Miss Benson's Beetle
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- Create Date：2021-04-06 11:54:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Rachel Joyce
- ISBN：0552779482
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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。
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。
Reviews
Rena
，
I wasn't expecting much from this book， and to begin with I just found it 'charming'。 But it quickly morphed into something much more than that， and this has become a book that will live in my mind， like real memories。 I wasn't expecting much from this book， and to begin with I just found it 'charming'。 But it quickly morphed into something much more than that， and this has become a book that will live in my mind， like real memories。 。。。more
Susan
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4 stars。 Wonderful book
Thebookplace
，
Definitiv ein Highlight des Jahres！！！😍
Renata
，
This one is a tough one to describe without giving anything away。 Suffice it to say that the story of an unlikely friendship through chance and misunderstandings touched me deeply and profoundly。 Courage， stubbornness and gumption joined these two very different yet similar women。 A journey of a lifetime filled with danger， silliness， slapstick funny， disappointment， sadness and survival。 I won't forget this book for a long time。 If someone should ever tell me that I 'd better not， or I can't or This one is a tough one to describe without giving anything away。 Suffice it to say that the story of an unlikely friendship through chance and misunderstandings touched me deeply and profoundly。 Courage， stubbornness and gumption joined these two very different yet similar women。 A journey of a lifetime filled with danger， silliness， slapstick funny， disappointment， sadness and survival。 I won't forget this book for a long time。 If someone should ever tell me that I 'd better not， or I can't or shouldn't - I'll remember this story of two brave， unforgettable women and I will。 。。。more
Erin
，
I liked the two main characters， but they are also annoying。 Also there's really a lot of suffering that goes on - several times one or the other would definitely have died in the jungle。 But if you really like brit-flavored whimsy then the book might score higher with you than it did with me。 If I wasn't picturing Miranda Hart （looking older） playing Miss Benson the whole time I might have quit during the long bout of puking aboard ship。 I liked the two main characters， but they are also annoying。 Also there's really a lot of suffering that goes on - several times one or the other would definitely have died in the jungle。 But if you really like brit-flavored whimsy then the book might score higher with you than it did with me。 If I wasn't picturing Miranda Hart （looking older） playing Miss Benson the whole time I might have quit during the long bout of puking aboard ship。 。。。more
Kati Mau
，
Dieses Buch lässt mich sehr bewegt zurück。 Es ist ein Abenteuerroman， der unglaublich warmherzig von den beiden Einzelgängerinnen Margery Benson （Lehrerin， groß， grobknochig， unbeholfen， einsam） und Enid Pretty （ein kleines schmales Blondchen， eine Quasselstrippe mit Rechtschreibdefiziten） erzählt， die gegensätzlicher nicht sein können und doch zu besten Freundinnen werden。 Auch wenn es bis dahin ein bisschen dauert und der Weg sehr holprig ist。 Ich habe sie gern begleitet， habe herzlich gelacht Dieses Buch lässt mich sehr bewegt zurück。 Es ist ein Abenteuerroman， der unglaublich warmherzig von den beiden Einzelgängerinnen Margery Benson （Lehrerin， groß， grobknochig， unbeholfen， einsam） und Enid Pretty （ein kleines schmales Blondchen， eine Quasselstrippe mit Rechtschreibdefiziten） erzählt， die gegensätzlicher nicht sein können und doch zu besten Freundinnen werden。 Auch wenn es bis dahin ein bisschen dauert und der Weg sehr holprig ist。 Ich habe sie gern begleitet， habe herzlich gelacht und bitter geweint。 Ich werde beide Protagonistinnen in Erinnerung behalten。Es ist eine Ode an den Mut und die Freundschaft und an das Vertrauen - reizend， liebevoll， humorvoll， emotional， ironisch， hinreißend， ergreifend！ 。。。more
Miriam
，
A story about two women who travel to the other side of the world to find a golden beetle; their friendship and unlikely encounters are moving and inspirational。
Chula Gray
，
Anyone who's read Elizabeth Gilbert's Signature of All Things will find this tale very similar。 Although Signature remains a favored read， Rachel Joyce's Miss Benson's Beetle was satisfying with it's suspense and lively characters。 Anyone who's read Elizabeth Gilbert's Signature of All Things will find this tale very similar。 Although Signature remains a favored read， Rachel Joyce's Miss Benson's Beetle was satisfying with it's suspense and lively characters。 。。。more
Kim
，
