Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

8 reviews

littlelizzieborden's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

3.75

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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

kairhone's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, Blood, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Moderate: Animal death

franklola's review against another edition

inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Stalking, Death, Animal death, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, and Misogyny

aargot1's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, Stalking, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide, Gun violence, War, Torture, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Homophobia

bobbijopmh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“We are not the things that happened to us. We can be what we like.”

A story of adventure across the world and finding your true vocation. 

This novel was not quite what I expected. I expected a light ‘book club’ type women’s adventure. But it was much more substantial than that. It’s somewhere between a crime caper, and adventure story, and a meaningful feminist journey of self-discovery. It’s about taking a risk to find what truly makes you happy. 

I enjoyed this book and read it quite quickly (2 days). The characters are well developed. The locations are described well enough that they begin to come to life. There is humour, and emotion, and suspense in just the right measures. As a nature lover I certainly enjoyed the entomology references too. 

Overall an easy four star read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Gun violence, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Torture

arcookson's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Stalking, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Animal death, Death, and Gun violence

berodatheelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

A great story about the power of female friendship

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicide, and Vomit

alicea's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

From the blurb, I was expecting a story of an unlikely female friendship that centered on a topic not often explored in fiction: entomology. And while that is most certainly the main theme of this book it is much more multifaceted than that. 

Margery Benson at one time in her life was determined to find a gold beetle that had never been officially catalogued or "discovered". But years pass and her dream remains unfulfilled. When she finally works up the courage to make the trip to the other side of the world she advertises for an assistant which is where Enid Pretty enters the story.  From the outset, it seems like this partnership is doomed to fail and that's before we realize there's terrible secrets on both sides. It's like the Odd Couple on steroids. 

So really this is a mystery thriller and historical literary fiction all rolled into one. And the incredibly short chapters make you feel like you're barrelling right along with these dynamic ladies. I don't want to say any more because I'd like you to experience it as I did: a rollicking ride with unexpected twists and turns. Get ready!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Confinement, and Gore

Moderate: Suicide, Medical content, and Miscarriage

Minor: Animal death