Locked inside a bookshop with Jessie Burton
Yesterday was the day two of my bookish dreams came true. Not only was I locked inside a bookshop when the lights went out and darkness cloaked the outside of the store, but I was also in the presence of other book loving people and the wonderful Jessie Burton talking about her latest novel The Muse. The Miniaturist also made her appearance which was lovely and just shows how many people are still fascinated with that novel as there ever were.
But first….. have you ever dreamed of being locked inside a bookshop after dark? It really is that wonderful…
A bookshop after dark- heaven!
Book shelves with no one in front of them… all those books just waiting to be looked at, picked up and pages flicked through. Just me there in the Kingdom of books…and me the Queen…..aaah my kingdom waits..
VISIT THE LOCATIONS OF THE MUSE HERE
Jessie was as eloquent and as funny as ever. With the huge success of the Miniaturist, she was scared of writing the second novel -and I’m not surprised. I mean just remember the phenomenal response that novel got and what it must have been like for Jessie to deal with. The Muse I have to say does look set to capture all of that magic and more. The story behind an iconic painting and a story set across the 1930s and 1960s from London to Spain and back again. I was totally in love with this novel from day one and now I’ve heard Jessie talk about it, even more so.
Even before Jessie came on stage as it were the excitement was building…the book lovers were invited to descend to the basement where the children’s department was and well, it was akin to walking into Narnia what with all the displays of woodland folk and trees on the way down.I passed Peter Rabbit on the stairs and as Jessie read, Mog the cat peeked out from the shelf above. This was my third book dream right there.
But I digress, back to Jessie – She set her book in Spain having always been fascinated with the country and its language not to mention its history. Having studied Spanish at university, she wanted to explore the time period of the civil war from the point of view of those who lived through it – the Spanish people – the ordinary Spanish person living in a rural village, or in the mountains, and how they viewed it and experienced what happened next.
Jessie explained that this book was different to write as well, first of all it’s set somewhere sunny for the most part so after the damp and rain of The Miniaturist, it was a blessed change! The dual time frame was also a challenge but having two very different locations and times was very exciting as a writer. The part set in London, (the opening chapter in the shoe shop was actually based on a true story she learned from her mum!) Jessie ‘borrowed’ it and adapted it for one of the funniest opening chapters and some very fine dialogue I’ve read it a long time. Oh and try getting the mental images it creates out of your mind…
Jessie Burton and Susan Booktrailer
I don’t want to say much else about the book – the idea that a work of art should have such humble and complex beginnings – is something Jessie finds fascinating and the idea of The Muse she said is that everyone is going to think of a muse in a different way. What must it be like to have all that attention on you and to be the centre of something so creative and ‘out there’ ? Well, Jessie, I think you know the answer to that one. And on that stage last night, in an ironic twist of fate, it was like seeing our favourite literary painting ( that cover is a work of art in itself) and getting to chat with its creator.
Do you know, it was very apt we were in the children’s section of the store as Jessie told us more about the children’s stories she’s going to be writing next. Already on my list – I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. This woman had a Roald Dahl poster on her wall when little and now has a shed in the garden just like the famous writer himself had. With a kettle and electricity and everything!I am planning to move in Jessie, just saying. One of my favourite childhood authors influencing a great one of today.
READ THE REVIEW OF THE MUSE HERE
Leaving the book Emporium that is Waterstones, I did think about hiding in a pile of books or behind a pillar until everyone else had left. And I nearly got away with it, but I’d hidden behind a Roald Dahl display of the BFG. And when he moved someone screamed and the game was up. That Roald Dahl has a lot to answer for, in more ways than one.
With many thanks to the Waterstones team (buy the book here) and lovely Caroline for being the perfect host! And of course to the wonderful Jessie for the chit chat, charm and literary musings (sorry)
