What do you think?
Rate this book
Beatrix & Fred
Beatrix is a loner. She has a love-hate relationship with her one friend, Ray, a hate-hate relationship with everyone else in her office and a genuine attachment to a stuffed canary named Horatio. She drinks alone far too much. Lately she’s been finding the edge of the railway platform dangerously seductive.
Her life needs to change. Then she crosses paths with an old woman who seems to be stalking her, and that’s exactly what happens. Eighty-something Fred is smart, earthy, funny and not the harmless elderly lady she appears to be. She is, in fact, quite literally something else. But what?
When something happens to Ray, Fred decides to reveal herself. And Beatrix realises she has some agonising choices to make.
Beatrix and Fred is an off-kilter love story wrapped in a satisfying layer of moral complexity and tied up with a ribbon of sheer fun. Warm, witty, more than slightly weird—it takes the age-old question of what it is to be human beyond humanity itself.
Her life needs to change. Then she crosses paths with an old woman who seems to be stalking her, and that’s exactly what happens. Eighty-something Fred is smart, earthy, funny and not the harmless elderly lady she appears to be. She is, in fact, quite literally something else. But what?
When something happens to Ray, Fred decides to reveal herself. And Beatrix realises she has some agonising choices to make.
Beatrix and Fred is an off-kilter love story wrapped in a satisfying layer of moral complexity and tied up with a ribbon of sheer fun. Warm, witty, more than slightly weird—it takes the age-old question of what it is to be human beyond humanity itself.
381 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2023
21 people are currently reading
662 people want to read
About the author
Emily Spurr
2 books205 followersEmily Spurr’s first novel, A Million Things, was shortlisted for the prestigious Victorian Premier's Unpublished Manuscript Prize, voted BookBrowse Best Debut Novel of 2021, long-listed for the 2022 Margaret & Collin Roderick Literary Award and Highly Commended for the 2022 Barbara Jefferis Award. It has been published in Australasia, North America, Europe, the UK, China and Taiwan.
Emily Spurr's second novel, Beatrix & Fred, was reviewed by The Weekend Australian as "one the most unique and curious novels of 2023, and that is precisely what makes it one of the best." A wild and darkly humorous tale, it will have you contemplating what it is to be human.
Originally from Tasmania, Emily Spurr lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner, their twins and the ghost of a deaf geriatric cat.
Website: https://www.emilyspurr.com/
instagram : https://www.instagram.com/spurr.emily/
Emily Spurr's second novel, Beatrix & Fred, was reviewed by The Weekend Australian as "one the most unique and curious novels of 2023, and that is precisely what makes it one of the best." A wild and darkly humorous tale, it will have you contemplating what it is to be human.
Originally from Tasmania, Emily Spurr lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner, their twins and the ghost of a deaf geriatric cat.
Website: https://www.emilyspurr.com/
instagram : https://www.instagram.com/spurr.emily/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 3, 2023
EXCERPT: Beatrix watches Fred's face as she shifts to find a comfortable position. 'What's it like? Being different people?'
Fred runs her fingers over the blanket. 'I was driving once, when sat-nav was a thing - before we all had maps on our phones - and I lost the signal. The map got stuck and zoomed out and I was driving with no idea where I was or where I needed to turn. Then, as I watched, the satellite reconnected and the map tilted, recalibrated and zoomed in. And I was marked on the road in a map that once again made sense.' She glances at Beatrix. 'That point, when the map tilted and slid into something recognisable, that's what it's like being someone new, waking in a new life. Everything tilts and shifts and then you're in a place that is not where you were, but it's recognisable and familiar.' Her fingers worry at the blanket. 'Except that's not entirely right. Because when everything reconfigures, the map is different, in subtle ways. The colours are changed . . . blue is still blue, obviously, but it looks different. I know the world, as before, but now I know it through a new set of reference data, a new collection of memories added to what I've got, deepening and expanding the place in front of me in a way that's new and recognisable at the same time.'
'You make it sound beautiful. Something absolutely horrific.'
Fred meets Beatrix's gaze, her milky rimmed eyes steady. 'That's because it is. It's both those things.'
ABOUT 'BEATRIX & FRED': Beatrix is a loner. She has a love-hate relationship with her one friend, Ray, a hate-hate relationship with everyone else in her office and a genuine attachment to a stuffed canary named Horatio. She drinks alone far too much. Lately she’s been finding the edge of the railway platform dangerously seductive.
Her life needs to change. Then she crosses paths with an old woman who seems to be stalking her, and that’s exactly what happens. Eighty-something Fred is smart, earthy, funny and not the harmless elderly lady she appears to be. She is, in fact, quite literally something else. But what?
When something happens to Ray, Fred decides to reveal herself. And Beatrix realises she has some agonising choices to make.
MY THOUGHTS: The author describes Beatrix & Fred as 'an off-kilter love story wrapped in a satisfying layer of moral complexity and tied up with a ribbon of sheer fun. Warm, witty, more than slightly weird—it takes the age-old question of what it is to be human beyond humanity itself'; and says (to her publisher) in her acknowledgements that 'when you signed me for two books, I bet you didn't think the second one would be this . . . odd.'
Weird, odd, strange . . . but also beautifully executed and oddly compelling.
Beatrix is about an unlikeable character as you can get in some ways, but she is also quite relatable in others. She really dislikes people. She hates her job. She is lonely and depressed. Her only company is a stuffed canary called Horatio who is busily shedding his feathers. And then along comes Fred. Does anyone remember a song called 'Along Came Jones'? It would make a great soundtrack for this book which I would love to see made into a movie.
At somewhere around the 50% mark, I was wondering if I wanted to finish this, but as it turns out, I did, and I'm glad I did. If you are looking for a quirky read with a difference, pick up Beatrix and Fred.
Emily Spurr, what are you going to come up with next?
#Beatrix&Fred #WaitomoDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: Originally from Tasmania, Emily lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner, their twins and a deaf, geriatric cat.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Fred runs her fingers over the blanket. 'I was driving once, when sat-nav was a thing - before we all had maps on our phones - and I lost the signal. The map got stuck and zoomed out and I was driving with no idea where I was or where I needed to turn. Then, as I watched, the satellite reconnected and the map tilted, recalibrated and zoomed in. And I was marked on the road in a map that once again made sense.' She glances at Beatrix. 'That point, when the map tilted and slid into something recognisable, that's what it's like being someone new, waking in a new life. Everything tilts and shifts and then you're in a place that is not where you were, but it's recognisable and familiar.' Her fingers worry at the blanket. 'Except that's not entirely right. Because when everything reconfigures, the map is different, in subtle ways. The colours are changed . . . blue is still blue, obviously, but it looks different. I know the world, as before, but now I know it through a new set of reference data, a new collection of memories added to what I've got, deepening and expanding the place in front of me in a way that's new and recognisable at the same time.'
