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Miss Benson's Beetle
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
84 posts | 69 read | 49 to read
From the international bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an unforgettable, funny and charming story of a marvelous adventure and unexpected female friendship. It is 1950. 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 and break all the rules, but at the top of a red mountain they will discover their best selves. This is a story 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.
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review
Gissy
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Mehso-so

This was okay. This woman goes in a journey to find the golden beetle which at the end is a way to discover herself. Characters and situations seem not realistic and situations were ridiculous. You still have some funny parts and quotes to think about but in general not a great story for me. The gifts in this box were neither great or practical. 3⭐️

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
Gissy March 2024 #BuzzWord (name of the character on cover) @Bookandlala

GR 52 books AroundTheYear2024 #ATY2024 prompt #33 (involving travel)
(edited) 1mo
Gissy YouTuber #SavidgeReadingPrompts2024 prompt (August but I‘m just following the prompts not necessarily in the same order) Miss on the title 1mo
44 likes5 comments
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Born.A.Reader
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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#insects #summersouls
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I'm reading this one from Queen Camilla's Reading Room booklist. Just started, so can't really say for sure how it is yet.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great cover ❤️📚 4mo
Blueberry Great book! 4mo
Eggs Perfect 🪲 4mo
23 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Christinak
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Spending a quiet Sunday reading - since it‘s cold I‘ve decided to embark on a book journey to New Caledonia.

25 likes1 stack add
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ReadingRover
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

This was such a fun read! The audiobook was so entertaining! Two quirky ladies brought together by circumstance embark on a wild adventure across the world in search of a mysterious beetle that may or may not exist. Ridiculous chaos ensues wherever they go. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🩷📚🧡 9mo
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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CogsOfEncouragement
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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I love jewelry.
Miss Benson‘s Beetle.
My cousin works in a bookstore and recommended it to me because she thought I would enjoy it. She was right. #Two4Tuesday

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Gissy
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Soubhiville Cool bookmark! 10mo
Gissy @Soubhiville Thank you! This book came long time ago🤦🏽‍♀️in the Once Upon a Book box subscription. They used to include a bookmark. 10mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great cover and bookmark 🔖 10mo
See All 6 Comments
Eggs Love Rachel Joyce 🧡 🪲 💚 10mo
Gissy @Eggs That will be my first book by her, but The Harold Fry trilogy seems interesting🤗 10mo
Gissy @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It came with book from Once Upon A Book subscription 🤗 10mo
38 likes6 comments
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Blueberry
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Eggs Love Joyce 💞💞 10mo
52 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Mollyanna
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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My April pick for #12Booksfor2023. I‘m not sure what prompted me to pick up this book, but I‘m glad I did. It was probably my favorite of the year!

Andrew65 This is one log her books I still need to get to. 10mo
Mollyanna @Andrew65 it was my first by the author. It‘s a wonderful story. 10mo
janeycanuck Oh, I read this a few years ago and loved it. I need to see about her other books. 10mo
25 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Blueberry
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Andrew65 I keep meaning to Red this. 2024 it is! 10mo
39 likes1 comment
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VanessaCW
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book. It‘s about the power of female friendship. The two main female characters are very well drawn and I liked them. It has an interesting plot line although I thought some of it was a little drawn out. All in all a great read. The moral of the story, I think, is follow your dreams, your vocation even.

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VanessaCW
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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I‘m reading this with my online book group, https://thereadingloft.groups.io/g/main.

27 likes1 stack add
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Bookbuyingaddict
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

What a fantastic book 📖! Absolutely loved 🥰 this little gem , a wonderful story of friendship , second chances and travel 🧳 a perfect 🤩 summer read , it‘s one of those books which is a genuine page turner. Can‘t recommend it highly enough 😊

Tamra I enjoyed this one too! More substantive than I suspected it would be. 1y
Bookbuyingaddict 👍🫶🏻 1y
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Bookbuyingaddict
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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This book is an absolute delight only just started it but off to porto in Portugal 🇵🇹 today for own our adventure but beetle 🪲 free , it has me laughing 😂 out loud “ they made a ridiculous pair as they chased the porter , a brown ostrich coupled with a pink hatted canary”.

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Mollyanna
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Thank you for the tag @Eggs #WondrousWednesday

1. Tagged
2. It is a story of female friendship and discovering one‘s own self worth. It is about holding others up and not tearing them down. It is just a wonderful tale.
3. I love stories set in a place I‘ve never been. I don‘t get to travel much anymore, so it‘s a way for me to travel.

