pickHelen 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.
so-soI 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.
pick4 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
#JuneSpecials #Beatles Of course I‘ve browsed the McCartney photo book many times, I grabbed the other one at a concert at the Musical Instrument Museum a while back & haven‘t read it yet . Definitely an iconic group in the Rock canon !
