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A Perfectly Good Man
Devastatingly moving and full of psychological insight, A PERFECTLY GOOD MAN is a warm, humane Cornish novel from the bestselling author of A PLACE CALLED WINTER
'A convincing, moving account of man's struggle with faith, marriage and morality' Sunday Times
On a clear, crisp summer's day in Cornwall, a young man carefully prepares to take his own life, and asks family friend, Barnaby Johnson, to pray with him. Barnaby - priest, husband and father - has always tried to do good, though life hasn't always been rosy. Lenny's request poses problems, not just for Barnaby, but for his wife and family, and the wider community, as the secrets of the past push themselves forcefully into the present for all to see.
'A convincing, moving account of man's struggle with faith, marriage and morality' Sunday Times
On a clear, crisp summer's day in Cornwall, a young man carefully prepares to take his own life, and asks family friend, Barnaby Johnson, to pray with him. Barnaby - priest, husband and father - has always tried to do good, though life hasn't always been rosy. Lenny's request poses problems, not just for Barnaby, but for his wife and family, and the wider community, as the secrets of the past push themselves forcefully into the present for all to see.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
168 people are currently reading
1705 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Gale
43 books706 followersPatrick was born on 31 January 1962 on the Isle of Wight, where his father was prison governor at Camp Hill, as his grandfather had been at nearby Parkhurst. He was the youngest of four; one sister, two brothers, spread over ten years. The family moved to London, where his father ran Wandsworth Prison, then to Winchester. At eight Patrick began boarding as a Winchester College Quirister at the cathedral choir school, Pilgrim's. At thirteen he went on to Winchester College. He finished his formal education with an English degree from New College, Oxford in 1983.
He has never had a grown-up job. For three years he lived at a succession of addresses, from a Notting Hill bedsit to a crumbling French chateau. While working on his first novels he eked out his slender income with odd jobs; as a typist, a singing waiter, a designer's secretary, a ghost-writer for an encyclopedia of the musical and, increasingly, as a book reviewer.
His first two novels, The Aerodynamics of Pork and Ease were published by Abacus on the same day in June 1986. The following year he moved to Camelford near the north coast of Cornwall and began a love affair with the county that has fed his work ever since.
He now lives in the far west, on a farm near Land's End with his husband, Aidan Hicks. There they raise beef cattle and grow barley. Patrick is obsessed with the garden they have created in what must be one of England's windiest sites and deeply resents the time his writing makes him spend away from working in it. As well as gardening, he plays both the modern and baroque cello. His chief extravagance in life is opera tickets.
He has never had a grown-up job. For three years he lived at a succession of addresses, from a Notting Hill bedsit to a crumbling French chateau. While working on his first novels he eked out his slender income with odd jobs; as a typist, a singing waiter, a designer's secretary, a ghost-writer for an encyclopedia of the musical and, increasingly, as a book reviewer.
His first two novels, The Aerodynamics of Pork and Ease were published by Abacus on the same day in June 1986. The following year he moved to Camelford near the north coast of Cornwall and began a love affair with the county that has fed his work ever since.
He now lives in the far west, on a farm near Land's End with his husband, Aidan Hicks. There they raise beef cattle and grow barley. Patrick is obsessed with the garden they have created in what must be one of England's windiest sites and deeply resents the time his writing makes him spend away from working in it. As well as gardening, he plays both the modern and baroque cello. His chief extravagance in life is opera tickets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
October 15, 2012
It’s almost possible to forget how wonderful Patrick Gale’s books are, because they aren’t showy or loud.
This book has a wonderful structure, heading back and forth along the lifeline of Barnaby, a parish priest (Anglican, I think not, Catholic, because he is married with a family.) This results in an odd patchwork effect – you often find out someone’s fate before you actually meet them for real as they enter Barnaby’s life or leave it. This patchwork is mesmerising, gorgeous and very intriguing. I read it in less than 24 hours, ignoring various vital writery or family things I should have been doing instead…
All the Patrick Gale books I’ve read so far have delicately described people and places (often Cornwall) but have also tackled large and hard to pin down concepts. Notes From An Exhibition was about creativity (and the cost of creativity); this book is about faith, where it springs from, and how it changes people and their lives.
It is also about cruelty, deception and love, and it contains two of the cruellest things I’ve ever read in a book - a parent’s refusal to allow a child to grieve and a thief’s casual destruction of something precious – both of which happen almost quietly and unnoticed within the narrative, and yet are breathtaking in their inhumanity and believability.
I loved this book. And I must not let myself forget, because of his quiet calm lack of melodrama, how much I love this writer. I must go and find another life of his to read.
This book has a wonderful structure, heading back and forth along the lifeline of Barnaby, a parish priest (Anglican, I think not, Catholic, because he is married with a family.) This results in an odd patchwork effect – you often find out someone’s fate before you actually meet them for real as they enter Barnaby’s life or leave it. This patchwork is mesmerising, gorgeous and very intriguing. I read it in less than 24 hours, ignoring various vital writery or family things I should have been doing instead…
All the Patrick Gale books I’ve read so far have delicately described people and places (often Cornwall) but have also tackled large and hard to pin down concepts. Notes From An Exhibition was about creativity (and the cost of creativity); this book is about faith, where it springs from, and how it changes people and their lives.
It is also about cruelty, deception and love, and it contains two of the cruellest things I’ve ever read in a book - a parent’s refusal to allow a child to grieve and a thief’s casual destruction of something precious – both of which happen almost quietly and unnoticed within the narrative, and yet are breathtaking in their inhumanity and believability.
I loved this book. And I must not let myself forget, because of his quiet calm lack of melodrama, how much I love this writer. I must go and find another life of his to read.
November 13, 2012
My favourite books are ones that I have to keep picking up when I know I should really be doing something else; those that as I approach the end I am torn between wanting to know how it all turns out but sad that I will have to leave the characters behind. Most importantly I have to care about the characters and ideally like at least one of them so that I can empathise with them as the story progresses. A Perfectly Goood Man did all of those things.
Although written in a gentle and easy to read style I found this novel poignant. The central character is Barnaby, a priest in a small country parish in Cornwall, and the story is told by different characters in his life at different points in time. I initially thought that this may be confusing and mean that you didn’t get to know the characters properly but it worked beautifully because as the author steadily reveals different aspects of the characters, as a reader you feel you are putting together parts of a jigsaw and as secrets, unhappiness and life events are uncovered you understand what makes each person tick and why they behave as they do. For me that resulted in it feeling very real and I grew to care about the people involved.
The story begins with the suicide of a young man, Lenny, who is paralysed as a result of an accident and the story then moves back and forth in time revealing what led up to this tragedy. There were one or two points where I did guess some events before they were revealed but I don’t think that the plot was too predictable and in a way it added to the enjoyment as I felt involved in the story. My only real criticism was that after the first half of the book I felt that the character of Dorothy was not sufficiently developed and I would like to have known more of how she felt about the events that had such an effect on both her and her family. This novel is about family, loss, love and faith and despite the sadness this book is oddly comforting and I’m keen to try more by Patrick Gale now.
Although written in a gentle and easy to read style I found this novel poignant. The central character is Barnaby, a priest in a small country parish in Cornwall, and the story is told by different characters in his life at different points in time. I initially thought that this may be confusing and mean that you didn’t get to know the characters properly but it worked beautifully because as the author steadily reveals different aspects of the characters, as a reader you feel you are putting together parts of a jigsaw and as secrets, unhappiness and life events are uncovered you understand what makes each person tick and why they behave as they do. For me that resulted in it feeling very real and I grew to care about the people involved.
The story begins with the suicide of a young man, Lenny, who is paralysed as a result of an accident and the story then moves back and forth in time revealing what led up to this tragedy. There were one or two points where I did guess some events before they were revealed but I don’t think that the plot was too predictable and in a way it added to the enjoyment as I felt involved in the story. My only real criticism was that after the first half of the book I felt that the character of Dorothy was not sufficiently developed and I would like to have known more of how she felt about the events that had such an effect on both her and her family. This novel is about family, loss, love and faith and despite the sadness this book is oddly comforting and I’m keen to try more by Patrick Gale now.
October 6, 2013
Ah, this is another heartbreaker. And so DAZZLING structurally. I bow to that sort of cleverness. Love the cunningly non-chronological ordering of things - brings about some terrific pay-offs. Plus a wholly unexpected, yet highly satisfying collision with Notes From an Exhibition in the second half. Terrible twist for Dot at the end. Devastating. Subtle comeuppance for Modest. Had to think about that one afterwards. Lovely book.
July 27, 2012
I like the way Patrick Gale makes his characters seem so real. It is almost as if he loves them into being, even the unpleasant characters are dealt with understanding. With a light touch, Gale gets right under the skin of his main subjects. In this, the "good man" Barnaby is depicted with all his struggles, loves, intentions and weaknesses- if weaknesses they are as they do make us human. Dealing with the currently unfashionable subject of religion and belief, Gale manages to convey a deeper side to Christianity, often overlooked in the face of all the bad press it has attracted of late. Barnaby is a man who is fundamentally good, tender, somewhat unworldly and at times seemingly innocent.
I found myself drawn into this book, finding it incredibly moving and thought provoking. I read it quickly so will re-read it to savour it better..
I found myself drawn into this book, finding it incredibly moving and thought provoking. I read it quickly so will re-read it to savour it better..
December 12, 2020
Another wonderful book by Patrick Gale. This is not a sequel to Notes from an Exhibition but in it we do meet up with several characters from Notes further on in their lives, which is really interesting. A beautifully written story putting many thorny issues and tricky family dynamics under the microscope. Gale always does this with such skill. I did find the format slightly bemusing at first - chapters alternate between different characters at different ages and not always in chronological order. However, it all works out in the end of course and by the last page all gaps are filled in and all but one question answered. He does like to leave us with at least one question mark!
June 14, 2013
What a lovely book.
I don't usually like books that mess around with chronology, but this book's format of jumping around, backwards and forwards, through various of the characters' lives to introduce another important piece of the jigsaw works perfectly.
