What do you think?
Rate this book
Butterfly Ranch
Tristan Griffin is a household name and the author of a universally popular detective series. For the past few years he has lived in self-exile in a remote jungle lodge nestled in the Mayan hills of Southern Belize, with his partner Hedda. The novel begins as he attempts suicide and Hedda disappears. Altamont Stanbury, an old Kriol police constable posted to the local backwater of San Antonio, rushes to the scene with his daughter Philomena, the village nurse.
Philomena saves Tristan but he remains unconscious. Altamont, a bumbler and long-time reader of crime novels, launches a half-hearted search for Hedda by radio but decides to remain at the lodge. In truth his reverence for Tristan the writer consumes all else, and he becomes obsessed with the Griffin books he finds at the lodge.
When Tristan comes to, he is distraught and at times delirious, haunted by flashbacks of his uncompromising, cursed love for Hedda and the dark secret behind her disappearance. His anger and increasingly erratic behavior only find respite in the presence of Altamont’s innocent daughter. But he feels nothing but spite for Altamont himself, and the relationship between the two threatens to have fatal consequences for one or both.
Butterfly Ranch is a story of obsessive love, self-destruction and unexpected redemption.
2018 Rubery Prize Fiction Winner
Philomena saves Tristan but he remains unconscious. Altamont, a bumbler and long-time reader of crime novels, launches a half-hearted search for Hedda by radio but decides to remain at the lodge. In truth his reverence for Tristan the writer consumes all else, and he becomes obsessed with the Griffin books he finds at the lodge.
When Tristan comes to, he is distraught and at times delirious, haunted by flashbacks of his uncompromising, cursed love for Hedda and the dark secret behind her disappearance. His anger and increasingly erratic behavior only find respite in the presence of Altamont’s innocent daughter. But he feels nothing but spite for Altamont himself, and the relationship between the two threatens to have fatal consequences for one or both.
Butterfly Ranch is a story of obsessive love, self-destruction and unexpected redemption.
2018 Rubery Prize Fiction Winner
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2017
3 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
R.K. Salters
1 book3 followersRK Salters was born in Paris to an Irish émigré father and French mother. He is himself an exile, currently living in Lithuania, where he earlier met his future wife while exploring the collapsing Soviet Union. He is a passionate traveller and an expedition in Belizean jungles provided the setting for Butterfly Ranch, his first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 27, 2018
A thoroughly interesting novel set in the southern part of Belize in Central America. A famous crime writer has bought up land in the secluded jungle, close to the small community of San Antonio. Not a lot is known of the novelist and his younger partner as they keep themselves very much to themselves. They own a lodge and the land which used to serve as a Butterfly farm. Now, and seemingly quite antisocial they want to live alone with little interaction with the local inhabitants or the wider world. As the novel develops the partner Hedda is seen as the recluse and it is Tristan Griffin who has bowed to her wishes.
The counterpoint to this couple is Altamont Stanbury a bumbling,but by the book police officer, whose career has stalled and he is spending his last years before retirement in this crime averse village. He spends most of his days reading crime fiction and dreaming of his detective skills in such stories.
Life throws Griffin and Stanbury together when it is reported that the writer lies dead up on his ranch.
With little experience and ill equipped from a medical standpoint he seeks the local woman who cleans for the couple to take him to the property. He is accompanied by his youngest daughter Philomena who is training to be a nurse and the designated medical volunteer in the area to assist in such matters.
What transpires is a classic scenario of a group of strangers trapped in a closed setting; unable to get immediate assistance and forced to work of the cuff and make do in trying circumstances.
Philomena is much brighter than her father and her training goes a long way to save Griffin’s life. The mystery is further compounded by the fact Hedda is missing. A radio call for next of kin produces a mercy dash across the sea from Norway of Hedda’s twin sister who we quickly find is like chalk to Hedda’s cheese.
The tension mounts as no professional doctor can attend and ultimately they are all fighting for their lives when a hurricane is declared to be heading their way.
This would make a great play. The characters are well drawn and Stanbury is so irritating that you wonder who will want to kill him first. However he discharges his duty with great purpose and efficiency. He lacks interpersonal skills and cannot see Griffin, who it increasingly seems likely had a hand in Hedda’s disappearance as anything other than a noble figure.
Although the drama takes place in a confined property the novel goes off with several back stories which add colour and substance to the players stranded together.
I thoroughly enjoyed what I believe was a debut novel by this author and found it a unique twist on a dramatic set of ‘strangers’ coming to terms with their situation and isolation and never really understanding everyone’s motives or behaviour.
There are surprises throughout and it is a great book to read and loose yourself in.
The counterpoint to this couple is Altamont Stanbury a bumbling,but by the book police officer, whose career has stalled and he is spending his last years before retirement in this crime averse village. He spends most of his days reading crime fiction and dreaming of his detective skills in such stories.
Life throws Griffin and Stanbury together when it is reported that the writer lies dead up on his ranch.
With little experience and ill equipped from a medical standpoint he seeks the local woman who cleans for the couple to take him to the property. He is accompanied by his youngest daughter Philomena who is training to be a nurse and the designated medical volunteer in the area to assist in such matters.
What transpires is a classic scenario of a group of strangers trapped in a closed setting; unable to get immediate assistance and forced to work of the cuff and make do in trying circumstances.
Philomena is much brighter than her father and her training goes a long way to save Griffin’s life. The mystery is further compounded by the fact Hedda is missing. A radio call for next of kin produces a mercy dash across the sea from Norway of Hedda’s twin sister who we quickly find is like chalk to Hedda’s cheese.
The tension mounts as no professional doctor can attend and ultimately they are all fighting for their lives when a hurricane is declared to be heading their way.
This would make a great play. The characters are well drawn and Stanbury is so irritating that you wonder who will want to kill him first. However he discharges his duty with great purpose and efficiency. He lacks interpersonal skills and cannot see Griffin, who it increasingly seems likely had a hand in Hedda’s disappearance as anything other than a noble figure.
Although the drama takes place in a confined property the novel goes off with several back stories which add colour and substance to the players stranded together.
I thoroughly enjoyed what I believe was a debut novel by this author and found it a unique twist on a dramatic set of ‘strangers’ coming to terms with their situation and isolation and never really understanding everyone’s motives or behaviour.
