Fiction

Miss Benson's Beetle

Miss Benson's Beetle

  • Downloads：6938
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-06-01 00:16:11
  • Update Date：2025-09-24
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Rachel Joyce
  • ISBN：0552779482
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

It is 1950。 In a devastating moment of clarity， Margery Benson abandons her dead-end job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition。 She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist。
Enid Pretty， in her unlikely pink travel suit， is not the companion Margery had in mind。 And yet together they will be drawn into an adventure that will exceed every expectation。 They will risk everything， break all the rules， and at the top of a red mountain， discover their best selves。

This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries。

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Reviews

Cheryl Stevens ，

Great story and written with the Rachel Joyce wit and compassion I love。

Kimberly ，

Margery lives a lonely， unfulfilled life in London。 She decides to go on an expedition to New Caledonia to hunt for a golden beetle。 She is joined by Enid， a conspicuous woman who has an entirely different view about the job。 The journey of these women is beautiful and I loved every moment of it。 There is a third character in this book who added lots of drama， but I personally felt the book would have been much better without him。I chose this book to be my vacation read， which normally would hav Margery lives a lonely， unfulfilled life in London。 She decides to go on an expedition to New Caledonia to hunt for a golden beetle。 She is joined by Enid， a conspicuous woman who has an entirely different view about the job。 The journey of these women is beautiful and I loved every moment of it。 There is a third character in this book who added lots of drama， but I personally felt the book would have been much better without him。I chose this book to be my vacation read， which normally would have been great， except this was a family vacation and my kids interrupted me hundreds of times。 I was determined to get through it though。 I finally finished it on the airplane five minutes before landing， my babies snoozing next to me。 。。。more

Kim Spadoni ，

Unusual。 Entertaining。 Strong females。 All about finding yourself and being true to yourself

Bubblestarlet ，

The story grabbed me from the outset and I felt like I was living it all with Marge and Enid。 There are ups and downs， and unexpected events and I enjoyed the adventure。 It's enjoyable to see how the relationship between the pair changes over time。 I never thought I would enjoy a book about beetles， but there you go！I had read another of this author's works， but hadn't been that impressed so I'd been hesitant about starting this one （which is why I'm late to the party on it）。 However， the fear w The story grabbed me from the outset and I felt like I was living it all with Marge and Enid。 There are ups and downs， and unexpected events and I enjoyed the adventure。 It's enjoyable to see how the relationship between the pair changes over time。 I never thought I would enjoy a book about beetles， but there you go！I had read another of this author's works， but hadn't been that impressed so I'd been hesitant about starting this one （which is why I'm late to the party on it）。 However， the fear was unfounded， and this really was a very enjoyable read。 4。5 stars 。。。more

Lynn ，

Delightful。 Funny and touching。 Ms Benson follows her passion and begins to truly live。

Hollyn ，

Heartwarming and life-affirming， but this novel is not the author at her best。 I adored Queenie Hennessy and greatly enjoyed Harold Fry， so I jumped at the chance to read Miss Benson’s Beetle。 Because of her previous work， I stuck with the plodding first third featuring rather unlikeable and I un-relatable （to me） characters。 The story finally got going and the ending was what I have come to expect from Rachel Joyce。

Robin Harriford ，

Such fun！ Especially good as an audiobook。

Jean Ash ，

I enjoyed this。 It was a topic that I have never read anything about before and I’m sure I never will - a hunt for a beetle on the other side of the world， plus somuch more。 Some of it was implausible and made me laugh out loud; some of it was spot on on how people would react。 I liked the writing style and I’m glad I read it。 I think the two main characters will remain with me for some time。

Dawn ，

Hell of an adventure！！

Heidi ，

Quirky and adventurous book that gets to the heart of true friendship。 Not at all what I expected it to be。 Plus I learned a lot about beetles as I expect the author did too LOL。 Very unique in plot and writing style and characters。 They are layered and so many bits and pieces of the past come out slowly。 Has a sad undercurrent which talks about how really devastating war can be。 Both to those who return and the families of those who never do。 That’s not really the plot point at all， but it cert Quirky and adventurous book that gets to the heart of true friendship。 Not at all what I expected it to be。 Plus I learned a lot about beetles as I expect the author did too LOL。 Very unique in plot and writing style and characters。 They are layered and so many bits and pieces of the past come out slowly。 Has a sad undercurrent which talks about how really devastating war can be。 Both to those who return and the families of those who never do。 That’s not really the plot point at all， but it certainly shapes some of the characters。 Make sure you read all the way to the end， including the fictionalized Q&A with the two main characters and the inspiration for the story in the first place， which was a photograph 。。。more

