Butterfly's Child

by Alan Chin

While back in the West to attend his grandmother’s funeral, Cord Bridger uncovers two shocking revelations: his grandmother had a lesbian lover named Juanita; and he has a teenaged son named Kalin. Fate brings all three together, but to preserve his new family, Cord must leave his safe life in New York City behind to carve a living from the harsh ranch lands of Nevada.

To forge a life with Juanita and Kalin, Cord must first discover the dark secret burning a hole in Kalin’s heart. With the help of Tomeo, a handsome Japanese veterinarian, Cord travels a gut-wrenching road of triumphs and tragedies to insure his son will survive the sinister violence of his past. But as Tomeo becomes more than just a helpful friend to Cord, a new set of problems arise between Cord and Kalin that may threaten the happiness of them all.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, M M Contemporary, Contemporary

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2010

About the author

Alan Chin was born in Ogden, Utah, where he was christened, Alan Lewis Hurlburt. He was raised in San Jose, California where he enjoyed an undistinguished childhood. After graduating high school, Alan served four years in the U.S. Navy where he learned and practiced the trade of aircraft mechanic while stationed at the naval air station in Kingsville, Texas.
Alan attended four years of night school at San Francisco State University, studying the field of Data Processing. Afterwards he enjoyed a twenty year career working his way from computer programmer, to software engineer, to network designer, and finally to manager of several software engineer development groups.

In 1991, while still working full time, Alan went back to night school and years later graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Economics and a Masters in Creative Writing.

In 1999, Alan retired from his career in Information Technology to devote more time to his three hobbies: writing, traveling, and tennis. During that same timeframe, Alan legally changed his name to Alan Chin, so that he could share the same family name as his life partner, Herman Chin.

Alan turned serious about his writing in 2003, and began working on his first novel, Island Song. He has now published two novel with Zumaya Publications - Island Song and The Lonely War. He is currently searching for a publisher fr his 3rd novel, while writing a 4th novel and two screenplays.

Alan currently lives and writes half of each year at his home in San Rafael, California, and he spends the other half of each year traveling the globe.

You can learn more about Alan Chin and his writing at: http://AlanChinWriter.blogspot.com or about his travels at his travel blog: http://HermanAndAlan.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Kassa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Butterfly’s Child is a study in relationships more than anything; specifically the dynamic between father and sons but also between brothers, friends, and lovers. The story delves into the complexities of parenthood while trying to figure out one’s own life. There are large leaps in time and the most interesting facets to me are often ignored and skipped over, leaving a weak thread that continues the story to the end. There is a love interest between the main character Cord and Tomeo but this is definitely not the focus and almost a side detail. In many respects Butterfly’s Child is well written and fascinating with few technical errors to detract but I find the story tries too hard, often lecturing about topics and the most interesting aspects to me were the least explored.

The story begins with Cord’s life in New York. He works in a piano factory for Steinway and lives a very comfortable life with his partner Cameron. However comfortable and easy that life may be is offset by its obvious emptiness. Cameron and Cord barely speak, never touch, and have forced difficult conversations together. Cord is drifting through life, detached and lonely even as he blames Cameron for their failed relationship. When Cord returns to his hometown in Nevada for his grandmother’s funeral, his life begins to change.

Told in third person from various points of view, the novel is a character study in relationships. The opening scene at the opera Madame Butterfly is meant to show Cord’s lingering wounds from his mother’s suicide and how his pain is mirrored by the staged tragedy. This of course comes close to mirroring Cord’s newly discovered son Kalin’s life. The theme of father abandonment is the first and most obvious concept introduced and used frequently. Cord feels abandoned by his father and in turn, Cord abandoned his son Kalin. Of course Cord didn’t know about Kalin but that doesn’t change the emotion Kalin feels, one that Cord can relate to but at the same time doesn’t use that similar anger and emotion to any productive end. There is resolution on many levels but often this is prompted by outside events rather than a slow understanding and more realistic change.