There are surprises throughout and it is a great book to read and loose yourself in.
May 29, 2021
Trys su puse.
Reikėjo knygos siužetą atiduoti personažui, kurio autorius visai nenorėjo daryt pagrindiniu ir kurio, paskaitęs knygos anotaciją visai nesitiki tiek daug sutikt.
Bet labai gražiai išversta, tad, net jei ir pavelta struktūra knygos, kažkaip visai maloniai susiskaitė.
https://knyguziurkes.com/2021/05/29/d...
Reikėjo knygos siužetą atiduoti personažui, kurio autorius visai nenorėjo daryt pagrindiniu ir kurio, paskaitęs knygos anotaciją visai nesitiki tiek daug sutikt.
Bet labai gražiai išversta, tad, net jei ir pavelta struktūra knygos, kažkaip visai maloniai susiskaitė.
https://knyguziurkes.com/2021/05/29/d...
September 8, 2021
5* su geru avansu, nes:
1. prieš tai dvi skaitytos knygos buvo DNF, tai jau buvau išsiilgusi knygos, kurią galima skaityti;
2. labai gražiai parašyta arba ypatingai gražiai išversta;
3. patiko, kad nemažai nutylėta, yra ką veikti skaitytojo vaizduotei, paanalizuoti irgi yra ką;
4. netikėta pabaiga irgi pliusas.
Šiaip tai turbūt labiau 4*, bet tebūnie + už tai, kad autorius gyvena Lietuvoj su žmona lietuve :)
1. prieš tai dvi skaitytos knygos buvo DNF, tai jau buvau išsiilgusi knygos, kurią galima skaityti;
2. labai gražiai parašyta arba ypatingai gražiai išversta;
3. patiko, kad nemažai nutylėta, yra ką veikti skaitytojo vaizduotei, paanalizuoti irgi yra ką;
4. netikėta pabaiga irgi pliusas.
Šiaip tai turbūt labiau 4*, bet tebūnie + už tai, kad autorius gyvena Lietuvoj su žmona lietuve :)
March 23, 2022
Lengvas romanas, kuriame aprašyta ne tokia jau ir lengva meilės istorija. Du įsimylėjėliai atsikelia į mažą rojaus kampelį, kur gamta labai mažai paliesta žmogaus rankų, buvusioje drugių fermoje įsikuria ir gyvena. Mažai matomi, mažai bendraujantys mažai turi draugų dar mažiau turi priešų. Ir vieną dieną ištinka skaudi nelaimė moteris dingusi, o vyras ant mirties slenksčio ir niekas nenutuokia kas įvyko.
Kas įvyko gamtos apsuptyje? Ar konsteblis Altamontas ras dingusiąją ir ar pavyks išgelbėti vyro gyvybę. Gal ne viskas taip paprasta kaip atrodo, ir paslapčių šleifas nesibaigs tol kol bus gyvų jos saugotojų...
Kas įvyko gamtos apsuptyje? Ar konsteblis Altamontas ras dingusiąją ir ar pavyks išgelbėti vyro gyvybę. Gal ne viskas taip paprasta kaip atrodo, ir paslapčių šleifas nesibaigs tol kol bus gyvų jos saugotojų...
June 24, 2018
The Butterfly Ranch is a real gem of a find. A treasure trove of atmospheric setting, strange characters and some pretty spot on writing that draws you right in to the heart of the book.
Altamont Stanbury is a Kriol police constable in the small backwater of San Antonio, in the Mayan jungle, where nothing much ever really happens. He spends his days locked in his office, reading and sometimes re-reading detective novels. When he re-reads them he looks for clues he had missed first time round and spends a lot of thought on working out how to detect these crimes efficiently. Locked in his drawer he has a pistol he has never used; a pistol that recently replaced the last pistol he never used.
Surrounded by cacao plantations farmed by Mopan Mayan farmers and the rainforests of Belize, the air is full of the sound of birds, insects and animals and the vegetation in the forests fills the warm damp air with both signs of life and rotten decay.
Altamont and his wife Dee moved from the coastal town of Punto Gorda in the expectation that this was a path to Altamont’s promotion, but that never materialised. Their youngest daughter, Philomena is training to be a nurse and already is the unofficial medic in the area. Altamont and his daughter have an interesting relationship. He calls her Miss and she calls him Sir, but of the two, it turns out to be Philomena who has the stronger authority. Where he is bumbling and somewhat comical, she is intelligent and assured, it is clear that she respects him, but she also has a will of her own.
Things in San Antonio change one day when out of the forest a gas delivery man comes to report a dead body of a ‘Britisher’ up at the peak of the mountain at Butterfly Ranch. The British couple who live at the ranch are known to the villagers, this is where they buy their supplies, but otherwise they stay in splendid isolation; keeping entirely to themselves, save for a local woman, Emiliana Cho, who travels up to housekeep for them 3 days a week.
Tristan Griffin and his partner Hedda live off the proceeds of Tristan’s respectably known detective novels, but not much more is known about the couple. What we come to learn of them is told in flashbacks and from the recollections of Hedda’s twin sister, Grethe Johansen.
When Altamont and his daughter Philomena arrive at the ranch they discover Tristan Griffin, not dead, but lying on the floor after taking an overdose of diazepam. There is no trace of Hedda anywhere. With Tristan too ill to be moved, Altamont and Philomena have no choice but to stay at the ranch and hope that Philomena’s nursing will be able to get him fit to travel.
Altamont uses the radio to ask the police station to get word out that Hedda is missing, but eventually all that comes back is word that Hedda’s sister, Grethe, is on her way to them from her home in Norway, but there is no trace of Hedda anywhere.
In the midst of what is about to become a hurricane, this is a highly charged atmosphere in which four people are stranded in a house with time to reflect on what may have happened and for the reader to understand the relationship between Tristan and Hedda.
For this is in many ways an anthem to doomed love. Amidst the heat and the heavy atmosphere, these two have countenanced no others, yet it has made neither of them truly happy. As we learn more of their relationship, it becomes clear that this was always going to be a traumatic pairing, albeit one with real depth and passion.