Nadine ，

2，5

Deb ，

I found this to be a fun book about never giving up on dreams and the value of female friendships。 The audio is a delightful listen。

Debbie ，

Margery Benson knows more about beetles than the children she teaches in London in the 1950’s。 She had almost forgotten her dream to find the gold-winged beetle her father had told her about until a humiliating classroom experience helped her re-imagine her life with an expedition to New Caledonia to find the elusive golden beetle。 What follows is a story about an unexpected friendship between the staid and reserved Miss Benson and the blond-haired beauty Enid Pretty she hired as her assistant。T Margery Benson knows more about beetles than the children she teaches in London in the 1950’s。 She had almost forgotten her dream to find the gold-winged beetle her father had told her about until a humiliating classroom experience helped her re-imagine her life with an expedition to New Caledonia to find the elusive golden beetle。 What follows is a story about an unexpected friendship between the staid and reserved Miss Benson and the blond-haired beauty Enid Pretty she hired as her assistant。This was the most enjoyable read I’ve had in a long time。 Rachel Joyce knows how to take you on a journey and fill it with heartache， humor， and hope。 If you need a page-turner that will keep you guessing about what these ladies will do next， this your next read。 。。。more

Samantha Bones ，

4。5 stars。 Fun and uplifting adventure story that charts a beautiful friendship between two very different women who both have dark secrets in their past。 Set in New Caledonia， which has moved to the top of my ‘to visit’ list once international borders re-open。

Laura Aase ，

An odd but enjoyable book！ Margery benson snaps one day at school， steals a pair of boots and never goes back。 She has decided to go to New Caledonia to search for the golden beetle。 Her journey is hair raising and life changing for her and her assistant Enid- from murder suspects to a crazy stranger following them the women grow physically and emotionally through their journey。 Humor and suspense and serious- enjoyable！

Margaret ，

Wasn’t to excited to read about bugs， but ended up loving this book。 More about adventure and friendships。 Wished the ending told more of the story。

Marypeitz ，

Although this book started slowly for me and the end was somewhat predictable， I grew to love the two women， especially Marjorie Benson。 The character of Mundick felt superfluous to me and not needed to tell the story。

Helen ，

I love Rachel Joyce。 No， she doesn't write nail biters， up-reading-all-nighters， goosebump creators or heart stoppers。 What she does write are human， caring， funny and warming books。 Like cosy slippers and a mug of chocolate。 More of the same please Ms Joyce。 Added benefit， I can give them to my aging father to read without him thinking his daughter is debauched。 I love Rachel Joyce。 No， she doesn't write nail biters， up-reading-all-nighters， goosebump creators or heart stoppers。 What she does write are human， caring， funny and warming books。 Like cosy slippers and a mug of chocolate。 More of the same please Ms Joyce。 Added benefit， I can give them to my aging father to read without him thinking his daughter is debauched。 。。。more

Courtney ，

（4。5 stars） Light and heart-warming。

Frannie ，

I loved this story！

Valerie ，

I love the way this author writes， she really has a way of encapsulating an emotion。 And then to have such a lovely actress narrate was a treat。 I could have done without the Mundic character but I understand that he was there as a plot device。

Sarah ，

A really enjoyable book about friendship and following one's destiny。 I will be certainly be reading more books written by Rachel Joyce in the near future。 I would highly recommend to other readers。 A really enjoyable book about friendship and following one's destiny。 I will be certainly be reading more books written by Rachel Joyce in the near future。 I would highly recommend to other readers。 。。。more

Jessica Cockburn ，

This is a fabulous book！ Strong woman， amazing natural setting， unexpected and wild adventure！ Love， kindness， friendship， intrigue。 All the best ingredients！

Mslogar ，

absolutely loved this book！"The quality of a life is defined not by its length， but by its depth， its actions， and achievements。 It is defined by our ability to love。" absolutely loved this book！"The quality of a life is defined not by its length， but by its depth， its actions， and achievements。 It is defined by our ability to love。" 。。。more

Miriam ，

i just loved the two quirky protagonists -- ladies of very different backgrounds who appeared to have nothing in common， but who became the very best of friends -- over the search for an elusive beetle。 this was a fabulous， heart-warming， entertaining and educating novel。 if you are looking for something a bit off the beaten track， this is the book for you。

Kathleen ，

A Unique reading experience

Annalee ，

Yeah， I liked it just fine。 The storyline was a bit wacky， but it didn’t cross over to ludicrous。