While Cord is developing new relationships with his new children – Kalin his biological son and Jem, Kalin’s half brother – Cord is also dealing with what he wants his new life to be. This is where the story stumbles for me. Cord leaves his extremely comfortable, if empty, life in New York for a very rural, difficult existence in Nevada. While I don’t question Cord’s impetus for change and motivation to be a strong force in his sons’ lives, I also feel the change comes way too easily. The new ranch house has no electricity, no running water, no car, and there are no scenes about the difficultly in adjusting. Perhaps it’s because I’m a girl but I can’t imagine living that far off the grid - no shower, no lights, no cell charger, no phone at all – without some sort of adjustment period. I find it too unrealistic that Cord and subsequently every other character takes to the life without complaint or problems. Not even muttered complaints from the children about the lack of cartoons.

Another issue I have is that Jem, the adorable seven year old, acts and thinks like a miniature adult. Jem is often the lighter perspective and offers a child’s glee at life and wonder at new discovery. These scenes and Jem’s entertaining view on teenage and adult actions offer a bright and bubbly addition to the story. Yet the thoughts and dialogue afforded to Jem are way too mature and adult, especially considering Jem has yet to start any kind of schooling. The language is simply too sophisticated and most of the time I liked the comments, dialogue, internal thoughts and musings yet couldn’t forget how adult and inappropriate they were. Part of this is that there is no discerning difference between the various characters. They feel too similar and Jem’s voice is practically the same as Cord’s with only a few more giggles. Unfortunately this takes away a lot of Jem’s effectiveness as he’s a great character but way too mature.

While the characters are all fully complex and developed with varying degrees of interest and depth, there is a lot of interesting information offered in other areas. From opera and piano tuning to ranching and Buddhism, the story contains a wealth of knowledge. Some of these details are quite fascinating while others take on a near lecturing tone. There are several concepts with heavy emphasis that feel less in line with the characters and their choices and more in line with what the story wants. Whether the reader finds these inclusions annoying or interesting will be very subjective. The story is careful to show more than tell though and these are the obvious exceptions.

Although the story is at heart a character dependant journey, there are numerous outside forces that serve to advance the time line and keep the story moving. Some of the issues are too easy and pat – the school teacher issue is by far the most over the top, although the drug dealer is semi ridiculous – the real strength of the story is depicting the relationships between the men. From Cord and Tomeo to their sons, the scenes that really stand out are those that show how fluid and complex these relationships are. Often the scenes are cut short and the depth of emotion kept light and easy. Most arguments are avoided by letting things go and not talking, others are simply given time. The few disagreements between Tomeo and Cord that potentially come up are forgotten and let go almost immediately, leaving me wondering why they were included at all. Yet the complications of these various men as they fit together are what kept me reading. The language has a natural flow and pace that never feels boring, even as large chunks of time are skipped entirely.

I didn’t altogether enjoy the story for all the reasons outlined but for the right reader I think the complexity can really sing. Chin can write a great story and has a command of language that definitely appeals. The quiet moments and underlying intensity will connect with the right reader. This has the potential to really engage the reader and leave a lingering impact. It didn’t with me but I wouldn’t let that scare any readers away. Butterfly’s Child has a beautiful message that will reach its reader.

[Shanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

From start to finish this book was just bad, the characters didn't seem authentic. They seemed like characterizations of standard romance fare. You have the man who left home who never came back, the stoic local who teaches him what home is and then the two abused boys just add a dash of spice to a rather bland stew. First the points of view switch from Cord the man who left home and the 7 year old abuse victim. Cord's voice is pretty typical and rather dull. The 7 year old, Jem, who it's unclear as to whether he was abused or not but he certainly is over sexualized.The reader's introduction to him is when we 'hear' him waxing on about his brother and his brother's body, in a very vivid and graphic way. At fist I thought this was a case of brothers being lovers, which I wasn't expecting but I don't mind but then it became apparent that the speaker was 7. It was creepy and the character's voice didn't improve. Then we have the drug addicted mother and her pimp daddy kiddy porn peddler who comes back to 'get what's his'. Seriously the book just fell apart towards the end with shoot outs, ransom and porn rings. It was all too much and not quite enough at the same time. It seemed to me that the author had several ideas and just didn't tie any of them together. In the end the book was bland with a touch of the absurd.

