So I’m not much into talking about food at the moment, being that I was sick all of last week, and haven’t cooked or eaten any. I’m telling you, who needs a weight loss supplement after a week of being sick like this? Anyhoo, I’m finally feeling alive again, and was able to go to that beer dinner up in Portsmouth on Sunday night. But still, no cooking news for a while.
So what do some people do when sick? Read trashy novels, like this one, called Butterfly, by Kathryn Harvey. As you can probably figure out from the photo on the book’s cover, this is NOT a nice wholesome G-rated book. It’s loaded with sex, so if you don’t like this sort of book, then don’t read it. Srsly.
I first read this book back in the 80′s. I was working at a bookstore at the time, and one of the other women there had picked it up, and was raving about how good it was. So I bought myself a copy (we got a 40% discount), and agreed, it was quite delightfully trashy. I re-read it yet again when I was sick.
Beverly Highland is a self-made wealthy woman who is the mysterious owner of a high-priced women’s “club” called “Butterfly”, located upstairs from a ritzy Rodeo Drive men’s shop. Membership is restricted to only the most beautiful, wealthy, and powerful women. At Butterfly, women can experience any fantasies they wish, and yes, they mean sexual.
The storylines alternate between three of Butterfly’s members, Trudie, Linda, and Jessica, each of who has her own reasons for seeking what Butterfly has to offer. But the main storyline focuses on the life of the mysterious Beverly.
Born Rachel Dywer to impoverished parents, with a twin sister who was given away at birth, the then-homely young girl runs away from home at age 14, after being brutally raped by her own father. On the roads, she meets a guy named Danny Mackay, who she quickly falls in love with and starts sleeping with. But Danny is not a nice guy, first, he forces Rachel to live and work at some sleazy whorehouse, while he keeps most of her pay. He also gets Rachel pregnant, and he cruelly forces her to get an abortion, even though she desperately didn’t want one. She vows that one day, somehow, some way, she WILL get her revenge on Danny Mackay.
Rachel transforms herself into Beverly by getting plastic surgery, as she begins her climb to the top as a successful businesswoman. As time passes, she surrounds herself with people who were either screwed over by Danny somehow, or by men like him. Meanwhile, Danny is on his own ascent to greatness, first by becoming a very successful televangelist, and later, as a Presidential hopeful. Of course, he’s running as a conservative Republican, speaking out against stuff like prostitution and abortion (two things that he forced upon poor Rachel, what a hypocrite!).
Beverly and her close circle of friends and associates keep a very close eye on the comings and goings of Danny Mackay. Beverly actually supports his campaign, financially and otherwise; Danny, of course, does not recognize her as homely little Rachel Dwyer. Beverly is simply setting him up so that he takes his fall from grace from the highest point possible. As you can imagine, she is seriously pissed at this sleazebag, and it’s well deserved.
You will have to read the book to see how it all goes down…why did she open Butterfly? Does she succeed in her lifelong mission to destroy Danny? How did things turn out for Trudie, Linda, and Jessica? And what about the twin sister?
If you enjoy this book, then you must read the sequel, called Stars. This book not only continues the war between Beverly and Danny, but the twin sister gets into the picture, as well. The twin has a rather interesting history of her own, so it’s well worth reading.
If you have kids who can read, do NOT leave these books laying around on the coffee table! Graphic sexual content, and some violence mean that you should save this for when the kids are in bed. Enjoy!