Susan ，

I wanted to recommend this book as a feel-good book but too many things happened to Marg and Enid that were sad and didn't always turn out right。 I wondered why Mr。 Mulbeck （sp？） had to be in it at all but there he is at the end， doing his part。 It's a book about friendships and how they make the world a better place。 I listened to this one and the narrator was great。 She sounded like Emma Thompson。 I wanted to recommend this book as a feel-good book but too many things happened to Marg and Enid that were sad and didn't always turn out right。 I wondered why Mr。 Mulbeck （sp？） had to be in it at all but there he is at the end， doing his part。 It's a book about friendships and how they make the world a better place。 I listened to this one and the narrator was great。 She sounded like Emma Thompson。 。。。more

Nancy Willard ，

Extremely enjoyable on audio！

Stacy ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This was a charming story with an unlikely friendship。 Where initial impressions are proved incorrect。 And where two women learn not only to accept who they are but to embrace it。 It’s London in the 1950s。 Margery Benson is in her mid-forties。 She is single， has no friends， no living family， and teaches domestic studies to students who make fun of her。 She is large， has a bad hip， and is not attractive。 Her father had introduced the idea of creatures who have not yet been discovered and fell in This was a charming story with an unlikely friendship。 Where initial impressions are proved incorrect。 And where two women learn not only to accept who they are but to embrace it。 It’s London in the 1950s。 Margery Benson is in her mid-forties。 She is single， has no friends， no living family， and teaches domestic studies to students who make fun of her。 She is large， has a bad hip， and is not attractive。 Her father had introduced the idea of creatures who have not yet been discovered and fell in love with a Golden Beetle。 That same day he received news that Margery’s four older brothers were all killed in the War。 Her father walked out his study and shot and killed himself。 She and her mother went to live with her aunts in London。 Her mother died when she was a teenager and about 10 years later her aunts died。 Before her mother died she had discovered the British Museum and found the insect room and was fascinated with all the beetles。 A man named Professor Smith observed her interest and took her under his wing。 She became his assistant and would help with his work and notes and lectures。 For 10 years she worked with him， he was about 20 years older than her and he would occasionally place his hand high on her leg。 Once her family had died she had money for an expedition。 She asked if they could go， she told him she loved him。 He told her he was married with kids。 She left and never went back。One day she was teaching and she saw a note the girls were passing。 It was a picture of her and the girls were clearly making fun of her。 She snapped。 She ran out of the school， snatching the VP （or deputy’s） books as she went。 She decided enough was enough and she was going to find her beetle。 She had done research while with Professor Smith and believed she would find it on an island called New Caledonia （near Australia） on a mountain with white orchids。 She put an ad out for an assistant while she began to make plans and gather supplies。She interviewed a man named Mundic who was a former Prisoner of War。 But he was clearly unhinged and he left the interview screaming at her。 A woman named Enid Pretty kept applying but couldn’t spell and would add items to the grocery list to the letter。 She met Miss Hamilton and they hit it off。 But then Miss Hamilton discovered Margery had stolen the books （the VP had filed a police report） and bailed at the last minute。 Desperate， she told Enid Pretty she was hired。 Enid Pretty showed up with too much luggage and wearing all the wrong clothes for an expedition。 Not to mention she didn’t have a passport。 But Enid is young and beautiful and able to convince people to help them。 They were on their way。Margery was desperately sea sick for the first few weeks。 Enid would help take care of her and spent the rest of her time with the other passengers on the ship。 Enid talked non-stop， left her things everywhere， and called Margery Marge。 She also had some odd behaviors， like she was convinced she was being followed， paranoid about the papers， and carefully guarded her red valise。 Margery couldn’t take her anymore and wanted her gone。 But then she learned Enid was pregnant when she showed up to the room covered in blood， she had lost the baby。 Margery can’t handle blood， raced from the room， lost her balance on the step and knocked herself out。This whole time， Mundic has been following Margery。 He is mentally unstable， definitely from his time as a POW but maybe even from birth。 He has convinced himself he is to lead her expedition。 He snuck onto the ship and he found her and brought her to the ship doctor。 He saved her life。Enid was pretty pissed at Margery for failing her when she needed help。 Margery felt horrible about it。 She started doing small things to help Enid。 But found herself shocked and upset when Enid decided to stay in Brisbane instead of going on with her。 She was going to fire Enid， but when Enid quit she realized she still needed her。 She found Enid in a camp with a man named Taylor。 Margery immediately realized this was a bad situation Enid was in。 She gave her money， told her when the seaplane was leaving， and asked for her to still come with her。 She was relieved when Enid showed up the next morning， she had managed to get away from Taylor。They arrived in New Calendonia but Margery’s luggage hadn’t arrived。 Instead they gave her a man’s suitcase。 Enid was desperate to keep them moving。 Margery was ready to give up。 But Enid showed up with the supplies Margery needed to find and collect her beetles。 And also showed up with a jeep to take them to the North side of the island。 Later Margery learned that Enid had stolen it all。 They get to the hut they rented， called Last Pace， and it was barely functional。 But again Enid took over and cleaned it top to bottom and got Margery ready to go find her beetle。 Margery had started wearing the men’s clothing from the wrong luggage and learned she found it quite comfortable。 The next few weeks were hard。 Fighting their way through the wilderness up the mountain。 Margery’s legs were covered with infected bug bites and her hip constantly hurt。 The going was tough。 But they started finding beetles， even beetles never discovered anymore。 But no golden beetle。 They got into a rhythm。 They’d spend some time on the mountain and come back to their hut to restock and document what they had done。 Enid had found a dog she adored and he went everywhere with her。 Boys from the nearby town would come check on them。 Enid and Margery had become friends。 Close friends。 They saw each others strengths and weaknesses and accepted them。 All Enid wanted was to become a mother。 All Margery wanted was to find her Golden beetle。 They didn’t understand each other’s vocations， but they understood how important it was to the other and accepted it。 Which was why they were both surprised when Enid announced that she was pregnant and she must not have lost the baby after all。 Enid also finally tells Margery what the reader had known for some time。 Enid’s real name was Nancy and she was wanted by the police for murdering her husband。 Enid explains that she loved her husband， but he was into ‘lads’ not ‘ladies’。 But that was ok with them both， and she also dallied with ‘the lads’。 She didn’t know who the father of her baby was。 Perce （her husband） lost his leg training men to fight in the war。 She took care of him for years but the pain made him crazy。 She came home to find he had cut himself and he was covered in blood， but not dead。 He begged her。 So she smothered him with a pillow。 And that was what was in the red valise， pillows。 Margery’s focused changed， it was about taking care of Enid so she would safely have her baby。 Enid thought it was due in May。 She went into labor in February。 It took her 2 days to have her baby and this time Margery didn’t pass out with the blood。 She named her daughter Gloria Benson， because she knew Margery would always be there for her。 And she was right， Margery had never been interested in children but immediately fell in love with Gloria。 Enid got sick after Gloria was born and refused to let Margery get a doctor。 After a few days Margery realized Enid was dying。 She would never forgive herself if she let Enid die because they were afraid of the police。 She carried Enid and Gloria to the jeep。 Margery had never driven before but figured it out and got them help。 The doctor operated on Enid （infected afterbirth still inside her） and treated Margery’s legs。 They had help from one of the British wives who lived on the island， but other wife had figured out who they were and they had to flee back to their hut。 They make arrangements for a boat to take them off the island。 Margery and Enid pack up。 But there is still a little time and Margery runs up her mountain one last time。 She gets lost in the mist and when it clears she finds herself surrounded by white orchids and golden beetles。 She had found them。 She laughed and celebrated as they landed all over her。 But Enid was right， she couldn’t kill one。 She watched them and ran back down to tell Enid but found Mundic waiting for her。He had been about a month behind them getting to the island。 And he was ill， constantly sick， but he had found them。 He had been watching them for awhile and had killed Enid’s dog before Gloria was born。 Margery had no idea who he was。 He was confused that she didn’t understand who he was and that HE was supposed to lead the expedition。 Margery finally remembered him。 She talked with him while Enid took Gloria into the kitchen， but Margery said the wrong thing and he pulled a gun on her。 Then Enid came flying out and hit him in the head with a pan。 She started throwing things at him。 He fought her off， grabbed her by the neck and threw her out the door。 Margery charged him。 Head butted him and blood was everywhere。 But he eventually crashed through the hole in the floor and Margery raced to Enid。 She knew immediately。 Enid was dead。We learn that Margery raised Gloria。 That Mundic had a broken neck and most likely died in the hospital。 That the British Museum would receive perfect specimens meticulously recorded that were sent from all over the world。 And this went on for 30 years。 Then a woman who worked there named Freya received a picture of two women。 The young woman was smiling and had what looked like a shiny beetle on her hand， and older woman with a cane was standing next to her。 The picture was titled The Golden Beetle of New Calendonia。 Freya packed her bags。As soon as Enid named her daughter Gloria Benson I knew Enid was going to die。 So I was at least ready for it。 I was surprised at how fond of these two characters I became。 I identified with Margery， and like Margery I found Enid annoying and careless and self-absorbed。 And like Margery I learned how wrong my first impression was and how amazing Enid was。 Of course I wish Enid hadn't died， but what I found to be the real tragedy is that Enid never learned that Margery had found the golden beetle。 But of course， Margery had already found so much more。。。 but still。 I loved this story of these women。 I loved that they decided to go for what they wanted more than anything and made it happen。 I loved the friendship that they made and how it changed them for the better。 Really charming story。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Miss Benson's Beetle

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Miss Benson's Beetle&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Miss Benson's Beetle&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0