailments, Thomas returns in reasonable health, but seems incapable of speaking. What should have been a joyful reunion is instead a shock for his loving wife Sophie.
Just as Thomas' innocence has been shattered, so is Sophie also confronted with challenges to her faith and virtue as she tries to discover what has traumatised her husband. She is severely shaken by what she reads in his diaries – but this is just part of the answer.
Both of them deepen from ingenues to more rounded people through being forced to discover their inner reserves.
King has used the settings to good effect. The staid and proper life of Edwardian England, where people at church avert their eyes from Sophie and her silent husband, and whisper behind their backs, is in direct contrast to the steaminess and debauchery of Brazil.
The Sound of Butterflies is ambitious, especially for a first novel, but Rachael King – the daughter of historian Michael King – has made a strong, competent debut. It is perhaps too long, and builds up slowly. There are no tricks; the writing is not glamorous, rather it is careful and considered. It emphasises the story itself, and particularly the stark scenes of horror that are revealed right near the end of the book. After such a disturbing and powerful climax, the author proceeds with haste to tie up the loose ends almost too neatly.
Readers should allow a decent chunk of time to get stuck into this novel, but patience does pay off in this increasingly gripping tale.
"Obsessions and a steaming end to innocence"
The Sound of Butterflies
Rachael King
(Black Swan, $27.99)
Reviewed by Philippa Jamieson
Brazil in 1903-04, with its lush jungles, abundant wildlife, and the opulence funded by the rubber boom, is the main setting for Rachael King's first novel The Sound of Butterflies.
Thomas Edgar is a naïve young butterfly collector whose quest is to find a rare, possibly mythical butterfly. He is one of four English naturalists on an expedition funded by Senhor Santos, a wealthy rubber baron. Santos hosts the group at his mansion in Manaus, at the confluence of the Amazon and the Rio Negro, where there is no road access, yet a grand metropolis has been built with imported materials from Europe, all carried upriver by boat.
At first the naturalists are assiduous in their task of collecting specimens, but gradually become accustomed to a slower pace of life and indulge in the temptations offered by the largesse of their benefactor, and a frontier town with a lax morality. They discover that Santos has a cruel side to him, and each of them becomes entangled in a sticky web of vice.
The expedition should be the opportunity of a lifetime, but the opening lines of the novel suggest that something went very wrong. Apart from a few physical ailments, Thomas returns in reasonable health, but seems incapable of speaking. What should have been a joyful reunion is instead a shock for his loving wife Sophie.
Just as Thomas' innocence has been shattered, so is Sophie also confronted with challenges to her faith and virtue as she tries to discover what has traumatised her husband. She is severely shaken by what she reads in his diaries – but this is just part of the answer.
Both of them deepen from ingenues to more rounded people through being forced to discover their inner reserves.
King has used the settings to good effect. The staid and proper life of Edwardian England, where people at church avert their eyes from Sophie and her silent husband, and whisper behind their backs, is in direct contrast to the steaminess and debauchery of Brazil.
The Sound of Butterflies is ambitious, especially for a first novel, but Rachael King – the daughter of historian Michael King – has made a strong, competent debut. It is perhaps too long, and builds up slowly. There are no tricks; the writing is not glamorous, rather it is careful and considered. It emphasises the story itself, and particularly the stark scenes of horror that are revealed right near the end of the book. After such a disturbing and powerful climax, the author proceeds with haste to tie up the loose ends almost too neatly.
Readers should allow a decent chunk of time to get stuck into this novel, but patience does pay off in this increasingly gripping tale.
April 17, 2023
Some content warnings for future readers: mentions of racism, slavery, torture, sexual assault, CSA, rape, and gore. The blurb didn’t really mention any of this so I was surprised. The book isn’t completely littered with absolute horrors but there is an occasional passage here and there with these topics in the book. If you can’t tolerate reading of any of these I wouldn’t read this book.
Honestly more sad than I thought it was going to be, I thought this was going to be a romance novel! A rather sheltered, innocent man with an intense interest in butterflies gets offered the opportunity to expedition through the Amazon. He’s an amateur naturalist hoping to discover a particular butterfly he’d heard rumours of and (adorably) name it after his wife. Away from the comforts of England he almost loses himself in the rainforest, losing his naïveté and reliving old traumas. Thomas enters the Amazon naive, privileged man and leaves mute and traumatised.
Other characters in the book fell a bit flat at some points, like Sophie’s dad and Agatha.
I enjoyed the concept of this book, I do wish it touched more on the trauma Thomas was experiencing and expanded on his personality more. He had been taken advantage of by Clara and by Mr. Santos, he had a near breakdown because of this but I feel like it didn’t have much explanation between the events occurred and his muteness. Becoming mute had obviously been from his traumas of the trip, but I feel like more could’ve been said about the tolls the traumas had taken on him instead of just “this and this happened, and now Thomas is mute.”. For example, when Thomas caught George with the young boy, he punches George, the story of his childhood is shared and it explains why he can’t work with moths, but doesn’t really touch on how traumatising that would be for a young child and how that would manifest for Thomas or the young boy. I feel like a slow descent into madness type of deal would have been fitting for a character like Thomas.
