Description:

Exchange ideas, participate in engaging discussions, and connect with JCC community members at our monthly Book Club. Even if you haven’t read the books, join us for the stimulating reviews and the opportunity to discover new authors and titles! 

Thursday June 19
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce  
Book reviewer: Denise Drabkin

Our final gathering of this year is a special in-person program, including a book swap and refreshments! This review will not be offered virtually, and it will not be recorded.

Join us in person for our final Book Club gathering of this season and… a special Bagels & Books swap! Bring your already-read books to swap, and munch on some bagels and light refreshments while we enjoy Denise’s review of Miss Benson’s Beetle, and you’ll leave with some new books to read at home! 
 
It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying  to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist - the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind: fun-loving Enid Pretty in her tight-fitting pink suit and pom-pom sandals seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. But together these two British women find themselves drawn into a cross-ocean adventure that exceeds all expectations and delivers something neither of them expected to find: the transformative power of friendship. From Rachel Joyce, the international bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an unforgettable, funny and charming story of a marvelous adventure, what it means to be a woman, and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries. 

 

Denise Drabkin is a retired library manager who thoroughly enjoyed a 40-year career in public libraries. Denise worked in three different library systems on two continents, including the Toronto Public Library, and is a firm believer in libraries as the great levelers on the playing field of life. A long-time member of the Miles Nadal JCC Book Club, Denise volunteers her time to curate and lead each gathering, offering insightful reviews and a balance of books that are meaningful, timely and inclusive. All books are available through the Toronto Public Library, many with audio and e-versions. Previous titles have included: The Promise; The Island of Sea Women; The Company We Keep; Manikatenish and The Tunnel. We are delighted to welcome Denise back as our reviewer this season!

Available spots: Available

Price: $5.00 Taxes not included

Tags: Spring

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