Een vriendschap

by Clare Chambers, Erica Feberwee (Translator)

Creatief therapeut Helen is vastberaden om het levensverhaal van een van haar patiënten, de excentrieke en kunstzinnige William te achterhalen.

Croydon, 1964. Helen is in de dertig en creatief therapeut in een psychiatrische inrichting. Al jaren heeft ze een relatie met Gil, een charismatische arts met een echtgenote thuis... Op een middag krijgen ze melding dat in een vervallen huis in de buurt, de haveloze William (een baard tot zijn middel) is aangetroffen, samen met zijn oude tante. Het wordt al snel duidelijk dat William al decennia het huis niet is uit geweest. Na zijn opname komt Helen erachter dat hij zeer kunstzinnig is. Ze is vastberaden om achter zijn levensverhaal te komen.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Book Club, Literary Fiction, Historical

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

Clare Chambers was born on 1966 in in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK, daughter of English teachers. She attended a school in Croydon. At 16, she met Peter, her future husband, a teacher 14 years old than her. She read English at Oxford. The marriage moved to New Zealand, where she wrote her first novel. She now lives in Kent with her husband and young family. In 1999, her novel Learning to Swim won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.

Reviews

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A literary fiction that began ponderously but took me by surprise as it proceeded. Compelling plotline, realistically flawed characters, fluid writing. Backward storytelling for one timeline. I enjoyed this darkly complex character-oriented novel.

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Plot Preview:

Croydon, 1964. Thirty-four-year-old Helen works as an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital. She has also been having a long affair with her colleague Gil, a married doctor who plans to leave his wife once his kids are a bit older.
One day, when Helen is asked by Gil to come to a nearby old house where there was a report of domestic disturbance, the last thing she expects to find is an unkempt mute man named William Tapping, who has been living with his aged aunt. None of the neighbours knew of his presence in the house, and it soon becomes clear that he hasn’t ventured outside of his home in at least a decade. When Helen stumbles upon his sketches, she is determined to use art to help him recover, thereby proving to Gil and the other doctors that her role is also important in the hospital.
The story is written in the third person perspectives of Helen and William, with the latter coming from multiple timelines.

After the initial few chapters, I was disappointed that this was going towards the 3-star mark. Helen’s perspective seemed okay and the characters seemed decent, but William’s POV didn't make much sense. But time and patience are two vital attributes when it comes to reading literary fiction. My persistence was rewarded, and how!


Bookish Yays:
🤩 Helen – a complex character who makes great career choices but horrible personal choices. Her decisions, especially about her relationships, are often questionable. All this makes her a great character for a literary fiction work – not necessarily likeable but still compelling with all the human strengths and flaws. Her willingness to continue a relationship with a married man made it tough for me to root for her, but that shortsighted behaviour is true for so many in real life as well.

🤩 William, in whose perspective we get about half the book, is yet another intricate character. A man-boy in various ways, it would be very hard not to root for him, even when his truths come tumbling out. Excellent character detailing!

🤩 William’s timeline begins in the “present year” of 1964, but the chapters go steadily backwards, jumping multiple years and spanning decades. It’s like peeling an onion: you know the end result but the hidden layers hold many secrets that aren’t visible until peeled. This reverse timeline is the best feature of the book, turning it from great to excellent.

🤩 Both Helen’s and William’s arcs have a lot of family drama, but not with overlapping themes. The drama never goes over the top, even though one of the arcs has some truly eccentric characters. The whole feel is more realistic than soap-opera.

🤩 The setting of Croydon and the era – 1960s and backwards – felt real in every way. Though I wasn’t even alive there and then, I still felt like the atmosphere was true to life.

🤩 While many books lately are set in asylums and psychiatric hospitals, this one doesn’t fall in the predictable pattern of showing the mishandling of patients and the extreme medical “treatments” followed historically. Even the depiction of the “mental health” aspect in the book isn’t typical. The narrative felt refreshing.

🤩 Love the significance of the title and the number of characters it applies to. It is a subtle label, but soon we realise that the “shy” quality is because of varying reasons. With layered personalities holding many secrets, a majority of the characters have plenty to reveal over the course of the story.

🤩 I can't go into names because of potential spoilers, so I'll just say: one couple in the book set a wonderfully high standard for fictional parents. I loved them both!

🤩 The pacing is obviously on the slower side, given that this is literary fiction, but the tempo never slackens. The plot moves ahead steadily. There’s a great balance of plot and prose.

🤩 The author’s note, especially her decision to set the story in the 1960s – amazing! Her insights (and the reason why she chose to write this book) made me appreciate it even more.


Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 Not a major issue, but it was surprising how Helen’s parents were accepting of the fact that she isn’t in a relationship despite being in her thirties. Considering the era and the general mentality of that time, this could have been explored a bit more.

🤔 The ending is a bit too positive for such a story, but given the facts we learn over the course of the plot, I think most readers will appreciate the smooth ending without much fuss.


Bookish Nays:
😥 There’s one gruesome scene of animal cruelty. Granted, the affected animal isn’t a pet, or even a creature most people care about, but the events still made my stomach churn. I wish this had been toned down. There was no reason to portray it so cruelly.