I received this book for the adult box in November from Once Upon A Book Club。 I had thought I made my switch to the young adult。 Sadly not。 Anyway， this book was not my cup of tea so I spent all day reading it to be done with it。 It was a slow book for someone who prefers action in their books。 The characters were seriously flawed as well。 But it had a satisfying conclusion。 The book is mostly told from the POV of Miss Margery Bensen， who fed up with her boring and unfulfilling existence sets o I received this book for the adult box in November from Once Upon A Book Club。 I had thought I made my switch to the young adult。 Sadly not。 Anyway， this book was not my cup of tea so I spent all day reading it to be done with it。 It was a slow book for someone who prefers action in their books。 The characters were seriously flawed as well。 But it had a satisfying conclusion。 The book is mostly told from the POV of Miss Margery Bensen， who fed up with her boring and unfulfilling existence sets on a course to fulfill her childhood dreams of discovering the Golden beetle of New Caledonia。 It starts out in 1950 London where rationing is still happening after the war。 She gets the most unlikely assistant possible who annoys her to no end， and forms an unlikely friendship with her。 Mostly， the book had me bored out of my mind。But。 Positives:1。 Our two main characters do grow significantly as people over the 6 （ish） months of the book。2。 There was a slight bit of excitement with the secondary story line involving the man who wanted to be her assistant。3。 I did end up connecting with the characters enough that I was sad towards the end。4。 The ending was good。Negatives: 1。 So slow paced it could have been summarized in 1 page。2。 Seriously？ About beetles？ I skimmed a bit。 。。。more
Christina Marie
，
I really had a hard time decided how to rate this。 I didn’t live the writing style， I had a hard time getting into the story。 For me it was one of those stay up all night page turners。 It was just okay。 But then the ending， hated the ending。 That’s why I gave it a two instead of a three。
Nancy
，
Miss Benson's Beetle was a non-stop trip through a fairy tale combination of adventure， drama， and life lessons。 Rachel Joyce conjured an unlikely pair who both entertained and endeared themselves to me as I raced through the book。 Joyce's telling of the tale is filled with wisdom and curiosity。 Young Margery Benson nurtured a passion for entomology and an obsession over a golden beetle believed to live in the jungles of New Caledonia， a Pacific island。 but the flame went out as she was cared fo Miss Benson's Beetle was a non-stop trip through a fairy tale combination of adventure， drama， and life lessons。 Rachel Joyce conjured an unlikely pair who both entertained and endeared themselves to me as I raced through the book。 Joyce's telling of the tale is filled with wisdom and curiosity。 Young Margery Benson nurtured a passion for entomology and an obsession over a golden beetle believed to live in the jungles of New Caledonia， a Pacific island。 but the flame went out as she was cared for by two maiden aunts。 At middle age she was a tired， overweight teacher。 One day the students made fun of her and she snapped！ Not only could she not take it any more but she took a life-changing leap into a daring adventure to find a golden beetle known to her through a favorite childhood book。 To pull it off， she interviews for an assistant to help in the journey to New Caledonia。 As a last resort she finally hires Edith Pretty， a chatterbox who is as petite and lively as Margery is awkward and lumbering。 One of the applicants， Mr。 Mundic， is a very damaged soul who survived the prison camps in Burma during World War ll。 Mundic fantasizes that he will lead the expedition and stalks them on ships， in dusty villages， and thick jungles。 The expedition is a roller coaster of hilarity and dark emotions as the two novices struggle and thrive hunting for beetles through tall jungle thickets， mosquito swarms， and cyclones。 They seem safely though perilously hidden in a makeshift cabin until some of Edith's past mistakes and survival strategies catch up with them。 Margery reaches down into her heart that has so long been locked up to find courage， compassion， and love。 How it all comes together is for you， the reader， to laugh and cry over。 。。。more
Missy
，
I really hate bugs。 Beetles are my second most-hated bugs （moths are at the top of the list）。 So a book about beetles had a significant hurdle。 However， this was greatly offset by the setting of post WWII England， a particular favorite。Miss Benson's Beetle was a delightful surprise。 First among the delights is the humor; there are laugh-out-loud moments。 Another delight is the plot， which is fast-paced with a bit of suspense and a twist or two。 The characters are especially original， eccentric， I really hate bugs。 Beetles are my second most-hated bugs （moths are at the top of the list）。 So a book about beetles had a significant hurdle。 However， this was greatly offset by the setting of post WWII England， a particular favorite。Miss Benson's Beetle was a delightful surprise。 First among the delights is the humor; there are laugh-out-loud moments。 Another delight is the plot， which is fast-paced with a bit of suspense and a twist or two。 The characters are especially original， eccentric， yet authentic。 There is great humanity in the midst of this wild tale。 Finally， one of my favorite elements in a book is a twist or surprise in the end。 Miss Benson's Beetle did not disappoint in any regard。 Plus， very little graphic beetle content。 。。。more
Mandy Eve-Barnett
，
Absolutely loved this book！ Great characters， story， tension， discovery and the power of finding your true self。 The descriptions transported you to the locations。I thoroughly recommend it。