A story of love, pain, loss and tragedy, this novel is both dramatic and almost operatic in its setting and plot line. In fact, it would make a fine opera, requiring only a sparse libretto with lots of bass and drums, thunder and lightning.
The writing is really very good and though you can’t honestly say that any of the characters are likeable, save perhaps for Philomena, they certainly stand out as real people.
Verdict: a fascinating read and writing that pulls you in.
Altamont Stanbury is a Kriol police constable in the small backwater of San Antonio, in the Mayan jungle, where nothing much ever really happens. He spends his days locked in his office, reading and sometimes re-reading detective novels. When he re-reads them he looks for clues he had missed first time round and spends a lot of thought on working out how to detect these crimes efficiently. Locked in his drawer he has a pistol he has never used; a pistol that recently replaced the last pistol he never used.
Surrounded by cacao plantations farmed by Mopan Mayan farmers and the rainforests of Belize, the air is full of the sound of birds, insects and animals and the vegetation in the forests fills the warm damp air with both signs of life and rotten decay.
Altamont and his wife Dee moved from the coastal town of Punto Gorda in the expectation that this was a path to Altamont’s promotion, but that never materialised. Their youngest daughter, Philomena is training to be a nurse and already is the unofficial medic in the area. Altamont and his daughter have an interesting relationship. He calls her Miss and she calls him Sir, but of the two, it turns out to be Philomena who has the stronger authority. Where he is bumbling and somewhat comical, she is intelligent and assured, it is clear that she respects him, but she also has a will of her own.
Things in San Antonio change one day when out of the forest a gas delivery man comes to report a dead body of a ‘Britisher’ up at the peak of the mountain at Butterfly Ranch. The British couple who live at the ranch are known to the villagers, this is where they buy their supplies, but otherwise they stay in splendid isolation; keeping entirely to themselves, save for a local woman, Emiliana Cho, who travels up to housekeep for them 3 days a week.
Tristan Griffin and his partner Hedda live off the proceeds of Tristan’s respectably known detective novels, but not much more is known about the couple. What we come to learn of them is told in flashbacks and from the recollections of Hedda’s twin sister, Grethe Johansen.
When Altamont and his daughter Philomena arrive at the ranch they discover Tristan Griffin, not dead, but lying on the floor after taking an overdose of diazepam. There is no trace of Hedda anywhere. With Tristan too ill to be moved, Altamont and Philomena have no choice but to stay at the ranch and hope that Philomena’s nursing will be able to get him fit to travel.
Altamont uses the radio to ask the police station to get word out that Hedda is missing, but eventually all that comes back is word that Hedda’s sister, Grethe, is on her way to them from her home in Norway, but there is no trace of Hedda anywhere.
In the midst of what is about to become a hurricane, this is a highly charged atmosphere in which four people are stranded in a house with time to reflect on what may have happened and for the reader to understand the relationship between Tristan and Hedda.
For this is in many ways an anthem to doomed love. Amidst the heat and the heavy atmosphere, these two have countenanced no others, yet it has made neither of them truly happy. As we learn more of their relationship, it becomes clear that this was always going to be a traumatic pairing, albeit one with real depth and passion.
A story of love, pain, loss and tragedy, this novel is both dramatic and almost operatic in its setting and plot line. In fact, it would make a fine opera, requiring only a sparse libretto with lots of bass and drums, thunder and lightning.
The writing is really very good and though you can’t honestly say that any of the characters are likeable, save perhaps for Philomena, they certainly stand out as real people.
Verdict: a fascinating read and writing that pulls you in.
June 29, 2018
From the blurb of this book, you might be forgiven for thinking it is a straight-forward thriller, albeit it set in an exotic part of the world not much used for that type of novel, but you would be wrong. Although with a dramatic mystery at its heart, Butterfly Ranch is so much more and I was astonished to discover that this is a debut by the author.
For me, reading this book is a little like walking through someone else’s dream. A jumble of current events interwoven with flashbacks which tell the story of the mystery happening in the present with regard to the missing Hedda, whilst simultaneously slowly unveiling the history of Hedda and Tristan’s turbulent relationship. The melange unfolds in a disconnected way which added to the air of unreality which permeated the book and I truly was taken out of myself and the every day world which I inhabit whilst I was reading it, not just to another country but also to a slightly altered mental state. (I’m not sure if I have explained that very well. I was reading it late at night!)
The setting of the isolated, decrepit ranch in the dense, stifling jungle of Belize, combined with the repressive atmosphere preceding the imminent hurricane gave the novel a tense, oppressive, almost dangerous mood which enhanced the tension of the thriller aspect of the book and kept me feeling on edge throughout, which I find a positive trait in a thriller novel (although not in life!). The author does a wonderful job of bringing the book’s setting to life, his descriptions are evocative and richly drawn, the world is really vivid and immersive.
There is a small cast of characters, which allows us to get to know them intimately over the course of the book. The bored and bumbling PC who is obsessed with crime novels and is more concerned with discussing Tristan’s work than solving the mystery of the missing Hedda. His daughter, Philomena, only semi-trained but already more dynamic and assured that her father will ever be, seeing him through new eyes as the situation unfolds and she has to take charge. Hedda’s sister and her complicated feelings about her relationship with her missing twin. All are explored in depth, along with the central relationship between Tristan and the missing Hedda; they all really jump off the page as real, flawed, interesting, but not necessarily likeable, characters. This book focuses a lot on family dynamics and how complicated and shifting these can be. The book also deals with complex issues of mental illness, self harm and destructive relationships.
The pace of the book is leisurely and languorous, unveiling the mystery slowly and with consideration – it is definitely not fast paced and action-packed – but this perfectly mirrors the sultry, tropical setting and the inch by inch exploration and revelation of the background emotions and events. This is not a book of quick, cheap thrills, but rewards a more cerebral and considered examination. It is not at all what I was expecting, but it was extremely rewarding to read and it is a novel that will linger in my mind and which I will mull over for some time to come.
For me, reading this book is a little like walking through someone else’s dream. A jumble of current events interwoven with flashbacks which tell the story of the mystery happening in the present with regard to the missing Hedda, whilst simultaneously slowly unveiling the history of Hedda and Tristan’s turbulent relationship. The melange unfolds in a disconnected way which added to the air of unreality which permeated the book and I truly was taken out of myself and the every day world which I inhabit whilst I was reading it, not just to another country but also to a slightly altered mental state. (I’m not sure if I have explained that very well. I was reading it late at night!)
