Talk to me about Patrick Gale…

[Aftertheharvest]

A new author for me and about 2/3 way through Take Nothing With You and loving it…

Borrowed from the library as not sure what to expect, reminding me of Sarah Winman - are all his books this great?

I think so. Love everything he's written - actually Take Nothing with You is one of my least favourites. Lots of good things to look forward to. 🙂

I think some are better than others but I have enjoyed them all. My personal favourites are A Place Called Winter, Friendly Fire and Mother's Boy. Lots of enjoyable reading ahead!

I’ve not read much of his for a while, but I have loved everything of his I have read. The Facts of Life is one of my favourite books.

I think Notes from an Exhibition and Rough Music are my favourites, though I have a soft spot for Friendly Fire.

I loved A Place Called Winter but haven't read any others.

Brilliant thank you. Lots to choose from then!

I've read several Patrick Gale novels and they've all been good. I particularly enjoyed Mother's Boy. It's a fictionalised story of the close relationship between the poet Charles Causley and his mother. It was lovely. Patrick Gale is an brilliant writer imo.

The Cat Sanctuary and Notes from an Exhibition are my favourites.

I used I love his books. Haven’t read any for ages. Might go and look some up that I’ve missed.

@Aftertheharvest Take Nothing With You is probably my favourite book ever!
I played the cello when I was young so could really relate to it.
I've just done a trawl of our local library register to see how many of his books are available.

Read most of his books. They are all good. Particularly enjoyed Rough Music, Notes from an Exhibition and A Sweet Obscurity.

A Place Called Winter is an amazingly good book, his best I think.

Have you read the sequel "Love Lane"? Not as good as A Place Called Winter (in my opinion), but very enjoyable nonetheless.

Yes, but as you said not as good but enjoyable and a bit sad.

Should any of the books be read in a particular order? I'm currently reading Love Lane but have just discovered it's a sequel.

That is the only example I can think of. As far as I know all the others are standalone books.

What a great author! Rough Music and A Place called winter are my faves.
I have downloaded Love Lane but not read yet. Forgot it was a sequel to A Place called winter! Might spur me on now.

Those of you who loved Notes From An Exhibition, can I ask why?

I've just finished it and nearly gave up. I found it hard to keep up with all the jumping back and forth in time and the way it finished abruptly.

Maybe I was missing something.

It’s a jigsaw. We piece the truth of Rachel’s early life, her illness, her talent and her impact on everyone around her together retrospectively via everyone’s perspectives.

I thought it was ok, then re read it for a book group and loved it!
I think the chaos of Rachel's life is difficult to get on a first reading. And the order of events doesn't matter so much when you already know them. Definitely a keeper.

(as an aside, I liked how excited the characters got if they found a parking space near their house. This is touristy Cornwall and the issue rarely comes up in novels!)

Thanks. I think it was maybe a bit complex for me. I need something a bit more straightforward.

His books all seem to be quite different which is nice compared to some other authors who basically tell the same story but with different characters or locations.

Yes, I loved the Cornwall-ishness of it and some of the others. I loved that a crucial plot point in Notes involved a terrifying Barbara Hepworth.

I absolutely love PG.

Notes from an Exhibition and Rough Music I read twice.

None that I haven’t enjoyed

He is such a good writer.

I love his writing. Fave is Winter which was how I discovered him. Second fave is cat sanctuary.

We spent many years in a caravan in Cornwall with the DC and I used to buy a few of his books each summer from a second hand site.

Now I pay full whack on kindle, they are all so fantastically written. I often cry too. And love lane made me gasp and cry!