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skylarkblue1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Representations: https://trello.com/c/QAC6AKWA/107-miss-bensons-beetle-by-rachel-joyce
CONTENT WARNING NOTES: I have no idea why people haven't been tagging this with graphic animal death and fatphobia, both are very graphic, very detailed and very much on-page. The animal death especially was really bad as it was also pet related. Hopefully sending a quick email to storygraph overrules that and adds them to the main page as that's 2 of the biggest content warnings of this book. If you write a review and add content warnings, either add them all or none at all.
I didn't think I'd like it this much when I started, but I really grew to love the 2 main MCs and really was with them for their adventure! The only thing I'm still not too sure about is the stalking sub-plot... I don't think the book needed it in all honesty. Every time it went to Mundic's POV it just felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over.
I really liked the characters - except Mundic lmao - and despite being a bit weary at first I really liked Enid's and Margery by the end and grew to appreciate them through the book. There's really strong character development through the 2 women bonding and becoming firm friends and I really liked how their (platonic) relationship grew. I also appreciated that despite a lot of talks around past relationships and such, there's no actual on-page romance which was a very nice breath of fresh air.
Mundic was both complicated, and very 2D feeling. His whole character was this prisoner of war, PTSD troubled man and every chapter from him was just this breakdown of all his delusions and mental health just snapping. I honestly think this book would be almost perfect if he was either removed, or his chapters where removed and we didn't see his POV - I think that would have made the ending a lot more impactful... cause honestly even with his POV chapters I don't really know what the point of his character is.
The story was really good, I loved reading a realistic adventure - I can't really think of any books like this that I've read and honestly I want more! Normally when I read an adventure book, it's fantasy and mainly middle grade, so an adult adventure book seeking beetles was really quite interesting to me. Though I do wish there was more on the actual searching part, that was quite little compared to the rest, they where some of my favourite parts! The main story is just about the 2 women trying to survive, trying to work out what their true goals are and what they care most about in life. Alongside the mysteries of who people actually are....
The themes where quite obvious, it was nice to have a book a about female empowerment and friendship without romance getting in the way though. Morally grey women and impulsive actions was pretty fun to read - though I still have some questions about stuff that happened like at the very start.. what *did* happen with Marge quitting the school? Was that just a mental breakdown?
I think it's set up to have twists, but the way information is provided it's pretty obvious while reading without thinking that much who is who and who's done what. But the story beats towards the end doesn't lean that much on them being a surprise so it doesn't matter that much. I found this to be quite a quick read, I read through it in a couple sittings, it was a pretty easy read as well which was quite nice.
CONTENT WARNING NOTES: I have no idea why people haven't been tagging this with graphic animal death and fatphobia, both are very graphic, very detailed and very much on-page. The animal death especially was really bad as it was also pet related. Hopefully sending a quick email to storygraph overrules that and adds them to the main page as that's 2 of the biggest content warnings of this book. If you write a review and add content warnings, either add them all or none at all.
I didn't think I'd like it this much when I started, but I really grew to love the 2 main MCs and really was with them for their adventure! The only thing I'm still not too sure about is the stalking sub-plot... I don't think the book needed it in all honesty. Every time it went to Mundic's POV it just felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over.
I really liked the characters - except Mundic lmao - and despite being a bit weary at first I really liked Enid's and Margery by the end and grew to appreciate them through the book. There's really strong character development through the 2 women bonding and becoming firm friends and I really liked how their (platonic) relationship grew. I also appreciated that despite a lot of talks around past relationships and such, there's no actual on-page romance which was a very nice breath of fresh air.
Mundic was both complicated, and very 2D feeling. His whole character was this prisoner of war, PTSD troubled man and every chapter from him was just this breakdown of all his delusions and mental health just snapping. I honestly think this book would be almost perfect if he was either removed, or his chapters where removed and we didn't see his POV - I think that would have made the ending a lot more impactful... cause honestly even with his POV chapters I don't really know what the point of his character is.
The story was really good, I loved reading a realistic adventure - I can't really think of any books like this that I've read and honestly I want more! Normally when I read an adventure book, it's fantasy and mainly middle grade, so an adult adventure book seeking beetles was really quite interesting to me. Though I do wish there was more on the actual searching part, that was quite little compared to the rest, they where some of my favourite parts! The main story is just about the 2 women trying to survive, trying to work out what their true goals are and what they care most about in life. Alongside the mysteries of who people actually are....