The setting of the isolated, decrepit ranch in the dense, stifling jungle of Belize, combined with the repressive atmosphere preceding the imminent hurricane gave the novel a tense, oppressive, almost dangerous mood which enhanced the tension of the thriller aspect of the book and kept me feeling on edge throughout, which I find a positive trait in a thriller novel (although not in life!). The author does a wonderful job of bringing the book’s setting to life, his descriptions are evocative and richly drawn, the world is really vivid and immersive.
There is a small cast of characters, which allows us to get to know them intimately over the course of the book. The bored and bumbling PC who is obsessed with crime novels and is more concerned with discussing Tristan’s work than solving the mystery of the missing Hedda. His daughter, Philomena, only semi-trained but already more dynamic and assured that her father will ever be, seeing him through new eyes as the situation unfolds and she has to take charge. Hedda’s sister and her complicated feelings about her relationship with her missing twin. All are explored in depth, along with the central relationship between Tristan and the missing Hedda; they all really jump off the page as real, flawed, interesting, but not necessarily likeable, characters. This book focuses a lot on family dynamics and how complicated and shifting these can be. The book also deals with complex issues of mental illness, self harm and destructive relationships.
The pace of the book is leisurely and languorous, unveiling the mystery slowly and with consideration – it is definitely not fast paced and action-packed – but this perfectly mirrors the sultry, tropical setting and the inch by inch exploration and revelation of the background emotions and events. This is not a book of quick, cheap thrills, but rewards a more cerebral and considered examination. It is not at all what I was expecting, but it was extremely rewarding to read and it is a novel that will linger in my mind and which I will mull over for some time to come.
December 18, 2021
Keistas ir siužetas. Kaip ir viskas įdomu. Džiunglės, gamtos stichijos, keisti gyventojai, keisti įvykiai. Žmogžudystė. Arba nelaimingas atsitikimas. Aiškinsis policija. Bet detektyvu knygą pavadinti sunkoka. O jei ir tektų pavadinti, tai būtų ganėtinai prastas detektyvas. Taigi pavadinkime ją romanu, kurio veiksmas vyksta egzotiškoje vietoje.
Ir pabaiga. Kažkokia keistai netikėta, tarsi koks saulės spindulėlis prasiskverbęs per nepermatomą džiunglių sieną. Bet tik patrūkčiojau pečiais. Kas čia buvo? Epilogas…
Tai kokie tie įspūdžiai? Keisti. Knyga ir tiek. Nei patiko, nei nepatiko.
www.kaskaityti.lt
Ir pabaiga. Kažkokia keistai netikėta, tarsi koks saulės spindulėlis prasiskverbęs per nepermatomą džiunglių sieną. Bet tik patrūkčiojau pečiais. Kas čia buvo? Epilogas…
Tai kokie tie įspūdžiai? Keisti. Knyga ir tiek. Nei patiko, nei nepatiko.
www.kaskaityti.lt
September 7, 2024
Ko tikėtis iš šios knygos? Detektyvo? Trilerio? Mistikos žanro? Kadangi knygos veiksmas vyksta Lotynų Amerikoje, gal reikėtų tikėtis Gabriel García Márquez ar Isabel Allende magiško realizmo?
Ne-a, jeigu tikitės pagal kažkokio žanro taisykles parašytos knygos, to negausit.
O kas, jeigu neturit išankstinių lūkesčių, jeigu nieko nesitikit? Jeigu paimat tą knygą atsitiktinai iš lentynos, be viršelio ir be aprašo?
Na, tuo atveju knyga yra: originali, vaizdinga, atmosferiška, įtraukianti, pilna labai savitų ir gražių palyginimų, labai melodingos kalbos, perkelianti į kitą pasaulį ir leidžianti jame pagyventi. Vienu žodžiu - puiki. Dviem žodžiais - labai puiki.
Žemas knygos reitingas atspindi nepataikytą auditoriją, nuviltus žanrinius lūkesčius. Žmonės gavo ne tai, ką tikėjosi. Kaip reikėtų apipavidalinti šią knygą, kaip ją reikėtų pozicionuoti, kad ji pasiektų savo tikslinį skaitytoją? Šito aš nežinau. Ją sunku įvardinti, sunku apibūdinti.
Iš esmės, autorius tiesiog nupiešia eilę labai savitų personažų. Knygos siužetas yra rišlus, bet neužima centrinės vietos. Centrinę vietą užima personažai. Kokie jie yra? Kaip jie elgiasi? Kas juos motyvuoja? Negalima būtų sakyti, kad kuris nors vienas iš jų yra pagrindinis:
1) Juodaodis Belizo užkampio miestelio policininkas Altamontas Stenberis, kuris, nežiūrint neturtingų gyvenimo aplinkybių ir menko išsilavinimo, su dideliu pasimėgavimu gyvena skaitomose detektyvinėse knygose;
2) Jo dukra Filomena - guvi, darbšti, pareiginga mergina; praktikantė, studijuojanti slaugės amatą; einanti į suaugusiųjų pasaulį, į savarankišką gyvenimą ir meilę;
3) Tristanas Grifinas - garsus detektyvinių romanų autorius, kartu su žmona pabėgęs nuo civilizacijos į nuošalią sodybą atogrąžų džiunglėse;
4) Labai mylima rašytojo žmona Heda, femme fatale serganti sunkiomis dvasios ligomis (egzistencinė tuštuma? depresija? savižudybės polinkiai?).
5) Jos dvynė sesuo Gretė, kuri vaikystėje buvo nepaprastai artima su savo seserimi, o po to visiškai nutolo.
6) Ir dar eilė smulkesnių personažų, kurie, nežiūrint savo smulkumo, kiekvienas turi aiškiai išreikštą charakterį: pragmatiška Altamonto žmona Di, kuri su vyru nugyveno 40 metų, nežiūrint labai skirtingo požiūrio į gyvenimą; vietinė patarnaujanti moteris Emiliana Čo, kaimo žiniuonė; policijos kapralas Ignasijus, Gretės vyras etc.
Aš ne kartą esu stebėjęsis Dostojevskio sugebėjimu sukurti dešimtis, šimtus personažų, kurių kiekvienas labai savitas, skirtingas, ir organiškai kalba ir elgiasi pagal savo taisykles. "Drugelių kalnas" knygoje autorius demonstruoja panašų - dostojevskišką sugebėjimą. Personažai atrodo visiškai nepriklausomi nuo autoriaus ir gyvena gyvenimus pagal savo logiką. Man asmeniškai mažiausiai patiko rašytojo ir jo žmonos personažai, nes dvasios ligos ir psichiniai sutrikimai reiškia, kad žmogus gali elgtis bile-kaip, ir todėl jie praranda nemažai to savitumo. Nežiūrint to, vis tiek - užskaitau.
O dar ką užskaitau ir giriu - tai nuostabius palyginimus, kuriais, tarsi cinamonu, pabarstyta visa knyga. Atsitiktinai versdamas puslapius užrašau kelis, tiesiog, kad pailiustruočiau:
... jis vos jos neparvertė, plonomis kaip stipinai rankomis ir kojomis apsivydamas pečius ir klubus...
... išsitraukė obuolį iš kišenės, nublizgino jį į kelnes kaip kriketo kamuoliuką ...
... namas pradėjo skambėti lyg porceliano parduotuvė ...
... demonai, kurie valdė jį gyvą, pasišalino, kartu pasiimdami ir jo gyvybę, kaip parazitai apleidžia nudžiūvusį medį ...
Būtų galima tokių pavyzdžių prirankioti šimtus.
O dar, ne kiekviename puslapyje, bet beveik kiekviename galima aptikti kalbos, kuri liejasi kaip muzika. Kaip būna su muzika, sunku net pasakyti, kodėl gražu, bet gražu. Vietomis ta kalba tokia vaizdinga, tokia savitai graži, kad skaitant net nubėgdavo šiurpuliukas per nugarą.
Apibendrinant: savita, labai gražiai parašyta, į kitą pasaulį perkelianti knyga su charakteringais personažais. Perskaičius jausmas toks, lyg būčiau praleidęs penkias valandas bendraudamas su labai įdomiu, daug ką pasakyti turinčiu žmogumi. (na ir nesantūriai čia pagyriau, bet tikrai negaila).
Ne-a, jeigu tikitės pagal kažkokio žanro taisykles parašytos knygos, to negausit.
O kas, jeigu neturit išankstinių lūkesčių, jeigu nieko nesitikit? Jeigu paimat tą knygą atsitiktinai iš lentynos, be viršelio ir be aprašo?
Na, tuo atveju knyga yra: originali, vaizdinga, atmosferiška, įtraukianti, pilna labai savitų ir gražių palyginimų, labai melodingos kalbos, perkelianti į kitą pasaulį ir leidžianti jame pagyventi. Vienu žodžiu - puiki. Dviem žodžiais - labai puiki.
Žemas knygos reitingas atspindi nepataikytą auditoriją, nuviltus žanrinius lūkesčius. Žmonės gavo ne tai, ką tikėjosi. Kaip reikėtų apipavidalinti šią knygą, kaip ją reikėtų pozicionuoti, kad ji pasiektų savo tikslinį skaitytoją? Šito aš nežinau. Ją sunku įvardinti, sunku apibūdinti.
Iš esmės, autorius tiesiog nupiešia eilę labai savitų personažų. Knygos siužetas yra rišlus, bet neužima centrinės vietos. Centrinę vietą užima personažai. Kokie jie yra? Kaip jie elgiasi? Kas juos motyvuoja? Negalima būtų sakyti, kad kuris nors vienas iš jų yra pagrindinis:
1) Juodaodis Belizo užkampio miestelio policininkas Altamontas Stenberis, kuris, nežiūrint neturtingų gyvenimo aplinkybių ir menko išsilavinimo, su dideliu pasimėgavimu gyvena skaitomose detektyvinėse knygose;
2) Jo dukra Filomena - guvi, darbšti, pareiginga mergina; praktikantė, studijuojanti slaugės amatą; einanti į suaugusiųjų pasaulį, į savarankišką gyvenimą ir meilę;
3) Tristanas Grifinas - garsus detektyvinių romanų autorius, kartu su žmona pabėgęs nuo civilizacijos į nuošalią sodybą atogrąžų džiunglėse;
4) Labai mylima rašytojo žmona Heda, femme fatale serganti sunkiomis dvasios ligomis (egzistencinė tuštuma? depresija? savižudybės polinkiai?).
5) Jos dvynė sesuo Gretė, kuri vaikystėje buvo nepaprastai artima su savo seserimi, o po to visiškai nutolo.
6) Ir dar eilė smulkesnių personažų, kurie, nežiūrint savo smulkumo, kiekvienas turi aiškiai išreikštą charakterį: pragmatiška Altamonto žmona Di, kuri su vyru nugyveno 40 metų, nežiūrint labai skirtingo požiūrio į gyvenimą; vietinė patarnaujanti moteris Emiliana Čo, kaimo žiniuonė; policijos kapralas Ignasijus, Gretės vyras etc.
Aš ne kartą esu stebėjęsis Dostojevskio sugebėjimu sukurti dešimtis, šimtus personažų, kurių kiekvienas labai savitas, skirtingas, ir organiškai kalba ir elgiasi pagal savo taisykles. "Drugelių kalnas" knygoje autorius demonstruoja panašų - dostojevskišką sugebėjimą. Personažai atrodo visiškai nepriklausomi nuo autoriaus ir gyvena gyvenimus pagal savo logiką. Man asmeniškai mažiausiai patiko rašytojo ir jo žmonos personažai, nes dvasios ligos ir psichiniai sutrikimai reiškia, kad žmogus gali elgtis bile-kaip, ir todėl jie praranda nemažai to savitumo. Nežiūrint to, vis tiek - užskaitau.
O dar ką užskaitau ir giriu - tai nuostabius palyginimus, kuriais, tarsi cinamonu, pabarstyta visa knyga. Atsitiktinai versdamas puslapius užrašau kelis, tiesiog, kad pailiustruočiau:
... jis vos jos neparvertė, plonomis kaip stipinai rankomis ir kojomis apsivydamas pečius ir klubus...