[Cole Riann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read one other book by Alan Chin, Island Song, but I can safely say that he writes some of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. His prose is lyrical and he has a way of showcasing his characters so that they're cut open on the table, all of their inner self laid out bare for us to see. In fact, the title of this book portrays that a bit and is alluded to once Cord returns to the Bitter Water. He sees a model of a butterfly pinned to a board and he thinks that that is the perfect metaphor for how he feels -- caught, trapped, and pinned down for everyone to see. This is primarily a novel about family, and thought there is a romance element, between Cord and Tomeo, it is only lightly portrayed. It is often in the background, and only a couple of times throughout the novel is it given time on the page. Even then, it is mostly shown as a meeting of minds -- and though Cord and Tomeo do end up together playing father to Kalin and Jem, there are only one or two physical scene between them. For most of the story, Tomeo is Cord's mentor, or at least a rock to hold tight to in the swift current. Tomeo is Buddhist, and there is always and underlying thread to the story of Cord trying to understand his life through the tenets that Tomeo lives by, most notably the idea that unhappiness in life is attributed to the human's need to covet the constancy of things, in the midst of things that are always changing. Also, as someone who has grown up in a town like the town in this novel, I can attest to the hostile feeling that Cord feels as a gay man here. Part of this is because the town think's he's a deadbeat father, no matter that he never knew he had a son, but the tone of the novel was very well done. Also, just like the idea of Buddhism in the novel, Juanita, who Kalin and Jem believe to be a bruja, is the personification of a connection to life and nature. Here is a paragraph about Juanita that shows the beauty of the writing as well:

Juanita had taped collages of Jem's crayon pictures on every wall: smiling suns, dancing dogs, turquoise lizards whispering in a boy's ear, swarms of butterflies flaunting rainbow-colored wings. They had transformed the bleak kitchen into a vivid, happy space. These wild pictures hadn't come from Jem's imagination, but rather from Juanita. Every night they gathered at the fireplace and she told the boys folktales while Cord, half-listening, played the piano. She spun her tales like a master weaver fabricating gold-threaded cloth. The power of her narration lay in the tempo of her words, the inflection of her voice, and her well-timed pauses. Her tales were of another reality—people who turned into crows as the moon rose, coyotes who spoke Spanish and danced the rumba, lizards who slithered onto your shoulder and whispered secrets into your ear. Her stories described the mysterious unseen powers she claimed surrounded them all. All those colorful tales found their way into Jem's drawings.

Later in the story, there is a scene where Cord looks up to the boys' treehouse and he sees Jem calling butterflies. Mystified that the boy believed Juanita was telling the truth about calling animals, he watches in wonder as butterflies swarm from all around, alighting on Jem's head and arms.  I felt like this was a metaphor for Cord, that in getting to know his family and making a new life for himself, the pins had been pulled out of his wings and he was no longer a trapped insect on display.

For the full review, please visit Reviews by Jessewave.

[E.E. Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Chin knows how to write a story so that the words disappear and all that's left is the world he's created. Cord is a man with believable weaknesses who finds incredible strength to protect those he loves. Telling part of the story through the eyes of a seven-year-old also works well.

[Mae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible. La historia prometía, pero enseguida se convirtió en una serie de situaciones que surgían de forma precipitada y sin desarrollar para zanjarse de forma igualmente precipitada y sin la menor credibilidad.

Situaciones dramáticas exageradas que surgen sin previo aviso y sin desarrollo previo, y que se solucionan como si tal cosa. Los cabos sueltos, o quedan sueltos, o se rematan sin el menor cuidado, como si no importaran. Los traumas de infancia de los personajes se resuelven o se pasan por alto como si tampoco tuvieran la menor importancia. En plan "Ya han cumplido con su cometido en la novela, ¿verdad?, pues pasemos a otra cosa".

Personajes que actúan de forma arbitraria, contradiciendo sus personalidades una y otra vez, como si no tuvieran muy claro qué se espera de ellos exactamente. Un final "feliz", por llamarlo así, absolutamente forzado donde todo el mundo termina llevándose bien y encajando en una gran familia feliz, aunque durante toda la novela se hayan llevado a matar o no haya existido la menor relación entre ellos (como la pareja formada al final entre Jesse y Lester. ¿De dónde rayos ha salido esa relación?). Pero en los último cinco minutos, y (para variar) sin el menor desarrollo, todos son amigos y/o amantes. Hasta hay mariposas revoloteando (supongo que para justificar el título del libro, porque, por lo demás, no guarda relación alguna con la historia).

