Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce @RandomTTours @DoubledayUK #MissBensonsBeetle #RachelJoyce #BlogTour

Published by Doubleday Books on 23rd July 2020. My thanks to the publisher for the review copy and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for inviting me on to the blog tour. 

It is 1950, two unlikely women set off on a hare-brained adventure to the other side of the world to try and find a beetle, and in doing so discover friendship and how to be their best of themselves. This is quintessential Joyce: at once poignant and playful, with huge heart and the same resonance, truth and lightness of touch as her phenomenally successful debut, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Britain, post Second World War. In a moment of madness Margery Benson abandons her sensible job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition. She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist. Enid Pretty, in pink hat and pompom sandals, is not the companion she had in mind. But together they will find themselves drawn into an adventure that exceeds all expectations. They must risk everything, break all the rules, but at the top of a red mountain they will discover who they truly are, and how to be the best ofthemselves. This is a novel that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries.

“The differences between them – all those things she’d once found so infuriating – she now accepted. Being Enid’s friend meant there were always going to be surprises. However close they were it didn’t entitle her to Enid’s memories and neither did it allow her to be part of Enid’s life before they met. Being a friend meant accepting those unknowable things. It was by placing herself side by side with Enid that Margery had finally begun to see the true outline of herself. And she knew it now: Enid was her friend.”

My Thoughts: 

Miss Benson's Beetle was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, so imagine my delight when the blog tour invitation dropped into my emails thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours. I had really enjoyed one of the authors previous books, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. 

Miss Benson's Beetle is set in the 1950's and features predominantly Margery Benson and Enid Pretty. The two ladies on the face of it couldn't be more different if they tried. Margery Benson is very staid, has a run of the mill job as a teacher, is a spinster and at the outset is feeling a bit lonely, outcast and fed up with her lot. She feels like she should have done more and been more exciting. On the other hand Enid Pretty is all about the pink, big hair and make up and wouldn't dream of being like Margery Benson. 

Margery Benson for all of her routine has big dreams. She wants to set off on an exploration to New Caledonia in search of the as yet undiscovered golden beetle. This would be a major coup for the National History Museum and allow Margery Benson to reminisce about her childhood and happier times with her father. 

Enid Pretty on the other hand has her own reasons for adventure and they don't quite mirror those of Margery Benson. So when she see an advert for an assistant she applies knowing that this may be her big chance of escape. 

Miss Benson's Beetle is delightful in every sense. It is a story of unexpected friendship and adventure. The need to adjust ones sails to the demands of life. Rachel Joyce has a tremendous skill, her writing touches me every time. Her characters always have the right amount of eccentricity but also a vulnerability. The scenery also playing part and the many layers of the characters being peeled back chapter by chapter.

There is a delicacy to this story, for all of the hope of friendships, bonds and adventure there is also elements of sadness and regret. This was a well rounded and beautiful story, that I will always remember. It is a book to give as a gift and also be thrust into the hands of anyone. It is the ultimate pick me up, and goodness knows we good all do with one of those at the moment. An uplifting story for our times. 

This will definitely be on my best of the year.

About the Author: 

Rachel Joyce is the author of the Sunday Times and international bestsellers The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Perfect, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, The Music Shop and a collection of interlinked short stories, A Snow Garden & Other Stories. Her books have been translated into thirty -six languages and two are in development for film. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book prize and long listed for the Man Booker Prize. Rachel was awarded the Specsavers National Book Awards ‘New Writer of the Year’ in December 201 2 and shortlisted for the ‘UK Author of the Year’201 4. Rachel was a Costa prize judge and University Big Read author in 2019. She has also written over twenty original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4, including all the Bronte novels. She moved to writing after a long career as an actor, performing leading roles for the RSC, the National Theatre and Cheek by Jowl. She lives with her family in Gloucestershire.

Please do have a look at the other stops on the blog tour.