Gentleman's Relish
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Product Description
Review
'The short story form suites Gale's ability to zoom in on the smallest nuances of a relationship' Times
'Gale writes with such humanity and warmth in his novels that it comes as a surprise that these short stories are told in a different, darker voice.' Daily Mail
'If Gale is arguably more at home in the more expansive form of the novel, these pieces certainly showcase his capacity for combining a light touch and a macabre sense of humour with an understated strength of human feeling…The stories confirm Gale's ability to exploit the short story genre's capacity to deliver a caffeinated hit.' Metro
'Well over half the stories in Gentleman's Relish adroitly utilise carefully observed details as the background to events that cause the reader to give a delicious shudder of horror at story's end…"Hushed Casket" could have been penned by that master of the ghost and horror story MR James, while "The Excursion" chillingly reflects the more lurid newspaper headlines. But there are also more gentle tales…Gentleman's Relish is a hugely enjoyable collection which proves that the short story is still very much alive.' Daily Express
'For his long-standing fan base, as well as recent converts through Richard & Judy-featured novel Notes From An Exhibition and this year's The Whole Day Through, it provides further evidence of Gale's stylistic deftness, insight and wonderfully eclectic range of interests… Even as rural life and perspectives dominate, other stories consistently tease out fresh territory… worth every penny.' Independent
'Vivid, believable characters…Gale has a light touch with social commentary but the undertones are often menacing' TLS
Product Description
An exhilarating new collection of stories by the author of Richard & Judy-bestseller Notes from an Exhibition Patrick Gale, which combines wit and poignancy to illuminate experiences both common and uncommon.
Love (& loathing) within families are dissected – a father makes an unexpected discovery about his son which is too hard for him to cope with. A son wreaks revenge through the power of cookery. Three generations of the same family gain freedom through the years in a once-despised caravan. A bored wife finds happiness when an old lag teaches her the art of angling. A dog-training lesson with a puppy who hasn't grasped the meaning of 'obedience' leads to the discovery of a murder.
Here too are music and silence – the sweetness and sadness of Festivals, of the Church, and of the control exercised by those in charge in small communities.
This tremendously enjoyable collection of stories has the same wit, tenderness and acute psychological observation as Gale's bestselling novels, including Notes from an Exhibition and the recent The Whole Day Through. For Gale's many fans, Gentleman's Relish will be a real treat.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Fans of Patrick Gale will already be familiar with his ability to be funny, mischievious, poignant and thought-provoking. He never shies away from difficult issues - indeed he tackles them head on in such away as to leave the reader pondering the subject matter long after they have put the book down. This lovely collection of short stories does not disappoint - It will have you, by turns, swallowing a tear and laughing out loud ! Wonderfully entertaining !
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I find it difficult to understand people who say they love reading but refuse to try short stories. After all, sometimes I like having a starter, main course and dessert at a restaurant but at other times a snack at home hits just the spot just as well. And so it is with this latest volume of short stories by celebrated author Patrick Gale. To his credit the sixteen stories in this volume cover a range of genres (from horror and suspense through twist in the tale stories to more contemplative character-driven stories).
Having read four of Patrick Gale's novels I was delighted to discover a darker, more sinister side to his writing in these tales. But fear not fans - in all the stories in this collection his ability to create believable characters in a short space of time is always very much in evidence.
Without giving too much away, I just wanted to highlight a couple of the stories that really stood out for me:
THE LESSON - a housewife, emotionally and physically isolated through her husband's job, strikes up a relationship with a prisoner
COOKERY - a young man's skills in the kitchen equip him with unexpected but necessary skills meaning he is never short of a culinary solution or two when life throws a spanner in the works
PETALS ON A POOL - a case of mistaken identity provides an author with the opportunity to travel to 'heaven on earth' but is this other eden all it's cracked up to be?
THE EXCURSION - a susceptible woman is convinced to leave her "softly softly" church in favour of one which is certainly not love-thy-neighbour. Dark and VERY funny!
The stories here are brilliant examples of what the short story form can offer us -a world we can dip into for a short but memorable time. So what are you waiting for? Come on - give short stories a go!
Having read four of Patrick Gale's novels I was delighted to discover a darker, more sinister side to his writing in these tales. But fear not fans - in all the stories in this collection his ability to create believable characters in a short space of time is always very much in evidence.
Without giving too much away, I just wanted to highlight a couple of the stories that really stood out for me:
THE LESSON - a housewife, emotionally and physically isolated through her husband's job, strikes up a relationship with a prisoner
COOKERY - a young man's skills in the kitchen equip him with unexpected but necessary skills meaning he is never short of a culinary solution or two when life throws a spanner in the works
PETALS ON A POOL - a case of mistaken identity provides an author with the opportunity to travel to 'heaven on earth' but is this other eden all it's cracked up to be?
THE EXCURSION - a susceptible woman is convinced to leave her "softly softly" church in favour of one which is certainly not love-thy-neighbour. Dark and VERY funny!
The stories here are brilliant examples of what the short story form can offer us -a world we can dip into for a short but memorable time. So what are you waiting for? Come on - give short stories a go!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
patrick gale has an amazing knack for a tale and never disappoints. sometimes a tad too melancholy but always poignant and entertaining. his books are always hard to put down and his short stories leave you wanting more. for one who is not so inspired by short stories patrick gale has converted me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bits and Pieces
It's like working your way through a box of chocolates: some you love and some you're not so keen on, but will have a go anyway. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. J. Saxton
Perfect
My first read of Patrick Gale but it certainly won't be my last.
I enjoyed each story and was amazed at his wit and insight into the human condition.
I enjoyed each story and was amazed at his wit and insight into the human condition.
Published 5 months ago by M. Conroy
Gentleman's Relish
Patrick Gale is a superb writer and having read some of his other books and having seen him at the Buxton Literary Festival I was excited about his latest book of short... Read more
Published 20 months ago by shocked and shaken
Gentleman's Relish by Patrick Gale
A well written book of short stories, each with a mild twist. The writing style is good, but the endings of each of the stories was almost a let-down. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Gizmo
Great short stories
A collection of spicy short stories by Patrick Gale - some funny, some chilling, all stay with with you after you have read them, which is a mark of a good story.
Published 23 months ago by Busy doctor
ahhh so much better
after the very disappointing last two books of his, this is great. Usually i dont like short stories, but this is a great collection, every story is a winner and leave you with a... Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by R. Storer
Where's the twist?
Whilst Gentleman's Relish is beautifully written, the stories lack the twists and plots needed for a short story. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by C Hyde
Extraordinary, Entertaining, Elegant, Eclectic
Beautifully bound and presented, Gentleman's Relish is like a luxury Harrods's hamper, stuffed with varied comestibles; a wonderful gift. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by Mrs. Katharine Kirby
A superb collection of short stories
By Patrick's own admission short stories are not a popular medium. That surprises me although I have several friends, including my father, who are avid readers and they don't enjoy... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2009 by that's what it's all about
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