| Product: |
Notes from an Exhibition - Patrick Gale |
| Date: |
24.03.08 (99 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Well Written, Absorbing read, Addictive
Disadvantages: finish it too soon!
I first came across this book in a shop on the Richard & Judy Book Club stand. Reading the back of the book it sounded interesting so i put it on my wish list. So when my vouchers came through, Notes from an Exhibition was bought.
The book tells the story of a famous artists life, Rachel Kelly. She is bipolar and her family have had to grow accustomed to her behavior. She is something of an enigma to her husband Antony and her 4 children. The story gets going when Rachel is found dead in her Penzance studio leaving behind a set of marvelous paintings, the family crave for answers. Her Quaker husband goes on the internet looking for information about her and slowly a picture of a shattered life come together. Rachel has left her children her extraordinary gift, as well as her demons.
Patrick Gale was previously unknown to me. However reading the back of the book it was clear that it was something special. The list of newspapers and critics commenting on the book was unbelievable, "Complete Perfection, Rich and inventive" just a few words describing the novel.
At the beginning of each chapter is a little caption that goes with a piece from an exhibition from Rachel Kelly's life. These little titbit's provide lots of information as the reader pieces together the information. And some of the information does not make sense till you have reached a certain stage in the book.
The book contains chapters that area all from different people's points of view, be it Rachel her children and husband through to more distant family members. This style of presentation is like a kaleidoscope coming together and it is great fun piecing information together.
The way Patrick Gale has shown the bi-polar disease is masterfully done, giving the reader great insight in how it must feel for young children to not understand properly what occurs. The steadiness of the Quaker religion is also brilliantly done helping show a constant that is always there against a mothers unpredictable behaviour.
The way the book jumps from time period to different characters perception is brilliant; with no introduction saying the reader is first confused and then it comes together and the story continues. Gale tells the story of children in the 80's and raving parties through to same children with marital and relationship problems. The Story goes from 1950's all the way into the 21st Century.
The ending is, again, brilliantly written. No extra information is written and you just slot the final pieces together and realize what caused turmoil in the next generation. Reading how and why Gale chose to end the book in this way was brilliant showing, how he thought the final pages play out in reference to a character. The slow drip drip of information you receive in the bok is brilliant and you finish a chapter and spend a few minutes contemplating what you have just read. Book is amazing.
The writing in the book is brilliantly and it is like getting hooked on a soap opera. The way events and characters are portrayed, if only for half a page or chapter, is expertly done and all credit to Gale on this wonderfully, emotional gripping book.
Published by Harper Collins and is 374 pages long.
RRP: £7.99
Amazon best deals, cost £5.99.
Anyone who is a fan of good literature and well written books will be spell bound by this book!
Summary: read it!!!
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