The Museum of Ordinary People: The uplifting new novel from the bestselling author of Half a World Away

£8.495
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The Museum of Ordinary People: The uplifting new novel from the bestselling author of Half a World Away

The Museum of Ordinary People: The uplifting new novel from the bestselling author of Half a World Away

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Inspired by a box of mementos found abandoned in a skip following a house clearance, The Museum of Ordinary People is a thought-provoking and poignant story of memory, grief, loss and the things we leave behind. (goodreads) My Review I have heard so many readers talk fondly of Mike Gayle’s writing, and despite having at least two of his books in my towering tbr, The Museum of Ordinary People is his first read for me. Having just finished, I wish it hadn’t taken me so long. A keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds . . . a delightful read’– Ruth Hogan As Jess discovers in Mike Gayle’s compassionate and heartfelt writing, coming face to face with the minutae of our parent’s lives, little things, which have no value to anyone else but hold a lifetime of memories is just overwhelming. To say that that The Museum of Ordinary People is just about loss and grief and loneliness would be doing it a disservice – there is actually much more to the story – I can’t say more – spoilers! An author like no other, having read numerous of his books now, I’m still blown away by each of them.

I LOVED the idea that others suffer the same idea that there are things their loved ones have that are so special they cannot part with them. I have so much of my mother's stuff in my attic that I cannot bear to part with it. Sitting right here in my living room, I can see 8 things on top of my hutch that are from my parent's house.... maybe I do have a problem as my sister said. Is it possible that I loved this book so much just because its written by the same guy who wrote All the Lonely People? I love the concept of an ordinary things museum- after all, many of the exhibits in "real" museums are just ordinary things from long ago or far away or both and I like the idea that at some point in time a side car, a set of encyclopedias and a bunch of other junk will be venerated as being extraordinary! Most of us have found ourselves having to donate or throw out an object with sentimental value. It's a hard thing to do. We attach memories to certain things, and getting rid of them can evoke feelings of guilt and sadness. Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she's ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold.Set in both Northampton and London, the story begins with Jess at her childhood home clearing her mother’s property for sale following her death. Something which resonated hugely with me since I had to do this for my own parents after their deaths some years ago. Within a space of a few weeks, each went to routine hospital appointments and never returned to their home of 50 years, and my childhood home where there were so many memories. Much like Jess’ experience, there were many items that I didn’t want to dispose of but I couldn’t keep everything because of space. If only there had been a Museum of Ordinary People available at that time. As they begin to delve into the history of the objects in their care, Alex and Jess not only unravel heartbreaking stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long buried secrets that lie much closer to home. Hear the story behind the ethos and development of this activist museum, and the nature of collection interpretation, museums’ roles in the culture(s) we’re a part of, and the extraordinary stories we have the power to tell. She is ably supported by Alex and Angel in her quest. By taking on this challenge both Jess and Alex are able to come to terms with their pasts and find a way to move forward.

I really liked the narrator who made me hear her as Jess, who has the sole point of view in the story, but also gave strong voice to the supporting characters. I enjoyed her storytelling skills, too. Our lovely main character is Jess, an only child, who is struggling to cope with the bereavement of her Mum. It is the soul destroying process of clearing her Mum’s house, full of memory inducing belongings, that brings her to The Museum of Ordinary People. The other characters are believable, quirky, flawed and wonderfully human. The story is beautiful, an emotional idea, so very unique. Surprises: Jess never knew her father and is reading her mother’s recently discovered dairy when she realizes that everything she thought she knew was completely wrong. Mystery - who was her father?Information on the Accreditation Standard and how museums and galleries can apply for Accreditation. Learn More A beautiful depiction of grief, recovery and relationships. This was more of a slow-burner for me than any of Gayle's other novels, but that is not to take away from the enjoyment factor - instead it allowed me to read slowly through the book and enjoy the development of the characters and the storyline. It definitely didn't feel rushed.

The secondary character development is quite good. Alex, Jess's best friend Luce, Jess's old neighbours Dougie and Maggie, the museum helpers Dec, Paul and Angel - all had interesting and distinct personalities. But Jess somehow didn't win my heart despite the outstanding opportunity she had. Her personality wavers between underconfident to overconfident and it was difficult to see both aspects at work simultaneously. The characters are lovely some have been through a lot, most of so likeable, there’s humour, love and affection between them. The friendship shown to Jess just when she needs it most warms your heart. The storyline evolves well, there are ups and downs, some convolutions, some deceptions and the impact of it but it’s the warmth that shines through. In places it’s sad but it’s also uplifting, it’s poignant, grief is put to a good purpose and it’s thought-provoking and a lot of it resonates.

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The story moves between Now and Then, told in Jess’ voice. Along with an excellent cast of supporting characters, Jess was engaging and likeable, as was Alex. Both had damaged histories, the full extent of which came out as the story progressed. All the mysteries are solved in rather speedy fashion towards the end of the book which made it feel rushed. I can’t say I liked the characters all that much and they weren’t very well fleshed out. My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Museum of Ordinary People”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

From the New York Times bestselling author The Four Winds, a moving, powerful novel about the fragile threads that bind together our lives and the astonishing potential of second chances Jess has recently lost her mother and is struggling to cope with her grief. Her most precious possession from among her mother's belongings is a set of old encyclopaedias, but she has no place to keep them in the apartment she shares with her partner Guy. A friend tells her of an odd place named "The Museum of Ordinary People" that accepts donations of such old, valued things that people love but can't keep. When Jess visits the museum, her life changes, both personally as well as professionally. Am I going to think too hard on that and try to figure out if the book actually deserves a lower rating? The Museum of Ordinary People is a heartwarming, addictive, charming story about a young museum curator and her discovery of everyday items that carry great meaning for people. Her efforts to start her museum and wade through her personal loss have the reader cheering her every move. The story also raises the interesting question about whether some truths are better left uncovered. I loved this! Highly recommend for all lovers of life. A keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds . . . a delightful read' - Ruth Hogan

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Find out how we work as an organisation, the values and commitments that drive us, and our approach to collaborative working. Learn More Learn more about the impact of our support for the museum sector and our work to achieve the aims of Scotland's museums and galleries strategy. Learn More



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