top of page
  • Writer's picturebobsandbooks

Blog Tour: The Camel and The Butterfly, Michael Whitworth

It is my absolute pleasure to be on the tour for this poignant and beautiful read,



Detangling the plot:

All Thomas Mirren wants is a simple life. He’s an old man now, after all. On his ninetieth birthday, while selling poppies, Thomas interrupts two shoplifters. To get back at him, they start a rumour that the former soldier had never served in the army. Just an old man pretending to be a hero. But who would believe such a thing?


Ian Rogers is a journalist. Things are quiet in the office, but then one day, he’s handed a story: something about a military imposter. Someone is claiming that Thomas Mirren is a fraud. And it seems there’s no record of the old soldier either. Could there be something to it?


In a world where perception is reality, does the truth even matter anymore? Does the past matter? Well, it matters to Thomas Mirren, and it looks like his past is about to catch up with him.


Bobs and Books honest review:

As a book blogger, there is nothing more exciting than when you find an absolute gem and get to shout about how much you love it. This is 100% what has happened with me in this read.


From the opening few lines, I was captivated with this, and couldn't stop reading it. I was so emotionally invested in these characters from the off, something which rarely happens to me, particularly at that speed. Thomas is such an understated character, which makes him all the more warm, friendly and I still want to reach out and give him a hug. I totally recognise he wouldn't want all that fuss, but he deserves it.


This is a really unique angle of a book that touches on war but its framed it in such a different way which works to perfection. Poppy sellers are well known at this time of year and I don't think I've ever read a book about a poppy seller, particularly one that may or may not be a war hero. Hints of war through various characters are displayed, but this is very much a contemporary read in which memories echo as a character themselves.


The motifs of the camel and the butterfly are so delicately brought in, but when they are, its nice for the reader to link them back to the title.


There are so many truly lovely characters in this with good hearts, right intentions, moral dilemmas and community spirit. Of course you need a "baddie" or two to balance the books and I was certainly angry with those, but the story was driven by good, and being kind. I think its a wonderful read in that sense, and uplifting.


Poignant, vivid, perfection.


Out NOW.

26 views0 comments
bottom of page