Benny & Shrimp: A Novel [Paperback]

Katarina Mazetti (Author), Sarah Death (Translator)

Book Description

Release date: July 28, 2009

The bestselling "offbeat, down-to- earth love story"(The Observer, London)- now available in the United States

An international sensation, this addictively readable tale asks the question: Why is it so impossible to get a relationship between two middle-aged misfits to work? The answer lies in the story of Shrimp, a young widowed librarian with a sharp intellect and a home so tidy that her jam jars are in alphabetical order; Benny, a gentle, overworked milk farmer who fears becoming the village's Old Bachelor; and an unlikely love that should not be as complicated as it seems. Reminiscent of the works of Carol Shields, this quirky, humorous, beautifully told novel breathes new life into the age-old conundrum that is love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mazetti's debut, a bestseller in her native Sweden, centers on two lonely, 30-something singles living in rural Sweden as they attempt to overcome the inner obstacles keeping them apart. The dialogue-heavy story is told in breezy, alternating first-person accounts that paint a vivid portrait of life in northern Sweden. Desiree, better known as Shrimp, is a quiet librarian with an intellectual streak dealing with the recent death of her husband. Benny is a dairy farmer too busy tending the family farmland to realize his loneliness. The two have a serendipitous first encounter at the graveyard and find an instant, irresistible connection between them. Early chapters are charged with their passionate, intense affair, but the story fizzles as the two loners clash over their stubborn idiosyncrasies. Though the writing is charming and at times poetic, the plot becomes tedious and the characters predictable. Short though slow, the novel should hold appeal for fans of quirky women's fiction and Swedish novels like Astrid and Veronika. (Aug.)
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Review

"Benny & Shrimp is offbeat, charming and fun - and also seriously addictive. Katarina Mazetti understands that crazy little thing called love!"
-Claire Cook, author of Must Love Dogs and The Wildwater Walking Club

"A charming and funny love story, about two lonely people on the brink of middle age."
-The Times (London)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 209 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books; Original edition (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143115995
• ISBN-13: 978-0143115991
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of romance novel August 16, 2009

By Beth

Format:Paperback

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the book. I found it nice and light at the beginning (I found myself smiling many times throughout - a sweet smile, not a funny smile.), but it got steadily deeper and rather darker. It's a very unusual romance, if you can even call it that. The characters were likable overall. This is a translation as well, and it really rather read like one, but not in a bad way.

I also have seriously never read the word "ovaries" so many times in one book outside of a biology text!! There were jumping ovaries and yearning ovaries and such. They were very energetic ovaries and they seemed to be prominently featured in every chapter.

This was an interesting, and very real, story but it left me vaguely unsatisfied - like when you can't quite get the price sticker goo off of a picture frame's glass. It was certainly worth reading, and was really quite a quick read. It's the perfect read if you're looking for something a bit more on the intellectual, reality based romance side.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun and quick read that is much more than a simple story of romance. August 19, 2009

By E. Samuels

Format:Paperback

This is a fun and quick read that is so much more than a simple story of romance. The author's writing style is engaging and successfully presents the wildly different perspectives of the book's two main characters, people who are at times wacky, at times endearing and at other times absolutely infuriating. The author brings Benny and Shrimp to life, making the reader really care about finding out what will happen to them and their relationship.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable look at the attraction of opposites October 28, 2009

By Library Girl Reads VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I greatly enjoyed this quirky tale of love between people with such different perspectives on life. One of the things that really made this book work for me was that the chapters alternated between being told by Benny and being told by Shrimp. This really lets the reader get the entire story instead of just one person's side. The chapters were also quite short which made Benny & Shrimp a fast read for me.

Although the characters' emotions run high, I did not feel them the way I have felt the level of emotion in other books. I felt more like an outside observer, rather than becoming overly engaged in the story. I think the observing really is the point though as the book examines one relationship in quite a detailed manner. The author has taken the story farther in a second book but I do not think that one has an English translation yet.