A review by rhodaj
The True Story of Butterfish by Nick Earls
3.0
Curtis is a keyboard player who returns home to Brisbane after the split of his very popular band Butterfish. Not a big fan of the spotlight, Curtis wants to focus on his new career as a music producer and reconnect with his older brother Patrick, following the death of their father where Curtis left Patrick to deal with it all.
Curtis befriends his new neighbours - a single mum and her two teenage children, although things get a little complicated - particularly when his long time friend and former lead singer of Butterfish, Derek, comes to stay with him for a few days.
This book does not have a whole lot of storyline, with the focus being on the characters and their development. I love a good character study and whilst I liked the character of Curtis, I just found so many of the interactions in this book to be awkward. Perhaps they were supposed to be, as Curtis navigates life as a “normal” person as opposed to being a big rock star, but it just made it hard reading at times.
I really enjoyed the development of Curtis’ relationship with his brother Patrick which began a bit stilted, but grew as they spent more time together. I was less enamoured with what I’d call the “unnecessary romance” (my pet hate
Curtis befriends his new neighbours - a single mum and her two teenage children, although things get a little complicated - particularly when his long time friend and former lead singer of Butterfish, Derek, comes to stay with him for a few days.
This book does not have a whole lot of storyline, with the focus being on the characters and their development. I love a good character study and whilst I liked the character of Curtis, I just found so many of the interactions in this book to be awkward. Perhaps they were supposed to be, as Curtis navigates life as a “normal” person as opposed to being a big rock star, but it just made it hard reading at times.
I really enjoyed the development of Curtis’ relationship with his brother Patrick which began a bit stilted, but grew as they spent more time together. I was less enamoured with what I’d call the “unnecessary romance” (my pet hate