Welcome to Litsy!

Helen is working as an art therapist at a psychiatric hospital in 1964, embroiled in an illicit affair with a colleague, when “the hidden man” is discovered in a derelict house and brought in for assessment. The story then dips back and forth between William‘s present - in which Helen tries to figure out how his life came to this - and his backstory. A gently told, unusual and gripping story, excellent.

I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the origins of mute psychiatric patient William, but the love life woes of art therapist Helen, who is helping solve the puzzle, were a distraction.

4 Stars • In Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers, set in 1960s Britain, art therapist Helen Hansford investigates the mysterious past of a mute patient, William Tuttle, at a psychiatric hospital. Uncovering his reclusive life and a missing woman, Helen navigates her own loneliness, a forbidden attraction, and societal constraints. The novel blends mystery and romance, exploring repression and mental health.

#ShyCreatures #ClareChambers #Bookish

A young woman working as an art therapist in a mental institution, in love with a married psychiatrist working there, helps a patient who has been discovered in a house that he hasn‘t left for years. He‘d lived with his aunts who had kept him from leaving in case others saw him. It could have been me and my mood but this was too long for the story it told. I wish it had resonated more with me because the outline of the story is interesting.

This is lovely. Can you say that about a book that centers a woman having an affair with a psychiatrist and a man who has been locked away from the world for decades? I am not sure, but there is something so sweet and caring about this. I love how Chambers writes, I always fully believe she is writing from and we are in the mid 20th century.
Helen is a morally grey character but one I really enjoyed and I loved the onion layers of Williams life

"A full stomach is the best defensive against infinity."

I didn‘t love this novel, but I did finish. It‘s an interesting premise: telling the stories of several intertwined lives revolving around the Westbury Park mental hospital. The story of William Tapping, a mysterious man who lived, seemingly imprisoned by his aunts, is the strongest thread. The love affair between Helen and Gil is the weakest. Generally, the book could have used a talented editor and an understanding that less is often more.

I did love Small Pleasures, so I was excited for this one. But it‘s not the same. I gave it 100 pages. Oh dear. It started off well , but never pulled me in. I better go back on my kindle while I make a new list.

Library haul!

I already have 6 books out that I really need to get to, but these are #ToB25 and I feel like the tagged could be on the Women's Prize longlist for fiction

A very very slow paced story compared to the wonderful small pleasures which was one of my favourite books of the year when it was published. Sadly this one is lacking , I found the plot slow and boring the main protagonist as dull as dish water Helen not William . The author based the story on a real life event from the 50s which is terribly sad , at least this man got a happy ending but overall found it lacking #readinginthebath

Oops, when I said Margo was my final review of the weekend, I didn‘t mean it! Finished this one yesterday and forgot to post it.

I loved Small Pleasures and this one lived up to it. Somehow, Chambers‘ characters aren‘t always particularly likeable but you still root for them.

I need to investigate more books by this author.

Enjoyed this one, some sad happenings in people‘s lives. But overall a hopeful ending.
#gladstones24

Ready for some reading this weekend #gladstones24

Good job she‘s not married to my husband then 😁
Depressingly sexist comment. Real in 1964?

Really liked this one

I said I wasn‘t going to go book shopping today but happened to be walking past Waterstones and got propelled in by an unknown force.

I couldn‘t revisit this beautiful copy, and it‘s signed as well, so it was lucky that I had a birthday voucher from @julesG burning a hole in my phone! 🤣

Thanks Jules! 😘

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Next up . . . Also can't leave a new Clare Chambers waiting in the TBR pile for long.