notes from an exhibition

no, not my latest art visit - my latest read

I haven't quite finished it yet but so far it's been a lovely read - covering art, Cornwall, Hepworth, creativity, painting, the Newlyn School, love, family life, depression and ECT (all subjects close to my heart, as you, dear reader, know) (or indeed, close to my brain in the case of ECT)

and also a topic I'm not so familiar with - bipolar disorder (I,LTV sighs a small sigh of relief)

in fact, I liked the book so far so much that the other day I wandered into my local bookshop to see what else was available from the author. . . a whole shelf full!! but I left without a single purchase, the blurbs on the back of the covers put me off each and everyone of Patrick Gale's other works

I do wonder if I've been a little hasty especially since this book has been on my shelf, unread, for quite a while and I can't even remember why I bought it originally (probably not because of the blurb on the back, it has to be said)

and you, dear reader,
(I mustn't forget about you, since this little chink
of cyber space is really rarely ever all about me me me)
what are you reading at the moment
- and would you recommend it?

19 comments:

Dave said...

Currently re-reading The Siege by Helen Dunmore. A human interest book, because I'm interested in people.

I, Like The View said...

NOBGM (Diana from Dancing On Wheels fame!) reads Helen Dunmore. . .

katherine. said...

coincidently....I started a post last night about the book I am reading.

It was recommended to me by a friend, I had never heard of the book....now it turns out that it was a national best seller.

It is about our story...and changing our story.

I, Like The View said...

I'm curious (I've just discovered The Lovely Bones on my shelf. . . not sure if I should read it or see the film)

looking forward to reading more about the book

so good to chat with you again katherine.!

Z said...

I read and enjoyed that book too - I bought it when looking for something to read on the train a year or two back. Afterwards, I gave it to a friend who liked it immensely. I've read a couple of his other books and liked them - why not try the library first for another book of his before you decide whether to buy any more?

At present, I'm re-reading Restoration London, one of Liza Picard's social histories of London life. They are excellent, full of fascinating detail. She is interesting too - a former solicitor who started researching and writing these histories (London in the time of Shakespeare, the Restoration, Dr Johnson and Victoria, I think) upon her retirement. She's now in her 80s and, having finished her work, has retired again.

Spadoman said...

I just read "I heard You Paint Houses". It is by Charles Brandt. It is the story of a mafia hitman named Frank (the Irishman) Sheeran. He is the guy who admitted to killing Jimmy Hoffa, a former Teamster Union President. Brandt is a free lance investigator. Sheeran gave him the 'death bed' confession. He backs up his claims with forensic evidence and other narratives by others.
The Hoffa murder remained a mystery for many years as he sent missing in 1975 and the body was never found. A true life murder mystery.
My interest is that I was a former Teamster Union worker during that time, the 1960's and 1970's. (also some in the 1990's and 2000's)
Many facts about how the union was operated back then. My blog has featured articles abut my own union life before I read the book.

Peace to all

Anonymous said...

I'm presently reading Weaving New Worlds by Sarah H. Hill. The subtitle is Southeastern Cherokee Women and Their Basketry, but, in reality, this book gives a long-term in-depth history of Cherokee life as a whole. It's an older book -- it was published by The University of North Carolina in 1997 -- and, thus far, I've found it to be a well-researched and interesting read, so yes I would definitely recommend it.

mig said...

I like the sound of Rough Music by PG. I've been rejecting Notes from an Exhibition - lots of copies in charity shops - but I'll get it.
I'm reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. One of those interleaved three generation tales with the fairy stories written by one of the heroines occasionally slipped in. It's a bit predictable really but I do want to know what the ultimate dark secret will turn out to be so it's not bad.
Just finished The Children's Book by A S Byatt. She's good. It's about the post pre-Raphaelite era (Desperate Romantics) just before WW one and is splendidly unsentimental and strips a number of whimsical seeming characters to their bones before the end.

Christopher said...

Richard Holmes' The Age of Wonder, which my son A. gave me for my birthday last year and which I thought I'd better finish before my next birthday on Thursday. Holmes tries to correlate late 18th century/early 19th century scientific discovery with the Romantic imagination, but he doesn't seem to make much of a case for the impact of the one on the other. Moreover some of it is sloppily and unevenly written, and although I enjoy individual accounts of scientists and explorers of the period, development of the wider theme is disappointing. So there.

KAZ said...

Don't go near 'The Cat Sanctuary' and I didn't like 'The Whole Day Through' much. Your 'Notes from an Exhibition' is good though.
I can't remember the other one I liked - was it the Tree Surgery one?

I, Like The View said...

see, KAZ, that's what I need to know - which other one of his is as good!

Christopher noted. . . did you ever read that book about Galileo's daughter? by Dava Sobel? sorry, not very eloquent of me (I tend to type as I think, not as I say) did you ever read Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love. . . I'm not quite sure why your comment made me think of that, but it did

mig I really really like ASB, so I might try that one! (think I've seen it on shop shelves, but must get my head around joining the library)

planet sounds fascinating! how did you get hold of a copy? was it widely available. . . a friend of mine recently tried to track down a very obscure book about Bhudism, which was out of print and can only find it in libraries. . .

man cool! I tend not to read that kind of book, but - weirdly - I love that kind of film/small screen drama

Z there is a library just around the corner (closer even than the bookshop)(and the charity shops with books) - I really must sort myself out in that regard

I think I'll investigate Liza Picard: sounds very interesting; thank you

*thinks*

wow - you lot are all so well read!!!!

Spadoman said...

Fascinating!

Malcolm Cinnamond said...

Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride - a pretty trashy crime novel set in Aberdeen (about the only real point of interest). MacBride desperately wants to be Ian Rankin, but hasn't got the class. I'm losing my patience with it.

Mel said...

Well, I read "Atonement" and wasn't thrilled with it. I've started "Ahab's Wife". I can't tell ya what kind of read it is yet--honestly, when I say I started it, I mean JUST started it.

I did rather enjoy "Shopenhauer's Telescope".....why, I can't tell ya. *laughing*

Oh please, don't ask authors--I don't have a clue at this moment.
I'd take notes on what's a good read.....but bookmarking the post seems easier. ;-)

Rimshot said...

Currently, I'm reading T5PYMIH by Mitch Albom. Not done yet, but would recommend it so far.

My copy has sentimental value to me, so you'll have to get your own.

Anonymous said...

I tend to look up books through Google Shopping
http://www.google.com/prdhp?hl=en&tab=nf
if I know the title and/or author I want; but I find myself in the end mostly buying from the alibris site, which covers books from a large variety of different sellers: http://www.alibris.com/

KAZ said...

Afterthought - I think you might like 'The Whole Day Through'.
I just happened to take an irrational dislike to one of the characters.

I, Like The View said...

thanks KAZ - I'll try that one (isn't it weird how that happens?)

planet thanks for the link

shot (-:

Mel I really really didn't like Atonement. . . might look up the telescope book - is it good?

Malc d'ya know - I've never read an Ian Rankin

man blogging is, eh

007and a half said...

Patrick Gales' best books are Friendly Fire and Rough Music. FF is based on his own experiences at Winchester and is a page turner.

Naturally, I have reviewed both books on Secrets and Subterfuge but both reviews have now been censored due to National Security ;-) I might see if I can get them security cleared and replaced.