Notes from an exhibition

Notes from an exhibition takes place in Penzance, England where the writer Patrick Gale grew up (a lot of his books actually takes place in the countryside familiar to where he grew up). It tells the story about Rachel Kelly, an odd woman often on medication who mostly spends her time in the studio, her husband Anthony and their four children. Up until now is seems as a rather common and to be honest, borrowing book, but when Rachel suddenly dies in her studio the rest of the family wants to find out about her unknown past and are chocked by what they discover.

What is interesting and engaging about this book is the four children of Rachel and Anthony. We get to meet and know them in separate chapters, first as they are young and then when they return as adults. We follow each of them as they are trying to cope with their mother’s illness.

The part I remember the strongest about this book is when Rachel is in her studio painting and her youngest son Petroc comes to find her. He has something he wants to show her that he collected from the Cornish beach when the whole family was together. In his hand he´s got a collection of rocks, sex rocks to be exact, each representing a member of the family. Rachel gets so touch by this despite her daze mind. She uses the rocks for inspiration for many of her coming paintings.
I think she saw the rocks as comfort and knew that even if she was not always present in her family’s, life they would always be there to support and love her.
Later when Rachel is found dead in her studio, Anthony notice that one of the rocks has been thrown across the room and has even broke a window. The question still remains; whose rook was thrown out the window, one of the children’s, her husband or maybe Rachel’s own rock?