It's a story about life, death, love, spirituality, relationships, families and religion, all treated in a beautifully sensitive, gentle way.
It has extremely likeable characters, even though they are nearly all fatally flawed in their own little ways.Just like real life.
It's a lovely book.
I don't usually like books that mess around with chronology, but this book's format of jumping around, backwards and forwards, through various of the characters' lives to introduce another important piece of the jigsaw works perfectly.
It's a story about life, death, love, spirituality, relationships, families and religion, all treated in a beautifully sensitive, gentle way.
It has extremely likeable characters, even though they are nearly all fatally flawed in their own little ways.Just like real life.
It's a lovely book.
January 8, 2015
I got as far as I was likely to get.About half way. The way it was told , with different people at different times of life, it was like opening a photo album to find all the photos muddled up. Afraid the quality of the writing wasn't enough to keep me motivated to continue reading, plus I didn't much care about any of the characters, largely because I never got time to settle down with them in a logical fashion. I know others have loved it , but it just wasn't for me.
April 20, 2016
The book opens, very effectively indeed, with 20 year old Lenny, who has been paralysed in a rugby accident, deciding he would rather commit suicide than spend his life in a wheelchair. He calls in the parish priest to visit him, and much to Barnaby’s shock kills himself in front of him. The rest of the book is a moving and thought-provoking exploration of how Barnaby copes with this death and examines what it means to be a good man. Cleverly constructed, well-paced, and psychologically astute and perceptive, it’s a convincing portrait of a priest who wants only to be good but is so often challenged in his efforts by those around him. However, the novel does have its faults, mainly in having far too many characters who are extraneous to the main plot and thus too wide a focus, thereby taking attention away from the key protagonists. Nevertheless it’s certainly a “good read” and raises some interesting questions about faith, goodness and morality. Well worth reading.
June 26, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is beautifully written, moving cleverly between the lives of its characters so that you learn their fate sometimes before you have gotten to know them. To know some of them is to be really moved, whilst others are despicable. All of them well drawn and entirely credible. It's central character, Barnaby, is a perfectly good man. The backdrop of post industrial Cornwall gives an added dimension of interest, as do the opposing views on religion.
I haven't read anything by Patrick Gale before but will look out for more of his work now. Very highly recommended.
I haven't read anything by Patrick Gale before but will look out for more of his work now. Very highly recommended.
April 21, 2019
I really wanted to like this novel, but I just couldn’t get into it, and gave up halfway. I am not sure if it had to do with its construction, or that I didn’t really care about the characters.
September 12, 2016
Withdrawn from Liverpool Libraries.
Description: The apparent serenity of parish life in Pendeen and Morvah is disturbed when 20-year-old Lenny Barnes takes his own life in the presence of Father Barnaby Thomas, the charismatic, indefatigable local priest, whose enduring service has made him a popular member of his Cornish community.
Though Lenny′s death is publicly mourned, the tragedy continues to wound those closest to him, and its reverberations seem to threaten a fissure between the Parish and its inhabitants. And yet Lenny′s death is simply Pendeen and Morvah′s most visible misfortune: beneath the surface of the parish newsletter, in the life of Barnaby′s wife Dorothy, in that of his son Jim, in that of their neighbours Modest Carlsson and Nuala Barnes, and in particular in the life of Father Barnaby himself, lies vast, inarticulate sadness.
In what is more an echo-chamber than a sequel, Patrick Gale returns us to the landscape of ′Notes from an Exhibition′, unfurling the complex web of a Cornish community with an empathy that touches clairvoyance and a sure eye for significant mundanity. ′Good People′ is the faithful register of a community′s fortunes, its gentle malignance, and one priest′s struggle to live virtuously.
Opening: He had the heating on because immobility made him cold. The flat was recently built. Its windows and doors were all double-glazed but there was a keen easterly that found the chink in one of the seals around the picture window and set up a wail. The whole flat was keening.
This was a pressie to myself for I jultid 2014 as it was about time to sample this author and Louise was egging me on.
My initial reaction was sort of "yeah... and!?"
then
this lassoed me round about the Nuala incident and the hook caught, with line and sinker (mixed metaphors are so much fun!). According to the inside flap 'Notes on an Exhibition' should have been tackled first - oh well, that's on the shelves somewhere and I now look forward to it.
You were right Louise!
:O)
4* The Perfectly Good Man
TR Notes from an Exhibition
MB Kansas in August
WL A Place Called Winter
Description: The apparent serenity of parish life in Pendeen and Morvah is disturbed when 20-year-old Lenny Barnes takes his own life in the presence of Father Barnaby Thomas, the charismatic, indefatigable local priest, whose enduring service has made him a popular member of his Cornish community.
Though Lenny′s death is publicly mourned, the tragedy continues to wound those closest to him, and its reverberations seem to threaten a fissure between the Parish and its inhabitants. And yet Lenny′s death is simply Pendeen and Morvah′s most visible misfortune: beneath the surface of the parish newsletter, in the life of Barnaby′s wife Dorothy, in that of his son Jim, in that of their neighbours Modest Carlsson and Nuala Barnes, and in particular in the life of Father Barnaby himself, lies vast, inarticulate sadness.
In what is more an echo-chamber than a sequel, Patrick Gale returns us to the landscape of ′Notes from an Exhibition′, unfurling the complex web of a Cornish community with an empathy that touches clairvoyance and a sure eye for significant mundanity. ′Good People′ is the faithful register of a community′s fortunes, its gentle malignance, and one priest′s struggle to live virtuously.
Opening: He had the heating on because immobility made him cold. The flat was recently built. Its windows and doors were all double-glazed but there was a keen easterly that found the chink in one of the seals around the picture window and set up a wail. The whole flat was keening.
This was a pressie to myself for I jultid 2014 as it was about time to sample this author and Louise was egging me on. My initial reaction was sort of "yeah... and!?"
then
this lassoed me round about the Nuala incident and the hook caught, with line and sinker (mixed metaphors are so much fun!). According to the inside flap 'Notes on an Exhibition' should have been tackled first - oh well, that's on the shelves somewhere and I now look forward to it.
You were right Louise!
:O)
4* The Perfectly Good Man
TR Notes from an Exhibition
MB Kansas in August
WL A Place Called Winter
April 11, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, it was an interesting concept for a novel but I never connected with any of this book or the characters. The book revolves around the community effects of Lenny’s suicide in front of a priest. This small community and the stories of past and present play out in this book. For me the people never felt real and I think that first began with Father Barnaby Thomas feeling to fake. Having grown up in a small town with a minister for a father I’ve seen how people react towards the church and the church leaders and in this book nothing felt real and everything felt a little too nice. While I’m glad many people enjoy this book, I never felt a connection and that really did stop me from enjoying the story. As for the writing and the style; both seemed good so I think many people would enjoy the book; just not me.
November 23, 2020
I think this is going to be my Read of 2018.
When Patrick Gale is at his best, he is electric. I enjoy his novels, but I think those that have part or wholly, gay themes are his strongest. The novel has a non-linear structure, but rather than having the various points of view and time-frames completely random, Gale has structured the novel such that important fragments are teamed together. Thus, an event would be introduced, and various points of views, with the final giving an exposition. This will sound then, as if this is a series of short stories: this couldn’t be further from the truth, this is definitely a novel, with the very last chapter giving much of hero’s action some semblance of sense. It might also sound like it is very confusing, but I didn’t find it so. The chapter titles helped the reader immensely by anticipating both the POV & time period.
What do we know about someone? is a popular narrative trope doing the rounds right now in films, TV series, and books. This would fall into that genre, but with a difference. Our hero, Barnaby is a truly ordinary person in many ways, except in one aspect – his religious faith. He IS a good man, according to the locals. Barnaby takes his pastoral care aspect of his faith and following VERY seriously; his behaviour is one of exemplary example to his parish of what a godly life can and should look like. He is someone who could “cast the first stone” because “he has no sin”, and yet he doesn’t. Is this because he is above that petty behaviour, or does he have sins beyond the “original sin” which he suppresses?
Modest Carlsson decides to find the sins of Barnaby; he is convinced that Barnaby is too good to be true. Modest would have to be one of the most truly ugly, nasty and creepy villains in literature. Carlsson is the antithesis of Barnaby – he is loaded with sin. For Modest has committed the worst of contemporary society’s sins: he has had sex with one of his high school students. Instead of atoning, he decides to go into the sleazier side of pornography. Whereas Barnaby has no recollection of meeting Modest, Modest has printed on his psyche the words spoken to him by Barnaby at that meeting. And those twist and fester into an obsession, for Modest believes Barnaby thinks he is above mere mortals. Modest has changed the meaning from innocence to spite. Watching if Modest is successful is what gives the novel excitement and tension.
The opening chapter completely turns the title into an oxymoron. Lenny Barnes, a rising young sportsman who has become crippled, decides to commit suicide, and the devout religious man accepts and allows this to happen. Why? Surely this is against his faith? And is Barnaby covering up something during the inquest and court case. Whatever, his impeccable character allows him to not be charged with illegal assisted death. Creating a sense of why Barnaby allows the suicide to happen, is the second major narrative in the novel. It isn’t stretched like some terrible daytime soap opera, but teased tantalisingly. It is one of the many aspects that makes the title have many meanings (I have no intention of revealing them).
Ultimately, what we see is a devout man to his faith and parishioners, but maybe not such a good family man when finely examined. Are “good” people overcompensating, or are they “too good to be true”? Patrick Gale has done an excellent job in taunting you to find out.
When Patrick Gale is at his best, he is electric. I enjoy his novels, but I think those that have part or wholly, gay themes are his strongest. The novel has a non-linear structure, but rather than having the various points of view and time-frames completely random, Gale has structured the novel such that important fragments are teamed together. Thus, an event would be introduced, and various points of views, with the final giving an exposition. This will sound then, as if this is a series of short stories: this couldn’t be further from the truth, this is definitely a novel, with the very last chapter giving much of hero’s action some semblance of sense. It might also sound like it is very confusing, but I didn’t find it so. The chapter titles helped the reader immensely by anticipating both the POV & time period.
What do we know about someone? is a popular narrative trope doing the rounds right now in films, TV series, and books. This would fall into that genre, but with a difference. Our hero, Barnaby is a truly ordinary person in many ways, except in one aspect – his religious faith. He IS a good man, according to the locals. Barnaby takes his pastoral care aspect of his faith and following VERY seriously; his behaviour is one of exemplary example to his parish of what a godly life can and should look like. He is someone who could “cast the first stone” because “he has no sin”, and yet he doesn’t. Is this because he is above that petty behaviour, or does he have sins beyond the “original sin” which he suppresses?
Modest Carlsson decides to find the sins of Barnaby; he is convinced that Barnaby is too good to be true. Modest would have to be one of the most truly ugly, nasty and creepy villains in literature. Carlsson is the antithesis of Barnaby – he is loaded with sin. For Modest has committed the worst of contemporary society’s sins: he has had sex with one of his high school students. Instead of atoning, he decides to go into the sleazier side of pornography. Whereas Barnaby has no recollection of meeting Modest, Modest has printed on his psyche the words spoken to him by Barnaby at that meeting. And those twist and fester into an obsession, for Modest believes Barnaby thinks he is above mere mortals. Modest has changed the meaning from innocence to spite. Watching if Modest is successful is what gives the novel excitement and tension.
The opening chapter completely turns the title into an oxymoron. Lenny Barnes, a rising young sportsman who has become crippled, decides to commit suicide, and the devout religious man accepts and allows this to happen. Why? Surely this is against his faith? And is Barnaby covering up something during the inquest and court case. Whatever, his impeccable character allows him to not be charged with illegal assisted death. Creating a sense of why Barnaby allows the suicide to happen, is the second major narrative in the novel. It isn’t stretched like some terrible daytime soap opera, but teased tantalisingly. It is one of the many aspects that makes the title have many meanings (I have no intention of revealing them).
Ultimately, what we see is a devout man to his faith and parishioners, but maybe not such a good family man when finely examined. Are “good” people overcompensating, or are they “too good to be true”? Patrick Gale has done an excellent job in taunting you to find out.
October 19, 2012
Much like it's companion, Notes, this emotional story is just the kind of book I love to read. I have long been a fan of Patrick Gale's work and have read most of his books. Most gratifying for me is the constant themes of place (Cornwall), families, especially dysfunctional ones, and morals. So many of them lie within these pages and as ever are beautifully portrayed and described. Another of his continual themes is religion and Man's struggle within the confines of its boundaries and ethics. I was willing Barnaby to "fail" or become bad, and he did in glorious abandon with (as it turned out) horrendous consequences for him, his family and the wider community.
As a central character Barnaby Johnson was I thought a very reluctant hero, with his wife's sadness and loss so poignantly described it had me weeping. I envy Mr Gale's insight of female emotion (how the hell does he know what it's like to suffer as Dorothy does).
I wonder where Patrick Gale goes next as a writer? Some of the content within this story pushes boundaries for which I applaud him (much as some of the content of Friendly Fire does - another excellent tale). I wanted to give this a top five star rating but hold back simply because I would have loved more darkness in the form of Modest, who I kept wondering about, was he going to really be truly evil?
Did I enjoy this, yes, immensely, this story made me laugh, weep and yes, some of even shocked. More power to you, Patrick - the only surprise is that you are not more widely read.
As a central character Barnaby Johnson was I thought a very reluctant hero, with his wife's sadness and loss so poignantly described it had me weeping. I envy Mr Gale's insight of female emotion (how the hell does he know what it's like to suffer as Dorothy does).
I wonder where Patrick Gale goes next as a writer? Some of the content within this story pushes boundaries for which I applaud him (much as some of the content of Friendly Fire does - another excellent tale). I wanted to give this a top five star rating but hold back simply because I would have loved more darkness in the form of Modest, who I kept wondering about, was he going to really be truly evil?
Did I enjoy this, yes, immensely, this story made me laugh, weep and yes, some of even shocked. More power to you, Patrick - the only surprise is that you are not more widely read.
September 20, 2017
My mother died only a week or so before my wife and I discovered this book while on holiday. Mum had lived in Pendeen, the village at the heart of this novel, for over thirty years and we visited it often. The parish priest, Alan Rowell, who is mentioned in Patrick Gale's acknowledgements, officiated at my father's funeral. In an ideal world he would have done the same for my mother but he has retired and left the parish.
The book did not need to be set in the parish of Pendeen with Morvah for any reason that I can see but the fact that it was and some of the resonances in the plot with our own lives meant that it had to merit five stars.
Given the quality of Patrick Gale's story telling and the novel's ingenious construction, five stars doesn't seem too generous. The apparently random switching between characters and time zones makes for an arresting and emotional reading experience.
Should five stars be reserved only for high literature? Discuss.
Not for me. Not after the experience of reading this fine story.
The book did not need to be set in the parish of Pendeen with Morvah for any reason that I can see but the fact that it was and some of the resonances in the plot with our own lives meant that it had to merit five stars.
Given the quality of Patrick Gale's story telling and the novel's ingenious construction, five stars doesn't seem too generous. The apparently random switching between characters and time zones makes for an arresting and emotional reading experience.
Should five stars be reserved only for high literature? Discuss.
Not for me. Not after the experience of reading this fine story.
July 6, 2012
What this book accidentally ended up illustrating to me is the importance of being intelligent as well as well meaning. Obviously, with a title like that Gale is setting himself a challenge, and he tries to show that he knows it's challenging by showing his "perfectly good man" as imperfect and making mistakes but still being ultimately good. Barnaby ends up a shade too dim, self-satisfied and unreflective in my eyes, despite the effort made in his characterisation. Also, I was deeply annoyed by the (chronologically) last chapter which I felt featured some incredibly lazy writing. The book overall felt like it needed some more thought and depth. It's a warm, compelling read for all that, but I think Patrick Gale might be churning them out too quickly these days. I literally remember nothing of the book he wrote before this.
November 13, 2012
I had forgotten that Patrick Gale is such a great storyteller. My review of his earlier bestselling novel "Notes from an Exhibition" was not entirely complimentary, so either I got that wrong or his latest book is so much better. Both are set in the same area of Cornwall, but this is not so much a sequel as a companion piece.
Like his earlier book, the narrative shifts around in time and person. The central character is Barnaby Johnson, the vicar of Pendeen and Morva, but we also follow various other connecting characters in a way that is always satisfying. This mainly a gentle but never boring story of people with secrets that sometimes burst through with awful consequences.
The writing is full of soul, wit and well constructed. I enjoyed it immenseley.
Like his earlier book, the narrative shifts around in time and person. The central character is Barnaby Johnson, the vicar of Pendeen and Morva, but we also follow various other connecting characters in a way that is always satisfying. This mainly a gentle but never boring story of people with secrets that sometimes burst through with awful consequences.
The writing is full of soul, wit and well constructed. I enjoyed it immenseley.
July 1, 2012
My third Gale book I think, and I've enjoyed them all.. I think he writes really well for his characters, a lot of whom are very simple.... and ordinary.
I like when they pull a character from another favoured book over, so was nice to have the familiarity there.
the different voices, and different times mingling the characters lives together gave a great narrative I thought,often I find it frustrating to know whats going to happen before it does, but this time, it suited the book perfectly.
I like when they pull a character from another favoured book over, so was nice to have the familiarity there.
the different voices, and different times mingling the characters lives together gave a great narrative I thought,often I find it frustrating to know whats going to happen before it does, but this time, it suited the book perfectly.
January 26, 2013
A great read that raises a lot of moral questions and provides food for thought about religion, faith and euthanasia - but without a dry and lecturing approach. Yet again Gale is a great portrayer of character and provides a unique setting and a bunch of interesting people in this book. Very enjoyable.
February 22, 2017
This is a very fine novel. A fascinating tale with a powerful emotional impact, beautifully written and ingeniously structured: what more could a reader want?
November 8, 2021
I usually really like Patrick Gale books but this one missed the mark for me. It felt a bit like he was working from a checklist making sure he included every possible social issue just to tick the list. There were also some problems with character development, for example Modest Carlsson became such a horrible person for no apparent reason. There are moments of beauty and Gale’s ability to write observational narrative is his strength. For me the storyline suffered from the excess of issues all jostling for equal place, it lacked balance, in the end I realised I’d given up caring about many of the characters Phuc , Nuala, and even Barnaby.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2017
This is the kind of book that reminds me why I belong to an actual real world, real people book club. I doubt if left to my own devices I would ever pick this book up and peruse its merits as a possible contender; but because others choose, this is what got handed out two weeks back. Patrick Gale swoon I am in love...............So good so so good.
The writing is honest, the details and nuances resonated deep into my core. Patrick Gale and I inhabit the same earth we orbit the same stars. It felt as if he had spent time inside my head watching and noting the same things I watch and note. Little details just right; like the way Carrie felt about her op shop clothes, a necessity due to budget yet bought ethically instead of cheap sweatshop imports or Lenny's discomfort praying but trying anyway. Nuala knowing exactly what she was looking for in a house and Fern, Phuc's partner buying nice delicatessen food when she knew her teenage boys wouldn't be around to inhale it or waste it. Beautiful all of it and then there is the fine balance of presenting characters and their frailties this was so very delicately done - pure craft.
A Perfectly Good Man is a modern story about a Parish Priest Barnaby Johnson who is living his life in his most authentic way he can. Barnaby's story is told through his eyes as a young man and an older man, but also through those he is closest to. We meet his wife, mistress, daughter, son and nemesis (perhaps to strong a description, but it is difficult to place just where Modest Carlson fits). There are glimpses of his father, step mother, sister, uncle, uncles lover and mother in law. All who shape who he is and why he makes the choice he did in the opening chapter. The story telling is not linear and bounces around a bit, made easier when I realized the name and age at the chapter start - were relevant to the whole story. Doh.
I am not going to describe the story as it is twisty and turny I could so easily spoil it - so best you get on and read it to find out the plot. I am off to find some more from this gorgeous man I feel I have made a friend for life, move over Joanna Trollope there is competition.
The writing is honest, the details and nuances resonated deep into my core. Patrick Gale and I inhabit the same earth we orbit the same stars. It felt as if he had spent time inside my head watching and noting the same things I watch and note. Little details just right; like the way Carrie felt about her op shop clothes, a necessity due to budget yet bought ethically instead of cheap sweatshop imports or Lenny's discomfort praying but trying anyway. Nuala knowing exactly what she was looking for in a house and Fern, Phuc's partner buying nice delicatessen food when she knew her teenage boys wouldn't be around to inhale it or waste it. Beautiful all of it and then there is the fine balance of presenting characters and their frailties this was so very delicately done - pure craft.
A Perfectly Good Man is a modern story about a Parish Priest Barnaby Johnson who is living his life in his most authentic way he can. Barnaby's story is told through his eyes as a young man and an older man, but also through those he is closest to. We meet his wife, mistress, daughter, son and nemesis (perhaps to strong a description, but it is difficult to place just where Modest Carlson fits). There are glimpses of his father, step mother, sister, uncle, uncles lover and mother in law. All who shape who he is and why he makes the choice he did in the opening chapter. The story telling is not linear and bounces around a bit, made easier when I realized the name and age at the chapter start - were relevant to the whole story. Doh.
I am not going to describe the story as it is twisty and turny I could so easily spoil it - so best you get on and read it to find out the plot. I am off to find some more from this gorgeous man I feel I have made a friend for life, move over Joanna Trollope there is competition.
July 5, 2012
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Having read "Notes from an Exhibition" a few years ago & recently attended an author event with Patrick Gale I was in a hurry to read it. However the subject matter & plot didn't appeal so when I found myself engrossed in the life of a country priest I was surprised!
As much as anything I respected this novel for the way it was crafted. Each chapter was written from a different character's perspective & it went backwards & forwards in time. Normally I would find that confusing & mentally exhausting. But in this case all the characters gelled & the story came together long before the climax of the book, which made reading it a joy. I had already guessed Lenny's secret before it was revealed when his mother was introduced into the story.
The only character who jarred was Modest Carlsson. I couldn't warm to him at all & found myself wondering why he was in the story. But I'm guessing Gale had to set someone up that his readers wouldn't like who had to play that pivotal part in Dorothy's story.
The way Gale brought all his characters to life was wonderful. I feel I understand far more about the role of the priest now & understand what goes on in their heads. Like many people I guess I thought vicars so far removed from the likes of you & me, but Gale makes Barnaby so ordinary & reveals his worries & dreams are the same as anyone elses. Also having a great love & knowledge of the locality it was lovely to see it portrayed in winter with heavy skies in such contrast from the usual sunshine.
I'm now thinking "Notes.." was not a fluke in its success & I'm going to look up some of his other novels.
As much as anything I respected this novel for the way it was crafted. Each chapter was written from a different character's perspective & it went backwards & forwards in time. Normally I would find that confusing & mentally exhausting. But in this case all the characters gelled & the story came together long before the climax of the book, which made reading it a joy. I had already guessed Lenny's secret before it was revealed when his mother was introduced into the story.
The only character who jarred was Modest Carlsson. I couldn't warm to him at all & found myself wondering why he was in the story. But I'm guessing Gale had to set someone up that his readers wouldn't like who had to play that pivotal part in Dorothy's story.
The way Gale brought all his characters to life was wonderful. I feel I understand far more about the role of the priest now & understand what goes on in their heads. Like many people I guess I thought vicars so far removed from the likes of you & me, but Gale makes Barnaby so ordinary & reveals his worries & dreams are the same as anyone elses. Also having a great love & knowledge of the locality it was lovely to see it portrayed in winter with heavy skies in such contrast from the usual sunshine.
I'm now thinking "Notes.." was not a fluke in its success & I'm going to look up some of his other novels.
August 7, 2012
Patrick Gale is a fantastic writer. He really brings his characters and story to life. I really liked his writing style and the many moral dilemmas and themes within this book. However, I was a bit frustrated with how neatly all the characters came together. I appreciated how lives are linked and the depth to which we all have our 'own story' but it was just a bit simplistic for me and a little predictable after a while. Some of the most interesting characters such as Modest where never really integrated properly into the storyline.... I don't know, I enjoyed it, I love his writing but... Maybe I am too spoilt after the amazing 'All That I Am'by Anna Funder and which ever book I read next would pale as a result? I really liked that the central character Barnaby was a devote priest who still at times lost his faith and the great spiritual debate that was threaded throughout the book. At times this is like several short stories that eventually interconnect. I would still recommend this book and am interested to hear what others thought.
February 3, 2015
Gentle spin up and down the musical scales of life.
The chapters pluck, seemingly randomly, at different time periods and different characters but it of course is seamlessly weaving itself into the complete musical score of one Barnaby Johnson - priest, husband, father, friend, fine example and holder of secrets...
Why hasn't this book won an award. (?) It is just the type of book that wins awards. Award winning books always seem to me to be the ones that force you to dip back into them the second you have read the last page.
This is definitely one of those books. Especially if you have read "Notes from an Exhibition". Those of you that have will know what I am talking about - that was a quiet thrill - encountering that family again.
Patrick Gale's love of Cornwall is very apparent and the wild windswept land is formed into a character in it's own right.
Books like this leave a little hole in your chest when you have to put them aside. I will probably go back and read "Notes from an Exhibition" again sometime soon - and I never read books twice.
The chapters pluck, seemingly randomly, at different time periods and different characters but it of course is seamlessly weaving itself into the complete musical score of one Barnaby Johnson - priest, husband, father, friend, fine example and holder of secrets...
Why hasn't this book won an award. (?) It is just the type of book that wins awards. Award winning books always seem to me to be the ones that force you to dip back into them the second you have read the last page.
This is definitely one of those books. Especially if you have read "Notes from an Exhibition". Those of you that have will know what I am talking about - that was a quiet thrill - encountering that family again.
Patrick Gale's love of Cornwall is very apparent and the wild windswept land is formed into a character in it's own right.
Books like this leave a little hole in your chest when you have to put them aside. I will probably go back and read "Notes from an Exhibition" again sometime soon - and I never read books twice.
January 8, 2013
This was ultimately a disappointing book. The narrative style (jumping around from character to character and year to year) is disconcerting. It is well written and I did find myself getting involved with the characters but overall the plot was pretty shallow and it was all very pc - complete with gay wedding and the usual ruminations about the non-existence or at best, vague existence of God. The hero is a vicar who basically does not believe.
"There! He said to himself. I don't believe in God. That's that. It was more than not believing, he realised. That implied that some people did, that believing might be a valid option. In fact there were no options. There was no God. There was life followed at some entirely random point by death. There was, in fact, simply stuff and time. Nothing more. And the excitement, the beauty even of it was tht stuff and time were still amazing."
"There! He said to himself. I don't believe in God. That's that. It was more than not believing, he realised. That implied that some people did, that believing might be a valid option. In fact there were no options. There was no God. There was life followed at some entirely random point by death. There was, in fact, simply stuff and time. Nothing more. And the excitement, the beauty even of it was tht stuff and time were still amazing."
October 9, 2012
This is a story about a good man who did one 'bad' thing. It was one of those books that I quite enjoyed while reading but as I closed it at the end, thought it was a bit of a waste of precious reading time.
Patrick Gale has gone back and forth in time but very helpfully tells you not only the character narrating the chapter but his/her age as well. As these characters age through the book, the age of the central character, the priest, actually goes backwards from 60 to 8. Confused? I don't think it helped with the structure of the story or pinpointing where in each of the narrations certain events occured.
I didn't much enjoy Notes from an Exhibition but thought I'd give this author another go. I don't think I'll be reading any more by him. Simply not my cup of tea.
Patrick Gale has gone back and forth in time but very helpfully tells you not only the character narrating the chapter but his/her age as well. As these characters age through the book, the age of the central character, the priest, actually goes backwards from 60 to 8. Confused? I don't think it helped with the structure of the story or pinpointing where in each of the narrations certain events occured.
I didn't much enjoy Notes from an Exhibition but thought I'd give this author another go. I don't think I'll be reading any more by him. Simply not my cup of tea.
May 8, 2024
Another lovely book by this author.
One star knocked off because I didn’t like the way Morwenna, the daughter of Rachel Kelly from ‘Notes from an Exhibition’ very suddenly appeared towards the end, and how her mother’s picture was found just in time to help Barnaby retire with lots of money.
Funnily enough, whilst reading this, there was an advert in the paper for The Old Rectory, Pendeen, it being for sale for offers around £575,000.
One star knocked off because I didn’t like the way Morwenna, the daughter of Rachel Kelly from ‘Notes from an Exhibition’ very suddenly appeared towards the end, and how her mother’s picture was found just in time to help Barnaby retire with lots of money.
Funnily enough, whilst reading this, there was an advert in the paper for The Old Rectory, Pendeen, it being for sale for offers around £575,000.
November 22, 2019
I loved this book. I loved the story being told by different voices and out of chronological order. Cornwall itself played such a strong part and he brilliantly described both the geography and the contrast between the picture postcard tourist view and what it's like to live there. He seemed to inhabit each of his varied characters, and the different times of their lives, so convincingly. There were so many wise and perceptive details, as always in his work. And just such a moving, compassionate story of intertwined lives.
September 23, 2017
Patrick Gale is extremely readable in a gentle but important way. Ordinary people are caught up in some of the really big issues: love, sexuality, faith, family, upbringing. Not cosy or sentimental but full of pathos, errors of judgement and what is is to be human with roles, responsibilities and weaknesses. Told from several angles over the lifetime of Barnaby, an Anglican priest in Cornwall, the whole effect is a jigsaw of how 'No man is an island..' We are all part of the same tapestry.
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