Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce

I am likely one of the few who hasn’t read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, but it is on my shelf now and I hope to read it soon. Right off I’ll say I loved Miss Benson’s Beetle. This novel made me feel so many emotions and I love that in a book. This book alone instantly made me a fan of Rachel Joyce.

Miss Benson is a character and I loved reading about her and her adventures. Margery Benson is an unmarried schoolteacher who is wondering if her life will ever be anything but a struggle. She is frustrated. So frustrated, in fact, that she finally hits her breaking point. Her solution is to quit her job, leave her struggles behind, and head outs across the world to Caledonia to find a golden beetle that may or may not even exist.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when Margery meets Enid Pretty who ends up being her assistant. Enid is as different from Margery as one can get as she parades around in a tight pink suit and pom-pom sandals. I can just picture it! Of course the two clash and bicker but along the way they learn a lot from each other, most importantly the value of friendship.

This was actually a book I read but I’d love to one day go back and listen to the audio. I’ve heard it’s really well done and I know I would have loved it in audio. Miss Benson’s Beetle is another to make my favorites list this year!

Personal copy

Escape into the pages of a good book …