The Museum of Ordinary People: The uplifting new novel from the bestselling author of Half a World Away

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Jess Baxter has just lost her mum and has had to clear out her childhood home, which is by far one of the hardest things any of us will ever have to do. Bits and bobs are given away via Facebook, furniture goes out the door, clothes are donated to a charity shop but what about things that come attached with a multitude of memories? What about this set of encyclopaedias Jess was gifted by her mum, for instance? You can’t just throw something like that away, can you? But Jess doesn’t have any space for it anywhere. This is how she comes across the Museum of Ordinary People. Set up years ago by a man called Thomas Barley, it features a huge collection of the most varied objects that used to mean something to someone who is no longer here. Why should it only be the things from kings and queens, or artists and movie stars, of famous people in history that have to be displayed so they will never be forgotten? Why not the sewing machine your grandmother spent so many hours on creating clothes for the entire family? Why not the chessboard your grandfather used to teach you how to play the game? Sure, their names won’t be in the history books but their lives meant something too. I bet you’re sitting reading this right now, thinking of an item you would gladly have given to the museum for it to be preserved. Things that wouldn’t mean a thing to anyone, but mean the world to you. And just like that, the relatable and believable every day issues Jess is having to deal with pull you into this story and don’t let go. There is so much to identify with here. The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant and thoughtful read but also an uplifting one, it has heart and depth, I loved it and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. I don’t know whether or not Gayle was writing from personal experience but there were many times in the book when I was nodding in agreement at some of the emotions that Jess was experiencing. Most of us have found ourselves having to donate or throw out an object with sentimental value. It's a hard thing to do. We attach memories to certain things, and getting rid of them can evoke feelings of guilt and sadness.

Encouraged by the popularity and praise for Mike Gayle’s work I decided to read The Museum of Ordinary People despite the fact that the premise has more than a few similarities to Ruth Hogan’s The Keeper of Lost Things. I LOVED the idea that others suffer the same idea that there are things their loved ones have that are so special they cannot part with them. I have so much of my mother's stuff in my attic that I cannot bear to part with it. Sitting right here in my living room, I can see 8 things on top of my hutch that are from my parent's house.... maybe I do have a problem as my sister said. Jess's grief over her mother's passing comes a close second. These sections were very heavy on the emotions and some of the content got to me. I ended up taking unplanned breaks whenever these sections came up because my mind constantly wandered into thoughts of what I would do when I inevitably have to handle the same situation in the future for my parents. I loved the writing but hated the way it stirred up sad musings. The Museum of Ordinary People is a unique, honest portrayal of love and loss. Jess Baxter lost her mother to cancer and must assume the difficult (often gut-wrenching task) of going through her belongings. I enjoyed getting to know Jess and everyone else in the story, she is thoroughly likable and I was rooting for her success throughout. Although it's pretty obvious from the beginning what will happen romance-wise in the book, it's still fun to watch unfold as you read.Discover guidance on a wide range of essential museum topics, from governance and marketing to climate action and anti-racism. Learn More Most of us have found ourselves having to donate or throw out an object with sentimental value. It's a ha Jess has recently lost her mother and is struggling to cope with her grief. Her most precious possession from among her mother's belongings is a set of old encyclopaedias, but she has no place to keep them in the apartment she shares with her partner Guy. A friend tells her of an odd place named "The Museum of Ordinary People" that accepts donations of such old, valued things that people love but can't keep. When Jess visits the museum, her life changes, both personally as well as professionally. And although the objects themselves are no replacement for the people we ache for, they are a reminder of the fact that those people were here, and they mattered and will be missed. When Jess' mother dies and she has to undertake the heartbreaking task of clearing her house, and deciding what she can reasonably keep and what must be disposed of, she finds herself at the start of a wonderful, heartwarming, convoluted story that I can only describe as both uplifting and satisfying.

While it might be true that some things are thrown away for good reason, it's equally true that some things are saved for a purpose."Despite the book being centred around a museum, an unspoken secret gave a good fight to become the centre of attention. I was flabbergasted to be totally honest. I didn't know who I felt sorry for the most in the situation, yet I could also see it from the side of a mother, what with being one myself. I know this sounds like I'm speaking nonsense, however those who have read the book will understand where I am coming from. However, if you haven't read the book yet, I highly suggest you nab one as soon as you can. Jess clears up everything, but holds on to a few things close to her heart. A set of encyclopedias lingers, and she doesn't know where to put it in the place she shares with her boyfriend, Guy.

My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.) Mike Gayle has such a wonderful way of turning the every day into something special and tugging at your heartstrings in the process. There’s a lot here that is emotional, clearing your parents home for a start and often putting their precious possessions into a bin bag or onto a skip as your heart breaks with guilt and love. How the author conveys this is spot-on. But when in the process Jess stumbles across the mysterious Alex, together they become custodians of a strange archive of letters, photographs, curios and collections known as The Museum of Ordinary People. Inspired by a box of mementos found abandoned in a skip following a house clearance, The Museum of Ordinary People is a thought-provoking and poignant story of memory, grief, loss and the things we leave behind. (goodreads) My Review The story moves between Now and Then, told in Jess’ voice. Along with an excellent cast of supporting characters, Jess was engaging and likeable, as was Alex. Both had damaged histories, the full extent of which came out as the story progressed.I've given up pondering, and procrastinating, and will simply add that if you liked Mike Gayle's previous books, you will probably enjoy this one too! A keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds . . . a delightful read' - Ruth Hogan All in all, there are many enjoyable attributes to the book, and if you avoid using your inner critic too much, you'll certainly like it a lot more. My inner critic unfortunately refuses to die. As such, I liked it but didn't love it. The slow pace didn't help. I think this book suffered a lot (especially in the beginning) from what I call “and then” syndrome. Exposition is SO important to me in a story, but instead of being naturally introduced to the characters and the plot, I felt like I was reading a list of : this happened and then this happened and then this happened. The author didn’t actually use those exact words “and then” over and over, but it had the same effect. I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.