wonderful

loved it. I think this might be my fav Payrick Gayle so far and I have read a few.

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Beautifully written, beautifully narrated

How Patrick Gale can get 'inside' the heads of each of the fascinating characters, bring them to life and weave their lives so intricately together is masterful. Love love love this book. And Steven Pacey's narration is brilliant - he is an artist who paints pictures with his voice. Each character was so distinctly different, recognisable and memorable, their personalities beautifully portrayed.

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A Different Sort Of Story .... But So Satisfying

Would you listen to Notes from an Exhibition again? Why?

Occasionally I plan to listen again to an audiobook sometime in the future, but I will listen to this one again much sooner than most. I really enjoyed the story. At first, it seemed a little disjointed in the style of John Le Carre, but this is a human story not a spy story and the various strands all come together very satisfyingly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Notes from an Exhibition?

I most remember the finish. I didn't want it to finish. It was like a great tasting meal that I wanted to go on and on. And yet I knew I was satisfied. It was full of taste and flavour. When it finished, I was almost shocked and disappointed but then, within minutes, I was savouring and relishing it all, and thinking how good it had been and how well written it was.

What does Steven Pacey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The performance was very good. But the story was so good that it has overwhelmed my recall of Pacey's performance. I will pay more attention when I listen again. The performance certainly did not detract from the book. Perhaps the fact that the book was so alive for me suggests how competent Steven Pacey was. I would certainly listen to more of him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved but not by a single moment. At first I thought the book was going to be very ordinary but the various strands started to emerge and I became more and more enthralled as it progressed. I'm not sure when in the book it happened, but my perception of the main subject changed from seeing her as a selfish not-very-likeable woman to a sort of heroine. I don't quite know how it happened but the author weaves a magical story that stirred my thoughts and emotions.

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1 person found this helpful

Compassionate insight

Focusing primarily on a troubled artist we are led into a fascinating exploration of the life of each member of her family. in the process we encounter family trauma, art as therapy, quakerism, self discovery, mental health struggles, and tragedy. We gain deep insights into what it means to be human and keen observations about life in this beautifully read novel.

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