All in all, my complaints are minimal. The setting is great, the writing is beautiful, and the plot is gripping. I am not sure how well this would work on audio, especially for audio newbies who might muddle up the backwards timeline. But the reading experience is fulfilling to those who like character-oriented narratives.

This is my first book by this author, and I would love to read more of her works.

Definitely recommended to literary fiction and character-oriented historical fiction lovers. Not for all readers, and especially not for those who want goody-goody characters and fast-paced storylines.

4.25 stars. (I would have gone higher, but I can’t get that animal scene out of my head.)


My thanks to Mariner Books for providing the DRC of “Shy Creatures” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a bit of a slow moving novel but I loved the heart in it and it has beautiful writing..
It’s a British literary story..set mostly in the 1930’s and 40’s and was inspired by a true event.
Helen is an art therapist at a psychiatric hospital and has been having an affair with a doctor there named Giles for a few years.
Giles is called out to a home and takes Helen along.. there they find a naked, long bearded, mute man inside.. a man who has not left his home in over 20 yrs, his name is William…
He had lived and been raised by three aunts.
This story goes back and forth in time to see how William progresses and to show what be went through in the past.
There are a few more people in this story and situations that ket me really invested and I will definitely check out this authors other works!
4.5

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clare Chambers’ Shy Creatures will draw you into the story quickly and hold you there until the very last page. Her writing is wonderful as is her character building. The premise of the story is so intriguing. What happened that caused William to be hidden away with his spinster aunts for years? Will Helen, an art therapist working at a psychiatric hospital, be able to unravel his past and help him? These are perhaps the most pressing questions but Chambers gives us such a fuller story! I found so much to take in and think on. How many different ways there are to hold power over someone else. When does love and the desire to protect someone tip over into controlling them? How does status play into the idea of causing someone to submit to another’s wants and desires above their own best interest? Can healing for past trauma ever really come about? Finally I appreciated the conclusion that answered this question for us. This was a wonderful read, so well written and so captivating. I will definitely be looking for more from Clare Chambers. Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the chance to read an advanced reader copy!

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel set in the 1960s explores the theme of loneliness as we follow an art therapist who works at a psychiatric hospital. When a patient arrives who is completely mute and has had no contact with the outside world for the last decade, our lead character has to confront some things in her own life that aren’t working as she tries to figure out this man’s story and how best to help him.

This was really lovely.


Shy Creatures was one of my favorite novels of the year ❤️

Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shy Creatures is a slow burn historical fiction about Helen, an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital in 1964. It’s based on the true story of a mute man discovered living in a derelict house with his elderly, sick aunt. It’s apparent he’s not been out of the house in decades. Neighbors are totally unaware of his existence. Turns out, he has real artistic talent and Helen takes on trying to suss out his story. Chambers did a great job of drawing out the reason William has been in hiding all these years.
Helen is a very flawed individual. She’s been having a long running affair with a doctor at the hospital. This set me up not to like her. But I could appreciate how hard she worked to help William. Because while William is 37, in many ways he’s never grown up. In different ways, they’ve each lived a very confined, restricted life.
The book starts off at a glacial pace. Chambers takes her time giving us a feel for Helen’s life. William’s story is told backwards and it’s only towards the end that the reader is privy to the drama at the heart of his confinement.
I was impressed by Chambers’ ability to take me to 1964. Her writing isn’t poetic or lush but has a simplistic elegance.
In the end, I was totally impressed with the story and Chambers’ ability in telling it. I loved seeing both Helen and William blossom.
I listened to this and Lucy Scott did a wonderful job narrating.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Clare Chambers. It has definitely given me a push to read more.

The story centres on William Tapping who is discovered in the home of his sickly elderly aunt. He is mute and unkempt with a long beard and hair. Neighbours were unaware of his existence. Both the aunt and William are admitted to Westbury Park for psychiatric evaluations but the aunt dies shortly afterwards leaving the staff to piece together William's history.

William is encouraged to express himself through art by Helen Hansford, an art therapist who becomes determined to find out more about the talented but mysterious man.

Helen meanwhile has her own issues - an unwise affair, a rocky relationship with her parents and few friends. She is also determined to help her niece who has a difficult relationship with her own parents.

The book is divided into two parts - the "present" (1964) when William is taken to Westbury Park and a clever unravelling of William's past in a series of scenes working backwards to 1938 that explain how he has come to be a hidden man.

As I say, my first Clare Chambers and what an utterly delightful story (inspired by real life) to start with. Chambers prose is beautiful in it's simplicity. Her characters are wonderfully real from the inquisitive Helen, the shy and often silent William, to Gil the psychiatrist who steps over every line you can possibly imagine.

I really loved this story. Clare Chambers really made me care about what happened to William and without sensation or drama. I think my favourite characters were William, whose struggle to understand situations felt so real, and Mrs Kenley, the mother of a schoolfriend, who is the sort of woman every child should have in their lives.

