Notes from an Exhibition
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Review
'Poised and pitch-perfect throughout, this is an engrossing portrait of a troubled and remarkable character. A fine writer at the top of his game.’ Mail on Sunday
‘This is an uplifting, immensely empathetic novel, and Gale's prose, as ever is as clear and bright as the Cornish light.' Guardian
'It has the kind of quietly radiant intelligence, craft and integrity that bypasses superficial questions of originality. A novel with a variety and freshness that is all the more powerful and surprising for being discovering in such a circumscribed and very English milieu.' Adam Lively, Sunday Times
'Skilfully constructed as a mosaic of different viewpoints that shift back and forwards in time. A warm, well-written novel about creativity and the perils of living with the creative spirit.' Times Literary Supplement
'By the end I had laughed and cried and put all his other books on my wish list. This is dense, thought-provoking, sensitive, satisfying, humorous, humane – a real treat.' Toby Clements, Telegraph
'Beautifully written, slowly unravelling tale…Patrick Gale's serene and carefully crafted prose conveys a profound understanding of the workings of human relationships and the torment that mental illness causes its sufferers and also those around them.' Ross Gilfillan, Daily Mail
‘I was completely enthralled by "Notes from an Exhibition." Patrick's Gale's prose grows ever more acrobatic and heartstopping, though somehow he never seems to be showing off. And few writers have grasped the twisted dynamics of family the way Gale has. There's really no one he can't inhabit, understand and forgive.’ Armistead Maupin
'Gale has produces a rich, evocative novel.' Attitude ‘Books of the Year’
‘A tautly structured work that is as compelling as it is psychologically convincing.’ The Times
‘”Notes from an Exhibition” is a story about family life and the tensions that at once bind it and tear it apart. Patrick Gale's focus is sharp and this small group of characters is carefully observed and lovingly brought to vivid life…the book [is] a kaleidoscope of pictures, sometimes comic, sometimes unutterably moving. Ultimately, Notes from an Exhibition is a rewarding read.' Peter Burton, Express
'All the characters are dimensional and heartbreaking. It is a book saturated with love and humanity. And it has a great last line.' Barbara Gowdy
'A tender, powerful novel.' The Gloss
'This is a book full of insight, intelligence and quiet humour familiar from his previous masterpiece, “Rough Music”.' Image magazine
'Gale moves seamlessly between different characters, and from past to present, so we never the narrative thrust. An excellent summer read.' Psychologies magazine
'His sense of place is utterly coherent and he makes the background easy to navigate…the writing itself is so unpretentious, and Gale brings such patience and generosity to the story, that one cannot help but respond to his uplifting faith in human nature.' New Statesman
Guardian
`This is an uplifting, immensely empathetic novel, and Gale's prose, as ever is as clear and bright as the Cornish light.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
72 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As with a number of reviewers, what really struck me about this book was its lightness of touch. It took a little while for it to sink in just how much observation and subtlety it carries. I yearn for novels to do this. His prose is clear and without fuss, the characters are observed gently and meticulously, and the plot evolves in much the stealthy and surreptitious way that happens - well, in real life. I enjoyed the first few chapters, but after about a quarter of the book I really sat up and took notice that I was reading a splendid, thoroughly mature piece of work. I would recommend this whole-heartedly to anyone who likes fiction to be about real life, rather than simply an escape from it.
55 of 58 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first Patrick Gale novel I have read. I rather think it won't be the last. I was attracted by the subject matter. The link between creativity and mental health is fascinating and, given such a vast topic I think this book works brilliantly. It brings living with a mental health disorder into everyday terms and made it real; accessible without being patronising or facile. In terms of the writing quality, I was very impressed with the apparent ease with which Gale moves between perspectives; each character has a very distinctive voice of their own that is reflected in the narrative and adds to the absorbing quality of the book. By the end some gaps have been filled but there's no sense of every loose end being tied up - the realism doesn't let up for an instant. I feel I want more but know that "more" would be too much. The final scene, which should be harrowing, is sublimely beautiful.
67 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have, over the years, read a considerable number of Patrick Gale's books and find them enjoyable. Occasionally they rise above this to elevate themselves to a level where I would happily recommend them to others. "Rough Music", his prior novel to this seemed to indicate that perhaps he was about to elevate himself to a place alongside some of Britain's more seriously considered writers. "Notes From An Exhibition" should have been the proof and, whilst it is a thouroughly enjoyable book, it does fall a little short.
