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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.