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Chasing Butterflies: The True Story of a Daughter of 9/11
Ashley Bisman was in a high school history class the morning of September 11, 2001 when students whispered of planes crashing, fire, and terrorists. She bolted from her seat, sprinting through narrow school hallways leading to the main office. A television on the wall broadcast flames bursting from the skyscrapers, and her body went numb: Her father worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1, and instinctively she knew she would never see him alive again. Jeff Goldflam was not found. The only surviving article discovered in the devastation was his credit card.
Chasing Butterflies, among the first published memoirs of a child of 9/11, is both Bisman's love letter to her father and the story of how a teen, and then a young adult, struggled to retain what had been her "normal" life prior to the attacks. It also recounts Bisman's fight to define herself, resisting society's inclination to simply profile her as a World Trade Center victim.
As a grown woman, Bisman searches for success and love in the very city where her father was killed. Her quest to find a meaningful relationship--dating faux pas, cocktails, and girls' nights out--leads her downtown to the very place she swore she'd never set foot in again. Would it still be possible to create a life and legacy that would make her father proud?
Chasing Butterflies, among the first published memoirs of a child of 9/11, is both Bisman's love letter to her father and the story of how a teen, and then a young adult, struggled to retain what had been her "normal" life prior to the attacks. It also recounts Bisman's fight to define herself, resisting society's inclination to simply profile her as a World Trade Center victim.
As a grown woman, Bisman searches for success and love in the very city where her father was killed. Her quest to find a meaningful relationship--dating faux pas, cocktails, and girls' nights out--leads her downtown to the very place she swore she'd never set foot in again. Would it still be possible to create a life and legacy that would make her father proud?
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
287 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2021
49 people are currently reading
2708 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Bisman
1 book17 followersCheck out my blog, Blogging with Butterflies at www.ashleybisman.com
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 4, 2021
This book hit close to home for many reasons, and it is so relatable, honest and "modern" for lack of a better word. Being in your 20's and dating around a big city is something most people (read: millennials) can relate to. The integration of Ashley dealing with her fathers death adds a layer of heartbreak, but also resilience and strength, that make this story so great!
July 8, 2021
Add another star if you are a Millennial. This is a poignant memoir written by a woman who, when a teenager, lost her father, tragically, on 9/11. She tenderly shares how she and her family attempt to find normalcy after their tremendous and shocking loss. It is a story of resiliency and recovery. Bisman’s writing is descriptive and alluring. In beautiful prose she shares how love, strength and family overcome loss. Join her on her journey. It will be a rewarding trip.
June 25, 2021
I loved everything about this book and the amazing, strong willed, beautiful person who wrote it. Ashley is a true inspiration to anyone that you can overcome life's hardships and achieve your own happy ending. You will laugh, cry and feel like you are a part of her life, every step of the way. Love you so much Ash and so proud of you!
July 14, 2021
I laughed! I cried! What a beautiful way of weaving memories with her father with the struggles of dating in NYC--a struggle I'm all too familiar with! So relatable, and so well written. Would recommend this book to everyone!
August 5, 2021
Highly recommend! Incredible balance of emotion- laughs, tears- this book has it all!
November 19, 2021
I read this book in ONE DAY and I don’t do that.
For background - I’m a few years younger than the author and grew up 20 minutes away from her. 9/11 will always hit home for me but as I get older each year I make a concerted effort to learn more about that day weather it be taking a deep dive knowledge wise into a company like Cantor Fitzgerald, Sandler O’Neill or learning about certain heroic fireman and/or NYPD from that day. This year I took a deep dive into Ashley Bisman and her story.
