Beneath the Bonfire
11 February 2016Imprint: Picador
Synopsis
Young couples gather to participate in an annual 'chainsaw party', cutting down trees for firewood in anticipation of the winter. A group of men spend a weekend in the wilderness where they grew up, and where some still find themselves trapped. An ageing environmentalist takes out his frustration and anger on a singular, unsuspecting target. A woman helps another get...
Details
11 February 2016272 pages
9781447238232Imprint: Picador
Reviews
Some narratives have been gloriously expanded into fully molded works of art, while others are mere portraits, short yet no less poignant . . . Sensitive to the human condition, Butler continues to demonstrate his impressive command of atmosphere and humanityPublishers Weekly
Butler's characters could have emerged from vintage American rock songs, living on small hopes and banding together as best they canNew York Times
I love these stories: they're quiet, careful. As glaciated as their own vistas. Without a doubt, Beneath the Bonfire is a diamond of a collection, shaped and hardened through the profound geologic pressures of love and painBill Cheng, author of SOUTHERN CROSS THE DOG
The stories in Beneath the Bonfire highlight the strength in people during some of their weakest moments. The rich poetry in Butler's gut-wrenching prose makes for a stunning portrait of quiet life in small town America. A universally relatable voice, filled with heart and gritMarcus Burke, author of TEAM SEVEN