Es difícil creer que esto haya sido escrito por un hombre adulto, más bien parece obra de una adolescente sin mucho talento literario en algún blog de fanficción (y no de la buena precisamente).

Una pena, porque con un poco más de cuidado y un editor que hiciera su trabajo, habría sido una novela decente. No una maravilla, porque parece el argumento de cualquier telefilm de los sábados por la tarde, pero sí decente.

[Jack Urquhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine-Tuning the Gay American Protagonist: Butterfly’s Child, by Alan H. Chin
Review by Jack A. Urquhart ©2011

Reading Alan Chin’s powerfully engaging novel, Butterfly’s Child (Dreamspinner Press, 2010) put me in mind of Vito Russo’s groundbreaking exploration of homosexuals in cinema, The Celluloid Closet (book, 1987). Employing painstaking documentation, Russo exposed the long and sorry history of homosexuals portrayed in film as creatures defined by their sexuality—men (and a very few women) presented as the butt of countless jokes, as victims of violence, and destructive self-hatred.

The trend Russo decried is, of course, no less evident or long standing in literature; think Gore Vidal’s The City and the Pillar (1948), Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) and Suddenly Last Summer (1959), Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band (1968), and, yes—Annie Proulx’s wildly popular 1997 short story, “Brokeback Mountain”. Even in so small a sample, the reader is hard pressed to find a single gay character who isn’t brought low by self-loathing or worse, destroyed outright—usually by an act of extreme violence. And while few would question the literary merit of the works cited, it is surely evident that, until relatively recently, there hasn’t been much (at least in literary fiction) that even hints at the possibility of a homosexual “happily-ever-after”.

A few mainstream exceptions do exist; Jane Hamilton’s under-appreciated gem, The Short History of a Prince (1998), Julia Glass’s Three Junes (2002) and its follow-up, The Whole World Over (2006) spring to mind. And now, count Alan Chin among the growing list of artists—more and more of them, self-identified Indie authors—whose work is helping lay to rest the cruel tradition Russo exposed. Witness Butterfly’s Child, Chin’s novel of fathers and sons, gay and straight.

Cord Bridger, the thirty-four year old ‘star’ of Butterfly’s Child, is most assuredly gay; but Chin casts his protagonist in 3-D creating in the process a complex, nuanced, fully fleshed, and yes—ever-so-humanly damaged hero. Cord’s back-story, presented early in the novel, yields suitably operatic clues (a metaphoric link to Puccini’s opera shows up in an early scene) to his psyche. Paternal abandonment, the subsequent suicide of his mother when he was four, and a youth passed on the culturally deprived high desert plains of Nevada, the reader learns, are the precursors to Cord’s adult existence on the fringes of New York City’s gay A-List.

The bearer of formidable musical gifts, including perfect pitch, Cord’s dreams of a career as a concert pianist—flames stoked by his years at Julliard—have long since cooled to smoke and ashes as the novel opens. Instead, Cord has ‘settled’ into a long-term stint at Steinway where he is the senior voicing specialist for the company’s concert grands—a career that brings Cord no closer to fulfillment than the fleeting moments of genius he sometimes experiences in tuning Steinway’s expensive pianos. In many ways, Cord is an instrument awaiting tuning himself, an emotional tuning, that is—a fact that does not sit well with his successful and increasingly dissatisfied lover, Cameron. In short, Cord’s life in NYC seems almost as lifeless and barren as the minimalist perfection of the Central Park West apartment he shares with his seldom-at-home partner.

All that changes when the necessity of settling his recently deceased grandmother’s estate draws Cord back to the Nevada ranch (appropriately named ‘Bitter Water’) that he abandoned years earlier. One could argue that Chin’s novel doesn’t take off until Cord deplanes in Nevada. That is because almost from the moment he returns, Cord confronts a host of jarringly inescapable challenges and responsibilities—not the least of which is the fifteen year-old son (the fruit of a teenage fling) that he never knew he had.

