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danimain's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Miscarriage and Violence
kairhone's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, Blood, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death
betherinahq's review
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
aecherry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Miscarriage, and Suicide
antoniac's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, Mental illness, and War
mtnest's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Confinement, Classism, War, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Suicide, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
abbie234's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Torture, Animal death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Violence, and War
Prisoner of warthatokiebird's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? No
4.75
Miss Benson's Beetle is a historical fiction novel by Rachel Joyce which follows the adventure of two polar-opposite women, Miss Benson and Miss Pretty, who find themselves together traveling "halfway across the world" in search of a golden beetle that does not yet exist. I enjoy Rachel Joyce's writing immensely, and this book is high up there in her strongest works.
Throughout the book, we delve into the world of entomology, 1950's London and post-war culture, stalking and crime, and above all the friendship between two women. The fact that this book was not a love story but instead based its main relationship on a friendship makes it so intriguing and strong. We listened to the audiobook version narrated by Juliet Stevenson and she did a stellar job at really embodying each individual character - just as well as Rachel Joyce did at writing their individual voices.
Personally I could have done without the subplot of the POW character dealing with all-consuming inner demons while stalking Miss Benson to her destination. It all just seemed like a fairly unnecessary way to add a thriller element to the journey. Especially considering how the ending transpired.
Throughout the book, we delve into the world of entomology, 1950's London and post-war culture, stalking and crime, and above all the friendship between two women. The fact that this book was not a love story but instead based its main relationship on a friendship makes it so intriguing and strong. We listened to the audiobook version narrated by Juliet Stevenson and she did a stellar job at really embodying each individual character - just as well as Rachel Joyce did at writing their individual voices.
Personally I could have done without the subplot of the POW character dealing with all-consuming inner demons while stalking Miss Benson to her destination. It all just seemed like a fairly unnecessary way to add a thriller element to the journey. Especially considering how the ending transpired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Miscarriage, Murder, Stalking, Death of parent, and Mental illness
saphirabloom's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Suicide, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
backpackingbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Turns out this isn't a story about a woman and her VW Beetle as initially expected, but an adventurous and heartwarming/breaking tale of two brave and inspiring women who travel to the other side of the world in the hunt for an elusive gold beetle - an insect Margery has been fascinated with ever since her father pointed it out in a book of wondrous creatures when she was a child. Margery and her free-spirited assistant, Enid, form an unlikely friendship after experiencing a stomach-churning boat ride, a mild police chase in a foreign country, a naked swim up a mountain, and a ravaging storm (also up a mountain).
The pair complement one another perfectly, with Enid bringing endless optimism and rash/illegal decision-making, while Margery is stoic, rational and practical. While I expected this to be a light, quirky, and witty read, I was surprised to find it took quite a toll on my emotions. While it was action-packed and hilarious in parts, it was also distressing and sad, exploring themes of PTSD, abuse, and neglect. It was character-driven but also had a really strong plotline that, from the outset might sound a little bland (who really cares about beetles? - you will after reading this), but turned out to be fascinating and engaging. It is Margery's vocation to find the beetle and you find yourself rooting for her to achieve her life goal that she, at 46, felt so sure was unattainable.
Female friendship is the biggest theme in this book and I was absolutely here for it. It's one of my favourite themes, even more so if it's an unlikely friendship of two polar opposite personalities. I was even more enamoured by the story and characters after reading the author's note about how this book came to be - definitely stick around for that part as it's so worth reading.
This is the second book I've read by Rachel Joyce and sure won't be my last. As with Harold, there were unforgettable characters, hilarious one-liners, and one big adventure.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.5
Writing style/readability - 4.6
Characters - 4.6
Diverse themes - 4.5
Ending - 4.6
Overall - 4.6
The pair complement one another perfectly, with Enid bringing endless optimism and rash/illegal decision-making, while Margery is stoic, rational and practical. While I expected this to be a light, quirky, and witty read, I was surprised to find it took quite a toll on my emotions. While it was action-packed and hilarious in parts, it was also distressing and sad, exploring themes of PTSD, abuse, and neglect. It was character-driven but also had a really strong plotline that, from the outset might sound a little bland (who really cares about beetles? - you will after reading this), but turned out to be fascinating and engaging. It is Margery's vocation to find the beetle and you find yourself rooting for her to achieve her life goal that she, at 46, felt so sure was unattainable.
Female friendship is the biggest theme in this book and I was absolutely here for it. It's one of my favourite themes, even more so if it's an unlikely friendship of two polar opposite personalities. I was even more enamoured by the story and characters after reading the author's note about how this book came to be - definitely stick around for that part as it's so worth reading.
This is the second book I've read by Rachel Joyce and sure won't be my last. As with Harold, there were unforgettable characters, hilarious one-liners, and one big adventure.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.5
Writing style/readability - 4.6
Characters - 4.6
Diverse themes - 4.5
Ending - 4.6
Overall - 4.6
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Mental illness