Benny and Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti (final thoughts)

From completely different walks of life, librarian Desiree and dairy farmer Benny have one thing in common – they both regularly visit the cemetery. Desiree spends most of her lunch breaks and weekends at her late husband’s grave. His is a plain stone placed next to a greatly ornate marker, which bears the names of Benny’s parents. At first Benny and Desiree are very much annoyed with the other’s presence, but soon that annoyance turns to curiosity and their unlikely relationship begins.

I picked up Benny & Shrimp one Sunday afternoon and less than 36 hours later I turned the final page. For me, that was incredibly speedy. But the story was so quirky and involving, I could not put it down. It was one of those “I’ll just read to the end of this chapter… I mean this next chapter… Okay, maybe just one more…” kind of books.

The story is told by both Desiree and Benny, their points of view alternating in each chapter. When it’s done right, I love multiple points of view, and Mazetti does it right. It was both delightful and frustrating to read Benny and Desiree’s takes on their relationship. Sometimes their chapters flowed together seamlessly, as if finishing each other’s sentences. While others focused on their disharmony – the unspoken words, the misinterpretation of spoken works, and the consequences of both.

What made Benny & Shrimp so great, though, was the writing. There were so many witty phrases and observations, it had me giggling from the get-go. However, those giggles petered out as the book progressed, because while it starts off light and fun, it turns more serious as Desiree and Benny deal with the obstacles clinging to their relationship.

And I’ve got to add – Desiree’s co-worker? Yikes! If I came across someone like that, I don’t think I could let it go as quickly as Desiree seemed to.

Benny & Shrimp was originally published in 1998 in Swedish and the English translation was only released in 2009. Mazetti has written a sequel, Familjegraven, but sadly at the moment it is only available in Swedish. I am eagerly awaiting the English translation, but if it takes too long I may have to learn Swedish because I NEED TO KNOW what happens after the conclusion of Benny & Shrimp.

I don’t know if this book is for everyone, but I would definitely recommend Benny & Shrimp to those who enjoy a good quirky love story.

My rating: 8/10

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