'You make it sound beautiful. Something absolutely horrific.'
Fred meets Beatrix's gaze, her milky rimmed eyes steady. 'That's because it is. It's both those things.'
ABOUT 'BEATRIX & FRED': Beatrix is a loner. She has a love-hate relationship with her one friend, Ray, a hate-hate relationship with everyone else in her office and a genuine attachment to a stuffed canary named Horatio. She drinks alone far too much. Lately she’s been finding the edge of the railway platform dangerously seductive.
Her life needs to change. Then she crosses paths with an old woman who seems to be stalking her, and that’s exactly what happens. Eighty-something Fred is smart, earthy, funny and not the harmless elderly lady she appears to be. She is, in fact, quite literally something else. But what?
When something happens to Ray, Fred decides to reveal herself. And Beatrix realises she has some agonising choices to make.
MY THOUGHTS: The author describes Beatrix & Fred as 'an off-kilter love story wrapped in a satisfying layer of moral complexity and tied up with a ribbon of sheer fun. Warm, witty, more than slightly weird—it takes the age-old question of what it is to be human beyond humanity itself'; and says (to her publisher) in her acknowledgements that 'when you signed me for two books, I bet you didn't think the second one would be this . . . odd.'
Weird, odd, strange . . . but also beautifully executed and oddly compelling.
Beatrix is about an unlikeable character as you can get in some ways, but she is also quite relatable in others. She really dislikes people. She hates her job. She is lonely and depressed. Her only company is a stuffed canary called Horatio who is busily shedding his feathers. And then along comes Fred. Does anyone remember a song called 'Along Came Jones'? It would make a great soundtrack for this book which I would love to see made into a movie.
At somewhere around the 50% mark, I was wondering if I wanted to finish this, but as it turns out, I did, and I'm glad I did. If you are looking for a quirky read with a difference, pick up Beatrix and Fred.
Emily Spurr, what are you going to come up with next?
#Beatrix&Fred #WaitomoDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: Originally from Tasmania, Emily lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner, their twins and a deaf, geriatric cat.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
March 22, 2024
Restarted it in March 2024, library ebook again.
Done now after a break. Creative and confusing. Didn't work too well for me in the end. Fred was a fun character, Bea not so much as her drinking and self destructiveness took too much of the energy and dialogue. I loved A Million Things and had high hopes for this one, especially with my GR friend Jodi's strong review. But it just did not work as a novel and all the self abuse was too hard for me. 3 stars while it was creative and had it's moments.
Previous review before pause:
Having loved Emily Spurr's first wonderful novel, I was quite looking forward to this one. Unfortunately Beatrix is depressed, anxious, having panic attacks and drinking heavily. As the same thing is now occurring with a beloved family member, I can not read this anymore right now. Hopefully I can revisit when things improve in my own life.
"‘Christ.’ She glances at the older woman, who has staggered back and appears to be holding herself upright using the wall-mounted hand drier."
A library ebook which I will return for the time being.
Done now after a break. Creative and confusing. Didn't work too well for me in the end. Fred was a fun character, Bea not so much as her drinking and self destructiveness took too much of the energy and dialogue. I loved A Million Things and had high hopes for this one, especially with my GR friend Jodi's strong review. But it just did not work as a novel and all the self abuse was too hard for me. 3 stars while it was creative and had it's moments.
Previous review before pause:
Having loved Emily Spurr's first wonderful novel, I was quite looking forward to this one. Unfortunately Beatrix is depressed, anxious, having panic attacks and drinking heavily. As the same thing is now occurring with a beloved family member, I can not read this anymore right now. Hopefully I can revisit when things improve in my own life.
"‘Christ.’ She glances at the older woman, who has staggered back and appears to be holding herself upright using the wall-mounted hand drier."
A library ebook which I will return for the time being.
October 26, 2023
Beatrix & Fred is the second novel by prize-winning Australian author, Emily Spurr. The first time she becomes aware of Fred it’s as Beatrix is about to step in front of a train. A surprisingly strong hand clamps onto her upper arm and drags her back: the old woman has to be in her eighties. At the time, Beatrix attributes the blinding headache and the overwhelming urge to vomit to her vodka hangover.
Fred has never encountered anyone like Beatrix before, and for the first time in many years, she’s interested, curious even. But Beatrix has no desire to interact with the old lady who seems to be stalking her. Fred is persistent because she believes Beatrix might be able to help her with her ultimate goal: to end her existence. Telling her that doesn’t exactly go down well.
From observing her generally anti-social behaviour, her explosions into rage and her tendency to be argumentatively truthful, Fred knows that she sees Beatrix better than anyone else does, and believes she can help her: a reciprocal benefit situation?
She admits that she makes a couple of wrong moves, actions that see Beatrix concerned for either her sanity or the possibility of a brain tumour. Beatrix isn’t entirely convinced she’s not hallucinating Fred, although she is hitting the vodka rather hard.
Bot (as she has named her mental health chat app) recommends seeking professional help, which she does: GP and MRI and blood tests that need further investigation. But when her only friend Ray, the one work colleague she can actually tolerate, begins to behave differently towards her, things start to get crazy.
Much more can’t really be said without spoilers, except to ask if that might be a hint of the paranormal? Or is Spurr leading the reader up an entirely different garden path? She certainly keeps the reader captivated and intrigued with every twist and turn of the plot. Her thorough research ensures that very little suspension of disbelief is required.
The story is told in alternating narratives between Beatrix in the third person, present tense, and Fred’s, a journal of events in the second person, addressed to Beatrix. Bot regularly interrupts Beatrix’s narrative with queries about her mental state and constructive suggestions: their interactions are very entertaining while often providing sound advice.
Spurr’s characters are entirely credible, having depth and appeal, even Beatrix for all her abrasiveness, easily resembling people we meet in everyday life. The dialogue is clever and often darkly amusing, and enough readers will have encountered people who are as liberal with expletives as Beatrix is, for it to be realistic, but some readers may find it offensive.
Spurr has a way with words:
“I feel things, but I also don’t. Like I feel them from another room. Except rage. I feel that pretty intensely, a capital-R rage that explodes from nowhere…. when I was a kid, I felt things vividly, viscerally, in multicolour and surround sound. Seismically. Now I feel them intellectually. In my head. In pastel. Or greyscale. Except for recently. And that’s mainly the bad stuff”
Spurr’s second novel explores what it is to be human in a very novel way. She throws her protagonists some curly dilemmas and gives them interesting observations and a quirky insight into life. Very different from “A Million Things” but smart, funny and thought-provoking: more from Emily Spurr will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Text Publishing.
Fred has never encountered anyone like Beatrix before, and for the first time in many years, she’s interested, curious even. But Beatrix has no desire to interact with the old lady who seems to be stalking her. Fred is persistent because she believes Beatrix might be able to help her with her ultimate goal: to end her existence. Telling her that doesn’t exactly go down well.
From observing her generally anti-social behaviour, her explosions into rage and her tendency to be argumentatively truthful, Fred knows that she sees Beatrix better than anyone else does, and believes she can help her: a reciprocal benefit situation?
She admits that she makes a couple of wrong moves, actions that see Beatrix concerned for either her sanity or the possibility of a brain tumour. Beatrix isn’t entirely convinced she’s not hallucinating Fred, although she is hitting the vodka rather hard.
Bot (as she has named her mental health chat app) recommends seeking professional help, which she does: GP and MRI and blood tests that need further investigation. But when her only friend Ray, the one work colleague she can actually tolerate, begins to behave differently towards her, things start to get crazy.
Much more can’t really be said without spoilers, except to ask if that might be a hint of the paranormal? Or is Spurr leading the reader up an entirely different garden path? She certainly keeps the reader captivated and intrigued with every twist and turn of the plot. Her thorough research ensures that very little suspension of disbelief is required.
The story is told in alternating narratives between Beatrix in the third person, present tense, and Fred’s, a journal of events in the second person, addressed to Beatrix. Bot regularly interrupts Beatrix’s narrative with queries about her mental state and constructive suggestions: their interactions are very entertaining while often providing sound advice.
Spurr’s characters are entirely credible, having depth and appeal, even Beatrix for all her abrasiveness, easily resembling people we meet in everyday life. The dialogue is clever and often darkly amusing, and enough readers will have encountered people who are as liberal with expletives as Beatrix is, for it to be realistic, but some readers may find it offensive.
Spurr has a way with words:
“I feel things, but I also don’t. Like I feel them from another room. Except rage. I feel that pretty intensely, a capital-R rage that explodes from nowhere…. when I was a kid, I felt things vividly, viscerally, in multicolour and surround sound. Seismically. Now I feel them intellectually. In my head. In pastel. Or greyscale. Except for recently. And that’s mainly the bad stuff”
Spurr’s second novel explores what it is to be human in a very novel way. She throws her protagonists some curly dilemmas and gives them interesting observations and a quirky insight into life. Very different from “A Million Things” but smart, funny and thought-provoking: more from Emily Spurr will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Text Publishing.
August 12, 2023
Book 4 of my 24 hour readathon
I don't think my review will be able to do this book justice. (Especially at this time of night) However... This book had me glued to the pages until the very last line. A story of the slightly unlikeable yet oddly relatable Beatrix who just cant seem to catch a break.
Faced with a 80 year old woman named Fred seemingly stalking her, a stuffed canary that provides comfort and a mental health app that had me visibly chuckling at the one liners it provided.
Beatrix & Fred is an emotional, satirical & confronting story that had me hooked, attached to the characters and questioning humanity at times?
Positively weird and unusual, a breath of fresh air. I will be raving and thinking about this book for a long time.
I don't think my review will be able to do this book justice. (Especially at this time of night) However... This book had me glued to the pages until the very last line. A story of the slightly unlikeable yet oddly relatable Beatrix who just cant seem to catch a break.
Faced with a 80 year old woman named Fred seemingly stalking her, a stuffed canary that provides comfort and a mental health app that had me visibly chuckling at the one liners it provided.
Beatrix & Fred is an emotional, satirical & confronting story that had me hooked, attached to the characters and questioning humanity at times?
Positively weird and unusual, a breath of fresh air. I will be raving and thinking about this book for a long time.
November 28, 2023
Wow-wow-wow-wow-wow! ALL the stars!! Look, if you loved her first book—A Million Things—you will surely love this one, as well. BUT... this new book is as different as can be from the first but, still, it has the same wonderful style she wrote A Million Things with. The heart is fully there. The soul is there in abundance. And the quirky humour is most definitely there. And even if you haven't read her first novel, I highy recommend you read Beatrix & Fred. The creativity—the unconventional theme—the storyline—EVERYTHING about it was so wonderfully different from anything I've encountered in fiction. And I absolutely LOVED IT!! For me, it was a rather long-ish book (more than 400 pages) but I loved every single page and actually wished there were more!🥰
So, more review to come... maybe. I really haven't a clue what I could say about it without giving the whole story away, but if I think of something, I'll be back. But please... just read it! I think you'll love it, too!🤗
So, more review to come... maybe. I really haven't a clue what I could say about it without giving the whole story away, but if I think of something, I'll be back. But please... just read it! I think you'll love it, too!🤗
October 25, 2023
This book was well written, entertaining, compelling, and absolutely delightful. The characters are nuanced and realistic. This could have been a horror novel, but is instead a warm novel about friendship, mental health and ultimately what it means to be human. It's also darned weird! So, writing any more would probably result in spoilers.
Read
March 1, 2024The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Beatrix and Fred
‘A luminous, wise and blackly funny triumph. I adored it.’
Toni Jordan
‘Rippling, joyous, irresistible prose…Intensely readable.’
The Blurb (PULSE 94.7)
‘This book is wild, it is wonderful, it is thought provoking. It is full of surprises…An absolute joy.’
2SER Final Draft
‘Beatrix & Fred is a gorgeous, warm, witty off-beat novel about loneliness, aging and the precarious nature of being human…Refreshing, quirky and entirely relatable.’
A Cuppa With Meredith Jaffe
‘A peculiar yet enchanting tale of friendship…Delicately merges the bizarre with the familiar, touching on emotions we’ve all felt in life…Emily Spurr perfectly marries the feelings of isolation and friendship and how we, as humans, can feel so many things at once.’
Ramona Magazine
‘If people enjoyed Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason or Fleabag…This is the kind of book that they might really enjoy...Pacy, easy to read, refreshing and strangely comforting.’
RNZ Nine to Noon
‘A funny and moving novel that defies conventional tropes and genres…This is an incredibly strange novel but in the best way possible…Spurr has woven a beautiful story that ultimately provokes both Beatrix and the reader to question what it truly means to be human.’
Good Reading (4 stars)
‘The novel works at least initially to keep you off-kilter, waiting for its moment…what comes next in the novel is truly original...It is the heart in Beatrix & Fred thought that sets this novel apart.’
2SER Final Draft
‘A weird and quite wonderful novel…Throughout, Spurr’s writing is vivid and energetic …the sense of possibility, grace and hope that the novel ends on brings its own splendid rewards.’
NZ Listener
‘Unlike anything else I have read...Weirdly, humorously different, Beatrix & Fred is going to stick with me for a long time.’
3CR Published or Not
‘Enthralling…Genuinely unique.’
Triple M Tasmania
‘It's going to blow your socks off....Beautifully metaphoric about our lives.’
ABC The Friday Revue
‘An offbeat novel tackling ageing and loneliness, among other things, with warmth, intelligence, and earthy humour.’
Age
‘Beatrix & Fred is one of the most unique and curious novels of 2023, and that is precisely what makes it one of the best…Spurr is an up-and-coming star on the Australian literary scene, and it’s her distinctive style and voice that separates her from the rest.’
Australian
‘The second novel from fearless author Emily Spurr…Another powerful and thought-provoking read.’
Australian Women’s Weekly
‘Beatrix and Fred would undoubtedly be the most refreshingly unique novel I’ve ever read. An utter delight, agonisingly tender, sharply witty, with a story arc that just kept on delivering...I adored this novel and would have to say that it’s right up there now in the ever-allusive category of “favourite books ever”.’
Theresa Smith Writes
‘Beatrix & Fred’s unusual premise allowed for a lovely exploration of what it means to connect and belong and even what it means to be human…Beautifully written...If you’re looking for something rather unexpected, you should give this one a go.’
Novel Feelings
‘I loved this weird and wonderful second novel from local Melbourne writer, Emily Spurr. I don’t know how she pulled this off but she did, so well. Really enjoyed the characters and the conceit.’
Bowerbird, Kate Mildenhall
‘A luminous, wise and blackly funny triumph. I adored it.’
Toni Jordan
‘Rippling, joyous, irresistible prose…Intensely readable.’
The Blurb (PULSE 94.7)
‘This book is wild, it is wonderful, it is thought provoking. It is full of surprises…An absolute joy.’
2SER Final Draft
‘Beatrix & Fred is a gorgeous, warm, witty off-beat novel about loneliness, aging and the precarious nature of being human…Refreshing, quirky and entirely relatable.’
A Cuppa With Meredith Jaffe
‘A peculiar yet enchanting tale of friendship…Delicately merges the bizarre with the familiar, touching on emotions we’ve all felt in life…Emily Spurr perfectly marries the feelings of isolation and friendship and how we, as humans, can feel so many things at once.’
Ramona Magazine
‘If people enjoyed Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason or Fleabag…This is the kind of book that they might really enjoy...Pacy, easy to read, refreshing and strangely comforting.’
RNZ Nine to Noon
‘A funny and moving novel that defies conventional tropes and genres…This is an incredibly strange novel but in the best way possible…Spurr has woven a beautiful story that ultimately provokes both Beatrix and the reader to question what it truly means to be human.’
Good Reading (4 stars)
‘The novel works at least initially to keep you off-kilter, waiting for its moment…what comes next in the novel is truly original...It is the heart in Beatrix & Fred thought that sets this novel apart.’
2SER Final Draft
‘A weird and quite wonderful novel…Throughout, Spurr’s writing is vivid and energetic …the sense of possibility, grace and hope that the novel ends on brings its own splendid rewards.’
NZ Listener
‘Unlike anything else I have read...Weirdly, humorously different, Beatrix & Fred is going to stick with me for a long time.’
3CR Published or Not
‘Enthralling…Genuinely unique.’
Triple M Tasmania
‘It's going to blow your socks off....Beautifully metaphoric about our lives.’
ABC The Friday Revue
‘An offbeat novel tackling ageing and loneliness, among other things, with warmth, intelligence, and earthy humour.’
Age
‘Beatrix & Fred is one of the most unique and curious novels of 2023, and that is precisely what makes it one of the best…Spurr is an up-and-coming star on the Australian literary scene, and it’s her distinctive style and voice that separates her from the rest.’
Australian
‘The second novel from fearless author Emily Spurr…Another powerful and thought-provoking read.’
Australian Women’s Weekly
‘Beatrix and Fred would undoubtedly be the most refreshingly unique novel I’ve ever read. An utter delight, agonisingly tender, sharply witty, with a story arc that just kept on delivering...I adored this novel and would have to say that it’s right up there now in the ever-allusive category of “favourite books ever”.’
Theresa Smith Writes
‘Beatrix & Fred’s unusual premise allowed for a lovely exploration of what it means to connect and belong and even what it means to be human…Beautifully written...If you’re looking for something rather unexpected, you should give this one a go.’
Novel Feelings
‘I loved this weird and wonderful second novel from local Melbourne writer, Emily Spurr. I don’t know how she pulled this off but she did, so well. Really enjoyed the characters and the conceit.’
Bowerbird, Kate Mildenhall
August 17, 2023
3.5*
an odd book in a good way. i don’t even know how to really describe this book but when i wasn’t actually reading it i was thinking about it and trying to figure it out.
very warm with a focus on the two main characters and their relationship. i woke up at 12:30am and couldn’t fall back to sleep so i stayed up until 2am finishing it. i really liked the ending.
an odd book in a good way. i don’t even know how to really describe this book but when i wasn’t actually reading it i was thinking about it and trying to figure it out.
very warm with a focus on the two main characters and their relationship. i woke up at 12:30am and couldn’t fall back to sleep so i stayed up until 2am finishing it. i really liked the ending.
November 11, 2023
Beatrix and Fred would undoubtedly be the most refreshingly unique novel I’ve ever read. It was an utter delight, agonisingly tender, sharply witty, with a story arc that just kept on delivering the most unexpected twists and reveals.
I adored this novel and would have to say that it’s right up there now in the ever-allusive category of ‘favourite books ever’. Beatrix was not necessarily all that likeable in the beginning, and Fred was absolutely maddening with her stalking, literally driving Beatrix crazy. Yet, I began to love these characters with a fierceness as the story progressed, thinking about them when I wasn’t reading, wondering what was going to happen next, puzzling over the mystery of Fred.
If you’re looking for something different and completely marvellous to read and get lost in, Beatrix and Fred is the novel for you. There’s nothing else like it and I was obsessed with reading it at every opportunity that presented itself to me. I loved it that much I’m considering listening to the audio book version. A top read of the year so far and I highly recommend it to all readers.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
I adored this novel and would have to say that it’s right up there now in the ever-allusive category of ‘favourite books ever’. Beatrix was not necessarily all that likeable in the beginning, and Fred was absolutely maddening with her stalking, literally driving Beatrix crazy. Yet, I began to love these characters with a fierceness as the story progressed, thinking about them when I wasn’t reading, wondering what was going to happen next, puzzling over the mystery of Fred.
If you’re looking for something different and completely marvellous to read and get lost in, Beatrix and Fred is the novel for you. There’s nothing else like it and I was obsessed with reading it at every opportunity that presented itself to me. I loved it that much I’m considering listening to the audio book version. A top read of the year so far and I highly recommend it to all readers.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
August 28, 2023
Thank you Text Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
An emotional, humorous and heartfelt tale with shades of eccentric and kooky.
This wonderfully written story is positively weird in the utmost delightful way.
Beatrix spends all her time by herself.
She lives alone, drinks alone and works in the office alone.
Her one friend, Ray, she has a frosty relationship with, has a liking for a stuffed bird called Horatio and thinks her best decision will be to jump off the platform in front of a train.
But something needs to happen and it does.
A old woman seems to be stalking her.
Fred, an older lady is strange, funny and shifty.
Then something different, offbeat and remarkable happens.
A beautiful, charming, honest and quirky read with a hint of melancholy and joy.
Emily has created a conversation starter and many interesting discussions along the way.
Her style of writing and her fictional characters bring the feelings and make the senses react.
The readers of this one will experience lots of high, moving tingles and sentiment.
It won’t be for everyone but for those who do, this book will deliver the mood, an inventive plot and the enjoyment.
A poignant book that packs an emotional punch.
An emotional, humorous and heartfelt tale with shades of eccentric and kooky.
This wonderfully written story is positively weird in the utmost delightful way.
Beatrix spends all her time by herself.
She lives alone, drinks alone and works in the office alone.
Her one friend, Ray, she has a frosty relationship with, has a liking for a stuffed bird called Horatio and thinks her best decision will be to jump off the platform in front of a train.
But something needs to happen and it does.
A old woman seems to be stalking her.
Fred, an older lady is strange, funny and shifty.
Then something different, offbeat and remarkable happens.
A beautiful, charming, honest and quirky read with a hint of melancholy and joy.
Emily has created a conversation starter and many interesting discussions along the way.
Her style of writing and her fictional characters bring the feelings and make the senses react.
The readers of this one will experience lots of high, moving tingles and sentiment.
It won’t be for everyone but for those who do, this book will deliver the mood, an inventive plot and the enjoyment.
A poignant book that packs an emotional punch.
December 29, 2023
I don’t even know where to start. This was truly weird. I couldn’t connect to the characters. The blurb claims it’s an off kilter love story tied up in a ribbon of fun. I didn’t find it to be any of those things. It was confusing, lacking flow and without a clear storyline. The ending was lack lustre and rushed.
Read
July 23, 2024- thanks to @text_publishing for a #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Let it be said that this book is about many, many things, but it is, at its very core, a story of friendship. One of the most bizarre ones I have ever read? Granted. But utterly beautiful because of it. Beatrix & Fred is a novel I will hold dear for years to come, because I know I will come back to it and every time I do, I will discover something new about two of the most quirky characters I have ever encountered.
We have all been Beatrix at one time or another: cranky, fed up, awkward and pretty much done with everything and everyone. She is relatable at many levels and although it is effortless to empathise with her struggles, it is also quite difficult to like her much. That is until she meets Fred, a woman in her eighties who might or might not be stalking Beatrix and adding to her endless list of anxieties.
Now, the pure magic of this book is that it appeals equally to character-driven and plot-driven readers. The first half of the book does not provide much in terms of action because it is necessary to emphasise characterisation, so bear with me if, halfway through, the temptation of murder due to undelivered promises starts to creep in. Rest assured that, in the second half, things start happening and oh fellow human ... what a ride that is.
I am not a betting person because I do not like to confront even the possibility of losing (I am very competitive, you see), yet I would 100% bet actual crisp dollar bills to anyone that this storyline is ... unguessable. I mean, at this stage I would bet not even Emily's editorial team could have guessed ... all the more reasons to get a hands on a copy because a wild ride is utterly guaranteed.
Overall, Beatrix & Fred is a novel that made me feel all the feels and took me fully by surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed the enigmatic storyline, the nuanced commentary on human existence and everything that makes us ... us? Equally perplexing and gripping, I 100% recommend this novel to all and everyone.
Let it be said that this book is about many, many things, but it is, at its very core, a story of friendship. One of the most bizarre ones I have ever read? Granted. But utterly beautiful because of it. Beatrix & Fred is a novel I will hold dear for years to come, because I know I will come back to it and every time I do, I will discover something new about two of the most quirky characters I have ever encountered.
We have all been Beatrix at one time or another: cranky, fed up, awkward and pretty much done with everything and everyone. She is relatable at many levels and although it is effortless to empathise with her struggles, it is also quite difficult to like her much. That is until she meets Fred, a woman in her eighties who might or might not be stalking Beatrix and adding to her endless list of anxieties.
Now, the pure magic of this book is that it appeals equally to character-driven and plot-driven readers. The first half of the book does not provide much in terms of action because it is necessary to emphasise characterisation, so bear with me if, halfway through, the temptation of murder due to undelivered promises starts to creep in. Rest assured that, in the second half, things start happening and oh fellow human ... what a ride that is.
I am not a betting person because I do not like to confront even the possibility of losing (I am very competitive, you see), yet I would 100% bet actual crisp dollar bills to anyone that this storyline is ... unguessable. I mean, at this stage I would bet not even Emily's editorial team could have guessed ... all the more reasons to get a hands on a copy because a wild ride is utterly guaranteed.
Overall, Beatrix & Fred is a novel that made me feel all the feels and took me fully by surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed the enigmatic storyline, the nuanced commentary on human existence and everything that makes us ... us? Equally perplexing and gripping, I 100% recommend this novel to all and everyone.
August 31, 2023
This is a truly weird and quirky book in the most wonderful way! Emily, you told me this was weird and I told you I loved weird… how true these statements are!!
I was completely perplexed at the beginning of this story and found myself trying to figure it out when I wasn’t reading.
I loved Beatrix’s character from the very start. She was 46, with tonnes of attitude, a taxidermy canary called Horatio, a self help app called bot (that made me laugh a lot), had the sweetest colleague Ray, and … Fred.
I loved Fred too. Fred was witty and smart. I loved their crazy friendship. But I can’t say much more about Fred or the rest of the book as it’s too hard without giving anything away!
I particularly loved the discussion about menopause and what it does to our brains. We need to talk about this topic so much more! Emily, I’m so grateful that this was included in your book. Thank you!
This book may not be for everyone. It’s different, it’s quite out of this world, but it’s beautiful, original and I absolutely adored how different and weird it was. I knew I would!
Thank you so much @text_publishing for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was completely perplexed at the beginning of this story and found myself trying to figure it out when I wasn’t reading.
I loved Beatrix’s character from the very start. She was 46, with tonnes of attitude, a taxidermy canary called Horatio, a self help app called bot (that made me laugh a lot), had the sweetest colleague Ray, and … Fred.
I loved Fred too. Fred was witty and smart. I loved their crazy friendship. But I can’t say much more about Fred or the rest of the book as it’s too hard without giving anything away!
I particularly loved the discussion about menopause and what it does to our brains. We need to talk about this topic so much more! Emily, I’m so grateful that this was included in your book. Thank you!
This book may not be for everyone. It’s different, it’s quite out of this world, but it’s beautiful, original and I absolutely adored how different and weird it was. I knew I would!
Thank you so much @text_publishing for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2023
A very strange book...to me an unresolved, unsatisfactory ending.
November 2, 2023
The ending felt a bit rushed but other than that, this was a great read.
December 3, 2023
Needed much stricter editing to reduce the repetition especially the first 150 pages. And being upfront about the genre being fantasy.
January 4, 2024
What a weird first read for the year! I just don’t know how the author came up with the idea but I think it is going to stay with me for a while and I’m going to be thinking of brain tumours and parasites for a while! This book also introduced me to lofi music which I had never heard of.
January 28, 2024
What a strange but interesting book. A very different topic and unlikeable characters that become really likeable. Not sure about the ending though.
May 1, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ A very, very strange read.
September 7, 2023
How on earth do authors come up with such crazy plotlines? Beatrix and Fred by Emily Spurr was a book like no other and I ended up really rather liking it!
Perplexing and enigmatic yet very gripping. It was hard to work out what the hell was going on. On the surface the plot seemed so incredibly farfetched and out there and yet it just worked in the end. Truly one of the more original books I’ve read this year.
The main character is Beatrix who is cranky and grumpy, socially awkward with only one friend (Ray from work) and a stuffed canary (Horatio) to confide in. She drinks alone more and more and is alienating herself from people around her. One day she spots an elderly woman at the train station and realises that she is being followed. This begins a confusing few weeks for Beatrix where she wonders if this woman is real and being stalked or if she is going crazy. Well she is real and her name is Fred but when the two finally meet properly Beatrix realises that there is much more to Fred than first appears.
And that is where I will leave the plot outline as you will want to go into this one totally blind beyond this. I honestly don’t think I could describe what happens next if I tried! Suffice to say you will never in a million years guess how the story unfurls.
Beatrix and Fred was funny, wonderfully inventive and quite moving in the way the ending is realised. This is Emily Spurr’s second novel and I’d recommend reading both of her books. Though very different she has managed to create unique characters in both who you really want to root for.
This was quite a long book and I thought that it could have been shaved down a little but it was one of those books that by the second half it was impossible to stop turning the pages.
Thank you to @text_publishing for my #gifted copy.
Perplexing and enigmatic yet very gripping. It was hard to work out what the hell was going on. On the surface the plot seemed so incredibly farfetched and out there and yet it just worked in the end. Truly one of the more original books I’ve read this year.
The main character is Beatrix who is cranky and grumpy, socially awkward with only one friend (Ray from work) and a stuffed canary (Horatio) to confide in. She drinks alone more and more and is alienating herself from people around her. One day she spots an elderly woman at the train station and realises that she is being followed. This begins a confusing few weeks for Beatrix where she wonders if this woman is real and being stalked or if she is going crazy. Well she is real and her name is Fred but when the two finally meet properly Beatrix realises that there is much more to Fred than first appears.
And that is where I will leave the plot outline as you will want to go into this one totally blind beyond this. I honestly don’t think I could describe what happens next if I tried! Suffice to say you will never in a million years guess how the story unfurls.
Beatrix and Fred was funny, wonderfully inventive and quite moving in the way the ending is realised. This is Emily Spurr’s second novel and I’d recommend reading both of her books. Though very different she has managed to create unique characters in both who you really want to root for.
This was quite a long book and I thought that it could have been shaved down a little but it was one of those books that by the second half it was impossible to stop turning the pages.
Thank you to @text_publishing for my #gifted copy.
September 11, 2023
Well it's 2 from 2 for me with @spurr.emily 's writing! I absolutely adored A Million Things and still place it as one of the most underrated books on booksta, (there is no way it got the love it deserved) so as soon as I heard there was a new book out I was straight on it, and the lovely people at @text_publishing very kindly sent me a copy.
Firstly, it is visually gorgeous. The cover is beautiful (even though it features a dead bird). And secondly, it is wonderful! It is quirky, unique and weird.
.
It's hard to even describe what it's about without spoiling it as the joy of the book is trying to piece it all together and work out what on earth is going on. But it features 2 main characters - Beatrix - a loner who seems pretty hell bent on self destruction, and Fred - an elderly female stalker... 🤷🏻♀️ It had all the elements I love in a story and I found myself wondering right up until the very end - and then not wanting it to end. And when it did all come together I had chills.
Beautifully written (the character arcs are so clever), and completely original - it's going to stay with me for a long time. Congratulations @spurr.emily on yet another incredible book, and thank you again @text.publishing for sending a copy my way.
Firstly, it is visually gorgeous. The cover is beautiful (even though it features a dead bird). And secondly, it is wonderful! It is quirky, unique and weird.
.
It's hard to even describe what it's about without spoiling it as the joy of the book is trying to piece it all together and work out what on earth is going on. But it features 2 main characters - Beatrix - a loner who seems pretty hell bent on self destruction, and Fred - an elderly female stalker... 🤷🏻♀️ It had all the elements I love in a story and I found myself wondering right up until the very end - and then not wanting it to end. And when it did all come together I had chills.
Beautifully written (the character arcs are so clever), and completely original - it's going to stay with me for a long time. Congratulations @spurr.emily on yet another incredible book, and thank you again @text.publishing for sending a copy my way.
November 19, 2023
While it comes in the same package and starts very similarly to a lot of the books I ordinarily read, this was so different - and I loved it! Beatrix & Fred is absurd, gripping, and I wasn't 100% sure that it wasn't go to end with "and then she woke up and it was all a dream" until the final pages. In its own peculiar way, I read this to be about loneliness, alienation, and the peace that comes with finally finding 'your person'.
December 8, 2023
I couldn’t finish this book. Completely lost me sadly after reading such good reviews.
January 5, 2024
Long-winded, but heartfelt!
September 30, 2024
Weird premise, touching execution
Beatrix is a loner with a genuine attachment to a stuffed canary (Horatio) and one friend at work (Ray). Her mental health is fraying, and at the start of the book, the character she speaks to the most is bot, an AI designed to offer support to her mental health. Then, Fred – a smart, funny, elderly lady – enters the picture. Only, she’s not really an elderly lady.
I’m going to try my best here to not spoil too much of the details, because I think half of the fun of reading this book is going for the ride. I will say that it made me think of Animorphs, but without the ‘aliens are taking over the world’ side of things. Anyway, there are parts of the book that worked better than others for me. I felt really confused about what was going on for a good eighty pages, and it was hard to find a groove when I wasn’t sure I understood what was happening. However, when Fred’s true identity is revealed and her request of Beatrix is made, things fall into place; I found myself immersed in the story and feeling strongly for the characters. Then the pace slowed for a bit and there was a bit of science happening, and my interest waned. Then, the emotions and themes of loneliness and belonging stood out again towards the end, and I was all in again.
In the end, Beatrix & Fred‘s unusual premise allowed for a lovely exploration of what it means to connect and belong and even what it means to be human. Expect weirdness though and stick with it, as the emotions and humanity of the plot are beautifully written.
How are you feeling, Beatrix?
One of my favourite parts of Beatrix & Fred is the mental health themes. One of the side characters is bot, Beatrix’s mental health support app/AI who checks in with her and offers encouragement and ideas about what she can do to improve her wellbeing. Given Beatrix’s isolation and personality (I couldn’t see her engaging in therapy willingly), bot was a great alternative for Beatrix to talk (in brief spurts) about her thoughts and feelings. The information bot provided was well-considered and accurate too.
Another highlight in this area was the conversations between Fred and Beatrix about how perimenopause can affect a woman’s physical and mental health. I know very little about perimenopause, and I imagine there will be other readers who benefit from reading the information shared in the book. I also really enjoyed Fred’s advocacy in this matter for Beatrix!
Final Thoughts
The strangeness of the premise will either be compelling for some people and confusing for others. It was both for me, but, in the end, I am glad I persevered. At the heart of it, Beatrix & Fred is about the weight of loneliness and how lovely it is to have a meaningful connection with someone else. My attention wandered whenever it went into the more science-fiction-y parts, and I’m not sure I fully understood that side of the plot. For me, the book is at its best when it is focused on those moments of connection, both when the connection works and when it is a painful struggle. I also really liked the discussions around mental health and perimenopause! Overall, if you’re looking for something rather unexpected, you should give this one a go.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Thank you to Text Publishing for providing us with a copy of the book in exchange for a review!
Review by Priscilla from Novel Feelings blog and podcast - where two psychologists take a deep dive into your favourite books
Beatrix is a loner with a genuine attachment to a stuffed canary (Horatio) and one friend at work (Ray). Her mental health is fraying, and at the start of the book, the character she speaks to the most is bot, an AI designed to offer support to her mental health. Then, Fred – a smart, funny, elderly lady – enters the picture. Only, she’s not really an elderly lady.
I’m going to try my best here to not spoil too much of the details, because I think half of the fun of reading this book is going for the ride. I will say that it made me think of Animorphs, but without the ‘aliens are taking over the world’ side of things. Anyway, there are parts of the book that worked better than others for me. I felt really confused about what was going on for a good eighty pages, and it was hard to find a groove when I wasn’t sure I understood what was happening. However, when Fred’s true identity is revealed and her request of Beatrix is made, things fall into place; I found myself immersed in the story and feeling strongly for the characters. Then the pace slowed for a bit and there was a bit of science happening, and my interest waned. Then, the emotions and themes of loneliness and belonging stood out again towards the end, and I was all in again.
In the end, Beatrix & Fred‘s unusual premise allowed for a lovely exploration of what it means to connect and belong and even what it means to be human. Expect weirdness though and stick with it, as the emotions and humanity of the plot are beautifully written.
How are you feeling, Beatrix?
One of my favourite parts of Beatrix & Fred is the mental health themes. One of the side characters is bot, Beatrix’s mental health support app/AI who checks in with her and offers encouragement and ideas about what she can do to improve her wellbeing. Given Beatrix’s isolation and personality (I couldn’t see her engaging in therapy willingly), bot was a great alternative for Beatrix to talk (in brief spurts) about her thoughts and feelings. The information bot provided was well-considered and accurate too.
Another highlight in this area was the conversations between Fred and Beatrix about how perimenopause can affect a woman’s physical and mental health. I know very little about perimenopause, and I imagine there will be other readers who benefit from reading the information shared in the book. I also really enjoyed Fred’s advocacy in this matter for Beatrix!
Final Thoughts
The strangeness of the premise will either be compelling for some people and confusing for others. It was both for me, but, in the end, I am glad I persevered. At the heart of it, Beatrix & Fred is about the weight of loneliness and how lovely it is to have a meaningful connection with someone else. My attention wandered whenever it went into the more science-fiction-y parts, and I’m not sure I fully understood that side of the plot. For me, the book is at its best when it is focused on those moments of connection, both when the connection works and when it is a painful struggle. I also really liked the discussions around mental health and perimenopause! Overall, if you’re looking for something rather unexpected, you should give this one a go.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Thank you to Text Publishing for providing us with a copy of the book in exchange for a review!
Review by Priscilla from Novel Feelings blog and podcast - where two psychologists take a deep dive into your favourite books
October 26, 2023
Beatrix & Fred is the second novel by prize-winning Australian author, Emily Spurr. The audio version is narrated by Zoe Trilsbach. The first time she becomes aware of Fred it’s as Beatrix is about to step in front of a train. A surprisingly strong hand clamps onto her upper arm and drags her back: the old woman has to be in her eighties. At the time, Beatrix attributes the blinding headache and the overwhelming urge to vomit to her vodka hangover.
Fred has never encountered anyone like Beatrix before, and for the first time in many years, she’s interested, curious even. But Beatrix has no desire to interact with the old lady who seems to be stalking her. Fred is persistent because she believes Beatrix might be able to help her with her ultimate goal: to end her existence. Telling her that doesn’t exactly go down well.
From observing her generally anti-social behaviour, her explosions into rage and her tendency to be argumentatively truthful, Fred knows that she sees Beatrix better than anyone else does, and believes she can help her: a reciprocal benefit situation?
She admits that she makes a couple of wrong moves, actions that see Beatrix concerned for either her sanity or the possibility of a brain tumour. Beatrix isn’t entirely convinced she’s not hallucinating Fred, although she is hitting the vodka rather hard.
Bot (as she has named her mental health chat app) recommends seeking professional help, which she does: GP and MRI and blood tests that need further investigation. But when her only friend Ray, the one work colleague she can actually tolerate, begins to behave differently towards her, things start to get crazy.
Much more can’t really be said without spoilers, except to ask if that might be a hint of the paranormal? Or is Spurr leading the reader up an entirely different garden path? She certainly keeps the reader captivated and intrigued with every twist and turn of the plot. Her thorough research ensures that very little suspension of disbelief is required.
The story is told in alternating narratives between Beatrix in the third person, present tense, and Fred’s, a journal of events in the second person, addressed to Beatrix. Bot regularly interrupts Beatrix’s narrative with queries about her mental state and constructive suggestions: their interactions are very entertaining while often providing sound advice.
Spurr’s characters are entirely credible, having depth and appeal, even Beatrix for all her abrasiveness, easily resembling people we meet in everyday life. The dialogue is clever and often darkly amusing, and enough readers will have encountered people who are as liberal with expletives as Beatrix is, for it to be realistic, but some readers may find it offensive.
Spurr has a way with words:
“I feel things, but I also don’t. Like I feel them from another room. Except rage. I feel that pretty intensely, a capital-R rage that explodes from nowhere…. when I was a kid, I felt things vividly, viscerally, in multicolour and surround sound. Seismically. Now I feel them intellectually. In my head. In pastel. Or greyscale. Except for recently. And that’s mainly the bad stuff”
Spurr’s second novel explores what it is to be human in a very novel way. She throws her protagonists some curly dilemmas and gives them interesting observations and a quirky insight into life. Very different from “A Million Things” but smart, funny and thought-provoking: more from Emily Spurr will be eagerly anticipated.
Fred has never encountered anyone like Beatrix before, and for the first time in many years, she’s interested, curious even. But Beatrix has no desire to interact with the old lady who seems to be stalking her. Fred is persistent because she believes Beatrix might be able to help her with her ultimate goal: to end her existence. Telling her that doesn’t exactly go down well.
From observing her generally anti-social behaviour, her explosions into rage and her tendency to be argumentatively truthful, Fred knows that she sees Beatrix better than anyone else does, and believes she can help her: a reciprocal benefit situation?
She admits that she makes a couple of wrong moves, actions that see Beatrix concerned for either her sanity or the possibility of a brain tumour. Beatrix isn’t entirely convinced she’s not hallucinating Fred, although she is hitting the vodka rather hard.
Bot (as she has named her mental health chat app) recommends seeking professional help, which she does: GP and MRI and blood tests that need further investigation. But when her only friend Ray, the one work colleague she can actually tolerate, begins to behave differently towards her, things start to get crazy.
Much more can’t really be said without spoilers, except to ask if that might be a hint of the paranormal? Or is Spurr leading the reader up an entirely different garden path? She certainly keeps the reader captivated and intrigued with every twist and turn of the plot. Her thorough research ensures that very little suspension of disbelief is required.
The story is told in alternating narratives between Beatrix in the third person, present tense, and Fred’s, a journal of events in the second person, addressed to Beatrix. Bot regularly interrupts Beatrix’s narrative with queries about her mental state and constructive suggestions: their interactions are very entertaining while often providing sound advice.
Spurr’s characters are entirely credible, having depth and appeal, even Beatrix for all her abrasiveness, easily resembling people we meet in everyday life. The dialogue is clever and often darkly amusing, and enough readers will have encountered people who are as liberal with expletives as Beatrix is, for it to be realistic, but some readers may find it offensive.
Spurr has a way with words:
“I feel things, but I also don’t. Like I feel them from another room. Except rage. I feel that pretty intensely, a capital-R rage that explodes from nowhere…. when I was a kid, I felt things vividly, viscerally, in multicolour and surround sound. Seismically. Now I feel them intellectually. In my head. In pastel. Or greyscale. Except for recently. And that’s mainly the bad stuff”
Spurr’s second novel explores what it is to be human in a very novel way. She throws her protagonists some curly dilemmas and gives them interesting observations and a quirky insight into life. Very different from “A Million Things” but smart, funny and thought-provoking: more from Emily Spurr will be eagerly anticipated.
April 27, 2024
At this point in time, it’s a novelty to be surprised by a book of fiction; with reviews, publisher’s blurbs, word of mouth recommendations, sometimes one almost feels as though the novel has been read.
But this one defied expectations. (A clever publishing gambit).
What to say? Beatrix is a forty-six year old woman who lives alone and drinks to excess. She works unenthusiastically in her dead-end job, hated by most of her colleagues, and Dear Reader, fully reciprocated, bar, Ray. Apart from her dead (and stuffed) bird, Horatio, only Ray attempts to delve under the carapace, a somewhat appropriate analogy.
Then Beatrix encounters Fred, an elderly woman, intent on insinuating herself into Beatrix’s life. An event that is both frightening and eventually beguiling for Beatrix.
More information would be a spoiler (hence, the ambiguous publisher’s blurb)
Suffice to say the further I read, the more captivated I became - not only by Spurr’s audacious narrative, but by Beatrix and Fred themselves.
But this one defied expectations. (A clever publishing gambit).
What to say? Beatrix is a forty-six year old woman who lives alone and drinks to excess. She works unenthusiastically in her dead-end job, hated by most of her colleagues, and Dear Reader, fully reciprocated, bar, Ray. Apart from her dead (and stuffed) bird, Horatio, only Ray attempts to delve under the carapace, a somewhat appropriate analogy.
Then Beatrix encounters Fred, an elderly woman, intent on insinuating herself into Beatrix’s life. An event that is both frightening and eventually beguiling for Beatrix.
More information would be a spoiler (hence, the ambiguous publisher’s blurb)
Suffice to say the further I read, the more captivated I became - not only by Spurr’s audacious narrative, but by Beatrix and Fred themselves.
May 20, 2024
Beatrix is struggling with life, friendless, drinking too much and in a constant rage. To add to that she starts being stalked by an elderly woman, Fred. The story moves on from there with the addition of a third character on the sideline - Bot, Beatrix's mental health app. It's difficult to say much more without giving too much away.
I found the book a thoroughly enjoyable read - intriguing, often amusing, very inventive and totally weird. My mind is still trying to process the twists in the last few pages, but how how else was the book to end?
I found the book a thoroughly enjoyable read - intriguing, often amusing, very inventive and totally weird. My mind is still trying to process the twists in the last few pages, but how how else was the book to end?
December 7, 2023
I found this book to be oddly satisfying, it was weird and I don’t think I fully understood what the story was actually about, other than a strong friendship theme, but strangely enough it was so captivating I was unable to put it down or when I did it was often on my mind. Above all it gave me an escape from the thoughts in my own head and anything that can do that is a winner in my books.
December 23, 2023
Beatrix's life is in chaos and then she notices an elderly woman following her. She wonders if she is ill or going mad. 'Fred' is trapped and wants Beatrix's help but who is Fred really?
This engaging and interesting novel questions what it means to be truly human. My only quibble was the ending which I'm not sure worked but overall it was an intriguing read. Recommended.
This engaging and interesting novel questions what it means to be truly human. My only quibble was the ending which I'm not sure worked but overall it was an intriguing read. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews