Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Shy Creatures
- Narrated by: Lucy Scott
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Shy Creatures
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
From the Women's Prize longlisted, British Book Award-winning, bestselling author of Small Pleasures, a new novel about love, family and the joy of freedom.
'I was worried this wouldn't be as good as the brilliant Small Pleasures, but it might be even better. Clare Chambers is a genius' INDIA KNIGHT
'Wise, beautifully measured and as compelling as you want fiction to be' SUNDAY TIMES
'A tender, absorbing novel . . . And it's just as good - if not better - than her last' INDEPENDENT
'Shy Creatures confirms Clare Chambers as one of our most talented writers' GUARDIAN
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. For Helen it was the weekend that the Hidden Man came to Westbury Park.
Croydon, 1964. Helen Hansford is in her thirties and an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital where she has been having a long love affair with Gil: a charismatic, married doctor.
One spring afternoon they receive a call about a disturbance from a derelict house not far from Helen's home. A thirty-seven-year-old man called William Tapping, with a beard down to his waist, has been discovered along with his elderly aunt. It is clear he has been shut up in the house for decades, but when it emerges that William is a talented artist, Helen is determined to discover his story.
Shy Creatures is a life-affirming novel about all the different ways we can be confined, how ordinary lives are built of delicate layers of experience, the joy of freedom and the transformative power of kindness.
'A magnificent novel. I loved it to its bones' EMMA STONEX
'A lively, funny, forgiving novel' PATRICK GALE
'Completely absorbing' LISSA EVANS
'A rich and tender story of kindness and compassion' RUTH HOGAN
*Small Pleasures was a Silver Award bestseller according to Nielsen BookScan UK, 10 November 2023
What listeners say about Shy Creatures
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- CD
- 13-09-24
Outstanding
Beautifully written and narrated. Claire Chambers books are packed with nostalgia. Her stories are packed with layers and the structure of her novels seamlessly and gently builds towards the most interesting scenarios. She really is super writer and I think the narration of this book was first class.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jennifer Miller
- 06-09-24
Beautifully written. Love the way the story unfolds.
I liked everything about it. Great characters, Lovely juxtaposition of back stories, lively dialogues, well read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pamela
- 11-09-24
The definition of a glimmer
What a beautifully written, wonderful story. It has really made me feel good – and the narrator is very clever with her voices. Highly recommended - this made my day and my week!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kirsty
- 03-09-24
Too gory
Small Pleasures is undoubtedly one of my favourite books and I was eagerly anticipating the release of Shy Creatures. However, in my opinion, there are far too many graphic descriptions of animals being hurt. They add nothing to the narrative and really impacted my overall enjoyment of what is otherwise a beautifully crafted and performed book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs A.
- 12-09-24
Outstanding modern writing
The characters, observation, rich descriptive language, narrative interpretation of characters: all excellent and thoroughly enjoyable
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 30-08-24
My home town
I loved the narration and the plot was satisfying if a bit too neat at the end. Readers who couldn’t cope with the way ‘small pleasures’ ended will appreciate this one. As a long time croydon resident I loved all the local references and liked the backward structure reminiscent of sarah waters. I once worked in a psychiatric unit run on Laingian principles and Gil was very familiar. Younger readers will be shocked by all the smoking and the food we used to eat. The big snow took me back to that winter which as privileged middle class children we loved. I’m looking forward to seeing CC next week
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Molly
- 12-09-24
Great story well read
This has some twists I didn’t expect. It’s another good book from an author I’ve really come to love.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- debbieg
- 02-09-24
Another wonder of a book - sink yourselves into it pdq!
Unfolds like a warm quilt - enveloping you into the lives of two unique protagonists. Uplifting and memorable.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gfuller
- 17-09-24
Exquisite writing, rich in intimate detail and emotional depth.
Highly recommend. An exploration of quiet lives, with complex and plausible characters. Beautiful and emotionally resonant.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- MS LOUISE E BEAN
- 19-09-24
Wonderful listen
I loved every minute . The narrator was superb and the story writing faultless . Brilliant characters . I didn’t want the book to end .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!