... išsitraukė obuolį iš kišenės, nublizgino jį į kelnes kaip kriketo kamuoliuką ...
... namas pradėjo skambėti lyg porceliano parduotuvė ...
... demonai, kurie valdė jį gyvą, pasišalino, kartu pasiimdami ir jo gyvybę, kaip parazitai apleidžia nudžiūvusį medį ...
Būtų galima tokių pavyzdžių prirankioti šimtus.
O dar, ne kiekviename puslapyje, bet beveik kiekviename galima aptikti kalbos, kuri liejasi kaip muzika. Kaip būna su muzika, sunku net pasakyti, kodėl gražu, bet gražu. Vietomis ta kalba tokia vaizdinga, tokia savitai graži, kad skaitant net nubėgdavo šiurpuliukas per nugarą.
Apibendrinant: savita, labai gražiai parašyta, į kitą pasaulį perkelianti knyga su charakteringais personažais. Perskaičius jausmas toks, lyg būčiau praleidęs penkias valandas bendraudamas su labai įdomiu, daug ką pasakyti turinčiu žmogumi. (na ir nesantūriai čia pagyriau, bet tikrai negaila).
March 5, 2018
A tropical tour de force
The story centres around a group of people thrown together by circumstances and by tragedy. Tristan Griffin is a famous crime writer living in a remote lodge (part of an old Butterfly Ranch) above the village of San Antonio in Belize, with his partner Hedda.
Altamont Stanbury is a police constable in the tiny village below, where there is little crime and he can indulge his passion for crime fiction.
Their lives come together when Griffin’s housekeeper alerts Stanbury to what looks like a suicide at the lodge; there is also a question mark surrounding Hedda who is missing. Village gossip immediately decides that Griffin has killed his partner and then killed himself.
This is more action than Altamont has had in his whole career and he gathers up his younger daughter, the efficient nursing student, Philomena, to investigate. On arrival, it is possible by means of a stomach pump to save Tristan, although he remains silent and traumatised. Heavy rain and an approaching hurricane mean that they are trapped at the lodge for several days, their only contact with the outside world is via a battered shortwave radio.
Although a crime novel, this beautifully written book is more than anything a story of life and tangled relationships. Altamont and Philomena affect a professional relationship, rather sweetly using the terms ‘Sir’ and ‘Miss’ when speaking to each other; she has no hesitation in asserting her authority in the sick room. With time on his hands and, prevented by the weather from carrying out a detailed search for the mysterious Hedda, her father finds himself able to read and to relish Griffin’s books.
The characterisations are brilliantly written and jump off the page; the honest but largely ineffectual Altamont is marvellous as the bumbling policeman, way out of his depth. Philomena is going to be a great nurse, perhaps even rising to Matron! A third character, Hedda’s twin sister, Grethe, is a calm Norwegian called upon to travel to Belize to help with any information she can provide to help trace Hedda. In time Tristan and Hedda’s characters emerge from Grethe’s backstory.
A real page-turner, I loved this book which, as a first novel is astonishing; in the writer’s insights and phrasing there is real maturity and a deep understanding of the human state. There must be more to come!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
The story centres around a group of people thrown together by circumstances and by tragedy. Tristan Griffin is a famous crime writer living in a remote lodge (part of an old Butterfly Ranch) above the village of San Antonio in Belize, with his partner Hedda.
Altamont Stanbury is a police constable in the tiny village below, where there is little crime and he can indulge his passion for crime fiction.
Their lives come together when Griffin’s housekeeper alerts Stanbury to what looks like a suicide at the lodge; there is also a question mark surrounding Hedda who is missing. Village gossip immediately decides that Griffin has killed his partner and then killed himself.
This is more action than Altamont has had in his whole career and he gathers up his younger daughter, the efficient nursing student, Philomena, to investigate. On arrival, it is possible by means of a stomach pump to save Tristan, although he remains silent and traumatised. Heavy rain and an approaching hurricane mean that they are trapped at the lodge for several days, their only contact with the outside world is via a battered shortwave radio.
Although a crime novel, this beautifully written book is more than anything a story of life and tangled relationships. Altamont and Philomena affect a professional relationship, rather sweetly using the terms ‘Sir’ and ‘Miss’ when speaking to each other; she has no hesitation in asserting her authority in the sick room. With time on his hands and, prevented by the weather from carrying out a detailed search for the mysterious Hedda, her father finds himself able to read and to relish Griffin’s books.
The characterisations are brilliantly written and jump off the page; the honest but largely ineffectual Altamont is marvellous as the bumbling policeman, way out of his depth. Philomena is going to be a great nurse, perhaps even rising to Matron! A third character, Hedda’s twin sister, Grethe, is a calm Norwegian called upon to travel to Belize to help with any information she can provide to help trace Hedda. In time Tristan and Hedda’s characters emerge from Grethe’s backstory.
A real page-turner, I loved this book which, as a first novel is astonishing; in the writer’s insights and phrasing there is real maturity and a deep understanding of the human state. There must be more to come!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
June 25, 2018
Butterfly Ranch completely surpassed my expectations. Yes, there’s a mystery at the heart of this novel but to categorise it as a ‘mystery novel’ would be to miss so much because it’s also a drama, a romance, an exploration of sibling relationships, a thriller and a meditation on mental illness, loss and grief. Most of all however, it’s a beautifully written literary debut. Lush and vivid, the writing drew me in from the very first page with its evocative description of the Belizean forest and the strange, claustrophobic, fever-dream world of disturbed author Tristan Griffin and his troubled partner Hedda. Complex and varied, the novel revolves around a disparate group of characters, thrown together through tragic circumstance. It’s a classic trope of a mystery, but played for very different effect here.
At a little over 200 pages, Butterfly Ranch is a slender novel, but it packs a lot in and comes with an emotional punch. Touching on issues of self-harm, suicide, loss, responsibility, expectation, family and childbirth, there are times when it could risk feeling too dense. But somehow, the flowing prose manages to wear the complex plot lightly, revealing itself gradually until the whole picture is formed – like one of those time-lapse videos of an artwork in progress. It gives the novel a page-turning quality not always found in literary-fiction, yet retains a stately prose that is masterfully controlled.