Eggs Sounds wonderful 🤗 1y
14 likes1 comment
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Cathyloves2read
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

What a wonderful story this was! And the author‘s note at the end just added to it! Who would have thought that a book about a beetle would be so good? I just loved the 2 main characters. There was very little that I didn‘t like about this book. I highly recommend it!

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Mollyanna
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

What a wonderful book! Margery Benson has lived a hum-drum life since her father‘s death. But one crazy day, Margery decides to go hunt for the Golden Beetle of New Caledonia that her father told about. Thus it begins…

This is a story of life, of death, of discovery of oneself and discovering the importance of friendship. It is about a journey, physically, spiritually and mentally. It is about being okay with you, and it has stolen my heart.

Mollyanna This is my second finish for #deweyapril and #20in4 2y
xicanti I stuck my copy of this in a Little Free Library earlier today! I enjoyed it a lot and I hope whoever takes it will, too. 2y
Mollyanna @xicanti I‘m sure they will! It‘s a great book to share. 2y
Andrew65 Must get to this. Well done 👏👏👏 2y
28 likes4 comments
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SheReadsAndWrites
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

I truly loved this book. I saw it compared to Thelma and Louise set in 1950 and I agree. I loved the writing and Margery and Enid are characters that will stay with me a long time, as well as their story. A beautiful tale of friendship, bravery, going after what you want, and not letting the judgment of others get in your way. #bookspin
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
34 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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1. Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
2. It was for a IRL book club.

@TheSpineView
#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 2y
38 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the funny parts. And then the sad parts threw me. But then I accepted it as that's how life is, the ups and downs. I gave this 4⭐ but will probably change it to 5. This is about 2 very opposite women who become best friends.

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Blueberry
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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When Margery was ten, she fell in love with a beetle.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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xicanti
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Y‘all know I do the get-book-read-book thing whenever I can. I received MISS BENSON‘S BEETLE on Sunday, started it yesterday, and should finish it tomorrow. (I don‘t have quite enough time tonight.) While I‘m not sure it‘ll stick with me for long, it‘s highly readable and exactly what I need right now. Poorly-lit Casey agrees.

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kspenmoll
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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📖 Jack (Marilynne Robinson)
🖌 Rachel Joyce ( tagged)
📽 Jane Eyre
🎤 Jewel
🎼 Jersey Girl (Bruce Springsteen)
#manicmonday #letterJ

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Lcsmcat
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Starting this tonight for my irl book club.

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CogsOfEncouragement
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

An overdue adventure an unlikely friendship.

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DGRachel
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Bailedbailed

I took a chance on this one, knowing it wasn‘t a genre a typically enjoy, because it was highly recommended. The audiobook is narrated by Juliet Stevenson, who I adore, but sadly, her narration wasn‘t enough to keep me going. Enid‘s baby obsession irritates me to no end, and I‘m not fond of Miss Benson. I think I‘ve given the story a fair shot. I‘m just not interested enough in the fates of the characters to carry on.

Lcsmcat Well darn. It‘s my book club‘s choice for June. 3y
DGRachel @Lcsmcat Don‘t let my review discourage you. It is totally a case of just not a book for me and I knew that was a real danger going in. Go read @Cinfhen review for encouragement! 3y
Cinfhen I was gonna say I found it charming and delightful @Lcsmcat sorry it was a pan for you Rachel 🙃 3y
See All 6 Comments
Lcsmcat @Cinfhen I‘ll try to keep an open mind then. 🙂 3y
DGRachel @Cinfhen I knew it was a risk for me, and I‘m not sorry I tried it. Sometimes, books surprise me and I love them. Other times…not so much. 😂 3y
Cinfhen I appreciate your positive attitude 😊 too bad it wasn‘t a hit…there‘s always next time xxx 3y
53 likes1 stack add6 comments
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CogsOfEncouragement
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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When Margery was ten, she fell in love with a beetle. #FirstLineFridays

17 likes1 stack add
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Cinfhen
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

