The Flitting is a work of pure magic. After his father receives a terminal cancer diagnosis during the early days of the pandemic, Masters spends the summer chasing butterflies as a way to connect with his ailing parent while he still can. Blending memoir and literary commentary with stories of Masters’ own encounters with butterflies, The Flitting is a beautifully written reminder of the importance of accepting others as they are, and of the wonders of nature. You may never look at a butterfly the same way after reading this.
The Flitting by Ben Masters, (List Price: $18.95, Tin House Books, 9781959030812, October 2024)
Reviewed by Jude Burke-Lewis, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi