Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers is a beautifully written fictional story of ordinary people, who lead ordinary lives until unusual circumstances change their lives forever. The writing is so beautiful and simplistic, and I was drawn into the story and into the character’s lives quickly and I couldn’t stop until I was done with the book. The main story focuses on Jean, a very ordinary small-town journalist who discovers a woman, Gretchen, who claims to have given a virgin birth to her now 10-year-old daughter, Margaret. The book revolves around Jean, doing the research to try and find the truth to her claim. In doing the research, Jean becomes very involved with Gretchen and her family. Gretchen’s husband, Howard knows about the circumstances surrounding Margaret’s birth and he believes his wife’s claim. Jean also takes a liking to the daughter, Margaret, the outcome of the virgin birth, and she eventually feels very protective of her. I liked that this story gave a realistic view of a time in the past. So many books romanticize a time period, making it sound heroic and gives a nostalgic look at the time period. The author here gave the reader a very realistic glimpse at life in Kent in 1957 for an average person. The book is full of normal and mundane details of the time, giving the reader a real sense of what life was like and how people managed their daily life and chores during that time period. Jean’s research into Gretchen’s claim gives the book a bit of mystery as we wonder if Gretchen’s claims are true and if so, how did Margaret’s conception occur? The details of the medical tests and Jean’s search for the women who lived in the convalescent home where Gretchen was a patient during the time she became pregnant with Margaret are interesting and give some insight to care for the very ill during this time period. Small Pleasures is a book that you’re going to love, or possibly dislike, as it’s not glamorous, or filled with exciting scenes, but it’s so ordinary and simplistic that it’s beautiful. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved this book from the very start. It builds a picture of Jean's humdrum life , heavily punctuated with looking after her needy, elderly mother. I related to Jean's frustration of burden and snatching moments of free time. I was curious how the story would pan our when the Tilbury family enter her life. It starts professionally, when Jean investigates a fantastic revelation, regarding Mrs Tilbury. But soon Jean is spending more and more time with the family ( much to her mothers chagrin) and each forms a special relationship with her. I really cared about all the characters and found myself thinking about them , long after I'd finished reading the book. I won't reveal how it ends but I ached for a different ending..!

Already a huge fan of the work of Clare Chambers I was eager to read 'Small Pleasures', her first novel for nine years. By coincidence I had recently read a Barbara Pym novel and found that Clare creates an authentic post war period feel in this departure from her previous works of humorous contemporary fiction. This novel has a perfect balance of character and plot, with both developing in unexpected ways throughout the course of the book. Protagonist Jean works as a reporter on a local newspaper in Kent, and in the course of an investigation into a claim of virgin birth she finds much more than the answer to her quest. The small pleasures of the title are consolations for the disappointments of life and the deprivations of war. As a single working woman in the postwar era, Jean is offered a glimpse of much greater pleasure but this comes at a price as she struggles with the conflict of duty and social convention versus personal happiness.

I have heard a lot of praise for this book and was intrigued by the subject - an investigation of the possible "virgin birth" by Jean Swinney, a newspaper writer in London suburbia. But I did not expect to be dragged into the story so quickly and so fully from the very beginning. The year is 1957, Jean is living her life slowly and predictably, taking care of her mother, taking pleasure is small things and daily rituals until the investigation leads her towards Gretchen Tilbury and her family. Ripples start to appear in Jean's orderly life and as she delves deeper into the secrets of the people she investigates. I was truly charmed by this book and the ending made me gasp. The story was a slow exploration of loneliness and need for companionship, affection and relationships, especially those between mother and daughter. It is also a mystery about what happened to Gretchen, so we follow Jean’s investigation, learning about domestic and social arrangements from that period, especially lives of women. There are also interesting (though not necessarily easy to understand) details on research into parthenogenesis and genetics - a fascinating part of a novel based on the true research conducted in fifties at the University of London. There is a lot of detail in here which makes the story even more appealing. This book was a real treat. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free review ecopy of this book. PS. Extra points for the cover and tangerines.

I bought the book because a) it had a good review in a Sunday Supplement and b) it was partly based in a part of Kent where I had lived. I loved the book and dreaded coming to the end of it. It draws you in and holds your attention very easily. Thanks to Clare Chambers for such an enjoyable read.