The Strength of Four Generations of Mothers and Daughters in Color Me Butterfly by L.Y. Marlow
Inspired by a true story, Color Me Butterfly follows four generations of mothers and daughters—haunted by a common specter of domestic abuse—as they discover the strength, hope, and courage to survive.
The last thing Eloise Bingham wanted was to leave the comforts of her South Carolina home and family. But at the end of World War II, the young wife follows her husband, Isaac, to Philadelphia—only to experience his sinister and violent temper. Eloise’s children—and their children and grandchildren—will face their own trials over the next sixty years: Mattie, who has lived in her mother Eloise’s shadow, finds it takes a life-changing tragedy to help her break free; Lydia, Mattie’s strong-willed daughter, summons the resolve to rise above the cycle of abuse; and finally, Treasure, Lydia’s lively daughter, has the chance to be the first to escape her family’s destructive legacy.
It will take unconditional love, old-fashioned family values, faith, and fearless determination—already embedded in each woman’s DNA—to triumph over a life plagued with unspeakable pain.
L. Y. Marlow is originally from Philadelphia. She is the founder of Saving Promise, a national organization dedicated to raising awareness of and ending domestic violence—which has affected several generations of her own family. This is her first novel.
Watch L.Y. Marlow reading from her book Color Me Butterfly on bernardsbookshelf.com
• Listen to L.Y. Marlow discuss Color Me Butterfly on BlogTalkRadio.
• Watch L.Y. Marlow discuss Color Me Butterly on Atlanta’s WBAL TV.
• Read an interview with L.Y. Marlow about Color Me Butterfly on LiteraryWorld.org.
We’re giving away copies of Color Me Butterfly!
To enter for a chance to win a copy, enjoy one of the videos or interviews above and post a comment below with your thoughts. (Winners chosen at random and notified by email. Limited quantities; while supplies last. No purchase necessary.)
this book really seems interesting but the end was horrifying. who would do this to their children? this father is cruel, i wonder if the mother was the same though i hope not.
Wow-talk about the strength of women-very impressive and touching.
I love the interview and reading all about how she learned about the 4 stages that butterflies go through before they become beautiful. and then applied that to her story. Great idea!i too come from a family that had four strong women. I can’t wait to read this book it sound great!!
Generational curses and triumphs is something I know oh too well! I am loving Color me Butterfly, and it will do us all well to read it to be proactive in the preservation of our families and their integrity. On another note domestic abuse is no laughing matter it should be confronted to save lives, this bookw illgive all the strengtha nd courage to do just that!
As a daughter, mother and grandmother I feel this book would be insightful for our lives and could relate in so many places…I would love to win this
EAT a RAT!!!! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! I got goosebumps as I watched LY marlow read an excerpt from her book! WHOA!
As a mother, daughter, and grandmother I would love to read this book, I feel I could related as my father was in world war II era. I would love to win this book
This brief look at the brutal father Isaac, was bone chilling. I would want to read the entire book.
I am very interested in the working of the human psyche and emotions. Reading about women who are embroiled in a life full of abuse would very enlightening to me.
Wow, Can’t wait to read it!
This has such an endearing plot and sadness, that the reader knows immediately that it HAS to be based on a true story, and that this author has indeed risen above hers and her family’s plight, and triumphed. Can’t wait to see and hear what happens next to this young woman and her family!
This book sounds very intriguing. What strength women must have to overcome these situations.
This sounds like my family home life…sounds like a great book…
Such a powerful story! Sad that so many go through this. Can’t wait to read the book!
I so want to read this. I can relate to how the Mother-Daughter relationship perpetuates through the generations.
Knowing people very close to me who have battled with domestic violence this book is very personal. The interview made me believe this is a raw, personal look at the issue.
Domestic abuse is still one of the most hidden abuses in todays society – even after all the media attention of the past years. Would love to read this book. Thank you..
This sounds like a wonderful book. I almost didn’t want to finish the video, because I wanted to read it for myself. Excellent debut.
I love how the author came to the title of this book.
My family currently has four generations of women (well three and a baby) and we are all over the US so we struggle to remain in physical contact.
My daughter lives with a man who suffers from anxiety. He controls her by using that anxiety to keep her where he wants. I am noticing the same anxiety in both my daughter and granddaughters. This scares me and I try to help dispel the anxiety when I see it rearing its head.
This book has all the makings of a must read!!
The three year old son of Isaac, full of terror that his father has instilled him, was being forced to eat a rat that was skinned in front of him and then fried. What kind of moster was this Isaac and what made him that way? Is there a way our for these children of Isaac’s and their mother…. I pray that there is! Hope I get to find out!
This looks intriguing.
This book looks so interesting. I have been lucky enough not to have encountered abuse, but have known many who have. I would love to read this book.
love family books
A courageous story. I can’t wait to hear/read more about it.
What a powerful topic! I would love to read it.
All too true in many black families. I would love to read the story
What a poignant, and I would presume personal story. You writing reminds me of a young Maya Angelou. I am very interested in reading this book and looking forward to your next one already!
I can’t wait to read this.
I love reading mother/daughter stories. It sounds interesting!
I am feeling nauseous right now after hearing the author read a section of her book. The father Isaac is beyond cruel, so sick, to make his small son eat a rat!
My father was vicious but never that bad. My mother was worse in many ways. You expect a mother to protect you. As to be expected I married a wife beater. I was 16 when I got married. I am now 58 and still suffering from the ruptured and herniated disks he gave me. If you can believe it – I didn’t leave him. He left me. My second marriage was worse than the first, I hadn’t gotten any better. I think I am okay now, I would have to kill anyone that tried to hit me now though, lol.
I try to read as many books about womens history, either through fiction or non-fiction. We’ve come a long way, baby.
I think it’s important to remember that while this is a work of fiction, there are people who suffer tremendously in similar ways and are able to flourish.
This appears to be a brutal and unflinching testament to the power of the women’s spirits to survive sometimes solely on a spark of hope. I not only want to read this book, I need to read this book.
This novel presents a brutal and unflinching testament to the power of hope, even when it’s only a spark. I not only want to read this book, I Need to read this book.
I enjoyed reading the interview and especially like how she came up with the title Color Me Butterfly.
The title drew me in but after reading the interview, I just hope I can be chosen for a free copy.
Breaking the cycle of living with abuse is a very hard and horrifying process if you have children depending upon you.
Growing up in the home of abuse as a child, I can relate. My Mom had five kids to get out of the household and keep safe, it isn’t as easy as it seems it should be when you are young. When you are older, you start realize life isn’t so easy…..
This book looks amazing. Yet another must-read!
I am anxious to read about someone sho escaped abuse.
I grew up in a very happy family. So I really don’t have any first hand experience with abuse. I think this book would help me become better informed on the subject.
this book sounds like it will touch on themes that many people can relate to but might not talk about….the kind of thing that can help people as well. the kind of thing that brings out all different emotions….i will be reading this!
I would really like to read this book.
Domestic abuse needs books like this to bring it out into the open where people can share about it. Only by bringing to the attention of the nation will we ever be able to conqure it some day.
I would like to read this book.
I want to read it.
I can’t relate, maybe she can get through
Looks like an excellent book for our bookgroup to share.
As an avid reader, I enjoy books based on true life. This looks very interesting, and the reading by the author piqued my interest. I would LOVE to receive a copy, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I get chosen. Thank you!
I’d love to receive a copy of this. I have 2 sisters who have lived with abuse by their husbands, and this may give me a bit of insight as to why they live like they do. Thank you!
I think the title is extremely appropriate. I think these women are extremely strong, specially when they had to survive the cycle of abuse.
Although I am troubled to think that any parent could treat their children that way, I do want to read the rest of L.Y. Marlow’s book. Her reading just hooks you in and I want to root for those children.
