Miss Benson's Beetle: A Novel
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
WINNER OF THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE • 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 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
WINNER OF THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE • 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 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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Community Reviews
I guess I am in the minority here but I found that the plot of Miss Benson’s Beetle dragged. The characters were quirky but lacked depth and I particularly disliked the portrayal of Mundic the POW. Bummer to end my 2022 reading challenge with this book. It was almost a dnf for me.
What a wonderful surprise of a book! I loved it! It is 1914 and Margery Benson is 10 years old. Her father showed her book about incredible creatures and Margery became fascinated with the golden beetle of New Caldonia. Margery decides that someday she will see this golden beetle. At a very young age, Margery suffered a tragedy and experienced many losses which would impact her for the rest of her life. Fast forward several decades and Margery has trudged along in life and is teaching (basically) a home economics class to ungrateful students. One day she walks out of that life and starts a brand new one. She has decided now is the time to find that gold beetle! But first she needs an assistant. After placing an ad in the paper and dismissing several candidates, she is left with no other prospect except Enid Pretty. Enid is the exact opposite of Margery!
I don't want to give anything away. You should really read this book without knowing too much. It is one the best stories of female friendship I have ever read. These women are strong, brave, unafraid and unapologetic. They experience every possible adventure together. It is also laugh out loud funny! Enid reminded me a bit of the fictional children's character Amelia Bedelia. Great characters, great writing and plot and vivid descriptions of Australia and New Caldonia (it's a real place).
Be sure to read the "interview" at the end with Margery and Enid and the author's notes about her inspiration for the story. "The truest friendships are those that allow us to step out of the confines of what we once were, and to realize instead what we might be." Women can do hard things!
I don't want to give anything away. You should really read this book without knowing too much. It is one the best stories of female friendship I have ever read. These women are strong, brave, unafraid and unapologetic. They experience every possible adventure together. It is also laugh out loud funny! Enid reminded me a bit of the fictional children's character Amelia Bedelia. Great characters, great writing and plot and vivid descriptions of Australia and New Caldonia (it's a real place).
Be sure to read the "interview" at the end with Margery and Enid and the author's notes about her inspiration for the story. "The truest friendships are those that allow us to step out of the confines of what we once were, and to realize instead what we might be." Women can do hard things!
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