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#1960s
review
Suet624
Shy Creatures | Clare Chambers
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Mehso-so

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.

Reggie Messy therapists/psychologists are my jam. But the whole too long for the story told leaves it unshackled. Great review Sue. 2w
50 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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JulietteReadsALot
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Overall, a good reading month ;)

review
JulietteReadsALot
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Pickpick

Definitely recommend this book if you're interested in politics.

It's a personal account of the 1960s by Doris and Dick Goodwin through their archives: their role, what they thought at the time, how they looked back on it all.

Doris Goodwin's writing is excellent and intimate.

Susanita She talked about this at last year‘s National Book Festival. Very touching. 2w
MemoirsForMe Loved this one! 🙌🏻 2w
25 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
Agony Hill: A Mystery | Sarah Stewart Taylor
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Read4life 💙🩷💙 3w
44 likes1 comment
review
kspenmoll
Agony Hill: A Mystery | Sarah Stewart Taylor
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Pickpick

I hesitate to review this book only because there‘s so many complicated,unusual characters,whose characterization is imbued by the beauty of this VT farming country.It‘s 1969 & Dec.Warren moves to Bethany VT when offered a position with the state police Almost immediately an irascible farmer is found burned to death in his barn. Was suicide? Murder? An accident? As Warren delves into the investigation,assisted by his elderly enigmatic neighbor🔽

kspenmoll 🔼 he uncovers secrets & lies, some benign, some just skirting evil. 3w
62 likes1 stack add1 comment
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kspenmoll
Agony Hill: A Mystery | Sarah Stewart Taylor
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#bookreport Feb16-22
I did not read all of these in one week!!!! Some I was just finishing up. I was home from work sick- in between sleeping, I read.
#sundaybuddyread #adventuresinphilosophy #auldlangspine #storygraphchallenges

AnnCrystal May you be well again soon 🙏🏼📚💝. 3w
54 likes1 comment
review
ChaoticMissAdventures
Shy Creatures | Clare Chambers
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Pickpick

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

ChaoticMissAdventures Read this now because I think it might have a chance for the Women's Prize Fiction long list. Her book Small Pleasures was longlisted a couple of years ago. If you read that one and like many absolutely hated the end I can reassure you this one is not the same! 3w
LeeRHarry I love how everyone talks about the ending of Small Pleasures - my book ended up across the other side of the couch and I cried buckets - but I‘m down with that - one of my all time favourite books. I agree this one was very good - here‘s hoping for a longlist nod 🤞 3w
ChaoticMissAdventures @LeeRHarry it is funny I have completely blocked out the ending in my brain 😂 the book comes up and I think about how I really enjoyed her writing and the characters and then the other person starts ranting about the ending and I have to be reminded. It was awful! How did her editor let her do it! 3w
LeeRHarry @ChaoticMissAdventures it was awful but I actually thought it was great too - I went to see Clare Chambers talk about Shy Creatures back in October and when I got my books signed I said that I had had a real visceral reaction to the ending of Small Pleasures - and she said that basically it was great when books made us emotional! 😏 3w
ChaoticMissAdventures @LeeRHarry she is not wrong, and from the people who read it she did her job well! 3w
41 likes5 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Shy Creatures | Clare Chambers
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"A full stomach is the best defensive against infinity."

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3w
35 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
Agony Hill: A Mystery | Sarah Stewart Taylor
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Starting this library book. 1969. Bethany, VT. (fictional village)
#libraryfind #VT

Suet624 Oh! I‘ve seen her at several author events. I really liked hearing her, although I haven‘t read any of her books yet. 3w
kspenmoll @Suet624 I have read her Maggie D‘arcy novels, mysteries set in NYC & Ireland. Beautifully written. (edited) 3w
Suet624 Thanks! Just stacked it. 3w
kspenmoll @Suet624 It‘s a series of 4 books, not sure what #1 name is. Your library may have them 3w
57 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
CaitlinR
Shy Creatures | Clare Chambers
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Mehso-so

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.

Suet624 Ugh. My feelings exactly. Needed editing. 2w
31 likes1 comment