Nancy
，
What an odd and wonderful story。 I have so much to say about this but I don't want to say any of it。 I just want you to read it。 And ask yourself， what are you carrying and what would change in your life if you put those things down and let them go？ What an odd and wonderful story。 I have so much to say about this but I don't want to say any of it。 I just want you to read it。 And ask yourself， what are you carrying and what would change in your life if you put those things down and let them go？ 。。。more
Katie
，
This book kept cropping up on 'to read' lists， so I delved in， not really knowing what to expect。 It really gripped and intrigued me from the first page。 The characters jump off the page and despite flaws， are all extremely likeable。 The storyline was far more exciting and off the wall than I expected from the blurb。 I was expecting something more thought provoking and serious。 However， the journey was unexpected， hilarious at times and touching。 I really felt as if I was on the journey with Mar This book kept cropping up on 'to read' lists， so I delved in， not really knowing what to expect。 It really gripped and intrigued me from the first page。 The characters jump off the page and despite flaws， are all extremely likeable。 The storyline was far more exciting and off the wall than I expected from the blurb。 I was expecting something more thought provoking and serious。 However， the journey was unexpected， hilarious at times and touching。 I really felt as if I was on the journey with Margery and Enid， the author did an excellent job of making me feel their fatigue， frustration and worry。 I was left feeling like a sense of loss when the book finished， as I did not want it to end。I am now going to seek out Rachel's other work。Highly recommend！ 。。。more
Dawn Murray
，
Five big stars！ I loved this book。 I got about halfway and then just stayed up until the wee hours to finish it， cheering these two on chapter after chapter。 I adored the transformation that happened from beginning to end， and the ending was just perfect。 It’s mind boggling to me that someone could write a book about someone going on a trip to search for a beetle that doesn’t exist， but here it is， and it’s a bit of a masterpiece in my opinion。 “Enid was the most alive thing Margery had ever met Five big stars！ I loved this book。 I got about halfway and then just stayed up until the wee hours to finish it， cheering these two on chapter after chapter。 I adored the transformation that happened from beginning to end， and the ending was just perfect。 It’s mind boggling to me that someone could write a book about someone going on a trip to search for a beetle that doesn’t exist， but here it is， and it’s a bit of a masterpiece in my opinion。 “Enid was the most alive thing Margery had ever met。 Like grabbing hold of an electric current 。”“But it was by continuing to focus on small rewards that Margery got through the next few days。 A comb of sunlight cutting between trees。 Another bathing pool。 The time her foot slipped， and she didn’t fall。”“It struck her again: a life was such a short thing。 All those things people carried， and struggled to carry， yet one day they would disappear， and so would the suffering inside them， and all that would be left was this。 The trees， the moon， the dark。”A perfect pandemic book， that swept me up and carried me along。 A quirky， funny， gorgeous read。 。。。more
Biljana
，
I've read a number of books by this author and have enjoyed her quirky characters and stories， but haven't totally loved any of them until this one。 Miss Benson's Beetle is a gem of a book。 This novel follows the story of Margery Benson。 At the beginning of 1950， she is working as a schoolteacher and is quite lost and unhappy。 After a little breakdown， she decides to follow her childhood dream to find and document the golden beetle of New Caledonia。 She sets sail for New Caledonia with an assist I've read a number of books by this author and have enjoyed her quirky characters and stories， but haven't totally loved any of them until this one。 Miss Benson's Beetle is a gem of a book。 This novel follows the story of Margery Benson。 At the beginning of 1950， she is working as a schoolteacher and is quite lost and unhappy。 After a little breakdown， she decides to follow her childhood dream to find and document the golden beetle of New Caledonia。 She sets sail for New Caledonia with an assistant。 Of course， as is typical for Margery's life， things have not worked out as expected and her assistant is the opposite of her: young， pretty， and ready for adventure and fun。 Although they have a tough start to their trip， the two women begin to develop an appreciation for one another as they experience various hardships and fun as they pursue the elusive golden beetle。 I enjoyed the quirks of both of the characters and their expedition to find the golden beetle。 It was not a perfect book， but I loved it enough to round up to 5 stars。 Thanks to NetGalley， the author， and Random House for an opportunity to read an e-galley。 。。。more
Briel
，
I loved this book。 What an interesting， unexpected journey I went on with Miss Benson。 Some laugh-out-loud moments。 Some heartbreaking moments。 And some moments of incredible beauty。 Yes please。
Eightlegs
，
An original storyline and， as always from Rachel Joyce， a great read
