Anyone read Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers SPOILERS

[MonkeyTennis34]

I’ve just finished it and would love to discuss it….

Yes I loved it although it is a while since I read it so I don’t know how much detailed discussion I am up to. I saw her at a book event talking about it last summer

Same as @SheherazadesSpringNonsense

What did you think OP? I can't remember much either but it will come back to me am sure

I've just finished this yesterday - it was a slow burner for me but I really loved it by the end. I thought the plot was developed beautifully, and the characterisation of William was perfect, very authentic.

I enjoyed it. I read it earlier this year but I can't remember all the details. Clare Chambers is one of my favourite authors.

I thought it was really good too.

I loved it. I wasn't around in the 60s, but it seemed a pitch perfect recreation of that time. And I loved the characterisation too - William was such a well drawn character.

Real slow burner for me too, I love her writing so was determined to stick with it and overall am glad that I did. I found the aunts a bit confusing as wasn’t very gripped at the start so could have done with rereading some of the earlier chapters but was pleased to see a happy ending. I find her style quite similar to lissa Evan’s and read small bomb at dipperly just before which I much preferred.

I read it a few weeks ago and loved it. I love her style of writing, it’s as if she chooses every word carefully. I usually speed through books but I didn’t want this one to end so read it slowly. (I met her once, she seems lovely!)

I loved this book. The story of William broke my heart.
She writes in such a gentle way but the emotions she conveys are powerful.
The way she portrayed the affair between Helen and Gil was very true to life. He was never going to leave his wife, his ego should have been donated to medical research!
How he enjoyed the attentions of the young Lorraine.
I also loved the character of Marion, William’s champion.
More please CC!

What a gem of a book. Finished it a few days ago and felt quite bereft. I have always enjoyed Clare Chambers books but I think this was my favourite and most satisfying yet . It is wonderful when a long established novelist just gets better and better!

I live in Bristol and was intrigued to see that although the novel is set in Croydon, the real"William Tapper" lived in Bristol with his one remaining sister not his aunts. I've read newspaper reports of the story and found it sad but intriguing. It's got me wondering now what the real man's story was and how he ended up in the sad situation he was in. As far as we know there aren't any living relatives who would ever able to tell us, it remains a mystery.

The subplot with Lorraine reminded me of two real life accounts of young girls incarcerated in psychiatric hospitals (not voluntary patients in their case) during the 60s (Susanna Kaysen, whose story was told in Girl, Interrupted, which was turned into the Winona Ryder film) and Jeanette Davidson from Leeds, who was admitted suffering to High Royds with "schizophrenia" in a similar crisis to Lorraines (Jeanette believes strongly that she is as never schizophrenic but suffering anxiety and depression. She has written a biography (the name escapes me now). At least Lorraine's experiences of hospital were much more progressive . I had to say that although I liked Gil as a psychiatrist to begin with I ended up loathing him!

Marion and her husband were brilliant. They handled what happened to Francis brilliantly . It shows just how important a supportive network is for a child who's been through a trauma. I loved the description of their holiday at the cottage. The book has such beautifully drawn characters and vivid descriptions. A real 5 star winner, IMHO.