Shy Creatures By Clare Chambers
I am still thinking about the characters in this book. Does that happen to you?
I’ve read two other books since I finished this one and yet, I am still picturing William and Helen and Francis and all the other people this book brought to life and wondering what’s next.
Classified as Historical/ Literary fiction, this emotional book deals with sensitive issues and the compassion needed to navigate life. The humanity in this story is what has kept a hold on me as I move into other novels.
The mistakes that were made, the misunderstandings that so completely curated the path of William’s life and the life of his friend Francis and eventually the life of Helen who comes upon both William and Francis in the unravelling of their past lives. Spanning from the 30s to the 60s in London, the very British way of living through life and its inherent messiness while maintaining that infamous stiff upper lip is centric to the story of each character.
Inspired by true events and a brief, controversial moment in the history of psychiatric medicine, Shy Creatures deals with mental health, mental institutions and professionals and the effect that trauma can have on one.
Or many as it often happens. It’s not as heavy as it sounds because Chamber’s artful language and ability to conjure the coziness of everyday life and the small instances that make up the happiness we experience in the passing of time allow for the levels of grief and joy to seep into the telling of each tale.
While I can’t tell you much more about why I loved this book, I can say that it was a departure from the thrilling suspense books I gravitate to and I didn’t for one second miss the thrill. I was completely enthralled, obviously since I am still going on about it and can’t stop going back to the story. Perhaps because it was based on truth, or perhaps because it was just really well written, either way, I’d say don’t miss it!
Courtney Allen is the manager of Golden’s bookstore, Four Points Books.
Interested in giving this book a read? Visit the bookstore or head to the Four Points Books website to order it.
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About Four Points Books
We are a family-owned independent bookstore nestled in the heart of the Columbia Valley with locations in Invermere and Golden. Four Points Books is not just a place to buy books; it’s a hub for fostering connections, sparking conversations, and celebrating the joy of reading.
