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Original poster

Notes from an Exhibition...

61 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 18/08/2008 07:39

took this to read on my hols as I like Patrick Gale and really liked it- was meant to be reading No Time for Goodbye which is my book group's book for August - really wish it'd been Notes from an Exhibition instead (mind you my last recommendation for book group which was his Friendly Fire didn't go down well with the ladies- tsk)...
I loved the descriptions of painting,colours etc and loved the bit about 'Barbara Hepworth' - coincidentally we came across a sculpture of hers at Snape Maltings...have posted a pic on my profile,or will do in a sec.

OP posts:
MrsSprat · 24/08/2008 21:38

Ha ha. No, I'm definitely a Mrs, oi! Congrats on DHs taste though

oi · 24/08/2008 21:37

ah thanks malory.

I feel very excited about having someone new to read! And someone with lots of books to get through.

oi · 24/08/2008 21:37

thanks mrssprat.

I've just this minute said to dh 'have you read any David Lodge' and he said 'yes, his early stuff is really good and I think you'll like it' and just quoted the books you did which is very bizarre.

Perhaps you are dh and that's what you are doing sitting on the other computer.

MaloryDontDiveItsShallow · 24/08/2008 21:35

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MaloryDontDiveItsShallow · 24/08/2008 21:34

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MrsSprat · 24/08/2008 21:33

I heart David Lodge. The Rummidge University based ones (Small World, Changing Places and Nice Work) were my personal favourites and I agree, very Coe-esque - if you loved 'What a Carve Up', they are very similar (era and style). Think he's gone off the boil a bit of late though, but the last one I read was 'Thinks...' which was something of a return to form.

oi · 24/08/2008 21:33

Yes he did. The new book is very different to those though. I think it's in paperback now.

janeite · 24/08/2008 21:30

Oh hang on, did he write "The Rotters' Club"? I quite liked that.

oi · 24/08/2008 21:29

I think it's THe Rain Before It Falls.

Oh tell me about David Lodge if you don't mind Malory. I haven't read any of his. And I have to go back to work on Tuesday and need lots of books to take my mind off it.

janeite · 24/08/2008 21:28

Thanks. Never read any of his. Did he write "The House Of Sleep" or something like that? if yes, dp read it but didn't like it.

MaloryDontDiveItsShallow · 24/08/2008 21:28

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MaloryDontDiveItsShallow · 24/08/2008 21:27

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oi · 24/08/2008 21:25

Jonathan Coe.

janeite · 24/08/2008 21:24

JC?

oi · 24/08/2008 21:22

you know I hadn't read any Patrick Gale till wonderful MIL (who ever so kindly stores up books for me as she knows I do a long commute) gave me a pile with this one in it.

I absolutely loved it. We often go to Penzance and I could 'feel' every place he described through his writing. I immediately went out and got Rough Music which I devoured. He's got a very evocative way of writing.

However, I STILL can't get on with the new JC. Don't know why. Just can't get through it.

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 19/08/2008 19:02

I thought I had more to go as the there were lots of pages but that was all the notes and stuff - still, good book

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janeite · 19/08/2008 18:45

I read this on holiday (25 pence from charity shop) and quite liked it but I totally agree with Mary Ann Singleton about the ending - I admit I actually checked to see if some pages were missing.

Buff1 · 19/08/2008 11:28

Thanks MaryAnn, I'll be on Amazon poste haste!

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 18/08/2008 21:14

Rough Music, A Sweet Obscurity and Little Bits of Baby Buff1

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BeckyBendyLegs · 18/08/2008 20:53

I wouldn't chuck JC off a cliff...

Buff1 · 18/08/2008 18:57

Jonathan Coe isn't dashing hunk I'm afraid...not that we should be superficial blah blah. He writes a cracking good book though - the Rotters Club had me laughing out loud on public transport..

Will embark on further Pstrick Gale books - any suggestions? Could also do with some new authors (but not those troubled childhood type books, I don't have the stomach for those)

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 18/08/2008 18:54

uh,I hadn't read those bits yet...

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Rubyrubyruby · 18/08/2008 17:37

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BeckyBendyLegs · 18/08/2008 16:56

The new JC book is out in paperback. I saw it in Waterstones the other day.

I loved Notes from the Exhibition but I dabble in art myself when I get the chance and I found it such a colourful book - I felt the colours were so vivid (also have synaesthesia which probably helped my enjoyment of it!).

MrsSprat · 18/08/2008 16:44

is the new Jonathan Coe book out in paperback yet? If not any idea when?

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