Notes from an Exhibition (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

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.

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.

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.