When you‘re looking for a warm hug of a book with exceptional narration this book delivers 💛a middle age spinster and a flamboyant free spirit join together to undertake an expedition to New Caledonia in search of the elusive golden beetle 🪲 #AllTheFeels

jlhammar Great way to describe it! I also enjoyed this audiobook. 3y
Megabooks Sounds like a great vacation read! 3y
Cinfhen Yeah, it was the right book for my current mood @Megabooks and I‘m loving 3y
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen I really enjoyed the narration @jlhammar I think that added to my enjoyment 3y
DGRachel Doesn‘t look like my normal genres, but I love warm book hugs! Put a hold in at the library for the audiobook! 3y
jlhammar @Cinfhen Have you tried listening to Miss Austen by Gill Hornby yet? Juliet Stevenson also narrates that one and I thought it was a lovely listen. I'm not someone who seeks out all things Austen and was surprised just how much I enjoyed it. 3y
Cinfhen No @jlhammar but I‘m stacking - thanks for the recommendation 💜 3y
Cinfhen Yay @DGRachel I think it‘s going to surprise you in a pleasant way! And the audio is worth everything ♥️ 3y
88 likes1 stack add8 comments
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Cinfhen
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Back in Miami after a quick trip to Atlanta. Went for an early morning walk while listening to this delightful audio 🎧 🪲😄

TrishB Looks lovely ❤️ hope Niki and Mr Niki are doing well. (edited) 3y
Centique I just used your gift subscription to get this one! Thank you so much 😘😘 3y
Cinfhen Yay!!!! @Centique I think you‘re gonna enjoy it 🪲💕it‘s SO DELIGHTFUL!! Narration was FABULOUS 🙌🏻 3y
See All 7 Comments
Cinfhen Hahaha @TrishB thanks 😊 I had such a GREAT TIME!!!! Niki & Mr. Niki are wonderful and little Herzy too♥️🐾 3y
Megabooks Lovely!! I owe you an email again!! Glad you had a great side trip!! 😘😘 3y
BarbaraBB Spectacular picture! You‘re having a great time I think!? 3y
Cinfhen Im actually having a wonderful time @BarbaraBB @Megabooks it‘s just going by so quickly 😩 3y
72 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Cinfhen
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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So SO CHARMING- narration is FABULOUS 🪲💚🎧

julesG I really enjoyed this one. 3y
TrishB I liked this one too 👍🏻 3y
Cinfhen It‘s super enjoyable @julesG @TrishB 3y
81 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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ReadingOver50
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

Not quite what I was expecting. I liked that Miss Benson decided to follow her dream at age 47. But really, she‘s not that old. The misogyny was disturbing but probably accurate for the time period. The ex-POW was really annoying and I could have done without him. The book was good but not memorable.

105 likes1 stack add
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ReadingOver50
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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“You might travel to the other side of the world, but in the end it made no difference: whatever devastating unhappiness was inside you would come, too.”

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janeycanuck
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

This was just what my soul needed. I really enjoyed the beautiful friendship between Enid and Margery, the adventures they had and the little bit of the suspense that Joyce wove through the narrative.

Novel 3/3 for #NovelNovember

Andrew65 Fantastic 👏👏👏 3y
44 likes1 comment
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Readswithcoffee
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

You know a book is in your wheelhouse when you are torn between rushing to find out how it ends and pacing yourself because you don‘t want to be finished. The audiobook narrator, Juliet Stevenson, is absolutely fabulous. She truly brings the characters to life. I love this book!

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Readswithcoffee
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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I‘m almost halfway into the audiobook version and am loving it! The narrator, Juliet Stevenson, is wonderful! I hope the story holds up through the end.

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rretzler
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Random book from my TBR 📚. Day 8. #tbrpile

41 likes1 stack add
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bookandbedandtea
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Mehso-so

I liked the descriptive writing and loved the progression of Margery and Enid's friendship but I found it difficult to pick this up once I'd put it down. Poor Mundic's struggles touched my heart but I felt his storyline muddied the waters and was completely unnecessary. I hated the end.
(📷: pinterest)

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mackelie
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Mehso-so

This one was between a Pick and So-So for me.

Margery Benson has set out to find a golden beetle that has never been discovered before. Out of all people, she is joined by Enid Pretty who seems to be the opposite to Margery. The story follows their journey to New Caledonia and female friendship.

It was an interesting read with many unexpected turns but it dragged a little bit while reading.

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Curvybookgirl
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Mehso-so

This was another book club pick. It started off with promise but sadly it fell short for me.

