Like a butterfly held captive in a bell jar, Sophie's time is running out.Ĭhoking Butterflies is a well-crafted depiction of the intricacies and beauties of a rather uneventful life the kind of life that most of us lead. Sophie, whose imminent departure from this life provides a focal point for her kin, is the failing family matriarch.

Conversely, Jane, the grown daughter that Joy is not quite sure she likes, is rather inscrutable, with hard and shiny edges that might reflect something fleeting and a bit frightening back to the reader. She seems like the neighbor you can't help but like the one who shows up with a casserole or cookies at the most unexpected and critical times. Joy is introspective and seems inclined to give honest,if brief, consideration to her beliefs and choices. The tale is built around Joy Sciallo, '(pronounced shallow)', a middle aged woman who seems a bit lost between soft enveloping childhood memories, her dead father and the looming mortality of her frail mother. The reader is skillfully encouraged to pick each one up for a closer look. It is peopled by characters inspiring close inspection like intriguing knick-knacks on a shelf. The stage upon which this story takes place is a small one, but well built and beautifully illuminated. What makes her the person she is? What engenders growth, or constricts it? Are the edges limited or expanded by family relationship, by environmental factors, by genetics, or by mere chance? How is the space defined within which a human being grows and lives out her life? Choking Butterflies Maryann Austin 9780615728582 Books Download As PDF : Choking Butterflies Maryann Austin 9780615728582 Books Choking Butterflies Maryann Austin 9780615728582 Books

Choking Butterflies by Maryann Austin