Beautiful and heartwarming whilst not shying away from very difficult issues such as child abuse, professional conduct and the treatment of mental health patients. Highly recommended.

Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen Hansford arbeitet in den 1960er Jahren in England in einer psychiatrischen Klinik als Kunsttherapeutin. Sie liebt ihren Beruf und setzt alles daran, ihren Patient*innen zu helfen. Privat beschäftigt sie vor allem eine Affäre mit einem verheirateten Kollegen, der seine Frau – die zudem eine entfernte Verwandte von Helen ist – jedoch nicht verlassen möchte. Die Affäre steuert auf einen Endpunkt zu, als William Tapping in Helens Leben tritt. Er wird als Patient in die Klinik eingeliefert, nachdem man ihn völlig verwahrlost nach einem Streit im Haus seiner Tante aufgefunden hat. Er hat seit vielen Jahren das Haus nicht mehr verlassen und ist stumm. Helen entdeckt, dass William ein künstlerisches Talent besitzt und versucht, durch die Kunsttherapie zu ihm durchzudringen. Langsam eröffnet sich ihr Williams tragische Vergangenheit.

In „Scheue Wesen“, übersetzt von Wibke Kuhn, spannt Clare Chambers eine wahre Begebenheit, von der sie in der Zeitung gelesen hatte, mithilfe ihrer Fantasie weiter und erschafft so einen leisen, feinfühligen Roman, der vor allem ab dem Mittelteil einen hohen Spannungsbogen aufbaut. Durch die Protagonistin Helen Hansford wirft die Autorin einen Blick auf das Frauenbild der 60er Jahre, durch deren Beruf in der psychiatrischen Klinik beschäftigt sie sich aber auch mit dem Thema Psychiatrie, das zu dieser Zeit gerade in der Entwicklungsphase steckte. Vor allem Letzteres fand ich sehr spannend, hier hätte ich mir an der ein oder anderen Stelle noch eine etwas ausführlichere Auseinandersetzung gewünscht. Den ständigen Fokus auf die Affäre zwischen Helen und ihrem verheirateten Kollegen habe ich hingegen als eher langatmig empfunden. Gefesselt haben mich vor allem die Rückblenden in William Tappings Vergangenheit, durch die nach und nach aufgedeckt wird, wie es dazu kommen konnte, dass er so lange das Haus nicht verlassen hat und ein völlig von der Gesellschaft abgeschnittenes Leben bei seinen Tanten führte. Den Kniff, seine Geschichte rückwärts zu erzählen, war sehr gelungen! Ich hatte viele unterhaltsame Lesestunden mit „Scheue Wesen“ und möchte diese eher ungewöhnliche Story gerne empfehlen!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1964. Helen is an art therapist at the Westbury Park psychiatric hospital. In her 30’s she is having an affair with psychiatrist Gil, when an unusual pair of patients are brought to the hospital. A woman with dementia and a mute man named William who as it turns out has a gift for drawing.

The woman who has appeared to be his aunt, dies of pneumonia, and Helen finds herself working closely with William. The book goes back and forth through time to give more insights into the history of these characters and their forward growth. As Helen plays detective to find out more about William, as readers, we are also hopeful that she will reflect on her own life, as well.

There is something surreal and soft and sensitive that is sometimes wrapped in darkness about what we learn about what has happened to these characters. But there is also something about who these characters are and what we as readers hope for them. This is a touching, heart-felt novel that is beautifully written by this author. Readers will most likely be moved by the subtle ending.

Be sure to read the Author’s Afterword.

4.5 stars

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I’m not much for historical fiction. How it typically goes is, I have this periodic, glorious vision of myself draped across some kind of fainting couch, reading a voluminous doorstopper of historical fiction. I, like, want to be this woman!! Then, I acquire my historical fiction work, read abouuuuttt… 5%? - and then abandon ship. Dreams deferred!


However, I read and enjoyed every word of this book! Granted, it feels a bit strange that we are talking only the 1960s here, in which the novel is mostly set. (Okay, it does also go back ultimately as far as the 1930s.) Still, it’s weird to read “historical” fiction that mostly takes place when your parents were alive. That makes me, historical-adjacent. Yuck! That’s like when you get those annoying reminders that Nirvana’s Nevermind was over three decades ago! [insert Scream emoji!] And it feels like cheating!


But - and I guess, nevermind - my enjoyment of this book overcame my fears of aging and of cheating the system! It is the story primarily of three sympathetic and intersecting characters finding their ways - and found family - amidst the backdrop of a compassionate mental hospital setting in the golden era of such institutions in England. We have therapeutic art teacher Helen, an empathic, independent young woman stuck in an unhealthy relationship; William, a shellshocked and neurodiverse, artistic young man who for reasons not fully understood has essentially lived as a hermit in his aunt’s crumbling mansion; and Lorraine, Helen’s anxious, underconfident teenage niece struggling to individualize and self-actualize with the challenge of a rigid and judgmental mother. All of these characters’ lives are deeply affected by their chronological location coming of age in the great crevasse between conservative wartime-era parents and other older relatives and the rapidly changing and experimental times of the 60s - a situation that seems very relevant and relatable today.


I found this book delightful and warmhearted, a real treat and just a very different story with unique characters and setting. It was quiet and somewhat quaint, but with a bit of an edge. I’m so happy that if I can only manage to read a couple historical fiction novels every so often, I can count this one among them!

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story..................

Chambers builds on a series of actions, the resultant reactions and their consequences. Her story and her people examine how we meet life and all it gives us and all it takes from us.

We are not all the same, and what might be a little thing to some might be an insurmountable mountain to others. Even we change over time. Sometimes life gets to be too much and we need a breather. Due to circumstances, William's breather took decades, and these decades then had their own effect on him. Through his story, Chambers quietly examines attitudes before and after the war, rules and fears, mental health and care given, and loves in different forms and limitations.

[Literatursprechstunde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Geschichte dreht sich um William Tapping, der im Haus seiner kränklichen älteren Tante entdeckt wird. Er ist stumm und ungepflegt mit einem langen Bart und Haaren. Die Nachbarn waren sich seiner Existenz nicht bewusst. Sowohl die Tante als auch William werden für psychiatrische Untersuchungen in die Westbury Park Paychiatrie aufgenommen, aber die Tante stirbt kurz darauf und überlässt den anderen das zusammenfügen der einzelnen Puzzleteile von Williams Geschichte.

William wird ermutigt, sich durch Kunst auszudrücken von Helen Hansford, einer Kunsttherapeutin, die entschlossen ist, mehr über den talentierten, aber mysteriösen Mann zu erfahren.

Helen hat unterdessen ihre eigenen Probleme - eine unkluge Affäre, eine steinige Beziehung zu ihren Eltern und wenigen Freunden. Sie ist auch entschlossen, ihrer Nichte zu helfen, die auch eine schwierige Beziehung zu ihren eigenen Eltern hat.

Das Buch ist in zwei Teile unterteilt - die "Gegenwart" (1964), als William in den Westbury Park gebracht wird, und eine clevere Enthüllung von Williams Vergangenheit in einer Reihe von Szenen, die bis 1938 zurückreichen und erklären, wie er zu einem versteckt lebenden Mann wurde.

Wie gesagt, es war meine erste Lektüre von Clare Chambers - und was für eine absolut entzückende Geschichte, inspiriert vom wirklichen Leben. Chambers Prosa überzeugt durch ihre Einfachheit. Ihre Charaktere sind wunderbar real, von der neugierigen Helen über den schüchternen und oft stillen William bis hin zu Gil, dem Psychiater, der jede Grenze überschreitet, die man sich vorstellen kann.

Clare Chambers hat mich dazu gebracht, wissen zu wollen, was mit William passiert ist. Ich denke, meine Lieblingscharaktere waren William, dessen Kampf, Situationen zu verstehen, sich so real anfühlte, und Frau Kenley, die Mutter einer Schulfreundin, die die Art von Frau ist, die jedes Kind in seinem Leben haben sollte.

Vor allem ist „Scheue Wesen“ eine Geschichte, die die Bedeutung von Freundlichkeit und gegenseitigem Respekt in einer Welt bestärkt, in der sich die meisten mehr um
ihr Selbstbild kümmern, und welches Image sie ausstrahlen. Ich liebte es zu sehen, wie Helen und William in der Erzählung an sich selbst wuchsen. Ohne das Ende verraten zu wollen, würde ich „Scheue Wesen“ als eine zutiefst befriedigende Lektüre bezeichnen!

[Emma.catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

After loving Clare’s previous novel, Small Pleasures, this was an instant buy for me. And thankfully, it was just as good as I had hoped.

This incredible story begins on a rather blunt and potent note that only reveals its true meaning overtime: "In all failed relationships there is a point that passes unnoticed at the time, which can later be identified as the beginning of the decline."

Chambers has once again, done an amazing job of portraying the human condition. This time around, the focus is on a psychiatric hospital in Croydon, 1964. The first character we meet is Helen Hansford. She is an art therapist, in her thirties, working at the hospital. Swiftly after meeting Helen, we are presented with Gil’s character. He is a psychiatrist at the hospital and immediately expresses himself in a charming, open and charismatic way.

Helen’s purpose at the hospital was made clear to her at her interview - she was to provide them with materials and space and to encourage free expression. Nothing less. Nothing more.

"In the art room there was no requirement to reflect on their addiction or talk about the misfortunes that had brought them low."

One afternoon, Gil calls Helen to a disturbance from a derelict house not far from her home. A 37 year-old man called William Tapping, with a beard down to his waist, is discovered along with his elderly aunt, Louisa. It is clear he has been shut up in the house for decades, but that is just the beginning of his story…furthermore, when it emerges that William is a talented artist, Helen is determined to discover his story. From here on in, Helen plays detective. She is determined to get to the bottom of this mute-man’s story.

The narrative goes back and forth in time, each chapter giving further insights into the history of William and his aunts characters. There is a strong sense of mystery lying within the pages of this book. Clare did an excellent job at captivating my attention and my intrigue grew stronger as the story progressed. I did find the pacing a little slow at times, however, I suspect this is one of Clare’s ways of drawing us in and keeping us on our toes.

