Notes from an Exhibition...

[MaryAnnSingleton]

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

ah thanks malory.

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

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

oh malory, I can't tell you how this has cheered me up . I LOVE the thought of new books, especially ones that might be entertaining!

Have not read Patrick Gale but if you are touting for ideas oi I highly recommend How Far Can You Go of the early David Lodges
Do you like Hilary Mantel? An Experiment in Love is fantastic, and her memoir, Giving Up the Ghost, equally good
Have you read JC's earliest, The Dwarves of Death? It's fairly rough but also extremely funny

yes I've read quite a bit of Tim Lott (was he White City Blue? was living in W6 when I read that!) and O Farrell.

I normally read books like that but then went through a big spy and detective phase but have come out the other end of that now I think. There are only so many murders I can absorb.

Haven't read ANY Bill Bryson. I don't know why. I see him on TV and I get put off the books. Are they really any good?

I was going to suggest How Far Can You Go - was the first David Lodge I read. Am about to start the Jonathan Coe,as soon as I've got through book groups choice (No Time for Goodbye)

I like Tim Lott - have you read the one about his mother's suicide ? forgotten title, has gort roses in it..the scent of roses maybe ? [senile memory emoticon]

I think I've read her memoir (was she the one with the thyroid thing?) but not any of her novels. Have read the JC but a long time ago.

Thanks for the recommendations. It is wonderful to hear about books I haven't read that I might enjoy. I'm going to order the David Lodges and Experiment in Love and they should keep me going for a month/couple of months or so hopefully!

I didn't get on with the new JCoe. Couldn't get past the first 40 or so pages. I don't know why because I normally love his stuff. It may be because I'm reading it on a commute and therefore I either get straight into it or I'm distracted iyswim and I think this one is a bit of a slow burner? I don't know. I keep meaning to try it again at home but don't get the time.

Haven't read the Lott mother suicide one.

scent of dried roses
I can recommend John O'Farrell's May Contain Nuts