By turns challenging and entertaining, Butterfly Ranch is a literary mystery complete with a tautness of plot and character, deftly woven together with taut, controlled prose. It’s an astonishingly accomplished debut and, whilst the claustrophobic, subdued atmosphere and gentle pacing won’t be for everyone, patient readers will find much to enjoy here. Think about it for too long and you’ll tie yourself up in knots but if you let Butterfly Ranch tell its intricately constructed story at its own pace, you’ll be well rewarded.
This is an edited version of a post that appeared as part of the Butterfly Ranch blog tour on my blog theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com. My thanks go to the author for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
At a little over 200 pages, Butterfly Ranch is a slender novel, but it packs a lot in and comes with an emotional punch. Touching on issues of self-harm, suicide, loss, responsibility, expectation, family and childbirth, there are times when it could risk feeling too dense. But somehow, the flowing prose manages to wear the complex plot lightly, revealing itself gradually until the whole picture is formed – like one of those time-lapse videos of an artwork in progress. It gives the novel a page-turning quality not always found in literary-fiction, yet retains a stately prose that is masterfully controlled.
By turns challenging and entertaining, Butterfly Ranch is a literary mystery complete with a tautness of plot and character, deftly woven together with taut, controlled prose. It’s an astonishingly accomplished debut and, whilst the claustrophobic, subdued atmosphere and gentle pacing won’t be for everyone, patient readers will find much to enjoy here. Think about it for too long and you’ll tie yourself up in knots but if you let Butterfly Ranch tell its intricately constructed story at its own pace, you’ll be well rewarded.
This is an edited version of a post that appeared as part of the Butterfly Ranch blog tour on my blog theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com. My thanks go to the author for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
September 18, 2018
I am very curious. Is this really a story that will make me return to South America, involving several characters, and a life full of mystery. No need to spend a lot of time. From the beginning I was exposed to how RK Salters wrote this story.
Stanbury Altamont was introduced as a protagonist. A police officer who is waiting for a sign and is impressed that he is really useful for this criminal story. His job in the city of San Antonio which has the impression of calm and peace does not seem very striking. I don’t like it a bit because he doesn’t really care about his wife. Then the story becomes more complete with the presence of Philomena, daughter of Altamont Stanbury.
Obviously this story began when Hedda disappeared and Tristan Griffin committed suicide. Now Altamont really has a strong role. Griffin who was unconscious made a story like a shadow. Then why is Altamont told as a fan of Griffin’s books? However, this part made me fall in love with the story. There was a police officer who should work hard to solve the mystery, but instead read all of Griffin’s books casually.
I waited for Altamont to do something and it also frustrated me. Fortunately there is Philomena. Her job as a village nurse was really well described. A character who has great responsibility and also common sense. Very attentive to all patients and their environment.
While readers will surely be curious as to what the character of Tristan Griffin is. If I can be honest, actually he is not a character that I like. He is very selfish, controls all the stories and stories behind the mystery and hmmm, … “he is the evil one”
Behind all these stories I would like to express my appreciation for RK Salters. I am really happy with characters who have the same roles and interests in this story. Behind the story of disappearing from the social environment there must be some beauty. All the grooves, characters and beauty in this story are like erasing the impression of mystery.
Dramatic, Tense and Perfect.
I say “Thank you” for the copy of this story to Troubador Publishing Limited, Matador, RK Salters and NetGalley.
Stanbury Altamont was introduced as a protagonist. A police officer who is waiting for a sign and is impressed that he is really useful for this criminal story. His job in the city of San Antonio which has the impression of calm and peace does not seem very striking. I don’t like it a bit because he doesn’t really care about his wife. Then the story becomes more complete with the presence of Philomena, daughter of Altamont Stanbury.
Obviously this story began when Hedda disappeared and Tristan Griffin committed suicide. Now Altamont really has a strong role. Griffin who was unconscious made a story like a shadow. Then why is Altamont told as a fan of Griffin’s books? However, this part made me fall in love with the story. There was a police officer who should work hard to solve the mystery, but instead read all of Griffin’s books casually.
I waited for Altamont to do something and it also frustrated me. Fortunately there is Philomena. Her job as a village nurse was really well described. A character who has great responsibility and also common sense. Very attentive to all patients and their environment.
While readers will surely be curious as to what the character of Tristan Griffin is. If I can be honest, actually he is not a character that I like. He is very selfish, controls all the stories and stories behind the mystery and hmmm, … “he is the evil one”
Behind all these stories I would like to express my appreciation for RK Salters. I am really happy with characters who have the same roles and interests in this story. Behind the story of disappearing from the social environment there must be some beauty. All the grooves, characters and beauty in this story are like erasing the impression of mystery.
Dramatic, Tense and Perfect.
I say “Thank you” for the copy of this story to Troubador Publishing Limited, Matador, RK Salters and NetGalley.
June 28, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Butterfly Ranch before I started reading. As I got drawn into the exquisite writing my mind just flowed to the pace of the action. The more I understood about the contents the deeper the realisation of the cover illustration became, that alone is an absolute delight of genius.
Set in Southern Belize added to the dank, darkness of what could be described as a thriller or mystery. It is very hard to determine what genre this could be. It delivers a wide range of emotions, while I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters individually as a whole they formed an intricate web of intrigue. A mix of trigger warnings could be raised if that way inclined, death, loss, suicide and mental illness but it is all necessary in the context of the story.
While not an overly long book it packs a huge amount of content in that requires a lot of attention to grasp the details and understand what the consequences are for each person.
I really enjoyed Butterfly Ranch a lot more than I thought I would, the further you read and become invested in the events of each character the more you want to read. I think to fully comprehend and get the ultimate enjoyment, this book requires reading again so with the foresight of what is happening you can pick up the finer intricacies.
As a debut novel this is an extraordinary work of art. I will certainly keep my eyes pen for what comes next from this author.
My thanks to the author, publisher and Random Things Tours for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Set in Southern Belize added to the dank, darkness of what could be described as a thriller or mystery. It is very hard to determine what genre this could be. It delivers a wide range of emotions, while I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters individually as a whole they formed an intricate web of intrigue. A mix of trigger warnings could be raised if that way inclined, death, loss, suicide and mental illness but it is all necessary in the context of the story.
