Mumsnet Discussions - Notes from an Exhibition - is it any good? (Adult fiction)

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Mumsnet Discussions: Adult fiction : Notes from an Exhibition - is it any good? (17 messages)

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By saltire on Sat 06-Sep-08 09:36:19

Needed to make my Amazon order up to £15 for free postage,and have ordered this.

By spicemonster on Sat 06-Sep-08 09:49:12

I really enjoyed it but I love Patrick Gale. I think there is a thread on here somewhere about it.

It's a very loving study of a family with a person struggling with manic depression at its heart. The central characters were very well drawn I thought although the peripheral ones less so.

By FiveGoMadInDorset on Sun 07-Sep-08 07:59:30

Loved it, it is the only book we have read that all members of our book group loved as well, beautifully written story of mental illness and how a family cope with it.

By northernrefugee39 on Sun 07-Sep-08 11:23:06

Yes- I really enjoyed it; well written believeable characters , who I really engaged with.
Fivego- I agree- everyone who's read it enjoyed it- mixed generations too- my Mum loved it.
Spicemonster- what other book of his would you recommend? My Mum read Facts of Life and didn't enjoy it, and I'm reading Half of a Yellow Sun atm which is quite long so haven't got round to next book; I'm guessing my mum didn't engage with a lot of sex in Facts of Life?

By AbbaFan on Sun 07-Sep-08 11:26:52

No - didn't like this much at all 6/10 for me. There were parts that were very good and other parts that just bored me silly.

By MaryAnnSingleton on Sun 07-Sep-08 12:28:54

I really liked it but abruptly unsatisfying ending - would recommend it though

By Scarletibis on Sun 07-Sep-08 13:34:30

yes - I loved it.

Rough Music is brilliant as well

By AbbeyA on Sun 07-Sep-08 13:43:31

I loved it-but would agree that the ending was a bit abrupt.Well worth reading.

By spicemonster on Tue 09-Sep-08 20:30:30

ooh northern- let me have a look when I get home - am stuck in vile hotel room atm. I seem to remember Tree surgery for beginners was good. And I enjoyed Facing the tank too but it's very different from NfaE.

By BoccaDellaVerita on Tue 18-Nov-08 15:13:59

Am currently reading this and think it's great. Will follow up some of these suggestions for further PG reading ....

By LurkerOfTheUniverse on Tue 18-Nov-08 15:46:10

very good and Patrick Gale is luverly

By BoccaDellaVerita on Tue 18-Nov-08 15:57:40

Is he, lurker? Do you know him?

By LurkerOfTheUniverse on Tue 18-Nov-08 16:29:39

i wish, although did meet him at one of those author reading things

luverly, but sadly gay

By BoccaDellaVerita on Tue 18-Nov-08 18:01:51

I agree. In the essay at the end of the book about his various inspirations for it, he does indeed sound lovely. Being gay doesn't disqualify him from being on my fantasy dinner party guest list!

By duckyfuzz on Tue 18-Nov-08 18:22:08

I enjoyed it, also rough music by the same auther

By saltire on Tue 18-Nov-08 18:23:40

I did order it,and have finished it. I really enjoyed it

By FfreckleFface on Wed 19-Nov-08 00:02:39

Yes. An absolute page turner, and one I would recommend.

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