I picked up this collection of short stories in a discount bookshop in Scarborough during a very pleasant trip to the seaside yesterday, travelling by steam train from York. I've recently discovered Patrick Gale as a new favourite author, loving both Notes from an Exhibition and Rough Music while not being so keen on The Whole Day Through. It'll be interesting to see how his short stories, not one of my favourite genres, compare with his novels.

A mixed bag of all sorts, written in PG's beautifully flowing style :-)
Now reserved for tree-hugger, who appreciates both short stories and Patrick Gale!

To tree-hugger who's enjoyed a couple of his novels and is a big short story fan!

As you say Nu-Knees, this should be right up my street. I've read exactly the same 3 Patrick Gales as you, and felt the same way about them, but I think we did so fairly independently didn't we? Isn't it nice when we match?! Will let you know what I think of this one in due course.

Thanks for this Nu-Knees, I enjoyed it. I think my favourite story was the very first one, about the prison governer's wife learning to fish. It was quite poignant.

I hadn't really expected the stories to be so action-packed. I had imagined that the collection would be more like a series of lingering character studies and meditations which work together in some subtle and clever way... All that plot, including more than one murder, came as quite a surprise to me! It makes sense when you read the author's note at the back though - the stories were written for specific functions such as radio shows, and festivals, where I'm sure they worked very well.

I'll leave this as "available" for a while.

I'll be taking this book down to Nottingham this weekend, where we're having a bookcrossing convention. I don't know if any of the other bookcrossers will fancy it, or whether I'll leave it out and about somewhere in Nottingham for a random stranger to find.

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I love Patrick Gale, but am not so sure about short stories though, but I will give it a try. So sorry I didn't meet you both, but after a while short-sightedly staring at people's bosoms gets uncomfortable. I loved my day in Nottingham and will try an Uncon again, I think ;o))

As I expected short stories aren't for me. Sometimes the Patrick Gale I love shines through as in The Dark Cutter and Maling Hay, so I'll give myself a treat now and read one of his novels. ;o) I am saving this for a friend on whose Wishlist I this spy!

Surprise. surprise!

Someone turned up at my door bearing gifts - thanks Eileen :-)

Left on the charity book table in Outpatients 2.