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mtnest's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
crabbytaco's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Miscarriage and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and War
koreanlinda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What drew me to this book was the hot pink and golden yellow cover with an illustration of two women walking side by side. This matched the experience I got to witness in the book: bright and intense; a journey of two women; and their companionship. One difference is that Margery (Miss Benson) and Enid rarely walked together; they ran, drove, rode, crawl, and scramble. Their adventure was physically demanding and emotionally taxing. What got them through it all was each other, the essence of the story.
I have little interest in beetles. I know they are fascinating, but I don't spend time learning about them. I am actually an entomophobia, who whimpers at the sight of bugs anywhere in arm's reach. However, this story made it easy for me to understand how Margery became so invested in finding the beetle of her dream. Rachel Joyce's such mastery of writing extends to all major and supporting characters: superstitious serial-thief runaway, destructive POW, jealous wife of British consul, etc. Even the characters from Margery's pasts are complex and sympathized: stoic mother and disinterested aunts. Joyce's goal in developing characters is not making them likable; she is rather focused on showing how a person becomes who they are in a "real" life.
The readers would not get satisfaction by finding likable characters but by traveling with Margery and Enid through a series of challenges. You inevitable end up rooting for them in each turn of events, holding your breath, and reassuring yourself with the chunk of remaining pages.
The journey achieves not just one goal but a bunch of more meaningful ones: discovery of authentic self, self love, love for others, true friendship, act of kindness, and healing from trauma. Joyce excels in showing how different traumas manifest in different people. Here are a few quotes on that topic:
“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.”
“But war was not over just because someone signed a truce. It was inside him. And when a thing like war was inside you, it never left.”
“He put everything back in his haversack, but he didn't know what to do with the things from the past. He had no idea where you were supposed to put things that existed only inside your head.”
At the end, some characters succeed in overcoming their hardship and some do not. Overall, the story is filled with female characters who are passionate, determined, loving, adaptive, and audacious. This is why I would recommend this book to girls and young women, despite most characters being adults. As Enid says, “We are not the things that happened to us. We can be what we like.”
Trigger warnings (without much graphic details): suicide, stalking, assault, violence in wars and prisons
Review by Linda (she/they)
Twitter @KoreanLinda
Letter writer at DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, and War
alayamorning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny and Grief
alicea's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Margery Benson at one time in her life was determined to find a gold beetle that had never been officially catalogued or "discovered". But years pass and her dream remains unfulfilled. When she finally works up the courage to make the trip to the other side of the world she advertises for an assistant which is where Enid Pretty enters the story. From the outset, it seems like this partnership is doomed to fail and that's before we realize there's terrible secrets on both sides. It's like the Odd Couple on steroids.
So really this is a mystery thriller and historical literary fiction all rolled into one. And the incredibly short chapters make you feel like you're barrelling right along with these dynamic ladies. I don't want to say any more because I'd like you to experience it as I did: a rollicking ride with unexpected twists and turns. Get ready!
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Medical content
Minor: Animal death