What a heart gripping story.Women are strong and full of spirit.The father was so full of rage.I fully enjoyed listening to the author read an excerpt from the book. would love to win a copy. Cindy Allen
I love books where there are more than one generation because you get a deeper understanding of the characters and why they do the things they do. I love to read topics like this and more importantly I love when they are written about. It may not be much but everytime it is written about -especially well- or talked about, it removes a tiny bit more of the sigma involved and hopefully makes it easier for even just one more person to come forward and say are not going to live with abuse anymore.
My cousin is the head of Families living Violence Free in my hometown. This book may be of value to her and her co-workers.
Seems like an interesting, realistic tale of family. Can’t wait to read it.
I am a nurse and work often with clients from abusive backgrounds. I think this book would be very helpful.
I really enjoy mother/daughter and generational family stories. Thank you for a chance to receive the gift of reading.
Thank you for a chance to support my reading habit.
May this story inspire us all to make the changes necessary in our lives to be strong, amazing women.
I love books that cover generations of a family and show how the characters have the strength to overcome what has been inflicted on them in the past.
Many thanks to everyone who posted. We love hearing your thoughts. This giveaway offer ended 9/3/10, but we still want to know what you think of this powerful story about strong women. Keep your comments coming!
I would love to read this book in its entirety. Thank you for the chance.
Like Mother, like daughter, this I know too well. I would like to read Color Me Butterfly, the first novel and winner of eight awards, by L.Y. Marlow. Then I would donate it to W.E.A.V.E. or to the Main Library , to be put into circulation among the branches.
My grandmother went through this, so did my mother and unfortunatly so did I. I would love to read this book and also would love any advice on how to emotionally move past all of this. I have been out for 17 years and I am still haunted by it.
Definitely a book that I will buy (if I don’t win it)…. this type of brutality can have such devastating effects not only on the female children who witness their mothers being beaten by their fathers, but also a long lasting devastation on the male children. My mother was tortured by my father, I, by the grace of God am able to function pretty normally and be a healthy adult. My younger brother, sadly, continues to struggle with his confidence and battles with drugs on and off. Never mind that he cannot function as a father to his children.
Sounds like a powerful message. In this day and age, after so many years since having the right to vote, to go to school and become doctors, lawyers etc. and a number of equalities, it seems somewhat of a mystery to a number of people how domestic abuse could still exist to the extent that it does today. This looks to be an informative book as I suspect there are a number of people who may not know a number of things that could/would qualify as domestic abuse. If my email is not a winner than may a copy of this book find itsself in the hands of someone who deeply needs it.
I cannot wait until I get to read this novel. I too was in an abusive situation. I have two daughters and everyday pray that they will not follow in those footsteps. One has a alcoholic husband and the other as someone that is not responsible and spontanious. Also, they have children which are highly impacted by a situation like this. Now I volunteer for a domestic violence and sexual assault hotline which has helped me cope with past experiences.
My daughter is a domestic violence counselor. I can’t wait to read this and pass it on to her. It looks like it will bring home for me what she sees and does each day!
Abuse is not a behaviour that we are born with!
It is a learned behaviour & as such can be “un-learned”!
Tragically this is what happens when women marry, or enter into relationships with, “men” who are like their fathers. & boys emulate their fathers behaviour & treat their women the way their fathers treated their mothers!
I have seen this continueally prepetuated in my own extended family, & no-one has yet to get a clue that what they are doing is wrong!
In depth look at human psyche.I know first hand what this cycle of abuse can do for generation. Glad that their is always one brave soul step forward to counter attack the viciousness of it all.
I’m glad someone has written about the issue. Respect for women is often not found in men who do not fear standing before Allah on the Day of Judgement. The least he could have done was realize his mistakes and made amends.
what a journey – I am in the middle now, I left my violent husband of 18 years, but my daughter struggles. Praise God there is HOPE for a better tomorrow
Four generations of women that cannot keep a man happy. Bitchiness must run in their genes.
This sounds like a book I would love to read. I love history, and generational books. The issue of abuse is never addressed enough in our society.
Sounds very interesting, I ask myself what changed the father’s behavior?