Meanwhile, there is also a running narrative regarding Helen and Gil’s personal lives. This is another side of the story which I found very entertaining. As readers, we are not only interested in finding out about William’s background, but we are also hopeful that Helen reflects on her own life.

“I suppose every home has its secrets. But perhaps theirs had more than most.” 🤫

Overall, Shy Creatures was an engaging and very interesting read. It had a strong sense of mystery throughout, but it also had a soft gentleness about it. I loved the circularity of the novel from past to present and finally, just when the book couldn’t feel more profound and meaningful, we learn that its origin is from a TRUE STORY! I am, yet again, astounded by Clare’s ability to relay the intricacies of the human condition.

"There was something luxurious in revisiting an old sorrow from the safe haven of present happiness," ❤️‍🩹 ❤️

🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slow paced story may not be on your radar, but if you are a fan of British literary fiction, one that also contains mystery and romance, then you should definitely add this to your TBR list. The depiction of the characters in this book are richly drawn, caring and compassionate and the storyline is poignant and quietly compelling.

Set in London in 1964, Helen is a young art therapist at the local psychiatric hospital. She enjoys her job and cares about the patients, while also having a long term secret affair with one of the married psychiatrists.

While distressed by some of her own personal issues, Helen is drawn into the care of a new patient, 37 year-old William Tapping. William was found living in a secluded home with his 74 year old spinster aunt, who is diagnosed with dementia. William has rarely left the house over the last 20 years and is initially thought to be mute.

Amidst this story, which contains many British colloquialisms such as chuntering, tutting, hob, larder, and car park, Helen seeks to solve the mystery surrounding William’s life with his aunts. Secrets from William’s past provide important clues to why they kept him hidden away. Where will it all lead?

This is the first book that I have read by this well-liked author, but it won’t be my last.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard about this book when I attended a recording of BBC Radio 4’s Bookclub at which Clare talked about her previous book, Small Pleasures. That was a book I absolutely loved so I approached Shy Creatures with a mixture of trepidation and high expectation. I needn’t have worried because she has created another wonderful story.

Clare is an author who seems incapable of creating one-dimensional characters. Take Gil, the psychiatrist with whom Helen has been having an affair for the past three years. He’s attractive – and knows it – and the sort of man who can’t help playing on it. He’s cheating on his wife and is rather economical with the truth when it comes to the state of his marriage. Sounds a bit of a cad, doesn’t he? But the elements of his character that make him so charismatic make him a psychiatrist who can create a real connection with his patients. And he has a more enlightened attitude to treating mental illness than many of his peers, believing talking therapy is more effective than filling them up with drugs. It’s why he championed Helen’s art therapy as a legitimate form of treatment although, of course, he may have had secondary motives as well.

Helen is wrapped up in an affair that she finds hard to leave behind yet knows is wrong. She’s fairly clear-eyed that she and Gil view things differently. ‘She realised that, for Gil, intensity had always been more important than permanence, whereas she had wanted something lasting’. Yet a shock discovery still takes her by surprise. I really liked Helen. I admired her patience, her openmindness and the empathy she shows towards her patients, many of whom have been written off by society.

Small Pleasures was set in the 1950s, whereas Shy Creatures takes us forward to 1964. It’s a time of change, including in the attitude to the treatment of mental illness with the first glimpses of the idea of care in the community rather than shutting people away in asylums. As always, the author brilliantly evokes the period through the food people eat, the films and television programmes they watch.

As the author reveals, the character of William is inspired by a true story but she has given his story an entirely different trajectory to the real life case. Cleverly, it unfolds in reverse chronological order so it’s only towards the end of the book that we learn the reason why William was kept away from the world for so many years. Although born out of love and a desire to protect him from the risk of discovery, his isolation has had a profound impact on him not just physically but psychologically.

Discovering he has a talent for drawing, Helen sets out to help him return to the outside world through the medium of art. It’s a slow process. At the same time, she starts to delve into his past seeking anyone who can shed light on his story. What she discovers is something dark but it also results in an entirely unexpected act of generosity that is in effect repayment of a debt.

Small Pleasures ended with a tragedy. (That’s not a spoiler as it’s revealed in the opening pages.) In comparison, although nothing is spelled out, the final chapter of Shy Creatures left me with a feeling of hope.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book with its interesting characters and exploration of the meaning of living a life. In an interview for the Nerd Daily published in November 2024 Clare Chambers was asked to describe Shy Creatures in five words. This was her answer: "Psychiatry, Art, Memory, Silence, Badgers."

Chambers says, "I always hope the reader will come away with the curious sensation that I have articulated feelings or experiences that they recognise but had never quite put into words; a sense that, at some level and without ever having met, we know each other."

At the end of the book, we learn that Shy Creatures is based on a true story of a man who was discovered living a sort of feral life with his aunt in a house for the past twenty years undiscovered and cut off from society. He was removed to a psychiatric hospital where he appeared to make progress into integrating into society, however he drowned shortly thereafter. Thankfully, Clare Chambers invents a much happier ending for her character. I loved the descriptive writing and the wonderful characters.

Standout quotes:

"The imagination which was treacherous terrain indeed."

"Her breath not so much held as clutched, listening for any sounds from the abandoned house."

There is some warmth and comfortable feeling of belonging when someone or a group of someones provide you with a nickname of the endearing type. Helen laments that she has "never had a nickname apart from the generic insults flung out by her mother 'polly long frocks,' 'sulky sue,' which had no real grip."

Helen regards a couple in the restaurant where she is eating, they eat their meal in silence. Often we think of an older couple who eat in silence as having used up all the things they might say to each other, however I love how the author turns this inside out to mean something much more profound:

Once outside the restaurant after the meal is over, she watches as "the woman tuck[s] her hand into the crook of her husband's arm and lay[s] her cheek for the briefest moment on his shoulder as they wait at the curb for a taxi. Far from despising them she had been thinking how pleasant it must be to have such a careless abundance of time together that whole evenings could be comfortably squandered without a word spoken."

Food for thought: "Surely it is the unconventional kinds of imprisonment that are the hardest to escape."

"Routine is the next-door-neighbor to madness."

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There was something luxurious in revisiting an old sorrow from the safe haven of present happiness . . . "

Chambers has crafted a lovely and quiet book about an art teacher who becomes intrigued with a man who was kept hidden from public view by his aunts . Found nearly naked, William sported waist-length hair and a long beard, and refused to speak. When Helen, our main character, discovers some drawings he made while sequestered, she attempts to help him find a way to reconnect with society . . . even if it means confronting a painful past.

This was a slow burning, but fascinating read. The characters were well developed, and I adored the ending.

In the author's afterward, we learn that the character of William was based on the true story of a man who was found living as a recluse in 1952.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC.

[Fliss Alwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it difficult to finish this story. Once I put it down and took a break it didn't really entice me to pick it up again. I thought I would enjoy it but none of the characters are really likeable. The main character is a bit sappy and the man she is dating clearly has no intention of leaving his wife and is altogether patronising. It's not a relationship that makes me want to find out what happens next. The mystery come from the character who finds himself in a mental hospital and I wanted to know more about him and how he came to be there, but the plot is constructed in a way that the chapters flit back and forth - I quite liked this but needed more. You find out a lot about his character from looking through other peoples eyes. I liked what I read but it wasn't enough to make me keep reading.

[Indieflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story of Helen, an art therapist, and William, a 37 year old man who's been hidden away from the world by his aunts since he was 11.
Cleverly told, and with a wonderful sense of time and place, William's story is gradually revealed.
This is my second book by Clare Chambers, and there's a gentleness to her writing that really draws me in, with well rounded, likeable characters I really care about, I'll definitely be seeking more from her, 5 stars.

[frau.gedankenreich · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Scheue Wesen" hat seinen Ursprung in einer wahren Geschichte: Im Februar 1952 wurde in einem Haus in Bristol der völlig verwahrloste Harry Tucker aufgefunden und anschließend ins Glenside Mental Hospital aufgenommen, wo er gegen Schizophrenie behandelt wurde. Im Jahr 1953 ist er dann unweit des Krankenhauses in einem Fluss ertrunken.
Die Details seiner Entdeckung decken sich weitestgehend mit der Figur des William Tapping, der (neben der Kunsttherapeutin Helen) eine zentrale Rolle in Chambers Roman einnimmt.
Die Handlung wird über einen Zeitraum von mehreren Jahrzehnten und abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Helen in der Gegenwart und aus der Sicht von William in der Vergangenheit erzählt, wobei die Vergangenheit rückwärts abläuft und die Geschichte am Ende so zu einem wunderbaren "full circle moment" zusammengeführt wird.
Ich habe die Lektüre sehr genossen und bin beim Lesen glaube ich noch nie so entspannt gewesen, was zum einen an dem wunderbaren, poetisch anmutenden Schreibstil, zum anderen an dem ruhigen Erzählfluss lag, der fast schon etwas meditatives hatte.
Wer Spannungsspitzen braucht, dem würde ich demnach dringend von dem Buch abraten und beispielsweise auf die Bücher von Angie Kim verweisen, die ähnlich aufgebaut sind, denn auch in "Scheue Wesen" fächern sich von einem bestimmten, zentralen Ereignis unterschiedliche Einzelschicksale ab. Interessant fand ich dabei vor allen Dingen die Behandlung psychischer Erkrankungen in den 60'er-Jahren. Darüber hätte ich tatsächlich gerne noch etwas mehr erfahren; Helens Beziehung zu einem verheirateten Mann hat mich vergleichsweise dann eher weniger interessiert..
Das ändert aber nichts daran, dass ich das Buch sehr mochte.
Clare Chambers hat ein sehr feines Gespür und ein Talent dafür, menschliches Verhalten zu erkennen, nachvollziehbar wiederzugeben und kritisch zu hinterfragen, ohne wertend zu sein.
Für mich eine "Grande Dame" zeitgenössischer Literatur. Ich muss unbedingt mehr von ihr lesen!

