• The Museum of Ordinary People

  • By: Mike Gayle
  • Narrated by: Witney White
  • Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (322 ratings)

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The Museum of Ordinary People  By  cover art

The Museum of Ordinary People

By: Mike Gayle
Narrated by: Witney White
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Publisher's summary

In this “brilliantly original” and warmhearted novel, an old set of encyclopedias leads a young woman to a curious museum and one profoundly moving lesson: that every life is an extraordinary life (New York Times bestselling author Claire Mackintosh).

Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she's ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold. As she sorts through a lifetime of memories, everything comes to a halt when she comes across something she just can’t part with: an old set of encyclopedias. To the world, the books are outdated and ready to be recycled. To Jess, they represent love and the future that her mother always wanted her to have.

In the process of finding the books a new home, Jess discovers an unusual archive of letters, photographs, and curious housed in a warehouse and known as the Museum of Ordinary People. Irresistibly drawn, she becomes the museum's unofficial custodian, along with the warehouse’s mysterious owner. As they delve into the history of objects in their care, they not only unravel heart-stirring stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long-buried secrets that lie closer to home.

Inspired by an abandoned box of mementos, The Museum of Ordinary People is a poignant novel about memory and loss, the things we leave behind, and the future we create for ourselves.

©2023 Mike Gayle (P)2023 Grand Central Publishing

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What listeners say about The Museum of Ordinary People

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    189
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Meh. Melodramatic and Predictable

Good narrator but the best part of this book was the concept of the museum. Rather than explore that with some kind of interesting premise, most of the story is melodramatic. A bit like a soap opera. The story could’ve been told in an hour.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Unique premise

This story had such a unique premise but left me wanting more in the execution. The pacing was a little slow throughout the bulk, but had a great ending. Thought-provoking overall.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely and touching

I enjoyed the characters and their story. Well developed. Particularly well read by the vocal actress.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thought-provoking and heart-warming

This is a quirky, delightful and moving celebration of the road less travelling, and of perspectives less commonly considered. A poignant reminder of the importance of celebrating and commemorating the ordinary. Also a much needed antidote to the media-crazed celebrity worship and materialistic consumerism that seems to dominate the modern world. Such a refreshing listen. I absolutely loved this book!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Sweet Story

This is a sweet, pleasant story about good meaning ordinary people trying to find their place in life. I especially like the idea behind the museum they struggled to create and hope it inspires people to form real museums of ordinary people.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Predictable and Overwrought

I considered abandoning this book several times, but persevered. Unfortunately, it was a complete waste of time. I am hard pressed to believe that most readers considered this worthy of high ratings. I am being generous with a three.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very Touching

It's such a wonderful story and beautifully read. I will be recommending this book on a regular basis for a very long time. it really moved me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a nice surprise

This was a lovely story about how someone with a vision for something unusual, can inspire others to embrace a dream and make it happen. It is also about the curves that life throws one, sometimes all at once. Lost parents, lost jobs, lost lovers, lost friends - fast and furious personal chaos are all part of the story as Jess struggles to deal with the issues in a positive way while still maintaining her dream. Here a young woman challenged with the decision of settling for a safe and comfortable life, or embracing one that has many unknowns, but is perhaps a truer portrait of who she really is. I loved the narration and the story. It was one of those an audio books where I was sorry that ended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved it

You know a good story when you are dying because it ends. You want to continue just so you can continue to lose yourself in it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun and interesting

It’s not a work of art but it was a good book no stressful long drawn out story.

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