Reviews - Small Pleasures | The StoryGraph

4.38k reviews for:

Small Pleasures

Clare Chambers

3.66 AVERAGE

laminatorhorse's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mikecarter161's review against another edition

2.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

fionio's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

mmd78903's review against another edition

4.25

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

jessica929's review against another edition

1.0

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I actually started and gave up on this book about a year ago, I tried again after seeing so many rave reviews. I wish I hadn't bothered. It was blatantly obvious what the outcome of the 'virgin birth' investigation would be, and even then it was rushed at the end. The twist in the last chapter felt utterly unnecessary and lacking in impact.
I hated the demonisation of the only queer relationship in this book: the portrayal of the mean, child-hating, impoverished lesbian, the transformation of her lover from beautiful demure housewife to bedraggled frightened misery, the squalor and general lack, and the desperation to return to the 'good old days' of the heterosexual marriage. Doesn't matter how many times your main character repeats that she doesn't have a problem with lesbians; if it walks like a duck...
Also hated the comment that sex is the most important part of marriage - what a horrid, limited way for a supposedly kind and devoted man to see the world.
Emotional cheating, poor handling of mental-health issues, demonisation of queer characters and the elderly, self-righteous and boring throughout.
The only part that I appreciated was the way in which Jean's struggle with monotony and duty was presented, but even that was ruined by the completely unsympathetic depiction of her mother.

ionabook75's review against another edition

3.75

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

leyla_potats's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

For me, this was almost a 5 star read. It took me a while to get into because it is a different tone than most contemporary work - having read the author's note, I found out that Clare Chambers put a lot of effort to make it firmly rooted in the time period, which I appreciate. But the protagonist, Jean, is so incredibly loveable, and the relationship with her mother elegantly (and frustratingly) crafted. The way Howard

shows his love for her in small acts is genuinely beautiful, and left me smiling.

The story of the virgin birth is a great plot line alongside the relationships to keep the story rolling around. Where it fell short was the ending. I very much disliked its ambiguity,

and the story of the train crash eventually killing Howard reduces the whole pleasure of the story and finally seeing love for Jean. Perhaps its because I was rooting for them and my reaction is a sign of good writing, but it did feel tacked on.

Content Warnings