Our Shared Shelf discussion

Let’s share and discuss one or two quotes each (more people writing in the merrier!) from Butterfly - quotes that made you think/or were your favourite or made you angered or sad or anything...basically a line that stood out to you for whatever reason...and why.

I’ll come back with my quote shortly :)

"One little accident won't stop his girls swimming. She's back in the water the moment she's healed."

I'm pretty impressed by this kind of attitude from anyone. Although it did kind of worry me that Yusra's dad was pushing swimming on his daughters, it's clear they liked it and that he always made an effort to not let them be afraid of doing it, to really bring out their strength in all circumstances.

Ohh good point Oscar, thanks!! I agree, I share feelings of ambivalence over a child’s autonomy vs. parental support and guidance/strong encouragement etc.

I found the passages in the boat and on the train especially harrowing, after listening to first hand accounts of refugees while working and volunteering in NGOs it’s particularly moving to bear witness to it in first hand writing too.

Near the end of her book this quote stood out:
“The boat story haunts us wherever we go.
I struggle with that story. I struggle with why we survived the sea when so many didn’t. I struggle to remember what made us take that terrible risk, what made us think our lives were that cheap. It was somehow worth that gamble. But from here, it’s hard to imagine how.”

I reflected on these words and also reflected on the prose and illustrations in Khaled Hosseini’s Sea Prayer

And Yusra’s words near the time when she gets selected for the Olympic team:
Sara: “‘I just want people to stop asking me about the boat. And about you. I want them to stop labelling me with that story. I’m so much more than that. This story happened to both of us, all of it, but now it’s only ever about you.’ “

It’s heartening that Sara’s voice is heard in glimpses the book too and that she went to follow her aspirations/bliss too. I do often think of how families react and adjust after they re-settle.

Thank you, Kate! I agree with you that I also enjoyed that Sara's voice was heard throughout the book as well.