A young man bearing the crushing weight of his own abandonment and long-term abuse issues, Cord’s son Kalin and his seven-year old half-brother Jem soon become Cord’s responsibility in a twist that sets up the series of violent, gut-wrenching confrontations that mark the novel’s climax. Add to the cast a new love interest in the person of Tomeo, a practicing Buddhist; Jesse, the boys’ strung-out mother and her sadistically violent abuser, Jack (as truly a loathsome villain as this reader has ever encountered in fiction), and Blake, Cord’s estranged father, and you have the makings of a bona fide page-turner. It helps that Chin, a skillful storyteller, knows how to string the reader along with scenes that stack up and build—sometimes relentlessly, as Cord, increasingly in-tune with what matters, struggles to build and then protect his new family. The result is that Butterfly’s Child offers an exhilarating, moving, sometimes disturbing journey that nevertheless manages to gallop (literally) to a satisfying conclusion.

Speaking of which, I can imagine that some readers might find Chin’s somewhat tidy, Zen-like finish a stretch (given the formidable violence that precedes it). Likewise, it is possible some readers may stumble over the novel’s arguably un-necessary metaphoric dalliance with the Butterfly (Puccini’s and nature’s own variety) and/or the overlay of Buddhist philosophy that Chin delivers courtesy of several longish exchanges between Tomeo and Cord. But, for my part, these do not detract from the novel’s many strengths; indeed, the mini-dissertations on Buddhism seem central to Cord’s eventual arrival at a place of quiet gratitude and contentment.

As for any possible objections to the novel’s gay protagonist-triumphs-over-all ending, I can only wonder how Vito Russo might have addressed that concern—perhaps with an appropriately dismissive “isn’t it about time”?

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional Angst filled Operatic

This lengthy book with over 6000 locations was chock full of all sorts of emotions: sorrow, loneliness, despair, anger, confusion, anger betrayal, anger resignation, horror, disbelief, being overwhelmed, indecision, and deception.There were so many secrets and more arose as some were revealed.
The contrast between the silence of a small rural ranching community versus the noisy hustle & bustle of NYC could not have been more stark. Just because something was always done a particular way doesn't mean it was the best, still most efficient way.

Terrible dangers and vicious men lurk about and wrec wreaked havoc on the lives of those just trying to live their best life possible. Despite being such a long book there was a cadence to it at least initially. At least until the train began to jump the tracks.

[b. binaohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually *read* this book yesterday. I think it took me a couple of hours? Anyway. It was near bedtime and I ended up staying up like an hour and a half past my bedtime to finish the book. It was good. Good enough that it definitely transcends the mm genre to actual gay fiction/literature (in part because it's written by an actual gay man but also because it's *good* writing). It isn't gay 'romance' because while there is a romantic angle between two men, it isn't the focal point of the story.

I think the first thing that hooked me on the book was the overall tone of the writing... A kind of flat, bleak type of tone, where you get the impression that Cord has largely been existing more than living. For whatever reason (okay, I know the reason) I tend to enjoy this kind of tone in writing.

This book does come with a *huge* fucking trigger warning for child sexual abuse (inclusive of child pornography). Also some mentions of suicide and other violent stuff, but the CSA is a really big one and there are some graphic descriptions of the porn (not titilating of course but you know what's depicted in the images).

Synopsis: Cord Bridger has a fairly unremarkable life in NYC when he finds out his grandmother has passed away. He returns home to Nevada to attend to her estate only to find that her estate is currently occupied by her lesbian lover, Juanita. He then swiftly gets dumped with the 14 yo child the entire town thinks he abandoned (in reality he was never told about Kalin) and his younger brother, Jem. The book mainly focuses on Cord's attempts to figure all of this shit out, with him realizing that he needs to take care of his kids and figure out life in Nevada. He falls in love with Tomeo (who eventually moves in) and their relationship provokes a strong negative reaction from Kalin, driven mainly by his experiences of sexual abuse from Jem's bio dad. This all leads to an eventual confrontation between the family at the ranch and Jack, pedophile and all-around shitbag. Juanita dies and several others are injured.

Ugh. I've been sitting here and trying to think about what I really want to say about the book, but... Nothing particular is coming to me, exactly. Except that one plot point that really didn't make any sense to me was Cord's reconciliation with his father. Finding out that Cord's grandmother was trying to pressure his mother into a lesbian relationshp was... a really 'what the fuck?' moment because it doesn't really gel with the way Cora (the grandmother) has been characterized. This was the point where the plot became strained.

