Miss Benson's Beetle

I love, love, loved this book! There is something so captivating about Joyce's writing; her novels are character driven providing you with not only realistic, relatable and humble characters but plots that are about ordinary people, with ordinary lives embarking on their own journey of self discovery. Along the way the kindness of humankind shines through and you are immersed into a fictional world which is both comforting and uplifting.

As the opening chapter begins you meet a young Margery and discover her fascination for beetles. The book then jumps 30 years later where Margery is working as a teacher and has become quite lost. Never having married or had children, she is forty and leading a mundane life, one in which she doesn't particularly enjoy. Suddenly, through a unexpected predicament, Margery decides to follow her passion and find the golden beetle that her father first showed her in a book. It has never been proven to exist but Margery is determined to find it and bring back a specimen for The National History Museum's archives. So in search of an assistant Margery begins her mission.

This book was very humorous in places and I completely feel in love with not only Margery but her travelling companion Enid. No two characters could be more polar opposites. Margery, old fashioned in both her viewpoints and dress code; Enid vibrant, colourful and flippant. I loved how both characters came together and formed such a touching, loving friendship.

The journey both women encountered, both physically and mentally was a testament to their inner strength, determination and supportiveness towards one another. It was such a heartwarming story and one I was sadden by once it was over. I could have continued reading about Margery and Enid forever. Much praise to Rachel Joyce who has once again filled my heart with two delightful characters and thrown me into a world of discovery, love and friendship.

A truly wonderful book which I will treasure and highly recommend.