Saying that I LOVED this book doesn’t do it justice. Disclaimer if you are anything like me there will be multiple times where this book makes you cry. Following Ashley from high school on the day of 9/11, to college, being in your 20s in Manhattan as she navigates her career, love and loss I felt like I was talking with one of my best friends. This book really hits home for any young girl living in a major city who wants to be the best version of herself but also make her family and friends proud of how she chooses to her live her life. Living in New York Ashley experiences the highest of highs and the lowest of lows with a quick pit stop in Boston in between. She also does a wonderful job at taking us back to these defining moments in her life and how she feels In each moment in such an authentic way. I don’t want to give too much away…
By the end of the book I felt like she could of been one of my best friends and I would have a glass of Pinot noir ready for her at girls night.
I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next!
Ashley thank you for sharing your story ♥️ Im currently trying to make more of my friends read it so selfishly I have more people to talk to about this amazing book.
For background - I’m a few years younger than the author and grew up 20 minutes away from her. 9/11 will always hit home for me but as I get older each year I make a concerted effort to learn more about that day weather it be taking a deep dive knowledge wise into a company like Cantor Fitzgerald, Sandler O’Neill or learning about certain heroic fireman and/or NYPD from that day. This year I took a deep dive into Ashley Bisman and her story.
Saying that I LOVED this book doesn’t do it justice. Disclaimer if you are anything like me there will be multiple times where this book makes you cry. Following Ashley from high school on the day of 9/11, to college, being in your 20s in Manhattan as she navigates her career, love and loss I felt like I was talking with one of my best friends. This book really hits home for any young girl living in a major city who wants to be the best version of herself but also make her family and friends proud of how she chooses to her live her life. Living in New York Ashley experiences the highest of highs and the lowest of lows with a quick pit stop in Boston in between. She also does a wonderful job at taking us back to these defining moments in her life and how she feels In each moment in such an authentic way. I don’t want to give too much away…
By the end of the book I felt like she could of been one of my best friends and I would have a glass of Pinot noir ready for her at girls night.
I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next!
Ashley thank you for sharing your story ♥️ Im currently trying to make more of my friends read it so selfishly I have more people to talk to about this amazing book.
July 23, 2021
“Where were you on 9/11?” was a question that everyone asked in the 2000s and I live in Canada. We can see the USA from my street corner but still, it’s not the same. I remember being scared that a plane would crash in a Canadian city too. I was a teenager when it happened, just like Ashley. The BIG difference though, is she lived in New York AND her father worked in the World Trade Center. She lost her father that day and her world changed forever.
This is the first book I’ve read about 9/11. I can’t believe it was 20 years ago! I could not imagine what it would be like to lose a parent in a terrorist attack. Ashley’s book helped me to understand it a little bit more. Of course it’s not the same thing but it helped me to think of the attacks from another point of view. The view of the family members of those who were killed.
The title of the book has to do with a popular song called Butterfly Kisses. I grew up listening to it too. It was Ashely’s favourite song as a girl and she had her dad play it for her Bat Mitzvah. She wanted to hear it on her wedding day while her dad walked her down the aisle but that was not to be. But don’t worry, there is a good ending to this book. Her dad is gone from this world but she managed to thrive and move on, with help from loved ones.
This was a really interesting, although sad, book. I think more people should read it and others like it if there are any. It’s one thing to see about 9/11 on the news. It’s another thing to hear about it from those who experienced it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This is the first book I’ve read about 9/11. I can’t believe it was 20 years ago! I could not imagine what it would be like to lose a parent in a terrorist attack. Ashley’s book helped me to understand it a little bit more. Of course it’s not the same thing but it helped me to think of the attacks from another point of view. The view of the family members of those who were killed.
The title of the book has to do with a popular song called Butterfly Kisses. I grew up listening to it too. It was Ashely’s favourite song as a girl and she had her dad play it for her Bat Mitzvah. She wanted to hear it on her wedding day while her dad walked her down the aisle but that was not to be. But don’t worry, there is a good ending to this book. Her dad is gone from this world but she managed to thrive and move on, with help from loved ones.
