The Muse

Left me emotionally confused... But I loved it!

Had I reviewed this book when I had first finished it, it would tell of disappointment and frustration. Frustration that none of the story lines in the book end how you want or think. Every time you felt you were on top, or wished for something, the book would just do the total opposite. So, when I finished the book, I was annoyed.
Given a while, I realised how fond I was of it and how brilliant it truly was. It wasn't a fairy tale ending like so many books, neither was it predictably morose. It was interesting, gripping and kept me on my toes! I got over my petulance at it not turning out how I'd hoped and realised how much I liked it. It's the first book that's ever made me feel this way!

It was very well read but I found her accent for Odell a little one-mood (she sounded excited at almost everything she said!) but nothing too major.

I've enjoyed both of Jessie Burton's books- both totally worth it!!

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Wonderfully woven story

What a cracking novel. I loved this book. Excellent character development and intricate story telling. A journey of intense emotions. Beautifully narrated too. Highly recommend.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Excellent Story, Great Narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely! The story is gripping and well written. I've recommended it already and the feedback was just what I expected.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the different cultures are reflected and how well researched it is.

What does Cathy Tyson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

As a native speaker of both English and Spanish, I really enjoyed the way she handled the different accents. Even though there were a few words in Spanish that she didn't pronounce properly, I believe it was actually better for listeners who don't understand the language.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, several moments moved me, especially Odelle's impressions of life in London in the 60'. There were several other moments, but I can't comment on those without including spoilers.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed every minute of this book.

10 of 12 people found this review helpful

Superb

After expecting Jessie Burton to narrate again it was a surprise to hear Cathy Tyson however she did a wonderful job. Another great story from this author, different but equally intriguing and beautifully written.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Love and Art in times of tumult

Having sold a million copies of The Miniaturist is a hard act for author Jessie Burton to follow, and some of the difficulties which she experienced after her phenomenal success feed into her new fiction. Creating a successful work of art - here it is a painting - can have overwhelming and even tragic consequences.

The artworks at the centre of this story were painted by Olive Schloss, the 19 year-old daughter of Viennese art dealer Harold and his mentally fragile wife Sarah who have emigrated to Andalusia in the 1930s as the Civil War begins to simmer around them. 16 year-old Teresa Robles is soon entrenched with the family as a helper, and she becomes a close friend to Olive. More importantly she introduces Olive to her half-brother Isaac, an aspiring but pedestrian artist - and a burgeoning revolutionary - with whom Olive falls deeply in love. Olive is an inspired and gifted artist hiding her work away from public view, showing it to only Teresa, and it is Teresa who tricks Olive and shows the work to Harold Schloss, presenting it as her brother Isaac's work. (Easy to do since Harold believes no woman could ever be an artist). And so begins a dangerous game which leads ultimately to tragedy against the back drop of the increasingly vicious Civil War which the Schloss family can no longer ignore.

The other part of the story takes place three decades later in 1960s London. Trinidadian Odelle Bastien has been working in Dolcis for five years before she lands a job as a typist at the Skelton Institute where the woman co-director, the enigmatic Marjorie Quick, sees her potential, encourages her to write and secures the publication of her first work in London Review. Just as Teresa played midwife to Olive's art, so Quick (as she is known) plays midwife to Odelle's creativity. One day a young man, Lawrie Scott, brings a picture into the Skelton believing that it might be worth money. Quick's shocked reaction to the canvas arouses Odelle's curiosity and so begins a complex mystery about the painting, Lawrie (who falls in love with Odelle) and Quick which is gradually solved in the increasingly dramatic drama played out in the Andalusia sections of the story.

Jessie Burton is a subtle artist with words and her painter's eye makes the descriptions of place and paintings palpable and beautifully detailed: the 'apeggios' of birdsong; the 'grasshopper greens' and merging russets in Olive's paintings. The plot certainly draws you in, the devastating twist towards the end was pleasingly shocking (I'd guessed wrong), and the whole is bright with intense colour and detail. Overall, I think Jessie Burton tries to cover too much - 1960s hostility to immigrants like Odelle; women's struggle with their own creativity; the question of identity and belonging and not belonging; love and betrayal.... The list could go on. And then there's the examination of 1930s Spanish art, the violence of the Spanish Civil War and the art industry in 1960s London; the social mores of 1960s England..... all scrupulously researched but which do sometimes drag down the narrative.

The audio version presents a particular problem which is unsolvable, but left me feeling a bit cheated. There are many different accents adopted by the narrator which obviously keeps the pace and variety of the story and the many characters, but it is a problem when it comes to the mysterious Quick. Also there are unlikely elements which stretch credulity along the way, and the final London section pivots on an event which would fit into a nineteenth century novel!

Despite any quibbles, it's an ambitious and absorbing novel well worth listening to, and will no doubt sell a million copies!

18 of 23 people found this review helpful

Wonderful writing, dire narration

A great example of how a bad narrator can ruin a good book. The writing is beautiful, the story engaging and full of twists and turns but the narrator's accents were laughable. Spaniards sounding like Russians, West Indians lapsing into Welsh, and at times the voice were over dramatic, it almost put me off, but if you can get past that this is a really wonderful book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

This narration is so bad, the author should sue

What disappointed you about The Muse?

The opening lines are hilarious; Cathy Tyson reads in Indian, Scouse and Welsh accent before settling for a wierd West Indian Scouse. It becomes painful when she tries the Queens English. Occasionally a book is spoiled by a narration, this one was doomed the minute they employed Cathy Tyson to read. She chewed it up in a wandering Welsh/ indian/Carry On up the audible range of bizarre accents and spit it right out on the floor.
Shockingly bad. Diminished any virtue this reasonable novel had

What was most disappointing about Jessie Burton’s story?

De terreeble narratiyon boyo

What didn’t you like about Cathy Tyson’s performance?

Listen for yourself. It's so bad it's funny

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Incredulity. Then some more incredulity

Any additional comments?

Would be rude to go on

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

absolutely brilliant

This was even better than her previous book which I loved - expertly read by Cathy Tyson kept me engaged from start to finish everybody must read.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Amazing story

I stopped watching TV to listen to this amazing captivating story which is really two stories in one with Quick as the common thread.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Great book, poor audio

Wonderful story by Jessie Burton. A thoroughly enjoyable listen, especially during a summer in Spain...very engaging and exciting tale. But unfortunately overshadowed by some incredibly dramatic narration and a host of thoroughly absurd accents. I'm really not one to complain on reviews normally, but I eventually had to give this one up and read the book from about half way through.

11 of 14 people found this review helpful