Madeleine

That's a lovely edition, I'd just want to keep stroking it and looking at it!

The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell - this was my Victober read and whilst it's not one of her spookiest or most Gothic books, it certainly caused a few shivers with it's great atmosphere and vivid characters. It has that favourite Victorian theme of madness or obsession, in this case with a watch supposedly suffused with the essence of Melopemene, the Tragic Muse, which is appropriate given that most of the action (and deaths!) takes place in the Mercury Theatre. We see the story through the eyes of Jenny, a young woman who's struggling to keep her family (herself and 2 younger siblings) together after their older brother's treachery leaves her without a job. Until she receives an offer from the seemingly benevolent Mrs Dyer, whose husband owns the Mercury Theatre, and who has a leading actress in need of a dresser. The pay is excellent and Mrs Dyer offers to help Jenny and her family out in other ways, but Jenny soon finds out that more is asked of her than a simple job. The main theme of the book is selling your soul to the devil, and it starts and finishes with performances of the play Dr Faustus. The watch is passed from actor to actor, and whilst the actors may get the role of their dreams, there is an awful price to pay. Jenny's relationship with her volatile actress, Lilith, is difficult at first but gradually she becomes more protective of the star, as she realised that both are being manipulated, plus strange things happen around Lilith. But who is controlling who? At times I wondered if Jenny herself was the unwitting manipulator, and as the book went on it did get more predictable and I did guess how it was going to finish. I did like Jenny, with her irrepressible attitude and kindness, and even grew to like Lilith eventually. Well-written and easy to read. 8/10

The River - Bruce Springsteen

finished mine last night, "the Whispering Muse" by Laura Purcell. Enjoyed it overall but maybe not the best of her books, I liked the main character Jenny and even the bonkers Lilith ( grew on me after a while. I did guess where it was headed though so the ending didn't come as a surprise.

Move any Mountain - The Shamen

Sad to see that David Ball, who was the more musical half of Soft Cell, has died at 66, way too young. Marc Almond posted a lovely tribute on Facebook. They have a new album coming out which they'd recently finished.

Feel - Robbie Williams

I had loads of Ladybird books, I think they're quite collectable now. Not sure if they're still around.

The way you make me feel - Michael Jackson

Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Curtis Lee

Pretty in Pink - The Psychedelic Furs

Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers

Going Back to my Roots - Odyssey

Come back and stay - Paul Young

I think this was her favourite of her books. An ingenious plot which has since been copied many times!

It's been called one of the first detective novels, although others also lay claim to that title, including "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Poe.

Come as you are - Nirvana

I can also recommend The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, which also has lots of different perspectives in the form of witnesses giving their statements to the sergeant.

New moon on Monday - Duran Duran

The Sound of Breaking Glass - Nick Lowe

Don't Go Breaking my Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee

Always on my mind -Pet Shop Boys/others

Forever in blue Jeans - Neil Diamond

Young Guns (go for it) - Wham!

Listen to your heart - Roxette