Mother's Boy

pick

Patrick Gale excels in beautifully understated writing with such kindness and gentleness. My heart broke for Charles through his unpopularity at school and awkwardness in life, whilst still being able to dislike his at times acerbic sharpness and intellectual superiority as he tries to find himself. My heart broke again for his mother as he pushes her away then yearns for her when sent to war. Despite some brutal elements this was a lovely read.

JillR @TrishB @squirrelbrain I had a read through some Litsy reviews once I‘d finished this and saw you‘d both enjoyed it too :) 10mo

squirrelbrain It was fabulous and unexpectedly so. 10mo

TrishB I love his books. This is my fave though

Notes from an exhibition

10mo

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MrsMalaprop Me too @TrishB 🙌 10mo

TrishB @MrsMalaprop it‘s stayed with me a long time! 10mo

JillR @trishb @MrsMalaprop I would say I‘ve read that one but the blurb rings no bells and my Goodreads list says not, so either it was before I started using Goodreads, or I haven‘t read it! Either way given I don‘t remember, that‘s a good reason to get it I think… 10mo

JillR @squirrelbrain thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish 10mo

42 likes2 stack adds7 comments

TrishB

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

#12booksof2022 March
The wonderful Patrick Gale writes another beautiful story, with fantastic writing. My March pick.

Andrew65

squirrelbrain Loved this one! ❤️ 2y

Andrew65 Looks a great book. 2y

TrishB @squirrelbrain it was so quiet and beautifully written. 2y

Deblovestoread I‘m pretty sure I stacked this one from your review and it still sits on mount TBR…. 2y

TrishB @Deblovestoread eventually 😁 2y

68 likes5 comments

squirrelbrain

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

pick

I didn‘t realise until the afterword that this book is based on the real-life poet Charles Causley and I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I known.

The book follows the lives of young Charles and his mother as they navigate life in a small Cornish village. Then Charles goes off to WWII, all the while trying to understand and come to terms with his feelings for other men.

A lovely read!

TrishB I loved this ♥️(all I‘ve read from this author tbh) 2y

MrsMalaprop I‘ve read lots of his books over the years. Wonderful author. Haven‘t read this one though. He was at my sister‘s book club last week (virtually)! 2y

squirrelbrain I‘ve read a few of his books, but not very many @MrsMalaprop - how exciting for your sister. He sounds like a lovely guy - hopefully he came across as such! 2y

76 likes3 comments

rachaich

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

pick

Gosh, another near perfect novel by Patrick Gale.
I'm yet to read anything by him which doesn't leave me needing more.
This fictionalized account of Charles Causley is both gentle and brutal, descriptive yet allows the reader to imagine.

13 likes

rachaich

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

Oh, this is just wonderful, this tale of Charles and his young adult awakening during WW2.

11 likes

rachaich

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

After hearing the wonderful Patrick Gale speak about this book, plus having read and adored so many of his previous books, I had to buy this signed copy, even though it's a hardback.

TrishB It‘s a good read 👍🏻 3y

18 likes1 comment

TrishB

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

pick

Patrick Gale‘s writing is beautiful (it always is). Despite the fact this books takes us from the first WW, through and past the second, it‘s a very quiet, reflective read. I loved Charles and his Mum Laura and had a quiet ache for both of them.
And then find out it‘s based on a real person, a Cornish Poet I‘ve ashamedly never heard of. But know everything the internet can tell me now.
Lovely story ❤️.

Tamra This sounds lovely, stacked! I enjoyed this one

A Place Called Winter

TrishB @Tamra I‘ve enjoyed everything of his so far! But this one is still my fave

Notes from an exhibition

rockpools How interesting! I really don‘t know why I‘ve never read Patrick Gale - will remedy that. Charles Causley‘s (the only Cornish poet called Charles I could think of!) books were always around at home and school here - maybe it‘s a westcountry thing - I especially remember this:

The Puffin Book of Salt-sea Verse

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TrishB @rockpools yes it is Causley- I can‘t recall ever hearing of him before, but I will remedy that too! You will probably really enjoy this one then- local connections! 3y

Tamra Stacked

Notes from an exhibition

Centique Gosh you have been reading some good books - I just stacked 3 of them! 😍 3y

TrishB @Centique having a lovely streak 😁 3y

104 likes7 stack adds7 comments

TrishB

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

Ouch, the quiet longing of these words ♥️ beautiful.

LeahBergen ❤️❤️ 3y

Cathythoughts Great quote ❤️ 3y

Suet624 That‘s lovely. And it‘s not asking for too much to be able to do so. (edited) 3y

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TrishB @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts 😘 3y

TrishB @Suet624 she has a beautiful tea set that she won‘t use as she‘s not worthy…and then she says this! Made my heart break a bit. 3y

Suet624 @TrishB Oh gosh. Story of my life. 3y

eanderson 💕💕 3y

91 likes7 comments

TrishB

Mother's Boy | Patrick Gale

#bookmail
Last week‘s double stamps purchases from Waterstones 😁

Cathythoughts Looking good Trish 👍❤️ 3y

squirrelbrain 😁👍 Enjoy! 3y

vivastory Curious what you think of the news about Waterstones buying Blackwell's 3y

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BarbaraBB Nice haul! 3y

TrishB @Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB 😘 3y

TrishB @vivastory they seem to have kept the separate ‘personality‘ of Foyles so I would hope they would also do this with Blackwells, who also have a specific personality (we have one on campus!). 3y

vivastory I'm hopeful that they maintain the free shipping to the US! So far this year I have placed two orders through Blackwell's for books that were unavailable in the states & was incredibly impressed by their service. 3y

TrishB @vivastory that‘s an excellent service! And pretty surprising because postage is so expensive. The one we have on campus is great. 3y

95 likes1 stack add8 comments

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