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Notes from an Exhibition

by: Patrick Gale

January 07, 2008
Although this is the first Patrick Gale book I've ever read it certainly won't be my last. The story focuses on the inter-woven lives and experiences of a family held together by a parents' bi-polar disorder. Each of the characters are very individual, however the mental illness that they live with runs through them all and becomes more evident the further you read on. Gale manages to write about the emotive topic of mental illness without mushy sentimentality or judgements being evident. Excellant!!!

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Rough Music

by: Patrick Gale

July 02, 2001
excellent book - excellent author - came across Patrick Gale through the richard and judy book club with another one of his books - Notes on an exhibition. have to say rough music is much better and i really loved the two stories from two different eras being told simulataneously. It was sometimes tempting to skip a chapter to carry on with one of the stories straight away. very well written and i look forward to reading more of Mr Gale's work.

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A Sweet Obscurity

by: Patrick Gale

July 05, 2004
Another great read from Patrick Gale. A Sweet Obscurity is a tale of disparate adults all with their own needs and hope. Some are living in London and some in Cornwall - we know that somehow their lives will overlap and so we are compelled to read on...... At the heart of the book is Dido, a feisty nine year old who at times acts as parent to her stepmother/biological aunt Eliza. We know that there is some mystery about Dido's mother but we are kept in suspense until the very end. The plotting is ingeniously worked out and the whole work is a very satisfying read with a "feel good" ending.

I can understand why Gale has such a firm fan base even though he will never feature in the more prestigious literary prize lists. Based ... Read More:

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Friendly Fire

by: Patrick Gale

May 02, 2006
I would definately say that this book is a great read. It is about a young yet very articulate orphan named Sophie. By reading this book we get to see what the changes and ups and downs of a teenage girl's life as we watch her grow up throughout the novel. This novel is a great read because it captures the the deeper true feelings and emotions that a real girl would go through. This book is an eye opener as it deals with characters that what we in society would label as 'outcasts', but instead it gives us an insight into their world and it really widens and gives us different perspectives on life situations that we may have not have even seen before. I have to admit this book has some very deep themes at times and can prove to be alittle too much for ... Read More:

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The Cat Sanctuary

by: Patrick Gale

June 05, 2002
I enjoyed this book although the bit where the cats are involved (not going to spoil it for you) was very upsetting and the attitude of the women who just stood made me was equally upsetting. However, going back to the main plotline - this is an interesting book, though Deborah's husband's death I found slightly implausible. The love between Judith and Joanna was touching and the way that the three women become closer friends as they learn more about their pasts is delicately written and warming. However as with all Gale's books I found it hard to believe in the characters, or particularly care about them, and Gale's constant use of infidelity in all his novels is rather depressing. Can we please have a book from him in which people are faithful and are ... Read More:

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The Aerodynamics of Pork

by: Patrick Gale

February 04, 2002
A posh drama for everyone? Too posh for most! Again Gale has created an engaging story but yet again Gale has created characters we don't like enough to care about and too posh to be likable, there are characters that aren't posh but they are none too likable either. I'm not being elitist just realistic, Brideshead characters were all likeable not like these! Learn a lesson!

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Tree Surgery for Beginners

by: Patrick Gale

April 02, 2002
Gale carves up the Family Tree & puts it back together in ways that surprise to the last page. Much of this is achieved by exploiting the reader's prejudice about birth order & family relationships. Like mental judo, he probes for a weakness - and will throw you before you know it.

If it seems improbable - it is!! If you're able to laugh at your own prejudice, you'll like this ... and it's great for existing fans of teasy, clever Gale.

* OnlyMe reviews books from an Only-Child perspective.

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Kansas in August

by: Patrick Gale

February 04, 2002
Although this book is short (which is perhaps the only let down of the whole thing) It was a wonderful book to read, a fantastic story line filled with warmth and story lines that you wouldn't have thought were coming. It focusses on two siblings who are both adults and through the story brings out there wants and desires.

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The Facts of Life

by: Patrick Gale

August 05, 2002
Another great book by Gale but what I get again is a cast of characters that I don't care about and could quite easily dislike! A very good story but why oh why aren't these people likeable? This is Gales biggest weakness, a cast of brilliant characters that no one likes. In future make me care!

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Little Bits of Baby

by: Patrick Gale

April 02, 2002
This is my second Patrick Gale book - my first was 'A Sweet Obscurity'. I began to feel quite annoyed with that one as I neared the end. I try not to judge a book by its cover though (pardon the pun) so thought I'd give him a go again. Unfortunately the annoyance began about 20 pages in with this one, but I like to see things through so I persevered. What a bunch of self-satisfied, smug characters. Yes I know they are meant to irk one a little, but really. There seemed to be no real 'feeling', a lack of responsibility from the characters themselves regarding their actions. It felt like a very staged, self-conscious book. Maybe the author is not a fan of children - as with Dido in A Sweet Obscurity, Iras is too precocious to be warmed to. Jasper, who is admittedly ... Read More: