Soporific and horrible at the same time.

I'm giving this book 3 stars for Overall, because I have insomnia, and its excellent for listening, if you want to sleep. Nothing happens. It's soporific. The detail is so dull and makes you so grateful to not be any of the characters or even know anyone like them. You doze off. Whole chapters go by when you finally fall asleep, but it doesn't matter, you haven't missed anything. Performance - the narrator has a way of dropping the last syllable down by a semi tone. Doesn't make sense and could be annoying, if you were listening. Story: 1 star or less. There is no story. And worse - Its a dreadful thing to do, to base your main character on a real character, and gratuitously use their story, a tragedy, to be the only thing that happens in your book. Seriously wrong to make the ending of the book a real event, this way. There should be a law against it. The way the bloke - whatisname - Norman, Ronald or something, Herbert - don't know and I only finished it yesterday! I have forgotten, he is so bland!! - anyway how he is written as saintly and unbelievable ...makes you want to poke him with a sharp stick. Our hero, Jean, what a creation. A vile stereotype. And then .. the silly idea about the virgin birth.... the gormless child....the complaining old Mother .... wow lesbians , very modern .... I cant believe I actually got to the end. The long slow watches of the night. And then the way it finished made me furious , for misuse of real material. Honestly. Twaddle is at least ok if its original but to glue on a real life, - no.

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2 people found this helpful

thoroughly enjoyed it

Well narrated, interesting plot and particularly interesting to hear the after word. I recommend this book.

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Brilliant audio listen

Unusual theme of the investigation of the virgin birth.
So much of its time in the 1950s & beautifully crafted prose with great characters. Skilled unexpected ending & very good narration . Not sure of the story as it unfolded but swiftly & completely drawn into the plot .

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Deceptively good.

This is the kind of quiet, straightforward book that slowly but surely gets under your skin and then, before you know it, you are hooked. It is beautifully written and quietly sets out an utterly believable account of women's everyday lives in difficult circumstances.
Small pleasures are just that - the small ways in which the female protagonist (a provincial journalist) finds pleasure in an outwardly dull, unfulfilling life. But when she meets an unusual woman with a seemingly impossible tale of virgin birth, she becomes embroiled in an investigation which has the potential to propel her work into 'the nationals;' she also uncovers a very different kind of family life to her own, one which holds out temptations and guilty pleasures.
The idea for the story was sparked by two real-life news stories and some of the background is explained in an interesting afterword. Overall, a great read.

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Subtle and engaging

What an unusual book. I loved the story which drew me in until the poignant end. I would have scored five for the story - different from a plot - but I couldn’t move the stars on to five. I love it when you actually care about the characters, as opposed to what happens in plot driven novels - gripping though they may be. Tender - a real accomplishment.

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An absolute huge pleasure

Very much enjoyed this story and the reading of it. The voices were all different and the story line is very easy to listen to.

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a great read

loved it. very engaging and well written. nuanced writing and unusual plot. well read on audible.

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Small Pleasures was a total pleasure!

I rationed my listening as I did not want it to end.
Exquisite. Perfect.

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Loved it!

I loved this story and unlike a lot of plots, I didn’t find myself getting distracted and missing what was going on (often happens with audible and you can’t turn back easily to hear what you missed). Really well read. 10/10

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Love and science

What a treat of a book this is. It isn't a book that I would naturally have come across as I am all about the thriller and crime reads mostly.
Set in the 1950's you are transported back to this era with a splendid description of the time. Jean who works at a local newspaper is put onto a case of immaculate conception. Gretchen Tilbury swears she became pregnant whilst still a virgin having not even kissed a man before. Jean takes up the task and inevitably befriends the family she is investigating.

This story is one of those that warms you from the inside and makes your heart swell as you fall in love with all of its characters. Jean is a highly likeable and relatable no nonsense kind of a woman. By getting closer to the Tilbury's she starts to open up and become a better person for knowing them. But all isn't as rosy as it appears to be on the surface.

A classic tale of finding who you were meant to be and falling in love and will leave you glowing. This is well worth checking out and reading for yourselves. If your going to choose a book you wouldn't usually read this is the book for you

I give it a virginal 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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