The themes where quite obvious, it was nice to have a book a about female empowerment and friendship without romance getting in the way though. Morally grey women and impulsive actions was pretty fun to read - though I still have some questions about stuff that happened like at the very start.. what *did* happen with Marge quitting the school? Was that just a mental breakdown?
I think it's set up to have twists, but the way information is provided it's pretty obvious while reading without thinking that much who is who and who's done what. But the story beats towards the end doesn't lean that much on them being a surprise so it doesn't matter that much. I found this to be quite a quick read, I read through it in a couple sittings, it was a pretty easy read as well which was quite nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Colonisation, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: War, Miscarriage, and Gun violence
littlelizzieborden's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Bullying, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Violence, Self harm, Colonisation, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, War, Death of parent, and Homophobia
betherinahq's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book! The two main characters were so loveable and their unlikely friendship was just so wonderful to witness developing over the pages.
I love how Rachel Joyce has this way of writing such uplifting fiction without being too twee or trite. I think it’s because the main characters, while loveable, carry a sadness with them that we all do with every life experience we unlock.
Like Harold Fry, she uses the “journey” style story to get these two women, who were born in an era where women didn’t travel the world in search for rare beetles, to reconcile their pasts and become empowered.
A really good read!
I love how Rachel Joyce has this way of writing such uplifting fiction without being too twee or trite. I think it’s because the main characters, while loveable, carry a sadness with them that we all do with every life experience we unlock.
Like Harold Fry, she uses the “journey” style story to get these two women, who were born in an era where women didn’t travel the world in search for rare beetles, to reconcile their pasts and become empowered.
A really good read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Torture, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, War, Classism, Colonisation, and Animal death
motleybooksandtea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Infertility
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, War, Stalking, Animal death, and Fatphobia
Minor: Blood
lostinthelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was essentially a female version of the odd couple adventure story which is, disappointingly, a rarity. The (platonic) relationship between the two main characters is really at the heart of this book and both of them were so well realised as were some of the secondary characters like Mrs Poe. While the plot was a bit farfetched, it was fun and engaging. I laughed, I cried, I had a great time devouring this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Murder, Fatphobia, Animal death, Blood, and War
accovino's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really didn't care for this. Every time it started to get charming it got frustrating again. I don't care for the way the author writes about being a "big" woman, I don't like the way she writes about PTSD or dyslexia, I absolutely don't like how she uses slurs, and I don't think "Well it's set in a different time" doesn't fly with me.
<Spoiler>
I 100% expected Enid to die in childbirth. She's not fleshed-out in any way, and it really feels as if the author thinks she's too damaged to thrive. Margery needed a reason to live, so Enid made her one. Margery is sad and broken and pathetic, until there's a baby, and then her life is changed forever! She never knew what love was! Can I tell you how much I hate that trope? Women only exist to have babies. Enid certainly did. Our lives are meaningless without babies. Even though the author repeatedly states that Margery's purpose is the beetle, the narrative shows us otherwise. And I honestly don't even want to touch the character of a damaged POW more monster than human, such a horrible damaging stereotype of PTSD and mental illness. And the ENDING. Good lord. The female entomologist at the museum knows that the systemic and interpersonal sexism she's experiencing is her own fault because she laughs sometimes?? And the argument that oh, that's the CHARACTER thinking that, the AUTHOR doesn't think that, I don't buy, because if that's the case, SHOW ME. Don't leave it as, "Lean in!" </Spoiler>
<Spoiler>
I 100% expected Enid to die in childbirth. She's not fleshed-out in any way, and it really feels as if the author thinks she's too damaged to thrive. Margery needed a reason to live, so Enid made her one. Margery is sad and broken and pathetic, until there's a baby, and then her life is changed forever! She never knew what love was! Can I tell you how much I hate that trope? Women only exist to have babies. Enid certainly did. Our lives are meaningless without babies. Even though the author repeatedly states that Margery's purpose is the beetle, the narrative shows us otherwise. And I honestly don't even want to touch the character of a damaged POW more monster than human, such a horrible damaging stereotype of PTSD and mental illness. And the ENDING. Good lord. The female entomologist at the museum knows that the systemic and interpersonal sexism she's experiencing is her own fault because she laughs sometimes?? And the argument that oh, that's the CHARACTER thinking that, the AUTHOR doesn't think that, I don't buy, because if that's the case, SHOW ME. Don't leave it as, "Lean in!" </Spoiler>
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Vomit, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, Miscarriage, Infertility, Gun violence, Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
clarereadstheworld's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A lovely read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Vomit, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, and Panic attacks/disorders
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