[Laura Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on November 12th, 2024.

Writing: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 3.5/5

1964. When William — a mute and (very) shaggy man — is found in decrepit conditions in a London suburb, he is taken to a psychiatric clinic for evaluation. He apparently had not left the house for over ten years. When William turns out to have a real artistic talent, Helen, the clinic art therapist, feels drawn to the “Hidden Man” and makes him into a special project. The narrative branches off in two directions. The first follows Helen as she tries to unravel the mystery of the Hidden Man’s origins while also coming to terms with her increasingly disastrous relationship with the appealing, but definitely married, psychiatrist treating William. Alternating sections follow William’s story backwards through time — eventually providing the answers in events taking place in 1938.

The story was compelling, and I liked the backwards progression through William’s life slowly explaining how he developed into the man he became. All of the characters were deftly drawn, and I enjoyed the reflection and details that helped me understand (though not necessarily empathize with!) their various personalities. I found the psychological tools and thinking of the era fascinating and wished there had been slightly more of that and less day-to-day descriptions. I found the book a little long winded, but with a little judicious skimming (sorry!) I enjoyed it from beginning to end and appreciated the relatively upbeat ending (will say no more about this!)

I found the writing at the sentence level to be excellent. Here are a few quotes:

“Helen started to feel the intestinal cramping and queasiness that often accompanied the contemplation of her moral failings.”

“As usual, thoughts of her mother prompted a wave of guilt, swiftly followed by a cancelling backwash of resentment.”

“The fact that his ire was aimed not at them, but at some nearby object that confounded him didn’t make it any easier to ignore; for quiet people, raised voices are experienced as a kind of aggression even when directed elsewhere.”

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a really big fan of Chambers’ Small Pleasures, but my second run at her work left me cold. When I read the opening of this (third to me) book, I thought I was back in SP territory – and I was, but, alas, briefly.

Shy Creatures tells two intertwining stories, that of art therapist Helen and her affair with a married psychiatrist, and a patient admitted to their hospital. All the twists and turns that get William to where he is at the start of the book are reasonably well executed, but much needs to be stretched to make it fit, including how Helen, as the POV character, comes to find out a lot of the information. Possibly it would have been better left to the reader alone.

Also, the plot about Helen and Gil fizzles out a bit disappointingly. Not in the sense that the relationship ends – the fact of its ending is in the first line of the book – but that Chambers made Gil a bit too much of a pasteboard villain. She didn’t have a whole lot to say about the fact of being a mistress, or the contemplation of other options for Helen (including being single, in your thirties, and it's the 1960s, when that situation is hard af in 2024 when you can at least have a credit card).

That being said, I enjoyed most of this, and I will continue to read Chambers in hopes of a second run at SP feels.

‘She left the office with a strange fluttering in her ears, her heart beating a little faster in her triumph. Already there was between them that invisible thread that joins two people who have noticed each other for the first time.’

Great description of a crush.

‘In those moments of dissociation when he felt himself detaching from the world and beginning to doubt that he was real, it was a comfort to him to think that David Balfour existed in the same realm.’

Something I’ve never considered about fictional characters living in the limerance space!

‘Far from despising them, she had been thinking how pleasant it must be to have such a careless abundance of time together that whole evenings could be comfortably squandered without a word spoken.’

Also a very generous stance.

[Sarah Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen arbeitet als Kunsttherapeutin in einer Anstalt für Menschen mit psychischen Erkrankungen. Es sind die 60er Jahre und medizinisch ist Vieles im Wandel zu dieser Zeit.
Eines Tages wird William eingeliefert, er ist verwahrlost und hat die letzten 25 Jahre seines Lebens versteckt im Haus seiner Tanten verbracht. Er ist stumm und scheu - ein scheues Wesen- und Helen fühlt sich berufen sein Zeichentalent zu fördern.. und seine Geheimnisse zu erfahren. Stück für Stück setzt sie die Puzzleteile seines Lebens zusammen. Und das, obwohl sie ihre ganz eigenen Probleme mit sich herum trägt. Gelingt es William und Helen sich gegenseitig ein Stück Halt zu geben?

Ein ruhiges Buch auf mehreren Zeitebenen und aus verschiedenen Perspektiven. Es hat Wärme und Herz. Ich habe es sehr gern gelesen. Am Liebsten mochte ich eine der beiden schrulligen Tanten von William leiden, die ihre ganz eigene Vorstellung davon hat, was für William das Beste ist.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Another book I never wanted to end. This book was recommended by GR AI for readers who enjoyed The Coast Road by Alan Murrin. That one was a debut by an Irish writer and this one was the ninth novel of a British writer. Both are excellent.

This story was loosely based on an actual event, as explained in the endnotes.

It is 1964, and our main character (Helen) lives in a London suburb. She is a newly-employed art therapist, working at a psychiatric hospital known for its progressive methodologies. From the very start, we know that Helen is having an affair with a colleague at work, a handsome psychiatrist, who happens to be married. (I expected to dislike her from the beginning, but as it turned out, I was pulling for her throughout.)

A call comes in about a domestic disturbance at a derelict house nearby. Long story short, both of the inhabitants are admitted, aunt and nephew. William may not have left his home for over ten years, and Helen soon discovers he is a talented artist.

We go back and forth in time while staying mainly with these two main characters, exploring their backstories, particularly that of William. As you can imagine, there was some trauma in his past which led to his present-day situation. Those parts were difficult to read, and the only reason I didn’t rate this a full five stars.

The ending was so satisfying. I was pulling hard for both main characters the whole time and I’m left once again wishing this was the first of a series. I want to spend more time with these people.

I loved the characters, and the writing in this was so easy to fall into. I really enjoyed the audio performance by Lucy Scott. There is found family here and there are major minor characters I also loved. There is a young woman in here, also an artist, whom I fell for straightaway and whom I’d love to see as the main character in a future work. Obviously love, marriage, mental health and art are major themes.

My first by this author, and won’t be my last. This book is going on my favorite authors shelf. She was longlisted for Small Pleasures, which I will probably read this year. The blurb seems odd but I have faith in this author to pull it off.

Highly recommended in both print and audio formats.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely, quiet novel, whose plot and characters revolve around a mental hospital. The main character is Helen, an art therapist employed at the mental hospital. At the beginning of the novel, a patient (William), who is mute and unkempt is admitted. Helen becomes William’s art therapist and takes great interest in his case. In addition, Helen and Gil, one of the hospital psychiatrists, are having an affair. Gil is married with children, while Helen is single. The novel follows their affair through Helen’s experiences and reactions. William’s treatment and improvement are wound through that storyline. The novel also traces William’s previous life, where he lived in forced seclusion in a large house with his eccentric aunts. Only at the end of the novel is the cause of William’s seclusion (and the root of his mental health issues) made clear. His improvement while at the hospital was
The writing was beautiful. The author did an excellent job of portraying Helen’s love for Gil as well as her frustration with the affair and her knowledge of its ultimate fruitlessness and end. I also thought the scenes of William’s prior life were extremely well portrayed. The characters and their challenges really came to life for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in their lives.

[Zoe Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Clare Chambers book I really have struggled with. I found myself really bored with the back story, and desperately wanting to come back to the present. But even that story soon began to drag. What a disappointment.

[Kaleidoscopicora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really tried to care why a random dude doesn’t want to leave the house but I just don’t.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a difficult combination for a book to be warm and uplifting but also contain some distressing plot elements. I think this would be a great book club book.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This glorious novel has kept me in good company over the last few days as I've wallowed around in misery with a summer flu.

Shy Creatures is my favourite sort of novel, quietly impactful with its deeply explored themes, a story that takes its time to gently unfold and establish, peopled with richly developed characters that are flawed, relatable, and worthy of becoming invested in.

Set in the mid 1960s, the story orbits around a psychiatric facility and is inspired by the true story of a man who was discovered within his home, hidden for decades and then transferred to the nearby facility for psychiatric evaluation. Clare Chambers has given this real-life case an imagined backstory and a hopeful future. She tells William's story in pieces, travelling back through time, slowly revealing his life in hiding and the eventual reasons for why he was hidden away.

Other characters have their own stories within this story, but the main one is Helen, an art therapist working within the psychiatric facility, who discovers William's talent for drawing and nurtures this to assist in discovering his story and to facilitate his healing. Helen is a gorgeous character, by no means a saint, but indeed a beautiful soul.

I appreciated the insight into mental health care that was at a turning point at this time in history, in some places becoming more holistic and community based instead of clinical and institutional. There was significant research done on this aspect of the story, as evidenced in the final pages of the book.

Shy Creatures really was a joy to read - listen to - and while it was not without moments of deep sadness, it was, ultimately, a hopeful story about human connection and community. I absolutely adored it.

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a completely charming novel of a young man, his eccentric aunts, and a mental institution. Based on a historic person, the author imagined a different fate. I thought this was an excellent novel!

[Siqahiqa · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the first few chapters, the story centers around Helen and Gil’s infidelity. While I’m not a fan of narratives involving infidelity, I was aware of this aspect beforehand and decided to continue reading. Thankfully, it wasn’t a major part of the plot and moved along fairly quickly.

Things took a fascinating turn when William, a character who hadn’t seen sunlight for twenty years, was introduced—just as I had hoped! Much of his story is told through flashbacks set before 1964, and I found myself eager to uncover why he had stayed confined to that house for so long. What had actually happened to him?

I struggled to understand the reason behind William’s isolation for two decades, and when the truth was finally revealed, it left me shocked and filled with empathy for him.

I do think the book would have benefitted from a more concise narrative and a steadier pace. The story dragged early on and only started gaining momentum about 70% in, which felt a bit late for my liking. Because of these pacing issues, I ended up rating it 3 stars.

However, I was amazed to learn in the afterword that this story was inspired by true events! While it didn’t completely click with me, I still encourage you to add it to your wishlist if the premise sounds appealing—it might just be a great fit for your tastes!

Thank you Times Reads, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ♡