Scan barcode
12grace4's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lesbiangrandpa's review
4.0
Quite enjoyable and wholesome. On a real kick where I want to hear Brits say things to me.
crustieloaf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The first thought I had after finishing this book was that I need to read more lighthearted books. Maybe even books with little cartoon covers.
Reader, this is a dangerous thought.
N. bought me this book in an attempt to help me ride out the paralyzing two weeks I had after my father's death. I am a historian by education, and a material historian at that, so a museum focused on objects of people who have passed is something that is right up my alley.
However, my main issue with lighthearted, cartoon-covered books is that they are nowhere near as morose as I would like them to be. (It should be noted here that I am an incredibly morose person). Thought about grief are not lingered on enough, the book moves quickly from one relationship to another, and the characters never hold complex emotions for very long. The ending events are serendipitous, and everyone is happy in the end. In the theme of this book, everyone gets the happy ending they deserve.
Maybe it is just where I am in my own grieving journey right now, but I sincerely feel that happy endings are a product of luck and not destined. I enjoyed this book, and it did the job it was bought for. Maybe for that I should give it five stars. It allowed me to think about something besides my father for a little bit, and have a story to focus on where I knew, no matter what, it was going to be okay. But in reflecting on the book for this review, I am of two minds: The first says that right now, I need more books like this that allow me to take my mind off of whatever this waking hell that my life has become. The second is that this book, and even the concept of the museum itself, has failed to capture just the depth of the grief that I feel about the death of my father. This side of my mind may be a bit unfair, though, because most of the book takes place a year after Jess's mom dies. As of writing this review I am a little over two weeks out. I guess check back in with me in a year? Maybe then I can give this book a higher rating.
That doesn't stop me from wanting to live in this world, though. Working at a museum would be nice, I think.
Reader, this is a dangerous thought.
N. bought me this book in an attempt to help me ride out the paralyzing two weeks I had after my father's death. I am a historian by education, and a material historian at that, so a museum focused on objects of people who have passed is something that is right up my alley.
However, my main issue with lighthearted, cartoon-covered books is that they are nowhere near as morose as I would like them to be. (It should be noted here that I am an incredibly morose person). Thought about grief are not lingered on enough, the book moves quickly from one relationship to another, and the characters never hold complex emotions for very long. The ending events are serendipitous, and everyone is happy in the end. In the theme of this book, everyone gets the happy ending they deserve.
Maybe it is just where I am in my own grieving journey right now, but I sincerely feel that happy endings are a product of luck and not destined. I enjoyed this book, and it did the job it was bought for. Maybe for that I should give it five stars. It allowed me to think about something besides my father for a little bit, and have a story to focus on where I knew, no matter what, it was going to be okay. But in reflecting on the book for this review, I am of two minds: The first says that right now, I need more books like this that allow me to take my mind off of whatever this waking hell that my life has become. The second is that this book, and even the concept of the museum itself, has failed to capture just the depth of the grief that I feel about the death of my father. This side of my mind may be a bit unfair, though, because most of the book takes place a year after Jess's mom dies. As of writing this review I am a little over two weeks out. I guess check back in with me in a year? Maybe then I can give this book a higher rating.
That doesn't stop me from wanting to live in this world, though. Working at a museum would be nice, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism and Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Pregnancy
sydneygoombs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
cjarrett28's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
amandasev's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
camreading's review against another edition
3.0
The museums subject was what got me to pick this up, and ultimately it ended up being the the primary, if not only, reason I stayed. As someone who works in a museum and went to school for museum studies, it was of course interesting to read a book about someone with a similar educational background and career goals. But would I read a Mike Gayle book that doesn’t relate to that background? Probably not.
The writing style leaves much to be desired and the characters are one dimensional. It’s all tell, no show. Instead of describing people’s facial expressions, mannerisms, etc. Gayle uses dialogue to explain what’s happening, and uses Jess’ internal monologue as another means of telling. This felt very juvenile at times, like a habit that would normally get edited out before being published.
So much of the plot is obvious, to the degree that some of the road bumps and conflicts felt useless as I could already understand how things would work out! Characters like Guy are given absolutely no redeemable qualities - it’s made glaringly obvious that he isn’t the right love interest for Jess, so much so that the reader must wonder why they’re even together in the first place. Alex is treated with the opposite - basically no flaws, made glaringly obvious that Jess is going to end up with him instead. Things don’t always have to be suspenseful, so I’m not saying there isn’t merit to a predictable plot line, but why wax poetic about Jess feeling so sad during the breakup, go through all the motions when you know how it’s going to end up from the beginning? I guess there’s some realism to a person staying with her douchey partner and it just dragging out, but it wasn’t fun to read about and I (unlike Jess) was very ready to move on from the Guy plot.
I did appreciate the plot twists toward the end, but also felt that the plotline with Dougie being Jess’ biological father was out of nowhere, even though it was clear Gayle tried to drop hints about Jess’ father throughout the beginning of the book.It’s not that those hints didn’t land, it’s just that the Jess-doesn’t-know-who-her-father-is thing was buried between so many other subplots that I didn’t care to pay attention to it. I wouldn’t have foreseen it being Dougie, so kudos to Gayle for at least making some parts of the book not predictable, but I’m not sure if unpredictability as a plot device warranted such an intense and character-altering shift.
This was a quick read and I liked the way Mike Gayle talked about museums and their purpose - but that’s where my interest primarily lied, not as much with the rest of Jess’ story.
The writing style leaves much to be desired and the characters are one dimensional. It’s all tell, no show. Instead of describing people’s facial expressions, mannerisms, etc. Gayle uses dialogue to explain what’s happening, and uses Jess’ internal monologue as another means of telling. This felt very juvenile at times, like a habit that would normally get edited out before being published.
So much of the plot is obvious, to the degree that some of the road bumps and conflicts felt useless as I could already understand how things would work out! Characters like Guy are given absolutely no redeemable qualities - it’s made glaringly obvious that he isn’t the right love interest for Jess, so much so that the reader must wonder why they’re even together in the first place. Alex is treated with the opposite - basically no flaws, made glaringly obvious that Jess is going to end up with him instead. Things don’t always have to be suspenseful, so I’m not saying there isn’t merit to a predictable plot line, but why wax poetic about Jess feeling so sad during the breakup, go through all the motions when you know how it’s going to end up from the beginning? I guess there’s some realism to a person staying with her douchey partner and it just dragging out, but it wasn’t fun to read about and I (unlike Jess) was very ready to move on from the Guy plot.
I did appreciate the plot twists toward the end, but also felt that the plotline with Dougie being Jess’ biological father was out of nowhere, even though it was clear Gayle tried to drop hints about Jess’ father throughout the beginning of the book.It’s not that those hints didn’t land, it’s just that the Jess-doesn’t-know-who-her-father-is thing was buried between so many other subplots that I didn’t care to pay attention to it. I wouldn’t have foreseen it being Dougie, so kudos to Gayle for at least making some parts of the book not predictable, but I’m not sure if unpredictability as a plot device warranted such an intense and character-altering shift.
This was a quick read and I liked the way Mike Gayle talked about museums and their purpose - but that’s where my interest primarily lied, not as much with the rest of Jess’ story.
hillary_charlotte's review against another edition
4.0
Another one of the heart warming, endearing reads that was a delight! I definitely recommend.
chelseyb's review against another edition
5.0
Really great read. A touching and loving story about a woman who helps bring together a museum filled with everyday things, all with stories from the people who owned them. Really well developed characters and back stories.