This was a really interesting, although sad, book. I think more people should read it and others like it if there are any. It’s one thing to see about 9/11 on the news. It’s another thing to hear about it from those who experienced it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
September 15, 2021
Ashley truly wears her heart on her sleeve in this book and shares her story of losing her dad- who she clearly had and still has a special relationship with- on a day everyone has a story to tell. But also weaved in the realities (and hilarities) of living in the big apple and the dating struggle that any single person dating in the city can relate to. I could not put your book down!
She is vulnerable and at times humorous in her recount of her experience from the tragic day up through her present day and gives those of us who have lost a parent too soon (and suddenly) words of comfort, relatability and hope for healing.
As a “daddy’s girl” who lost her dad too soon (and suddenly) and who is also “single in the city” I nodded my head (even cried and laughed) at many points in this book. Ashley gives readers the motivation to live life to the fullest through her writing in a truly honest and relatable way- this book is a gift!
She is vulnerable and at times humorous in her recount of her experience from the tragic day up through her present day and gives those of us who have lost a parent too soon (and suddenly) words of comfort, relatability and hope for healing.
As a “daddy’s girl” who lost her dad too soon (and suddenly) and who is also “single in the city” I nodded my head (even cried and laughed) at many points in this book. Ashley gives readers the motivation to live life to the fullest through her writing in a truly honest and relatable way- this book is a gift!
October 3, 2021
I picked up this book at the start of this week and haven’t been able to put it down .. it’s come to me as a sign from my dad who I lost 14yrs ago on 3rd Oct ! So, reading this book as I approach his death anniversary, brings up so many memories .. both happy and painful .. but it’s like a sign .. we will always have them and they us !
I can relate to how Ashley thinks and feels so closely .. it is such a private feeling that we don't want to share it with anyone besides the people we have shared the pain with .. her book flows effortlessly and there is so much hope in the authors raw pain. It is a book for all to read to realize how fragile life is and how it can all change in a flash .. so hold on to the ones you love a little tighter and longer and keep this book as a reminder to hold onto every precious moment !
I can relate to how Ashley thinks and feels so closely .. it is such a private feeling that we don't want to share it with anyone besides the people we have shared the pain with .. her book flows effortlessly and there is so much hope in the authors raw pain. It is a book for all to read to realize how fragile life is and how it can all change in a flash .. so hold on to the ones you love a little tighter and longer and keep this book as a reminder to hold onto every precious moment !
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September 18, 2021I read this book at the recommendation of a friend who went to school with the author—and it opened an entire world to me. Twenty-five years old and living in Boston on 9/11, I experienced the events of that terrible day like many average Americans—painfully, fearfully, anonymously. Understanding what it was like for someone who experienced it more personally was truly moving. Ashley adeptly weaves that insight into her emotional life as a true victim of 9/11 with her coming of age and entree into NYC adult life. It's as entertaining a read as it is a meaningful one for any American who wants to dive more deeply into the true tragedy of 9/11.
July 3, 2021
This book was amazing!!! A beautifully written true story of strength and perseverance through an unimaginable tragedy. The author makes you feel like you are with her on her journey every step of the way. This book is the perfect balance of emotional and funny and will have you laughing and crying throughout Ashley’s journey to finding love all the while remembering and honoring her father. A must read!!!!!
July 2, 2021
Really loved this book, Chasing Butterflies. It’s one of those books that once you start you cannot stop, needed to know what happens in Ashley’s life and the whole time you are rooting for her! It really took me on such an emotional rollercoaster, lots and lots of tears but also lots of laughter too. Loved loved loved this book!
July 19, 2021
Raw, emotional, and so beautifully written - this draws you in to feel everything Ashley felt through her experiences in losing her dad and navigating life post 9/11. So extremely relatable in so many ways, yet so hard to understand the pain that she and her family deal with on a regular basis, despite continuing to live their lives to the fullest. What a true gem this book is.
July 29, 2024
Rounded up. This book is an easy read. Started Monday and finished late Friday night. I believe it should have had a different title; this one is a little misleading. Overall it was a wonderful story that let us in on the mindset of someone who lost a parent in the worst way possible. It was nice seeing how she finally got her happiness back.
