Ashendon Book Group says... - Rated 
This is a good choice for a book group - everyone enjoyed reading it and we all took different things out of it. Some of us didn't switch on to the style of writing at first (i.e. what the `notes' were all about) but soon got the hang of it. It was an easy to read book though not necessarily a page turner. There were some intriguing twists and plenty of tension throughout.
The story of a talented, artist Rachel Kelly with her strong yet disturbed character is told through an almost visual description of her own and the lives of those she influenced and is well illustrated by the `notes'.
The other central character Anthony clearly loved Rachel and his strength of love is what holds their family together. Though Rachel was a Mum she was not really very good at it and certainly was not a good role model. Anthony, on the other hand, was a great Dad and an excellent role model for their children.
Rachel was not without love for her children howeverand little things in the book remind the reader continually of this.
Patrick Gale connects with his readers throughout the book. One good example of this is again beach day - every one of us have had `stones `moments with our own parents or children.
There were so many characters and each stood out from the others. There was no one character we couldn't love - big parts and small.
The `twists' in the tale are superbly constructed and entwine through the book.
Those of us who know Penzance were able to visualise the setting for much of the story and this made it quite special. Do take the opportunity to do the walking tour at the end of the book if (when) you visit Penzance, it takes about 2 hours and it's recommended. And the cinema is exactly as described in the book. So, go see a film there is you get chance.
We say, read it and enjoy. And we also recommend `Rough Music' by Patrick Gale
I loved this book! - Rated 
This was the first Patrick Gale book I have read, and I mean to search out the others. It's an engrossing tale about family, love, loyalty, creativity, mental illness and Quakerism. It uses the device of reproducing descriptions of objects and pictures at an exhibition and having them as introductions to chapters. This sounds a bit contrived but I found the counterpoint between them and the main story convincing and moving. The writing style is superb: quiet and controlled, but full of emotional resonance. The characters are deftly drawn and invite your empathy. Brilliant!
A brilliant and intelligent page-turner - Rated
Hadn't read a PG novel for a while and had forgotten how well he writes. I have enjoyed many of the past books but this is my favourite by far (or it could just be my memory of the others has faded).
I went to college in Penzance so did hold extra meaning for me as so many of the places he uses are real (a trip down memory lane). However, the plot was well structured and varied without becoming confusing at all as it jumped back and forth through time.
I think this is one of the best descriptions of a family, and their emotions, I have read for a long time and have recommended it to everyone I know so far. Deserves every star it can have!
A clever and insightful read - Rated
Although this is the first Patrick Gale book I've ever read it certainly won't be my last. The story focuses on the inter-woven lives and experiences of a family held together by a parents' bi-polar disorder. Each of the characters are very individual, however the mental illness that they live with runs through them all and becomes more evident the further you read on. Gale manages to write about the emotive topic of mental illness without mushy sentimentality or judgements being evident. Excellant!!!
Good book - Rated
Notes From An Exhibition synopsis from Amazon:
Renowned Canadian artist Rachel Kelly -- now of Penzance -- has buried her past and married a gentle and loving Cornish man. Her life has been a sacrifice to both her extraordinary art and her debilitating manic depression. When troubled artist Rachel Kelly dies painting obsessively in her attic studio in Penzance, her saintly husband and adult children have more than the usual mess to clear up. She leaves behind an extraordinary and acclaimed body of work -- but she also leaves a legacy of secrets and emotional damage it will take months to unravel. A wondrous, monstrous creature, she exerts a power that outlives her. To her children she is both curse and blessing, though they all in one way or another reap her whirlwind, inheriting her waywardness, her power of loving -- and her demons. Only their father's Quaker gifts of stillness and resilience give them any chance of withstanding her destructive influence and the suspicion that they came a poor second to the creation of her art.The reader becomes a detective, piecing together the clues of a life -- as artist, lover, mother, wife and patient -- which takes them from contemporary Penzance to 1960s Toronto to St Ives in the 1970s. What emerges is a story of enduring love, and of a family which weathers tragedy, mental illness and the intolerable strain of living with genius. Patrick Gale's latest novel shines with intelligence, humour and tenderness.
What a lovely book. Only 374 pages, and well worth the read.
Throughout the book, Gale deals with the issues of the illness of bipolar, death, faith and family. His description of the art work was beautiful and I could easily picture the work. He began each chapter with a descriptive plaque like you would find beside an artefact in a museum, which helped connect you to Rachel Kelly.
I loved the character of Antony, how he took in Rachel and looked after her, and gave her a family. He seemed the strong, silent type and I just adored him.
As someone who is intimate with depression I found Gale wrote extremely sensitively and well. The story was not in chronological order however and did jump between characters and times. I liked the story that unfolded however and the twists and turns that came with it.
However, I have found myself wanting more. I would have liked more character depth and to learn consequences of actions that we read about.
Overall, this was a good book, I recommend it!
8/10
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