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Small Pleasures

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About this listen

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION
A BBC 2 'BETWEEN THE COVERS' BOOK CLUB PICK

'Wonderful' RICHARD OSMAN
'Perfect' INDIA KNIGHT
'Beautiful' JESSIE BURTON
'Witty and sharp' DAVID NICHOLLS

1957, the suburbs of south east London. Jean Swinney is a journalist on a local paper, trapped in a life of duty and disappointment from which there is no likelihood of escape. When a young woman, Gretchen Tilbury, contacts the paper to claim that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, it is down to Jean to discover whether she is a miracle or a fraud. As the investigation turns her quiet life inside out, Jean is suddenly given an unexpected chance at friendship, love and - possibly - happiness.

'Gorgeous . . . I could not recommend it more' PANDORA SYKES
'Remarkable . . . Small Pleasures is no small pleasure' THE TIMES
'Irresistible . . . wry, perceptive and quietly devastating' MAIL ON SUNDAY

©2020 Clare Chambers (P)2020 Orion Publishing Group 20th Century Amateur Sleuths Dysfunctional Families Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Parenting & Families Relationships Romance Women's Fiction Detective Heartfelt Suspense
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i really enjoyed this book. it was so lovely reading of a gentler age and people with values. This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last.

loved it

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Such a relief to find a well written book with an intriguing story. I was all set to read more books by this author, but felt really let down by the ending. The ending meant that the issues to be faced could never be resolved. It would have been interesting to see how the three main characters coped with their situation in the longer term.

intricate and beguiling story betrayed by ending

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At the beginning, purely from the narration, I questioned whether I could finish this audiobook. The intonation at the end of sentences is so odd. It was most bothersome in the first quarter of the book, either that or I stopped noticing, but I couldnt help listening to the lovely prose and how I wish I could hear it said in the correct way rather than the way Karen Cass says it.

The story itself is fairly engaging, and you do want to know what happens, which is always a good thing, but a lot of the story felt like filler. beautifully written though

Narration is disappointing

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A very good read. I loved it but was saddened by the ending! I live in the same area which helped me to see aspects of the action more vividly. Well written Clare Chambers.

A very good read

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This is one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Perfectly narrated, all the characters were easily distinguishable by the subtle tones of the narrator without being over the top or unrealistic. The story is beautifully real and has the uniqueness in a book of not over telling. I was so sorry when it ended ... but the ending was perfect. I will wait a while before my next listen so that this stays a little longer in my memory. Perfect!!!

Simply Beautiful

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