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The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle @mikegayle #WitneyWhite @HachetteAudio

June 12, 2023 6:00 am


the setup…
It’s been a year since Jess Baxter’s mother died and she’s decided now is the time to finally tackle her childhood home to empty its contents. Despite offers from her friends and boyfriend Guy, Jess knows this is something she must do on her own. It was much more difficult than she’d anticipated, having to make tough decisions because she didn’t have room in their apartment to keep all the things she wanted. But it’s a dated set of encyclopedias that she can’t part with as they were one of the most treasured gifts she received as a child. When she and Guy prepared to sell their apartment, Jess finally has to part with the books as there’s no room to continue keeping them. She gets a reprieve when her best friend Luce tells her about and unusual alternative, a museum for keepsakes and treasures belonging to ordinary people.

the heart of the story…
I fell for Gayle’s writing style with his last book and was highly anticipating this one. The whole idea of a museum that features ordinary items from ordinary people with sentimental value for them alone was touching and appealing. When Jess first visits the place, she meets the new owner, Alex Brody, who didn’t even yet know of its existence. The Barclay & Sons warehouse was previously owned by the late Thomas Barclay, leaving it to Alex who didn’t even know the man. The two employees, Dec and Paul, were trying to find a way to tell him about the special area. Jess has a masters degree in art curation but has held a series of temporary jobs as she assisted with her mother’s care. The idea of bringing this museum to life lifted her out of her darkness, giving her a lifeline to a future she hadn’t imagined. Some of the most endearing moments were when she was sifting through all of the items and reading what the original owners had written about them. On a mission, she engages Alex, Paul and Dec in her vision, inspiring them to help bring it to fruition.

the narration…
I really liked the narrator who made me hear her as Jess, who has the sole point of view in the story, but also gave strong voice to the supporting characters. I enjoyed her storytelling skills, too.

the bottom line…
I had no idea I’d have such a strong personal connection to this story as it brought back memories of me having to do the same thing to my own mother’s home following her death. I, too, managed it alone and relived those same feelings that Jess experienced, recalling how gut wrenching it was to say goodbye to things that were impractical to keep. Gayle was masterful in establishing those connections and taking ordinary people, ordinary things and making them feel extraordinary. There’s a lot more to Jess’s journey, including the mystery of why Alex inherited the property, but that’s best left for others to discover as I did. And, of course, whenever you endeavor to sift through someone’s life like this, you’re bound to unearth secrets, not all needing to see the light of day. This was a lovely story that moved me deeply.

Book Info

 

HachetteAudio · The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle Read by Witney White – Audiobook Excerpt

 

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Posted by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

Categories: Audiobook, Contemporary Fiction

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25 Responses to “The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle @mikegayle #WitneyWhite @HachetteAudio”

  1. […] The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle […]

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    By 2023 Audiobook Challenge @kimbacaffeinate @twimom227 #2023AudiobookChallenge – Blue Mood Café on June 12, 2023 at 6:31 am

  2. […] The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle […]

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    By 2023 Library Love Challenge! @BooksofMyHeart @angels_gp #2023LibraryLoveChallenge – Blue Mood Café on June 12, 2023 at 6:33 am

  3. I have my eye on this one and it sounds amazing! On my list it goes.
    Wonderful review! 😊

    Liked by 2 people

    By yayareadslotsofbooks (Marialyce) on June 12, 2023 at 9:42 am

    1. Thank you, Marialyce💜 Gayle is a gifted storyteller.

      Like

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 12, 2023 at 9:49 am

  4. This sounds like an emotional story! The mention of childhood encyclopedias brought back memories for me. I dearly loved my set from World Book in the early 1980s. Wonderful review!

    Liked by 2 people

    By Book of Secrets on June 12, 2023 at 11:41 am

    1. Thank you, Diana💜 It was definitely emotional for me, unexpectedly so. Mine were World Book, too! These were Encyclopedia Brittania.

      Like

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 12, 2023 at 12:51 pm

  5. Excellent review! I have gone through this and will more as I have a lot of boxes from my Mom & Dad yet.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Northwoman on June 12, 2023 at 12:56 pm

    1. Thanks, Anne💜 I believe you would have experienced some of these same feelings.

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      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 12, 2023 at 1:11 pm

  6. What a good review! This sounds like my kind of book.

    Liked by 1 person

    By hopewellslibraryoflife on June 12, 2023 at 4:20 pm

    1. Thank you, Lisa💜 It was definitely my kind of book! Highly recommend his last one, All the Lonely People.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 12, 2023 at 4:38 pm

  7. This sounds like such a touching story. I love that it is juxtaposed by the use of the word “ordinary”. Ordinary but impactful. Excellent review!

    Liked by 1 person

    By Tessa Pulyer on June 12, 2023 at 7:33 pm

    1. Thank you, Tessa💜 And, yes, you’ve touched on the essence of the story!

      Like

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 12, 2023 at 8:02 pm

  8. Great review! This sounds really attention-grabbing, but also deeply emotional. As someone who’s also had to deal with a late family member’s belonging, I can only imagine how much impact this could have. Adding to my list!

    Liked by 1 person

    By Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies on June 13, 2023 at 11:34 am

    1. Thank you, Lisa💜 The author really got this right and I’m certain you’ll connect emotionally, too.

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      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 13, 2023 at 11:56 am

  9. So not the genre I normally go for but Mike Gayle is something special. I adored this novel to pieces.

    Liked by 1 person

    By noveldeelights on June 14, 2023 at 2:36 am

    1. I agree, Eva💜 I became an instant fan after All the Lonely People. He’s gifted.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 14, 2023 at 3:38 pm

  10. Fab review! I definitely can’t wait to read this one myself… I’ve been meaning to try his books.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Yvonne (It's All About Books) on June 14, 2023 at 9:01 pm

    1. Thanks, Yvo💜 I believe you’d enjoy his stories. All the Lonely People still has the edge but both are wonderful.

      Like

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 15, 2023 at 5:03 am

  11. This one is new to me and it sounds like such a wonderful read, definitely an emotional one.

    Liked by 1 person

    By thebookishlibra on June 14, 2023 at 11:16 pm

    1. Suzanne, I think you’d love it💜

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      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 15, 2023 at 5:03 am

  12. Excellent review, Jo. I can only imagine how many people can identify with this story. When we cleaned out my mom’s house, we found the Childcraft Encyclopedias (the kids version put out by Worldbook). My son took them for his future children. I must see if he still has them. My library does not have this one, so off to that suggest button I go. I really love the sound of this one.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Carla on June 16, 2023 at 7:01 am

    1. Thank you, Carla💜 I’m overwhelmed by how many of my Goodreads and blogger friends connect with this experience. Gayle has this gift where he seems to innately tap into the small things that live largely within all of us. He’s an auto read and I also recommended this book as soon as the US edition was announced. Of course, I was first in line😏

      Liked by 1 person

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 16, 2023 at 9:02 am

  13. Oh my, this sounds like an emotional read, we’re currently trying to clear my Grandad’s house and it’s really hard parting with things – my grandparents kept everything including an article with my first ever byline 🥹

    Liked by 1 person

    By radiosarahc on June 17, 2023 at 3:56 pm

    1. Sarah, then you’d relive every single one of the emotions you’re experiencing now💜 He gets it right.

      Like

      By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on June 17, 2023 at 4:21 pm

  14. […] The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle The idea of a museum that features ordinary items from ordinary people with sentimental value for […]

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    By Best of 2023 – Top 12 Books – Blue Mood Café on January 9, 2024 at 6:02 am

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