The other thing I don't get is why, after they told Jack to come back for the money, they didn't just let the sheriff know so that they could be there to arrest him when he returned. Cord and the sheriff at this point have a good relationship and the police already had a warrant out for Jack bc of the porn. And this wasn't just the local police (I think the FBI was mentioned?), so it really doesn't make sense that he wouldn't notify the authorities that Jack had made contact with them and that they were expecting him to come back to the ranch. Or even just notify the authorities that he was in the area. Oh... wait. I remember I think they take Les as a hostage? Even still, all the more reason to notify the authorities, particularly since they are in a small town.

I know that the drama is, well, more dramatic, but I think that given the tone of the rest of the book that this wasn't a book that needed action in this fashion. Especially when it becomes disjointed and borderline nonsensical. Nonetheless, it was good and I did like it.

[L-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite 4 stars.

There were many things about this book that I really enjoyed. First of all, as I read it, I really noticed the writing style. Typically I blow through books so fast that I pick up on character and plot development and notice if there's a bunch of editing errors, but there aren't too many writing styles that make me sit back and take notice. I really did notice Alan Chin's style and liked it a lot. It flowed nicely and it used a good amount of adult vocabulary without sounding pompous. This is my second book from Alan Chin - the first being Match Maker - and I really enjoyed both.

Cord is a musician that failed to make a name for himself but is content with his life in NY with his lover Cameron. When he finds out his grandmother passed and left him her ranch, he travels for the funeral to take care of his affairs. He gets two big shocks - his grandmother had a female lover that will move over her dead body, and he has a teenage son that he didn't know about. This book was about relationships and there were quite a few to get around.

It starts with Cord's relationship with his lover, Cameron, adds his relationship with his son Kalin and Kalin's half-brother, Jem, renews his relationship with Kalin's mom, Jesse, and builds new relationships with Juanita (his grandmother's lover) and Tomeo (Jesse's friend). There is a lot going on in this story and I was fairly engrossed.

I think Cord changed dramatically over the course of the book from going through the motions in life, to really living. I liked watching his transformation as well as the transformation of all the relationships.

The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I didn't feel that there was enough closure in his relationship with Cameron and I did not like how that relationship was portrayed. First of all, Cameron is clearly cheating on Cord when Cord leaves for the funeral, but that is NEVER addressed. There is never a confrontation or any mention of it whatsoever. Then as Cord stays away and doesn't return home and his letters to Cameron become more infrequent, I just don't understand how he allows that to happen. He works SO hard on his relationship with his son and everyone else, but this guy that he is supposed to love and that he referred to as his husband is all of a sudden not important enough to have a real conversation with? It just didn't fit right with Cord's overall personality. And finally, when Cameron comes at the end of the story, I STILL didn't feel that there was proper closure. Cord realizes that he never stopped loving Cam, he yells out "Wait!" and then when Cam pauses all he says is "have a nice flight" or something inane like that. I didn't like that at all. I almost felt bad for Cameron. Almost. But either way, it was not well handled all around. The reason it doesn't sit well is because Cord tries SO hard with everyone else. That's why this book didn't make 5 stars for me. I actually almost knocked it down to 3 stars as I typed this, but decided to go with my initial impression.

[Lena Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using the recurring reference to a butterfly, as Alan Chin did in his quite appropriately titled book 'Butterfly's Child', was a brilliant idea; the butterfly, a universally accepted symbol of transformation, is perfect for a story about change and growth.

I loved how Alan Chin went to such lengths to show Cord Bridger's state of mind in the beginning of the story. I could feel Cord's anguish, his uniqueness and the isolation he experienced. Music was a great vehicle with which to emphasize his great longing for a peace that he could never quite achieve. He may have had perfect pitch, but Cord was definitely hitting the wrong cord when it came to life.

When circumstances forced him to move back to Bitter Creek, Nevada, Cord quickly learned that continuing to live in isolation, as he did in New York City, was not possible in Bitter Creek. Life was harsh and problems were relentless. His survival in this beautiful, but hostile land depended upon how fast he could learn to deal with the problems which arose for him and the family which he inherited along with his grandmother's farm.

