Notes On An Exhibition By Patrick Gale Book Review

 I loved 'notes on an exhibition' by Patrick Gale. I think it's an extremely well-written book. Not all the characters in the novel were necessarily likeable. In fact, as a reader, some of the character's dubious actions are difficult to agree with. However the characters were all written in a very authentic and real way, which allowed the reader a chance to sympathise with them and understand the choices that they made. Each chapter of the novel begins literally with a note from an exhibition regarding the main character's artwork (the main character is a successful artist and the book revolves around the trials, tribulations,events and impacts of her life). The following events of the chapter then all relate to whatever the note was, which was a very unique and interesting way to structure the novel.

The difficult theme of mental health plays a major role in the story. The author manages to tackle this theme with both the seriousness it deserves and eloquence.  

I don't want to say too much and give away the plot of the story. The intricacies of the book are certainly difficult to explain without giving away too much information so I'll just say this: the book is extremely enjoyable and I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those interested in art or art history. Although the book is fictional it does contain 'characters' that are actually real life artists such as Dame Barbara Hepworth (although I believe the accounts with her character are purely fictional despite the fact that she is a real person). 

As for the novel's ending, it is a strange way to end the book. Ultimately it all draws to a satisfying conclusion. All the loose threads are tied up, no questions left to ask, no pernickety plot holes or unturned stones left... to an extent. However, not all the problems are fixed with a solution. Although all the characters are at a suitable point for the story to end, there is still so much more about them that remains unknown. Perhaps it doesn't make much sense for all this additional information about the various characters to be squished together at the end of the novel because that would probably feel very cramped and incoherent. It also wouldn't necessarily flow smoothly with the format of the novel, which jumps between perspectives of different characters at different times and different stages of their lives. However, it would be really interesting if there were to be a follow-up to this book, explaining what happens next and I would genuinely love to read that. 

By Frances Hudson