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BENNY AND SHRIMPby
KATARINA MAZETTI
AN EXTRA GIVEAWAY ENTRY!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A man and a woman, both of them lonely, meet and fall in love. Both of them crave companionship and family; both are intelligent and good-humored. As Benny and Desirée (a.k.a. Shrimp) are about to discover, all that can stand between them and happiness is—everything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Katarina Mazetti began her career as a teacher and later moved into broadcast journalism. She is a prize-nominated author, commentator, musician, poet, and the producer of “Freja,” a program for women on Swedish radio. Benny & Shrimp has sold more than 450,000 copies in her native Sweden.
MY REVIEW:
The fascinating way that Katarina Mazetti wrote this small, unique and delightful story is a huge part of the appeal. The two characters of Benny and Shrimp alternate chapters to tell this story and hearing both different viewpoints makes for a unique book. Both have different tastes and yet they have chemistry and are attracted to each other.
Desiree Wallin, known as Shrimp, becomes a widow when a truck hits her husband. Desiree and Orjan were married for five years, happily but with no children and sadly with very little passion. When he dies, she takes to coming to the cemetery every day. She has an unexplained feeling that she has to.
Beside her husband's grave is the grave of Benny's parents. He is thirty-six years old and comes to take care of his parents' grave. He also takes care of his family's dairy farm but finds it difficult to do. Shrimp thinks that the grave he tends is way overdone and in her mind calls it "the forest".
Desiree is a well organized, extremely bright librarian, at least when it comes to books...but not as much about life. She also tends to be somewhat of a pessimist. Benny Soderstom is a nice man and not into how he looks; and in fact why should he when he is tending a grave and working at a farm? With these basic descriptions, it would seem highly unlikely that these two would ever get together.
And yet, these two fall madly in love, if not lust, after weeks of merely sitting on the same bench at the cemetery, not talking. When Benny finally is brave enough to ask Desiree to lunch, their crazy relationship begins. Benny calls Desiree "Shrimp" because he says he has trouble with her name because it sounds too snooty to him and in fact, in the beginning, that is what he thought of her. This affair starts off very exciting at first but goes downhill when they realize how little they really have in common other than their chemistry and physical attraction. Will this relationship last? Can each over look the differences to make this work?
You will have to read to the book to find out. I found it to be a really fun read and it did show new meaning to "opposites attract". And with the chapters alternating between Benny and Shrimp, written in first person, it is very easy to follow. A short but amusing story to be sure. It is easy to see why it was such a hit in Europe before coming to America.
A man and a woman, both of them lonely, meet and fall in love. Both of them crave companionship and family; both are intelligent and good-humored. As Benny and Desirée (a.k.a. Shrimp) are about to discover, all that can stand between them and happiness is—everything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Katarina Mazetti began her career as a teacher and later moved into broadcast journalism. She is a prize-nominated author, commentator, musician, poet, and the producer of “Freja,” a program for women on Swedish radio. Benny & Shrimp has sold more than 450,000 copies in her native Sweden.
MY REVIEW:
The fascinating way that Katarina Mazetti wrote this small, unique and delightful story is a huge part of the appeal. The two characters of Benny and Shrimp alternate chapters to tell this story and hearing both different viewpoints makes for a unique book. Both have different tastes and yet they have chemistry and are attracted to each other.
Desiree Wallin, known as Shrimp, becomes a widow when a truck hits her husband. Desiree and Orjan were married for five years, happily but with no children and sadly with very little passion. When he dies, she takes to coming to the cemetery every day. She has an unexplained feeling that she has to.
Beside her husband's grave is the grave of Benny's parents. He is thirty-six years old and comes to take care of his parents' grave. He also takes care of his family's dairy farm but finds it difficult to do. Shrimp thinks that the grave he tends is way overdone and in her mind calls it "the forest".
Desiree is a well organized, extremely bright librarian, at least when it comes to books...but not as much about life. She also tends to be somewhat of a pessimist. Benny Soderstom is a nice man and not into how he looks; and in fact why should he when he is tending a grave and working at a farm? With these basic descriptions, it would seem highly unlikely that these two would ever get together.
And yet, these two fall madly in love, if not lust, after weeks of merely sitting on the same bench at the cemetery, not talking. When Benny finally is brave enough to ask Desiree to lunch, their crazy relationship begins. Benny calls Desiree "Shrimp" because he says he has trouble with her name because it sounds too snooty to him and in fact, in the beginning, that is what he thought of her. This affair starts off very exciting at first but goes downhill when they realize how little they really have in common other than their chemistry and physical attraction. Will this relationship last? Can each over look the differences to make this work?
You will have to read to the book to find out. I found it to be a really fun read and it did show new meaning to "opposites attract". And with the chapters alternating between Benny and Shrimp, written in first person, it is very easy to follow. A short but amusing story to be sure. It is easy to see why it was such a hit in Europe before coming to America.
GIVEAWAY
Don't forget!
EXTRA ENTRY OPPORTUNITY!!
Go back to the original post where you
entered or still can, and then comment
separately giving the # of your first
comment and in the new comment,
write something about my review
that you read here.
Remember, you are commenting with
the original post by clicking below to get
there and finding your first comment/entry!
Giveaway will end at
6 PM, EST,
Saturday, August 15
You can still enter by clicking HERE!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
Don't forget!
EXTRA ENTRY OPPORTUNITY!!
Go back to the original post where you
entered or still can, and then comment
separately giving the # of your first
comment and in the new comment,
write something about my review
that you read here.
Remember, you are commenting with
the original post by clicking below to get
there and finding your first comment/entry!
Giveaway will end at
6 PM, EST,
Saturday, August 15
You can still enter by clicking HERE!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
4 comments:
I already read it so you don't have to enter me, but I wanted to add I also found it a very enjoyable read!
I have heard many good things about this book and would love a change to read it
I've seen mixed reviews for this book but I really liked the quirkiness (is that a word? LOL) of it. The author has written a sequel but it hasn't been translated yet...wish they'd do that.
I would love to read "Benny and Shrimp. Nice review.
teakettle58@yahoo.com
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