Miss Benson’s Beetle will be the book choice for the May reading for the Scandinavia Public Library’s book group.
Join Librarian Sue Vater-Olsen to discuss Rachel Joyce’s novel Miss Benson’s Beetle.
“It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson–a sensible schoolmarm and lonely spinster–is just trying to get through life. But one day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and her tidy, circumscribed life, to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of an insect that may or may not exist: the golden beetle of New Caledonia, Margery’s childhood obsession ever since her father gave her a book on cryptozoology right before he killed himself. The assistant Margery hires to accompany her, Enid Pretty, in her 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: a cross-ocean voyage to a remote island covered with dense jungle–the last place two proper British ladies would expect to find themselves. They must risk everything and break all the rules, but at the top of a mountain deep in the South Pacific they will discover their best selves. This is a charming, uplifting story about the power of belief in all its forms; it is an intoxicating adventure that explores what it means to be a woman; and it is a tender exploration of the transformative power of friendship.”
Copies of the book will be available at the library for checkout, or patrons may order a copy through the library’s online catalog: https://infosoup.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S181C726520
Book Group, the Scandinavia Public Library’s book discussion group, meets at 4 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month except December. Discussions are open to anyone who has read the month’s selected title and will participate in a civil manner. Readers are welcome to attend as many meetings as their interest and schedules permit.
“We read a wide variety of books, covering all genres, as well as occasional non-fiction titles. Titles are selected by our staff, but we also welcome suggestions from our readers!” Vater-Olsen noted.