October 11, 2009

Review: Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti




What do you get when a country dairy farmer and a city librarian meet on a bench in the middle of a cemetery? You get the adorable story, Benny & Shrimp.

Working alone fifteen hours out of each day Benny scarcely has time to handle the farm’s dwindling finances much less clean house or change the sheets. Now that he’s lost his mother he needs someone domestic to take care of him and he has fears that his “smarmy Benny” act is never going to land him the right woman. When he accidentally shares a smile with Desiree (who he later nicknames Shrimp) he’s jolted by her and can’t get her pale beige looks out of his head.

As a librarian Desiree lives for order and organization. Initially she thought she found the perfect spouse in Orjan but when he dies in a bike accident she comes to the realization that the spark in their short marriage was already dying out. The last person she would have thought to be her true soul mate would be the humble dairy farmer wearing a grungy “Forest Owners’ Alliance” hat but her heart had other ideas.

After that first shocking jolt they tried to avoid each other but when Benny finally has the courage to seek Desiree out, magic happens. Can people from such different lives make it work?

Benny & Shrimp is my new favorite book of 2009. It is an amazing story of love and compromise. I instantly fell in love with Benny and although Desiree seemed a little to hard-headed for me at first she also became a cherished character for me.

This is one of those books where I found myself wanting to slap the characters silly and tell them exactly how I think they should act. This fact alone makes it a great book because it shows how much the story drew me in.

The story is narrated by both Benny and Desiree and it added so much more to the narrative because I was able to more clearly understand both sides and the feelings involved. As I was reading Benny’s words I was totally on his side but then I read what Desiree was thinking and I’d switch to her side.

I highly encourage you to pick up your own copy of this book and fall in love with their story and surprise ending just like I did.

BookBlips: vote it up!

5 comments :

nomadreader said...

I got a review copy of this a few weeks ago and just packed it for the airplane tomorrow. I'm so glad to hear you loved it!

MonieG said...

Be sure to let me know how you liked it!

Luanne said...

I really enjoyed this as well and especially that it didn't end the way I thought it might.

Girlie | Digital Room said...

Hi Monie,

Thanks for dropping by our blog and for leaving a comment on my design inspiration post.

Hope the vintage posters inspired you to design a unique one of your own!

P.S. I'm loving the design of your blog! The snail looks so cute.

Ashley said...

I'm almost done with this book! I like it so far and I feel pretty much the same way as you - there are times when I want to slap the characters and tell them what to do!