Audiobook, Contemporary Fiction

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

Jonetta | Blue Mood Café


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

  • Release Date: May 30, 2023
  • Narrator: Witney White
  • Audio Length: 10 hours, 32 minutes
  • Publisher: Hachette Audio

 

 

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Published by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

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

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  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.

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    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😏

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  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 🥹

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