Allison
，
I have really strong mixed feelings about this book。 There were elements of the main plot that were transcendent and beautiful， but there were parts that were a lot darker than expected。 The side plot involved （view spoiler）[a stalking situation with a war veteran that was really tough to read and cast a pall over the whole thing because I was afraid of where it was headed。。。and I wasn't far off （hide spoiler）]。 I have really strong mixed feelings about this book。 There were elements of the main plot that were transcendent and beautiful， but there were parts that were a lot darker than expected。 The side plot involved （view spoiler）[a stalking situation with a war veteran that was really tough to read and cast a pall over the whole thing because I was afraid of where it was headed。。。and I wasn't far off （hide spoiler）]。 。。。more
Knitgrr
，
A one-of-a-kind book， that starts out deceptively benignly and then surprises you。
Joelle
，
What a beautiful story about friendship and following your dreams。 Laughed out loud a few times。 Written with heart。
Anna
，
Though it took me a minute to get into this book， I'm so glad I stuck with it。 Really enjoyable。 Though it took me a minute to get into this book， I'm so glad I stuck with it。 Really enjoyable。 。。。more
Sally Stanton
，
This was really a 5 star listen on an entertainment level。 I was totally engrossed in these the two ladies， laughing and crying all the way thorough。 The narration was perfect。 I wonder how it would be to read all of Enid's bantering throughout the novel because listening to her became a delight！ It's a very cute story and an adventure told through different points of view。 There is enough reflecting on the past to explain the basis of the characters but a little mystery left to keep you reading This was really a 5 star listen on an entertainment level。 I was totally engrossed in these the two ladies， laughing and crying all the way thorough。 The narration was perfect。 I wonder how it would be to read all of Enid's bantering throughout the novel because listening to her became a delight！ It's a very cute story and an adventure told through different points of view。 There is enough reflecting on the past to explain the basis of the characters but a little mystery left to keep you reading on。 Only 4 stars， as the ending just didn't feel as gratifying as I would have liked。 I listened to the last chapter twice to see if I missed something。 I didn't enjoy the POW's story very much and was happy that there wasn't too much time dedicated to him。 He ended up crucial to the ending which is why I felt a bit disappointed。 。。。more
Tracy
，
This review is for the audio version which was so well done I have to wonder if I would have enjoyed this book as much had I read the print version instead。 The narrator really brought these characters to life in a way I don't think I could have imagined otherwise。 This is a heartwarming story as expected， but also a little darker and sadder than I thought it would be。 There were a few things that bothered me， that I questioned - some unlikely luck， but mostly Mr。 Mundic's whole arc - that I thi This review is for the audio version which was so well done I have to wonder if I would have enjoyed this book as much had I read the print version instead。 The narrator really brought these characters to life in a way I don't think I could have imagined otherwise。 This is a heartwarming story as expected， but also a little darker and sadder than I thought it would be。 There were a few things that bothered me， that I questioned - some unlikely luck， but mostly Mr。 Mundic's whole arc - that I think would have been been bigger distraction had I not listened instead of read。 I think maybe Mundic's character was to show both the horrors of war and what happens when we are left to navigate life alone。 Because I'm still thinking abut that， I'm keeping that fourth star。I was able to totally escape into this story about damaged people， a reckless adventure， and the power of friendship。 I don't think it ever hurts to be reminded we can turn out lives upside down and start over or that friendship is sometimes found in the unlikeliest of people。 。。。more
Julie
，
4。5One word: charming。 Quirky， adorable， and like-able characters。 A fun and unexpected plot。 An adorable story of a strong friendship， resilience， and love。 Recommend！
Mindi
，
Who would have thought an exploration to look for a gold beetle in New Caledonia would’ve been such a fun book to read？
Sheryl Dougherty
，
I absolutely loved this， from the tragedy to the adventure to the intrigue to the depth of all the characters。 It started of as a fun adventure with two quirky characters with nothing in common but quickly knitted itself into something so much more。
DeAnna
，
Ran out of time to finish this before it had to go back to the library。 It just never really grabbed my interest。
Anna Burgess
，
I enjoyed this but then I do like Rachel Joyce's writing。 A wonderful story about a developing friendship and finding yourself in a time of crisis。 I thought it was lovely。 I enjoyed this but then I do like Rachel Joyce's writing。 A wonderful story about a developing friendship and finding yourself in a time of crisis。 I thought it was lovely。 。。。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