NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A beautifully written, extraordinary quest in which two ordinary, overlooked women embark on an unlikely scientific expedition to the South Seas.”—Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an uplifting, irresistible novel about two women on a life-changing adventure, where they … a life-changing adventure, where they must risk everything, break all the rules, and discover their best selves—together.
She’s going too far to go it alone.
It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist—the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind. Fun-loving Enid Pretty in her tight-fitting pink suit and pom-pom sandals seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. But together these two British women find themselves drawn into a cross-ocean adventure that exceeds all expectations and delivers something neither of them expected to find: the transformative power of friendship.
Praise for Miss Benson’s Beetle
“A hilarious jaunt into the wilderness of women’s friendship and the triumph of outrageous dreams.”—Kirkus Reviews
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Miss Benson’s Beetle is a pure joyride. Sweet, witty, poignant, filled with intrigue and unlikely friendship, it’s a perfect escape. I loved it.
A beautifully written, extraordinary quest in which two ordinary, overlooked women embark on an unlikely scientific expedition to the South Seas.
Whatever you may look for in a novel — adventure, fully realized characters, humor, poignancy, a chance to learn something new — is all here in Miss Benson’s Beetle. What’s also here is the particular grace and humanity that Rachel Joyce brings to her work. She reminds us that we all are broken in one way or another, but that we are capable — oftentimes in unexpected ways — of helping to make ourselves and others whole. This beautifully written novel is an absolute delight.
Margery has had a sort of disappointing life. One day she decides that she has had enough. And she is going to go to New Caledonia to find her beloved beetle. She chooses an assistant to travel with her. Her assistant Enid is the complete opposite of her. She is infuriatingly annoying to Margery. But over time the pair forms an unlikely friendship. This whole book contained so many different emotions. It was both believable and unbelievable at times. It was both lovely and heartbreaking at some times
Oh, how I loved this book! It’s hard to imagine two women less likely to travel around the world of the 1950’s in search of a golden beetle, but awkward Margery Benson and the mysterious Enid Pretty turn out to be the most wonderful characters and I loved every moment I spent with them. Funny, poignant and thoughtful in so many ways, this is a book about women finding themselves – with and through each other. Read it!
Okay, I know this isn’t my usual pick. A story about two women in post-World War II London going halfway around the world to find a mythical golden beetle? I bought the book then waited a bit to read it, and am now mad I didn’t read it sooner. I LOVED this one, guys. LOVED! If you’re a fan of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, then you will love Margery and Enid in this book. Their quirky, fast-paced friendship makes this novel. By the end of the book, I didn’t want it to end. I could have kept reading for weeks! You’ll shed a few tears, but I promise the journey is one you won’t forget.
The “follow your dream” message set in a unique setting is not only entertaining and informative, but touching. Loved this book!
I’m still processing how I feel about this book. My reaction to it is similar to how I felt when I finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery — it’s now how I would have written (or ended) the story, but it’s still a good story. I doubt I’ll read the book again, but I’m glad I read it.
As a lover of character-driven fiction, this was a definite hit for me. I loved watching Miss Benson’s character change throughout the story. I also loved the humor of her contract with Enid. For all of those often-humorous exchanges, however, there were some very dark moments. It should be stated that this story addresses suicide and PTSD and their impact on the people around them. There are some very distinct high and low points in this book.
Overall, I’m glad I read it. I love Joyce’s balance of humor and seriousness — without her humorous touch, this would have been too hard of a book to read and enjoy. Because of it, however, I did enjoy the book.
If you enjoy Katie Powner’s writing or The Elegance of the Hedgehog, you might enjoy this book.
Rated PG-13 for content and language.
The story
It’s the 1950’s. Margery has lost all her family members. She lives alone and uninspired by life, teaches home economics to bored teen girls. One day she snaps, and decides to change her life. She makes plans to travel to the Pacific island of New Caledonia, and find the rumoured golden beetle. Her unlikely companion ends up being Enid Pretty. Distaste at first changes into mutual dependency, and the pair make an excellent team for the adventure.
My thoughts
I have read a few of Rachel Joyce’s previous books, the most well known of which is probably The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. This book has a similar sense of social ineptitude, not quite fitting in and yet the human spirit prevails. It’s a beautiful story of self discovery and drawing on inner strength from the other member of the team when you are weak. The bravery and strength of a journey like this (both physically and emotionally) in the 1950’s is remarkable. A super read that I recommend highly.
My favourite read this year.
Absolutely LOVED this book!!!
This book definitely took me by surprise! I started not knowing much about what to expect and the plot of this book and it definitely was worth reading. This is a beautiful story about pursuing your dreams, friendship, adventure, and a little or a lot of mystery.
This novel portrays the life of a middle aged woman, Majorie, in post war England that has always dreamed of finding a golden beetle, and decides to finally pursue her dream. To do so, she interviews several applicants to be her assistant and accompany her in her expedition. Among them, a young woman called Enid and a guy who has just returned to England after being prisoner of war, named Mundic.
Both applicants are hiding more than they are telling Marjorie, and this will create this sense of suspense and mystery throughout the book. I loved how well the author developed these characters, their emotional profile and their past; also how she was able to keep us hanging until the end. By the way wonderful ending that almost brought me to tears!
What an adventure – full of risks, surprises, courage, and forgiveness. This is a wonderful book with a heart of gold.
This was an interesting book with characters that have some difficult issues to overcome. I think the author developed the main characters and they grew, but does leave you sad about several of the characters situations. It wasn’t my favorite and not the worst book I’ve read.
I fell in love with the unlikely friendship between two wildly different women — their devotion to each other as they trek up and down mountains in someplace called New Caledonia is a hysterical delight. This novel made me realize how hungry I am for stories about women loving each other into being their best selves.
For Eleanor Oliphant fans, Miss Benson’s Beetle is pure gold — full of complex, memorable women, plot twists, and a deft balance of hilarity and emotion, it’s a book you’ll stay up late to finish.
It was light reading and enjoyable. Characters were believable.
I enjoyed this book. It was a very good study in human behavior; but with a good story line. It’s a bit whimsical and deals with friendship and going after your dreams. Well worth it.
Well written on an off beat topic.
First off, I LOVE this book! It is quirky, outrageous, sad, funny, and so very engaging. Miss Benson (Margery) goes a bit crazy and leaves her dull teaching job after intercepting a student’s drawing of her. She feels like the world is laughing at her and she needs to do something brave and wonderful in her life.
She decides to be the first to document a fabled gold beetle which her long-departed father had introduced her to. The beetle is rumored to have been spotted in exotic New Caledonia, half way around the world from England. Beetles are her life, her very small life.
She knows she will need help and eventually finds an assistant in Enid Pretty who is fun and outrageous, does not speak French, except for Bon shoor, has no passport and is outrageous, especially around men. Together they sail to Australia and then New Caledonia . Both women have something to prove to themselves and their adventures, despite their being so mismatched and underqualified to survive in the jungle and mountains, are engaging and entertaining and frightening.
I read a lot. A whole lot. This is the best book I’ve read in the past three years! It will stay with me, in a good way. There were a great many chuckles, but a few dark moments as well. Enjoy the adventure.