Many of the things Thomas experienced weren’t mentioned until halfway through the book which makes sense for the sake of a build-up but because it was so many occurrences in what was left of the book it felt almost anti-climatic. I otherwise enjoyed the writing of it and the style it’s written in, it alters between letters and journal entries in the rainforest to back in England after the expedition.
Honestly more sad than I thought it was going to be, I thought this was going to be a romance novel! A rather sheltered, innocent man with an intense interest in butterflies gets offered the opportunity to expedition through the Amazon. He’s an amateur naturalist hoping to discover a particular butterfly he’d heard rumours of and (adorably) name it after his wife. Away from the comforts of England he almost loses himself in the rainforest, losing his naïveté and reliving old traumas. Thomas enters the Amazon naive, privileged man and leaves mute and traumatised.
Other characters in the book fell a bit flat at some points, like Sophie’s dad and Agatha.
I enjoyed the concept of this book, I do wish it touched more on the trauma Thomas was experiencing and expanded on his personality more. He had been taken advantage of by Clara and by Mr. Santos, he had a near breakdown because of this but I feel like it didn’t have much explanation between the events occurred and his muteness. Becoming mute had obviously been from his traumas of the trip, but I feel like more could’ve been said about the tolls the traumas had taken on him instead of just “this and this happened, and now Thomas is mute.”. For example, when Thomas caught George with the young boy, he punches George, the story of his childhood is shared and it explains why he can’t work with moths, but doesn’t really touch on how traumatising that would be for a young child and how that would manifest for Thomas or the young boy. I feel like a slow descent into madness type of deal would have been fitting for a character like Thomas.
Many of the things Thomas experienced weren’t mentioned until halfway through the book which makes sense for the sake of a build-up but because it was so many occurrences in what was left of the book it felt almost anti-climatic. I otherwise enjoyed the writing of it and the style it’s written in, it alters between letters and journal entries in the rainforest to back in England after the expedition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2018
I'll avoid reiterating the premise of this book, since I assume most people here have already read the synopsis. I was pulled into this story in a way I didn’t expect, especially since I’ve grown fussier over the years and put down books over personal nitpicks.
King’s writing style is wonderful, and she does an amazing job building a creeping sense of danger, from an inconsequential remark made by another team member, to the first unfortunate event in the story. The characters are fleshed out. There is even detail put into characters that never appear and play no part in the actual plot. Not to the point of dredging the reader down with details, but rather creating a world that feels real and has real consequences. The friendships felt real. The way the characters reacted to one another felt real. The less pleasant characters still won my interest. And even when the pleasant characters were revealed to have done not so pleasant things, I worried on their behalf.
I was initially going to give this book 5 stars, but I'll admit the ending left me disappointed. An entire book of tension ultimately led to a brief chapter of tragedy that was promptly swept in favor of an undeserved resolution. I would have preferred the story to end of an unsettling note, something that lingers in my mind for the next few days. Instead, by the time I closed the book I had already removed myself from the story.
King’s writing style is wonderful, and she does an amazing job building a creeping sense of danger, from an inconsequential remark made by another team member, to the first unfortunate event in the story. The characters are fleshed out. There is even detail put into characters that never appear and play no part in the actual plot. Not to the point of dredging the reader down with details, but rather creating a world that feels real and has real consequences. The friendships felt real. The way the characters reacted to one another felt real. The less pleasant characters still won my interest. And even when the pleasant characters were revealed to have done not so pleasant things, I worried on their behalf.
I was initially going to give this book 5 stars, but I'll admit the ending left me disappointed. An entire book of tension ultimately led to a brief chapter of tragedy that was promptly swept in favor of an undeserved resolution. I would have preferred the story to end of an unsettling note, something that lingers in my mind for the next few days. Instead, by the time I closed the book I had already removed myself from the story.
October 8, 2019
In The Sound of Butterflies we follow Thomas Edgar, an amateur lepidopterist, joining a scientific expedition to the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in 1903-04. His ambition to find a very elusive species of butterfly is what drives Thomas into the wild & tropical setting of the Amazons... a journey that will take a great toll on his life, since he comes back to Richmond and Sophie, his wife, as a traumatized man, unwilling to speak even a single word to anyone. As Sophie tries to help Thomas recovering his speech, we read about his expedition, from Belem up to the rainforests of the Rio Negro region. We already know that at some point something terrible will happen, and this mystery is what pushes the reader on through the chapters, until the very end.
The novel is overall well paced and written, though I found that some graphic details (about sex & violence) could have been avoided as not really adding anything to the plot. The characters are well defined and varied and I really appreciated the historical background: the early XX-century Brazil when rubber barons could rule the Amazon. In a way through this read I was stimulated in learning more about this topic, and the author's note at the end of the novel was helpful as a starting point. I would recommend this novel to readers who love historical fiction set in the XIX or early XX century and are looking for something different from the usual love story set in Europe/USA.
The novel is overall well paced and written, though I found that some graphic details (about sex & violence) could have been avoided as not really adding anything to the plot. The characters are well defined and varied and I really appreciated the historical background: the early XX-century Brazil when rubber barons could rule the Amazon. In a way through this read I was stimulated in learning more about this topic, and the author's note at the end of the novel was helpful as a starting point. I would recommend this novel to readers who love historical fiction set in the XIX or early XX century and are looking for something different from the usual love story set in Europe/USA.
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