Minutes May 2008 Book: Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale

Notes from an Exhibition


by Patrick Gale


(chosen by KE)

KE chose this book because with her nursing background, she was fascinated by the idea of a book about the effect of bipolar disorder on a family.


Patrick Gale was born in 1962 on the Isle of Wight, where his father was a prison governor. He was the youngest of four children. The family moved to London, where his father ran Wandsworth Prison, then to Winchester.

Patrick began boarding as a Winchester College Quirister at the cathedral choir school, Pilgrim’s, then went on to Winchester College. He has an English degree from New College, Oxford.

He says he "has never had a grown-up job". His first two novels, The Aerodynamics of Pork and Ease were published in 1986. The following year he moved to Camelford near the north coast of Cornwall and now lives in the far west, on a farm near Land’s End.


(general biographical details from here)


What the publisher says about the book:

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 we discussed about the book:

• Does Gale write 'like a woman'? Is that even a valid question to ask? How does a woman write? Is there such a thing as a 'woman's voice' in writing?
• What was Antony's role in the family dynamic?
• What we thought about the 'notes from an exhibition' which opened each chapter. What did they add to our understanding of the story? What was their purpose? Did they offer us clues to unravel the story?
• Is mental illness a symptom of genius or a cause?
• How did Rachel manage her obsession for art and her relationships family? Is it possible to have a passion for something and maintain a family life?
• What was the significance of Petroc's death both to Rachel and to the rest of the family after her death?
• Did Rachel try to control or to mentor Morwenna's artistic talent?
• Was Rachel actually pregnant at the institution? Or was that a figment of her imagination?
• The role of the Quaker religion in the book. Did its quiet and reflective nature act as a counter-point to the manic and hysterical nature of Rachel's life?
• What frightened Rachel so much?

Then we were sidetracked into:

• The nature of bipolar disorder. Does it seem more prevalent nowadays? Or is it just that more people speak openly about it?
• Were we attracted by the idea of the Quaker religion by its portrayal in this book?
• Can a male author write female characters convincingly, and vice versa?
• Do creative people see things a little differently to others? Is this a symptom of a mental illness, or just a different perspective?
• Is it acceptable for people with bipolar disorder to choose not to take their meds in order to maintain a creative edge?
• Are children more resilient than we give them credit for?

And in other news, we discussed:

• The health risks of a shared communion cup at church. And which churches use incense?
• What influence do books have on your life? Are there any books that you have read and have changed your life? Are they fiction or non-fiction?

Ratings:


Initial rating range: 6.0 to 8.5
Initial rating average: 7.1
Post-discussion range: 6.0 to 8.5
Post-discussion average: 6.9


Next book: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne