Reviews

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.

zoeyzebra's review against another edition

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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 against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

Really well done. Loved the surprises! Great characters.

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