'Butterfly's Child' ran me through a gamut of emotions and sometimes had me laughing and crying at the same time; it definitely had me pulling for Cord and his family as they struggled to make sense of life's confusion. The characters in 'Butterfly's Child' were well defined and multi-dimensional, each adding his or her distinct contribution to the plot, helping it mesh together quite effectively.

Of all the characters, Kalin was the one who instantly earned my admiration with his intensity and compassion, particularly as it pertained to his little brother, Jem. He fiercely defended Jem even when it meant sacrificing his own wellbeing. Having life narrated through a seven year old boy's eyes was both funny and poignant, especially with the knowledge that Jem wouldn't have been the carefree little boy he was if not for Kalin's intervention. Kalin's strength of character was best expressed by Cord. “...eyes that, while shrouded in anger, revealed something that a stoic and lonely life had not been able to touch. Beautiful, my son is beautiful; not merely a handsome teenager, but a conspicuously beautiful human being whose quality shines from his inside out.”

'Butterfly's Child' is suspenseful and unpredictable; it is as compelling as it is profound. If you enjoy a book that is not only entertaining but enlightening as well, reading 'Butterfly's Child' is an experience you will not want to pass up.

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[S.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! As a subtitle I'd almost call it "fathers and sons".
Admittedly, the first few chapters I wasn't sure what to think of the characters. Cord seemed to have it all with his 5th-avenue life and Ken-doll lover. Nice cushy job as a piano tuner, who could ask for anything more, right?
Then it focused on the brother, Kalin and Jem. Wasn't sure about Kalin, he seemed so angry at everything, but sweet Jem was as wide-eyed as a 7 yr-old kid should be. Their mom, Jesse, rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning.
As I read on, the story really picked up in pace and you find out the reasons for everything that has happened. There were moments that were very touching, such as scenes with Tomeo and Juanita (love them)!
I really loved it when Kalin and Cord made up and you could feel the love of the father and son.

The ending was a swift push of action and finally calm...I cheered when that bastard Jack died!
Loved how Kalin saved his father's life and Cord saved his son's soul!
Interesting how Cameron left the scene altogether, but Blake came back. It's a perfect little ranch with all family together.
Save for Juanita's sacrifice, it was a very happy ending and I can picture the characters all living happily on the ranch for the rest of their days.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm torn about this book because the for the vast majority of the story I was pleased with it. However, the ending parts of this book infuriated me so much that had I not been reading on my Kindle, I would have seriously considered setting it on fire.

The beginning of this story definitely had some flaws, but I was still really enjoying reading it. I became invested in the emotions of these characters, and I really liked the way the author was developing them. Then at like the 80% mark it took a drastic nosed dive, which in my opinion, sucked any of the positives about this book right down the toilet.

The way the Jesse and Jack subplot was just handled just hit all of my negative buttons. I was completely baffled by why, up until then, smart characters were making entirely moronic decisions. I just kept wanting to scream at the book, "Call the police!!!" Yet, they never did.

So while I think this author is definitely talented, I can't rate this book any higher. I rate my reading experiences purely on how much enjoyment I derived from them, and any book that causes me actual feelings of rage I cannot rate higher.

[Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Alan is definitely on my "stick like glue to his release's list". I really loved the first book and wasn't expecting to be drawn in on this title. From the very careful building of our primary character to the crafting of his history and present, Alan has given a beautiful tale to a life less ordinary. This could have gone to the pits in so many ways, yet it never once faulted in it's steps through the story. The different relationships, the different people they are all finely built.

I think there were three or four points where I was left either very close to tears or borderline short of breath as different parts of the story played out.

Also the internal dialogue is kept finely tuned. not to heavy on the information not to light..

If you've read alan's book island song, you won't get the same story, the over riding theme's may be the same but the lessons are different, the story is vastly different and best of all the people are so different.

Thanks Alan for a story that I wouldn't normally go for!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While back in the West to attend his grandmother’s funeral, Cord Bridger uncovers two shocking revelations: his grandmother had a lesbian lover named Juanita, and he has a teenaged son named Kalin. Fate brings all three together, but to preserve his new family, Cord must leave his safe life in New York City behind to carve a living from the harsh ranch lands of Nevada.

To forge a life with Juanita and Kalin, Cord must first discover the dark secret burning a hole in Kalin’s heart. With the help of Tomeo, a handsome Japanese veterinarian, Cord travels a gut-wrenching road of triumphs and tragedies to insure his son will survive the sinister violence of his past. But as Tomeo becomes more than just a helpful friend to Cord, a new set of problems arise between Cord and Kalin that may threaten the happiness of them all.

[Meggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect word for this book is DEEP.
This feeling of melancholy is so tick in the air you can feel it in your skin. The human mind is so full of deepness mixed with melancholy... whoa...
We get a story of a man, who is so lost in his own mind that Hi's melancholy, his loneliness is starting part of this story and true the whole book the main characters, who are troubled or broken, heal with time and love.
The book pined me till the end...such fine example of AWESOME, DEEP, EMOTIONAL story is just perfect.
I LOVED THIS STORY.. AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO OTHERS, mark my word...it's worth every penny ^^

[Gregory Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by Alan Chin and I know I will want to read more. I'm not one to give the details on the story as you can get that elsewhere. What I will say is that I love how Chin puts his gay characters into situations out of the 'norm' for many gay novels - where it is not the overriding theme of the book. Here, it is a true exploration of what it means to be a father and a son (with some beautiful prose used to illustrate this story). The book didn't always go where I thought it was heading and that's really a good thing...for me.

[Arch Bala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t get the title. I just remember that one scene where Jem was summoning the butterfly to him and I just don’t get the reference if there was even one or the symbolism. He’s seven and he speaks that way towards his brother – I was not even certain that he was abused but I liked his sweetness towards his brother and Cord and almost wished that it could’ve been Cord’s son’s POV we have here. I though the finale was a bit anticlimactic and was just all over the place but it’s a fairly quick read so I’m giving this a 60/40 ratings.

[Eyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Chin, and I really liked it. I had a couple of personal niggles that probably wouldn't be noticed by most readers. I did shed a tear or two while reading. I'll be looking for more by this author.

I also want to point out that this book does contain instances of child abuse that I know some of my online friends will want to know about before deciding to read the book.

[Snowtulip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Chin's storytelling and weaving together so many poignant issues. I felt strong emotions to the characters (whether good or bad), which indicates I've been fully snatched into the story. This was a heavy read with difficult sections for me to read through (child abuse). Butterfly's Child missed the 5 star mark because I sometimes felt there was too much being captured, but overall, this was great writing.

[Nightcolors]

I'm going to let this book sit for a while. I read about 70% of it. Interesting story, but a few things really started to bother me more, keeps pulling me out of the story flow. Jem's voice, especially. He doesn't always, or rather, he usually doesn't sound like a 7-year-old kid. I may still finish this book at some future date.

[unchatnoir · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a little weird. It started good but at one point I felt like I should go back and check the cover to make sure I was reading the same book. Cord's transformation was a little unconvincing and some of the characters (especially the bad guys) were downright caricatures. And am I the only one who felt like this was written by two different authors?

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic - the story of the child of "Madam Butterfly" and the naval officer in the opera Madam Butterfly. It is a story of terrible choices, the anguish of separation for a child, and the cultural mismatch of a Japanese-American child placed in a mid-west family. Although the concept of the story is interesting, the writing did not hold my interest enough to give it a higher rating.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopeful story. Heartfelt. A writer that has a strong voice. 4.25 Stars Story: A man Leaves NYC to help with a funeral, settle a estate, and finds a new outlook on life. Realises that he hasn't been living at all. Recommended read.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't quite convinced that the relationship between Tomeo and Cord was really working for me. But it was a good story and kept me glued to my reader to finish it. It's definitely disturbing in places and not a fluffy story. Will look for more books by this author.

[Matthew Vandrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too complex and too emotion-stirring to put it all in a single review.

[Fadia Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever read a book and it was not what you expected. This book is well written and shows how characters goes thru rebirth and acceptance. Story made me look within and appreciate the world me

[TeeTee · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Hmm let me repeat WOW! Beautifully written, excellent story!

[Mysterious]

DNF 15%

Slogged through to p. 42 a few months ago and have felt absolutely no desire to pick it up again. I'm calling this one DNF.

[Auraya · Rating 3 out of 5]

wow the ending was a bloodbath...