Finding a good book is a very own kind of magic. Taking the invitation into another world, to ride with someone else‘s intense emotions, or simply getting lost between the pages out of curiosity can change life from one moment to the other in so many ways. I have always been the happiest when I could have a soothing evening ritual with a good book, and when long train rides seemed to fly away while I was reading something wonderful.
The book I want to introduce to you now has granted me reading moments I probably will never forget. I have actually mentioned it on my blog already. The one I read right before the incident from my post „Soft tale“ happened was this one.
That‘s how much the story had gotten to me.
I picked it up when I was waiting at a train station and had some time to spend at the book store. As you may know, I have a thing for train stations, and even more so, if they have book stores. I love their architecture, their peaceful rushing, and the feeling of going on a very special adventure.
So, when I was waiting at the central station in Leiden in the Netherlands, which was a little adventure for me as well, I found a book with a skull and flowers on the cover and began to read into it. What is better than haunted flowers? Beautiful darkness? And, oh yes! While reading the first few pages, I realized that this kind of writing might be of the quality I actually dreamed of accomplishing for my witching novel.
In the novel „The whispering muse“ by Laura Purcell, we follow around a young woman called Jenny, who is a newly unemployed maid trying to support herself as well as her younger siblings in the late 19th century in London. Her older brother had ran away with an actress, leaving the family with a bad reputation and in financial trouble. Unexpectedly, she is offered a position at the theater where her lost brother had once worked.
Originally only hired to assist in knitting and taking care of the costumes, she soon finds herself deeply involved in all the haunted stories that take place behind the stage.
Haunted?
Yes, haunted.
While it is one of Jenny‘s tasks to look after the charismatic actress Lillith, and find out what kind of secret she hides, everyone working at the theater seems to be very superstitious. And who can blame them? The tricks they work on stage each evening are impressive, and dangerous, and cause their hearts to race so very often.
What I enjoyed a lot about this novel is how much the characters came alive in my head. I heard Jenny‘s voice, could picture Lillith‘s ankle as she moved swiftly around, avoiding to be touched or having her measures taken. When Silas was introduced, an older men looking after the costumes of a younger actor he had a special relationship with, I could hear his laughter, and pictures how his mustache was moving with it.
And all of their little secrets and superstitions? Did Lillith have a secret baby, and where is it now? Why is the director‘s wife after her? And what about the watch all of these talented people are after and seemingly even willing to kill? No one is really what they seem at first. They all have their little secrets, their deeper layers, and the story they are involved in sheds blood here and there. It has heads roll off into the audience, and find those we just grew fond of being found hanging from the ceiling.
A theater is the best place to be haunted, right?
Without spoiling too much, there is one specific reason why I love this novel so much. It has sparkling and haunted characters, and uses them to trick the mind into the shadow area where the story can either be as morbid as life can get, or actually be haunted by something. It‘s up to the reader, once they dared a glimpse into the shadows. Isn’t that wonderful?
I did not want to let it go, when I was done reading. I wanted to see it all for the first time again, wanted to be introduced to the characters once more, could not imagine to ever get over those who had been lost. Plus, it reminds me of trips into our neighbour country with dreamful towns and caramel waffles.
It is a truly haunting novel.
Mistress witch writes 