While not an overly long book it packs a huge amount of content in that requires a lot of attention to grasp the details and understand what the consequences are for each person.
I really enjoyed Butterfly Ranch a lot more than I thought I would, the further you read and become invested in the events of each character the more you want to read. I think to fully comprehend and get the ultimate enjoyment, this book requires reading again so with the foresight of what is happening you can pick up the finer intricacies.
As a debut novel this is an extraordinary work of art. I will certainly keep my eyes pen for what comes next from this author.
My thanks to the author, publisher and Random Things Tours for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
July 27, 2018
Rubery Prize Fiction Winner 2018
An unusual crime novel set in Belize, focusing on the strange relationship between a crime novelist, Tristan, and his partner Hedda. The mystery is established very effectively, with the arrival of Altamont, the local constable, and his daughter at Tristan’s remote ranch. Tristan has apparently attempted suicide and Hedda is missing, but as Tristan slowly recovers, the mystery deepens. There is much subtlety in the development of the characters. The arrival of Hedda’s Norwegian sister nicely augments the emotional impact of Hedda’s absence and what we eventually learn of her fate. Altamont is delineated with skill – he seems to be more obsessed with reading Tristan’s detective stories than solving the mystery - and his slightly bumbling nature is endearing. The contrast between generations is shown by his daughter’s energy and competence against his apparent laziness. The landscape is rendered vividly, and the prose is pleasingly textured, with language that ranges from beautifully descriptive to uncomfortably realistic. Everyone’s lives are dictated by nature, which demands a flexible rhythm in the lives of people who have little in a material sense. A taut, suspenseful, and thoroughly absorbing book. It can be read as a straightforward mystery novel but is concerned with the extent to which environment shapes people’s lives.
An unusual crime novel set in Belize, focusing on the strange relationship between a crime novelist, Tristan, and his partner Hedda. The mystery is established very effectively, with the arrival of Altamont, the local constable, and his daughter at Tristan’s remote ranch. Tristan has apparently attempted suicide and Hedda is missing, but as Tristan slowly recovers, the mystery deepens. There is much subtlety in the development of the characters. The arrival of Hedda’s Norwegian sister nicely augments the emotional impact of Hedda’s absence and what we eventually learn of her fate. Altamont is delineated with skill – he seems to be more obsessed with reading Tristan’s detective stories than solving the mystery - and his slightly bumbling nature is endearing. The contrast between generations is shown by his daughter’s energy and competence against his apparent laziness. The landscape is rendered vividly, and the prose is pleasingly textured, with language that ranges from beautifully descriptive to uncomfortably realistic. Everyone’s lives are dictated by nature, which demands a flexible rhythm in the lives of people who have little in a material sense. A taut, suspenseful, and thoroughly absorbing book. It can be read as a straightforward mystery novel but is concerned with the extent to which environment shapes people’s lives.
February 28, 2023
Knygoje atsiskleidžia gyvenimas Belize, gamta, žmonių kasdienis skurdus ir gana atsilikęs gyvenimas. Pati siužetinė linija gal ir būtų įdomesnė, lyg ir bandyta sukurti įdomius pagrindinius personažus, bet pritrūkau gilesnio jų panagrinėjimo, nuslysta istorija pernelyg į antro plano personažus, todėl lyg ir nebelieka kada pasigilinti į pagrindinius, kurie lyg ir visai įdomūs, neįprasti ir turintys gilių patirčių, bet jos knygoje neatsiskleidžia.
March 10, 2018
This was a great book and I should have put aside the other one I was reading to give it justice. I will read it again when I have more time because I believe the characters and the story deserve more time than I gave them.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
July 11, 2018
Butterfly Ranch by RK Salters has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
"A great read – tightly plotted with well-defined, individual characters. The heat and stifling atmosphere was well depicted."
Pauline Barclay
Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
www.chillwithabook.com
"A great read – tightly plotted with well-defined, individual characters. The heat and stifling atmosphere was well depicted."
Pauline Barclay
Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
May 22, 2021
Vau. Labai stipri, ne kiekvienam. Apie traumuojančias patirtis ir skirtingus žmonių pasirinkimus, kaip tvarkytis su jomis.
January 16, 2022
“Raktuose įlydyta nuosavybė. Tik iš raktų gali skirti savininką nuo pašaliečio.”
February 26, 2023
Labai keista, klampi knyga. Tikėjausi kažkokių džiunglių pavojų ar dar kažko, kas buvo priešingai. Susiskaitė, bet sunkiai. Kažkaip neatitiko mano skaitomų knygų stiliaus, dėl to vertinu 3⭐️.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2024
Lengvai skaitėsi, bet nepatiko.
August 8, 2024
<...> "Kaip miręs žmogus gali atnešti gyvybę? Kad turėtų vaiką, Hedai reikės gimdyti du kartus - pirmiausia save, paskui savo kūdikį." <...>
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2019
It’s so peaceful in San Antonio that Altamont Stanbury, a police constable, spends more time reading detective novels than solving crimes. So when news comes of a possible death at Butterfly Ranch, deep in the forest, he collects his daughter Philomena, a student nurse who functions as the town’s health service, and goes to investigate. That this is the home of the reclusive Britisher and author of the Prospero murder mysteries, Tristan Griffin, adds to the excitement.
Full review
More than your standard murder mystery: The Capital & Butterfly Ranch https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post...
Full review
More than your standard murder mystery: The Capital & Butterfly Ranch https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post...
July 5, 2022
I read this for my international mystery/thriller challenge. I had a feeling it wasn't going to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller, and it wasn't. It wasn't meant to be. There's an ongoing 'what happened to...?' running throughout the book, which helps to keep the storyline moving along. The book is more about complex relationships than about the mystery, however, and that is delivered quite well. There is a small cast of characters (a good thing), though none of them is especially memorable, and the ending is a bit feeble. The setting in Belize is beautifully drawn (you can feel the heat and hear the jungle sounds at night), and so that ticked my box for 'learning something about the country' in my reading challenge. Overall, an enjoyable read without being top of the pile.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews