Benny & Shrimp

by Katarina Mazetti

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143115995
• ISBN13: 9780143115991
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 209 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Loved it!

Adorable doesn't seem to be the correct word for this book because it isn't cute & fluffy, yet "adorable" is one of the first words that popped into my head when searching for a description. Also quirky, fun, odd, amusing, and wonderful! I really, really liked this book! It grabbed me on the very first page by the time I'd finished reading: You'll have to be on your guard! An aggrieved, single woman in a distinctly abnormal emotional state. Who knows what I might get up to at the next full moon? You've read Stephen King, haven't you? Benny single-handily runs a small family farm. Desiree (nicknamed Shrimp by Benny) is an intellectual who works at the town library. They meet at a cemetery of all places, as his parent's grave is near her husband's grave. At first, they are both irritated with each other for disturbing their graveside visits. They can tell at a glance that they have absolutely nothing in common and are from different worlds, which is why it surprises them both when they somehow fall into a relationship. Most of the story deals with the two of them trying to come to terms with their relationship, merging their two very different lifestyles, and working out whether or not they can make things work. They are both smart, likable, middle-class adults with lives of their own, which made a refreshing change from the stereotypical young 20 year old falling for the older rich bachelor. Loved the short chapters alternating between Benny and Shrimp's point of view. Especially when describing the same moment as they remembered things differently, just like in "real" life. I identified with Shrimp more so than Benny, but thought Benny was the more sympathetic of the two. Gave this book a 5 out of 5 rating as I enjoyed it so much and thought that both the writing and the story were above average! I'm also pushing this book on all of my friends and co-workers, as I think everyone will enjoy it. Hope you give it a try, as I think it's well worth reading!

Opposites Attract

This was a fun, light read that I was able to finish in about 3 sittings. There are a few characters that will grow on you. The author uses very descriptive language and had images running through my mind throughout the story. The beginning starts off kind of slowly but gets more interesting pretty quick. I'd say this is a good book to read when you need something to make you laugh out loud.

In a nutshell

Some books you fall in love with at the very beginning, from page one I was in amore with this little novel. It begins with Desiree sitting on the bench in front of her husbands grave. She is trying to feel bad enough about his death. Desiree is a librarian who lives in the city. Her apartment is in the minimalist in fashion and she dresses mainly in beige. While at the cemetery, she sees a farmer who is constantly planting things at the gaudy, over the top plot next to her late husband. That farmer is Benny. He has just lost his mother, the one person who held his house hold together. Benny milks his 24 cows twice a day and her tends to all the farms needs, after that he has little time for cleaning, cooking or worrying how warm it is in the house. Benny hasn't done anything to the house since his mother died, so it is full of her cross stitch and fake plants with a thick layer of dust to hold it all together. Sitting next to each other on that bench they see each other smile, and the sparks fly. Benny and Desiree (who he aptly names Shrimp) begin a whirl wind romance like none you have ever experienced. This novel was originally written in Swedish and now we have the tremendous opportunity to read this hilarious book by this inspiring author. If there was anything lost in the translation you would never know it. This novel is intelligent, hilarious, romantic, happy and melancholy all at one time. I would not be surprised to see this one on all the BEST SELLERS list very soon.

Benny & Shrimp

I quite enjoyed this book. It was nice to read a story about love that wasn't wrapped in in superficiality. The book was about two ordinary people and how they navigate the rocky road that is love.

Benny & Shrimp

Benny & Shrimp reminds me of George Gershwin's "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." Two more unlikely people could not have caused the electricity that buzzed back and forth between a young widowed librarian and a hard working dairy farmer. This was certainly a case of "po-tah-toes" and "po-tay-toes." To increase the absurdity of the pair, they smile at each other over family gravestones for totally different reasons. However, the exchange of smiles is enough to create a storm of emotions. Of his first smile--"It had sun and wild strawberries and birds singing and expanses of glittering water in it. And it was directed at me, trusting and proud as if he were a child presenting me with a misshapen birthday gift. The corners of my mouth were still stretched wide." Mazetti writes a racy tale full of delight and tangled sheets--in Benny's musty, dusty, doily filled farm house and Shrimp's minimalist, organized apartment. There is no blatant description of heaving bosoms, such as one would find in so many romance novels. The author leaves the details up to the imagination of the reader. The writing is consistently fine, clever and witty. Some credit might possibly go to Sarah Death, who translated the story from the Swedish original. The chapters alternate with Benny's and Shrimp's voices: "We started arguing about the news. She's sort of left-wing: not exactly a champagne socialist, more an herbal tea lefty; and I defend the employers because I see myself as a small businessman." Benny & Shrimp is a frolic even though it addresses serious issues such as love and marriage, biological clocks, and the unceasing work of a dairy farmer. The story's surprise ending leaves us wanting more. by Judith Helburn for Story Circle Book Reviews reviewing books by, for, and about women