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

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And although the objects themselves are no replacement for the people we ache for, they are a reminder of the fact that those people were here, and they mattered and will be missed.” All in all, there are many enjoyable attributes to the book, and if you avoid using your inner critic too much, you'll certainly like it a lot more. My inner critic unfortunately refuses to die. As such, I liked it but didn't love it. The slow pace didn't help.

Overall, this is an author whose books I’ll always want to read. He writes about ordinary people in such a way that makes them feel extraordinary. Coming from someone who considers herself more of a collector and not at all a hoarder, I very much enjoyed this book! Hehehe! Do museums like this exist? I really think Mike Gayle is on to something here! This is the type of place I would love to spend an afternoon in. Having spent many hours of my life in antique stores, people have some really cool and also very bizarre things! 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.The story has a few big surprises and interesting characters with their own dilemmas. I was drawn to Jess's desire to keep her mother's memory alive. It felt relatable. 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. I absolutely loved the characters Jess and really felt for poor Alex, what a beautiful person he is. 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.

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. I'm just going to dive straight in and say that this is probably one of my most favourite books that I have read so far this year - I absolutely adored it. 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 ReviewShe 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. Am I going to think too hard on that and try to figure out if the book actually deserves a lower rating? 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. Filled with warmth, tenderness and character. It really made me think, too – I love that it encourages us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. A gorgeous novel’– Beth O’Leary While it might be true that some things are thrown away for good reason, it's equally true that some things are saved for a purpose."

Jess's grief over her mother's passing comes a close second. These sections were very heavy on the emotions and some of the content got to me. I ended up taking unplanned breaks whenever these sections came up because my mind constantly wandered into thoughts of what I would do when I inevitably have to handle the same situation in the future for my parents. I loved the writing but hated the way it stirred up sad musings. 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. 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. Inspired by an abandoned box of mementos, The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant novel about memory and loss, the things we leave behind, and the future we create for ourselves. The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant and thoughtful read but also an uplifting one, it has heart and depth, I loved it and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. I don’t know whether or not Gayle was writing from personal experience but there were many times in the book when I was nodding in agreement at some of the emotions that Jess was experiencing.

This story is about Jess who loses her mum and in the process of dealing with the practicalities following death, she comes across the ‘museum of ordinary people’. The book focuses on Jess and how her life changes after her loss but also touches on the complexities of the things we leave behind. This made it a very easy and approachable read without becoming inaccessible to those without a degree in counselling or literature. Not sure it needed the epilogue though as nice a story as it was. We build museums for Royals and presidents and other famous people. What about the objects that pass through the lives of "ordinary" people? Are these items all destined to end up in the dump? Jess Baxter discovers an eclectic collection of things that have been saved from the trash. Little notes are attached noting date and location of recovery and a note about the original owner. Jess commits to using her museum curating knowledge to improve and expand the collection. If you have helped an older relative move out of their home or done some downsizing of your own, you can relate to the dilemma of wanting to save a special item you have no room for. Mike Gayle gives us some really good surprises at the end and it felt a bit rushed. I do think this would make a fabulous book for group discussion.

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. I’ve been thinking about what I would add to the Museum’s collection. For me, it would be the wheelbarrow that my Grandad used to wheel me around the garden, when I was little. I used to squeal with delight as I held on tight over the bumpy pathways, heading for the rhubarb patch. It evokes beautiful, treasured Summer memories. An object that to most would be meaningless, but to me, a priceless object, full of emotion. Jess clears up everything, but holds on to a few things close to her heart. A set of encyclopedias lingers, and she doesn't know where to put it in the place she shares with her boyfriend, Guy.

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. Mike has an uncanny ability to create characters that are immediately familiar and relatable and to draw the reader into their world, ever eager to follow where they lead. The Museum of Ordinary People is a keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds. It is a delightful read." - Ruth Hogan I've given up pondering, and procrastinating, and will simply add that if you liked Mike Gayle's previous books, you will probably enjoy this one too! Jess Baxter has just lost her mum and has had to clear out her childhood home, which is by far one of the hardest things any of us will ever have to do. Bits and bobs are given away via Facebook, furniture goes out the door, clothes are donated to a charity shop but what about things that come attached with a multitude of memories? What about this set of encyclopaedias Jess was gifted by her mum, for instance? You can’t just throw something like that away, can you? But Jess doesn’t have any space for it anywhere. Jess is clearing out the home she shared with her mother. Being a single mother they were very close. There are things for the dumpster, things for the charity shop and things with a question mark. But a set of ratty outdated encyclopedias gifted to Jess by her mother is the one thing she can’t part with but has nowhere to keep them. When she hears about Barclay and Sons and their collection of unwanted items it seems like the answer for her encyclopedias. This is where she meets Alex. They hit it off even as Jess is startled by the fact that one side of Alex’ face is badly scarred.