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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
This book was recommended to me on YouTube I think. It was meant to be a light read about discovering small pleasures in everyday life (like in the title), and it was at first. The last 100 pages just broke my heart. It took a dark turn and just devastated me. It is a very well written story, everything matches and leads to an end. When I saw the first page of the epilogue I closed the book and left it for hours. I just couldn’t agree with the way it ended. I’m thinking about it all the time and I know that this book will stay with me for a long time. One of the best stories I have read this year. I cried a few times, especially by the letters that are written by characters. I would totally recommend.
Non-festive virgin birth claimant investigation. Great twist.
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers
4.2 Stars
Vague spoilers ahead - if you want to go into this book blind, then don’t read this review!
I definitely see why people praise this book so much! The writing is very unique and this story is so realistic which makes it all the more intense and heartbreaking. It follows the investigation a journalist is conducting on a woman who claims to have had a virgin birth. The story sounds simplistic but it holds a lot of depth and all the characters have so much agency. I haven’t read a book in a while where I’ve felt such sympathy for the protagonist. The only reason I wouldn’t give this five stars is the absolute shocking and bittersweet ending. Part of me feels it was unnecessary, and part of me thinks it’s interesting. I’m still undecided on how I feel about it. Either way, I still recommend this book! What Clare Chambers has crafted here is fascinating and it definitely deserves the time of day.
4.2 Stars
Vague spoilers ahead - if you want to go into this book blind, then don’t read this review!
I definitely see why people praise this book so much! The writing is very unique and this story is so realistic which makes it all the more intense and heartbreaking. It follows the investigation a journalist is conducting on a woman who claims to have had a virgin birth. The story sounds simplistic but it holds a lot of depth and all the characters have so much agency. I haven’t read a book in a while where I’ve felt such sympathy for the protagonist. The only reason I wouldn’t give this five stars is the absolute shocking and bittersweet ending. Part of me feels it was unnecessary, and part of me thinks it’s interesting. I’m still undecided on how I feel about it. Either way, I still recommend this book! What Clare Chambers has crafted here is fascinating and it definitely deserves the time of day.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Can I score it 3.5 stars?
It's a good story but I found it a little bit corny and lacking in depth.
I would have liked more description to really bring the period to life. It felt a little bit as though I was watching a tired Sunday night period drama.
At no point did it move me emotionally.
Very good unexpected ending.
It's a good story but I found it a little bit corny and lacking in depth.
I would have liked more description to really bring the period to life. It felt a little bit as though I was watching a tired Sunday night period drama.
At no point did it move me emotionally.
Very good unexpected ending.
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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:
No
A slow but building pace, very character driven, and my investment in the characters only grew as the plot progressed. I found the solving of the mystery that underpinned the plot effective and well tied-together. It was really the mundane humanity of the characters, and my developed attachment to them and their fate, which was the making of this book for me. Which is why the ending was so impactful and also really frustrating! Whilst I found it an emotionally effective ending, it also felt a little lazy. Overall an enjoyable read.
Beautifully written book. The author does a remarkable job of recreating that era in amazing detail. I get the criticisms of the ending and the argument that it felt a little tacked on... but it didn't completely ruin the book for me and I think it sums up well the fragility and unfairness of life which is a running theme throughout.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
In my opinion the author is clearly a good writer and I did enjoy certain passages and stylistic choices. However, I found the „mystery“ of the story pretty obvious right from the start but was willing to see past that if the story itself was going be worth the read. Unfortunately though, I wouldn’t recommend this novel as I found big parts of the story quite irritating and, frankly, annoying. Simply not a book for me.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No