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March 13, 2022This is very courageous book; sad/happy/terrifying and inspiring. Very highly recommend it
January 11, 2022
Chasing Burfferlies is a beautiful memoir written by Ashley Bisman, who expresses her devastating loss of her father due to the 9/11 terrorist attack of the trade center. She realizes that things will not be the same; she tells us how Jeff, her father, never came home. We then journey through watching Ashley pass through her teen and young adult life dealing with finding her identity and all the profiling she faces.
Her quest to live a happy life, find a meaningful relationship, and all the similar things we desire is not anything out of the ordinary, but what becomes the deciding factor is the question that remains in her head, saying, “can I?”
I found the literature to be written well. The honesty stood out for me and the emotionally charged memoir made me want to read the book till the end. Her message is clear and it was lovely to read along how Ashley dealt with every obstacle.
I recommend this book to memoir fans and those who wish to learn how it was for those who lost someone on 9/11.
Her quest to live a happy life, find a meaningful relationship, and all the similar things we desire is not anything out of the ordinary, but what becomes the deciding factor is the question that remains in her head, saying, “can I?”
I found the literature to be written well. The honesty stood out for me and the emotionally charged memoir made me want to read the book till the end. Her message is clear and it was lovely to read along how Ashley dealt with every obstacle.
I recommend this book to memoir fans and those who wish to learn how it was for those who lost someone on 9/11.
June 30, 2021
Well written Memorial
The story of a girl, of a family impacted by the Twin Tower collapse. It traces the authors struggles in the following many years to find some closure in the death of her father. Any feelings of connection to other families also impacted by this tragedy I feel are not identified. I think some acknowledgement that the struggles she experienced were also experienced by many others would have been good. In deed, not just children left behind after the TradeTowers but also those who have lost parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members to bombings, shootings and other unpredicted tragedies. Even a note in closing I think would have been appropriate.
The story of a girl, of a family impacted by the Twin Tower collapse. It traces the authors struggles in the following many years to find some closure in the death of her father. Any feelings of connection to other families also impacted by this tragedy I feel are not identified. I think some acknowledgement that the struggles she experienced were also experienced by many others would have been good. In deed, not just children left behind after the TradeTowers but also those who have lost parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members to bombings, shootings and other unpredicted tragedies. Even a note in closing I think would have been appropriate.
May 14, 2022
This is a personal memoir written about the author’s memories and loss on the tragic day of September 11, 2001. I applaud her for writing what I’m sure was a difficult book, having to relive moments that were incredibly painful. She describes her feelings and the years it took her to try to move on with great candor. The only reason I’m giving this three stars is because it was very choppy to me. Things moved back and forth, the way our memories sometimes do, so quickly that I would get lost as to whether we were in the present or past. It might have just been my busy mind right now, not being able to keep up, but there you have it.
June 3, 2023
It’s the voice of a new generation. One about overcoming the most tragic terrorist attack in history as a teen into adulthood. It’s raw to the core and following Ashley’s journey as she navigates life after the death of her father is remarkable.
January 30, 2025
This is a powerful book about Ashley's experience of losing her dad on 9-11 and all the ways she had to deal with people's reactions to it. Her strong emotions and pushing away any remembrance by the public made the reader feel her pain.
December 1, 2022
based on daughter of survivor of 911.
June 5, 2023
So amazing you won’t be able to put it down. If I could rate it 10 stars I would! Do not hesitate to grab a copy of this you will love it !!
May 2, 2023
Quick read and good story about finding love.
July 7, 2021
Sex and the City meets 911 memoir
A brave and vulnerable account about finding true love
What should be a private mourning becomes a public event.
Readers will relate to loss & coming of age.
Quick read.
A brave and vulnerable account about finding true love
What should be a private mourning becomes a public event.
Readers will relate to loss & coming of age.
Quick read.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews