Lemony Snicket meets Roald Dahl in this riotously funny, deliciously macabre, and highly illustrated sequel to The Beast and the Bethany in which Bethany and Ebenezer try to turn over a new leaf, only to have someone—or something—thwart them at every turn.
Once upon a very badly behaved time, 511-year-old Ebenezer kept a beast in his attic. He would feed the beast all manner of objects and creatures and in return the beast would vomit him up expensive presents. But then the Bethany arrived.
Now notorious prankster Bethany, along with her new feathery friend Claudette, is determined that she and Ebenezer are going to de-beast their lives and Do Good. But Bethany finds that being a former prankster makes it hard to get taken on for voluntary work. And Ebenezer secretly misses the beast’s vomity gifts. And neither of them are all that sure what “good people” do anyway.
Then there’s Claudette, who’s not been feeling herself recently. Has she eaten something that has disagreed with her?
Bethany – everyone’s worst nightmare from book one – is back! And she is even better than before. There is a lot of do-goodery in this book and it is fantastic! The former mischief monger Bethany takes a different approach to life in this book and tries to be a good girl. Of course this is exceptionally hard as people have a picture of Bethany in their head and as we all know how hard it is to change people’s opinions once they have made up their minds. But Bethany is not alone in her fight as she has her friends with her. Or is she? Once again her whole world is turned upside down and she has to decide what kind of girl she wants to be.
This time I listened to the book on audible. And what can I say? I was thoroughly surprised as I did not expect to be so much in love with it. If it is possible I enjoyed this second installment of The Beast and the Bethany even more than the first one. The language the author uses is just perfect and the book is dripping with British humor.
If you have not read it yet, go and get both books. You will nit regret reading them!!!
About the Author
Jack Meggitt-Phillips is an author, scriptwriter, and playwright whose work has been performed at The Roundhouse and featured on Radio 4. He is scriptwriter and presenter of The History of Advertising podcast. In his mind, Jack is an enormously talented ballroom dancer, however his enthusiasm far surpasses his actual talent. Jack lives in north London where he spends most of his time drinking peculiar teas and reading P.G. Wodehouse novels.
