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The first novel in ten years from the author of the beloved New York Times bestseller The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake, a luminous, poignant tale of a mother, a daughter, mental illness, and the fluctuating barrier between the mind and the world On the night her single mother is taken to a mental hospital after a psychotic episode, eight year-old Francie is staying with her babysitter, waiting to take the train to Los Angeles to go live with her aunt and uncle. There is a lovely lamp next to the couch on which shes sleeping, the shade adorned with butterflies. When she wakes, Francie spies a dead butterfly, exactly matching the ones on the lamp, floating in a glass of water. She drinks it before the babysitter can see. Twenty years later, Francie is compelled to make sense of that moment, and two other incidents -- her discovery of a desiccated beetle from a school paper, and a bouquet of dried roses from some curtains. Her recall is exact -- she is sure these things happened. But despite her certainty, she wrestles with the hold these memories maintain over her, and what they say about her own place in the world. As Francie conjures her past and reduces her engagement with the world to a bare minimum, she begins to question her relationship to reality. The scenes set in Francies past glow with the intensity of childhood perception, how physical objects can take on an otherworldly power. The question for Francie is, What do these events signify? And does this power survive childhood? Told in the lush, lilting prose that led the San Francisco Chronicle to say Aimee Bender is "a writer who makes you grateful for the very existence of language," The Butterfly Lampshade is a heartfelt and heartbreaking examination of the sometimes overwhelming power of the material world, and a broken love between mother and child. Read more Continue reading Read less EXCERPT. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Chapter 1 We cannot tend to her. There is something wrong with her. What do you mean? What is wrong with her? We do not know. Something. She seems like such a normal little girl to me. Last visit - It is hidden. Did she do anything? Did she do something bad? No. Then what? We cannot handle her. I cannot. But what do you mean by that? Is she misbehaving? No. Is she getting in trouble in school? You have to come get her. I dont understand. You are the godparents. You have to come. That is your job. But you are alive, Elaine. I am telling you I cant do it. Wheres that new guy you were telling me about? Camping. Is he coming back? I dont know. Are you going to do something, Elaine? I could call social services. Maybe I will. Are they listed? Will they do foster care if other family is still available? Can you put her on the phone? No. Is she nearby? Shes right here. Shes looking right at me. Can you tell her to come on the phone? Francie. Francie, dear, your aunt Minnie wants to speak to you. Hello? Francie? Hello. Francie? Are you okay? Yes. Youve been listening to our conversation? Yes. Your mother is very worried about you. Do you think you might be doing anything wrong? No. Have you been going to school? Yes. Are you behaving properly in school? Yes. Are you going to bed on time? Yes. I have to tell you, Im more worried about your mother. Do you think she might be getting sick again? Yes. Can you tell me what shes doing? No. You can tell me. I know shes probably listening, but its okay. Really. She knew I would ask you. Is she hurting you in any way, any way at all? No. Is she - dressed? Yes. Okay. Thats good. Are you feeling okay? Yes. Do you need me to come up there? Yes. Yes? Yes. Can you tell me what you mean by yes? As in why? No. Is your moms friend there? No. Hes out of town? I dont know. Is anyone else there? No. Is your mother hurting herself? No. Sweetie, Im so sorry, I just cant come this time, not right now. Im too pregnant. Im not allowed to go on a plane. Your uncle can, though. You want your uncle to come? No. Oh, Francie. Who is the best grown-up for you to call? Its me again, Minn. She dropped the phone. Shes standing by the wall now. She puts her nose right up against the wall. Its touching the wall. What is happening over there? Like she is talking to the wall. She has this look, Minn. Kids have looks. No, no. Other kids dont have this look. Elaine, she can hear the whole conversation for Gods sake! Like she is judging me. All the time. Kids dont judge, not like that. She does. Youre still on the Abilify? I cannot be around her. Theres something in her. There is a bug in her. I cannot even trust myself around her! Are you listening to me? Yes. Im sending Stan up. The minute he gets home. Morning flight. Not Stan! You! I cant fly. What do you mean, a bug? A bug in her. Something crawling inside her. Can she stay somewhere else? Where can she stay? I dont know. A friend? I dont like her friends. A friend of yours? She loves her babysitter. Ask the babysitter. Of course. Tomorrow. Or, Ill call her too. We can both call her. Okay? This is the one who also works at the school? Shrina. I have her number. Well work something out, honey. You have to call your doctor. Well both call the doctor. I know I should. I know I do. And I will too. So thats a start. We have a plan then. We do? Well both make some calls in the morning. Okay? Lets go over the plan. What are you going to do tomorrow? I am going to call my doctor. Good. And? I am going to call my doctor. And, if you feel able, ask the babysitter. Right. And I will ask the babysitter. What are you going to ask the babysitter? If she will take my sweet girl, Francie. But what do I mean again? Where will she take her? You know what, Ill call Shrina. Dont worry about that. You take care of yourself. Maybe Francie can stay with her for a couple days while we get you feeling better. Do you know where she lives? Sh



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