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Tonton
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

Margery Benson is a lonely and increasingly diminished home economics teacher who impetuously walks out of her job. She‘s been fascinated since she was a child by tales of the search for a golden 🪲 beetle and gives herself a good shake to organize an expedition (advertising for a companion) to an island jungle. It‘s a wild journey of self discovery, female friendship, grit, betrayal, surprise, and hope. Grudging admiration turned to liking!

29 likes1 stack add
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NikkiKey94
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

When I started reading this book I didn‘t really know what to expect. I didn‘t think I was going to be so drawn into the story and the characters. I really enjoyed it and I couldn‘t put it down! I‘m so glad I received it in my Once Upon A Book Club box. 🌟🌟🌟🌟!

Clwojick I have this on hold right now. It sounds fantastic 💙 3y
NikkiKey94 @Clwojick I think you will enjoy it! I‘m so glad I read it! 3y
13 likes2 comments
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Amie
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

Charming book about an adventure and an unexpected friendship. I love historical stories about women doing science.

ReadingisMyPassion This is in my stack to read. 3y
55 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheEllieMo
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 216
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

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kspenmoll
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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#Bookspinbingo #bookspin #20 #doublebookspin #1
Here is my July bingo card, each book matching the number given on the card. # 20- The Clue; #1-Hamnet. Thanks @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
48 likes1 comment
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Bojo2006
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

I debated reading this book and almost didn‘t because a book about a search for a rare beetle didn‘t grab me. But it‘s not about a beetle - it‘s a beautiful story about friendship. I‘m so glad I read it! Margery and Enid have stayed with me. The ending made me route for all women with a dream. Loved it!

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kathytrithardt
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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I'm looking forward to reading this one and opening my Once Upon a Book Club gifts while doing so. Use my rep code of Trithardt10 to get 10% off your first order from them. 🥰📚 https://www.onceuponabookclub.com/

Crazeedi Welcome to litsy!🎉 3y
Crazeedi Oh, and miss benson was excellent!! 3y
Moonprismpower Cool book box!😀 3y
See All 7 Comments
kathytrithardt I like mystery surprises to do with whatever is going on in the novel. 🥰 3y
sharread I want to get that in July! So awesome. 3y
Gissy I need to read that one too! ☺️ 3y
kathytrithardt @Gissy I really enjoyed her Harold/Queenie duology. 3y
27 likes7 comments
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Decided to go with this one next! It's Victoria Day holiday today here in 🇨🇦🍁 so I'm sitting outside in this beautiful weather and cracking a new book open.

Tamra It‘s a charming and heartwarming read. 3y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @Tamra great to hear!! 3y
Prairiegirl_reading We had rain in the forecast but it turned out to be a beautiful day today!! So nice to just lay in my hammock and read! Much needed! 3y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @Prairiegirl_reading 🥳🥳🍁🇨🇦👍 3y
33 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Cathy_J
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

Two unique characters set off from London in 1950 on an adventure to the jungles of New Caledonia to find a potentially mythical golden beetle. This was an enjoyable read, it surprised me 🙂 ⭐⭐⭐.5

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mrp27
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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May #bookspin

I finished my April bookspin just in time to post my May list.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
15 likes1 comment
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Crazeedi
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Pickpick

Joyce writes with a unique style, and her characters are eccentric and truly lovable. Thanks to Net Galley and Dial Press for the chance to read and review this book. Margery never fit in anywhere. But she loved working with beetles and remembered her father telling her about a golden beetle in New Caledonia that has never been seen. And so with her assistant Enid Pretty, she begins her journey to find the elusive beetle. ⬇️

Crazeedi If you've read the authors other books, you will enjoy this delightful story. My #BookSpin (number 13-Net Galley book) @TheAromaofBooks 4y
amber_ldsmom Loved this one so much! 4y
See All 6 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
Andrew65 Love her books and need to get to this one. Hadn‘t seen it on #netgalley 4y
Crazeedi @Andrew65 I've had it for quite some time, shame on me for not reading sooner 4y
70 likes1 stack add6 comments
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CindiB
Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
Mehso-so

I was charmed and laughed out loud and cheered on these two women as they stumbled towards their best friendship. But the last 20 pages were so disappointing and the end flat and while this was well-written, a thoroughly creative idea and lively and quirky plot, ultimately, it just shrivelled. So sad. 3.5/5

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