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haley_kay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
gwalt118's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
4.5
I have a box of my mother's things that would be junk to anyone else, but they mean the world to me. In The Museum of Ordinary People, Mike Gayle explores the phenomenon of grief through Jess Baxter's unwillingness to dispose of a set of encyclopedias, a gift to her from her mother, after her mother's unexpected death. Jess' stubbornness and her grief take her on a journey to the creation of a museum and an incredible amount of self-discovery along the way.
I loved this book - the characters, the storyline, the ending (a superb final line!), and the themes. I empathized with Jess' total reassessment of her life - subconscious or not - after the death of her beloved mother. I empathized with Jess' cleaning out of her mother's things, and Gayle captured grief - for all its joy and sorrow - beautifully through Jess' experiences and viewpoint.
Obviously, I think this book would be particularly poignant for someone who has loved, lost, and grieved a beloved parent. At the same time, there is certainly something in this novel for others as well. I found it simultaneously heart wrenching and heartwarming, and I will certainly be reading more of Gayle's work in the future.
I loved this book - the characters, the storyline, the ending (a superb final line!), and the themes. I empathized with Jess' total reassessment of her life - subconscious or not - after the death of her beloved mother. I empathized with Jess' cleaning out of her mother's things, and Gayle captured grief - for all its joy and sorrow - beautifully through Jess' experiences and viewpoint.
Obviously, I think this book would be particularly poignant for someone who has loved, lost, and grieved a beloved parent. At the same time, there is certainly something in this novel for others as well. I found it simultaneously heart wrenching and heartwarming, and I will certainly be reading more of Gayle's work in the future.
zoeyzebra's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ldyluck's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Really well done. Loved the surprises! Great characters.
tsap's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
rtebow999999's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
abbygarcia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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? No
4.5
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