Structuring itself around the themes of art, death, and bipolarity the subject matter gives the impression of the serious minded. The handling of the link between central character Rachael Kelly's bipolarity and her creativity is well handled and insightful. Here the book rises to its challenge with aplomb. One clever trick is that the central character is really only fully appreciated from the perspectives of the other characters in the book. This is due, in part I suspect, to her bipolar disorder but it is a very clever conceit indeed.
Gale writes engagingly throughout and I did find the book both easy to read and difficult to put down. You are genuinely engaged by some of the characters in this book. Apart from Rachael, the children Hedley and Morwenna are well rounded, as is her husband Anthony. The trouble is the book devotes time to about 3 more characters and weaves in little subplots.
It's here where the book both falls down and looses its sense of purpose. There is simply too much going on and too many people to spread the story around. The inclusion of Petroc is useful and although his character is not as fully fledged as some his place in the plot is quite important. As for the other brother and Rachel's sister, both could easily have been cut with almost no harm to the plot. I found the closing chapter of Rachel's story utterly superfluous (but I won't reveal why as I'm not in the habit of spoiling things for others).
There are probably enough ideas in here for two novels, loosing some of the more superficial ones would not have been to its detriment. It would ultimately have lead to a possibly darker, bleaker book about art and death but as these are by far the strongest elements it would have been for the better.
I enjoyed this book but found the final stages unsatisfactory due to not fully giving space to explore the impact death on a family in a fuller light. A case, perhaps, of one idea to many. Like a cheese souffle, this book is hugely enjoyable during consumption, yet somehow not substantial enough to satisfy entirely.
Structuring itself around the themes of art, death, and bipolarity the subject matter gives the impression of the serious minded. The handling of the link between central character Rachael Kelly's bipolarity and her creativity is well handled and insightful. Here the book rises to its challenge with aplomb. One clever trick is that the central character is really only fully appreciated from the perspectives of the other characters in the book. This is due, in part I suspect, to her bipolar disorder but it is a very clever conceit indeed.
Gale writes engagingly throughout and I did find the book both easy to read and difficult to put down. You are genuinely engaged by some of the characters in this book. Apart from Rachael, the children Hedley and Morwenna are well rounded, as is her husband Anthony. The trouble is the book devotes time to about 3 more characters and weaves in little subplots.
It's here where the book both falls down and looses its sense of purpose. There is simply too much going on and too many people to spread the story around. The inclusion of Petroc is useful and although his character is not as fully fledged as some his place in the plot is quite important. As for the other brother and Rachel's sister, both could easily have been cut with almost no harm to the plot. I found the closing chapter of Rachel's story utterly superfluous (but I won't reveal why as I'm not in the habit of spoiling things for others).
There are probably enough ideas in here for two novels, loosing some of the more superficial ones would not have been to its detriment. It would ultimately have lead to a possibly darker, bleaker book about art and death but as these are by far the strongest elements it would have been for the better.
I enjoyed this book but found the final stages unsatisfactory due to not fully giving space to explore the impact death on a family in a fuller light. A case, perhaps, of one idea to many. Like a cheese souffle, this book is hugely enjoyable during consumption, yet somehow not substantial enough to satisfy entirely.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A different take on the family saga
This novel has a complex structure with references to paintings from different dates, events arranged in an apparently random order and several narrators. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MissieB
Fabulous reading
This is the first novel that I have read by this author, I was hooked from the first few pages. I found it totally absorbing and very cleverly written. Read more
Published 3 months ago by jayb
Notes From an Exhibition
This story revolves around an artist, Rachel Kelly, and the reaction of her family to her death. The chapter headings list items from an exhibition of her work or things related... Read more
Published 4 months ago by S Riaz
Highly evocative
Family life at its most fascinating, with snapshots in time from the perspective of each family member. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JoTownhead
Effortless and absorbing writing
I'd never read anything by Patrick Gale before but was immediately taken by his effortless and absorbing writing style. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Reader
Perfect Patrick
I love Patrick Gale's books, and this was no exception! Covers hefty topics such as mental illness and bereavement in a riveting family setting. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs
What!?
This is the first book I have felt the need to review - if it saves just one poor person from being tempted to read it, it'll be worth it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Juejuebeez
Captivating
I love family sagas and this one was no exception.
Only left puzzled by one character and her association to another but it didn't spoil the read. Read more
Only left puzzled by one character and her association to another but it didn't spoil the read. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mrs. Anita Mcskimming
Loved it
I could not put this book down, beautifully written and so moving, this was my first Patrick Gale and I then tried some others, in my opinion this book is by far the best - a must... Read more
Published 12 months ago by avidreader
Misleading
Had the back of book blurb described it as a description of a family in turmoil, then perhaps it would have lived up to expectation, but the fact that it hinted at some kind of... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. Smith
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