It is 1958 and the Sputnik satellite has taken a dog up into space; back on earth, five-year-old Andy has a new sister, Elaine - a baby who, his father insists, is 'not quite all there'. While his parents argue over whether or not to send Elaine away, Andy sleeps beside her cot each night, keeping guard and watching as his mother - once an ambitious, energetic nurse - twists away into her private, suffocating sadness. Knots keep treasures safe, Andy's rope-maker grandfather tells him, and, as he listens to stories of the great Harry Houdini, Andy learns the Carrick Bend, the Midshipman's Hitch and the Monkey's Fist. Then a young painter, hired to decorate the family's house, seems to call Andy's mother back from the grief in which she is lost. But one day, at The Siding - the old railway carriage that serves as the family's seaside retreat - Andy is left in charge of his baby sister on a wind-chopped beach, where he discovers that not all treasures can be kept safe for ever. Three decades later Andrew returns from self-imposed exile to The Siding, the place where his life first unravelled. Looking back on the broken strands of his childhood, he tries, at last, to weave them together, aided by his grandfather's copy of The Ashley Book of Knots and the arrival of a wild-haired, tango-dancing sculptor - a woman with her own ideas about making peace with the past. LONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL IMPAC DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2011
The Devil's Music
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`A powerful and deeply affecting story of the bond between a mother and her children ... Jane Rusbridge is a brilliant new voice' --Alison Macleod
`Jane Rusbridge has a gift for evoking both characters and place ... Sensuously written and beautifully woven together, the various strands of the story converge in a heartrending - and heartwarming - climax' --Kathy Page
'Beautifully written and a real page turner'
--Essentials
`Jane Rusbridge has a gift for evoking both characters and place ... Sensuously written and beautifully woven together, the various strands of the story converge in a heartrending - and heartwarming - climax' --Kathy Page
'Beautifully written and a real page turner'
--Essentials
About the Author
Jane Rusbridge lives on the coast in West Sussex with her husband, a farmer, and three of their five children. She taught at primary and preschool levels before returning to education herself as a mature student to study English at Chichester University, where she went on to gain an MA in Creative Writing. For the past ten years she has worked at Chichester University as an Associate Lecturer in English.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By A. Young
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This first novel by author Jane Rusbridge caught my eye because it starts with a Glossary of Knots! I put it on the To Read pile. Then I picked it up and read the first chapter; a bad habit. Then I had to read it.
The book is stylishly written with an attention to detail which put me right back in the late 50s/early 60s of my childhood. The construction of the novel is cleverly designed to draw you in; well, it drew me in.
The opening chapter details a moment of everyday ordinariness which turns, in a split second, into a moment of nightmarish, life-changing horror. That tiny fraction of time when a life changes for ever.
The book is composed in five parts. In the first part, apparently unconnected stories of different people in differing times and places are laid down. The second and third parts find these stories touching, crossing, connecting and becoming clearer. In the fourth part of the book, the beauty of the pattern of this story has emerged and in the final part all strands are joined in a satisfying and interesting way. Rather like the tying of a complex knot I guess.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters written from the perspective of a nine year old boy, reminding me of Dirk Bogardes wonderful 'Great Meadow'. How might you feel when faced with a plate of Spam, lumpy mashed potato and beetroot? Yuk!
Very British, pleasingly understated and written in an entertaining style, the book touches on issues of interpersonal relationships, obsession, social taboos even the borderline-autism of the male mind.
I was left with a slight regret when I finished the book and feel a little jealous of those who haven't yet read it. That's how I usually feel when I finish a great book.
Thus, five stars.
The book is stylishly written with an attention to detail which put me right back in the late 50s/early 60s of my childhood. The construction of the novel is cleverly designed to draw you in; well, it drew me in.
The opening chapter details a moment of everyday ordinariness which turns, in a split second, into a moment of nightmarish, life-changing horror. That tiny fraction of time when a life changes for ever.
The book is composed in five parts. In the first part, apparently unconnected stories of different people in differing times and places are laid down. The second and third parts find these stories touching, crossing, connecting and becoming clearer. In the fourth part of the book, the beauty of the pattern of this story has emerged and in the final part all strands are joined in a satisfying and interesting way. Rather like the tying of a complex knot I guess.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters written from the perspective of a nine year old boy, reminding me of Dirk Bogardes wonderful 'Great Meadow'. How might you feel when faced with a plate of Spam, lumpy mashed potato and beetroot? Yuk!
Very British, pleasingly understated and written in an entertaining style, the book touches on issues of interpersonal relationships, obsession, social taboos even the borderline-autism of the male mind.
I was left with a slight regret when I finished the book and feel a little jealous of those who haven't yet read it. That's how I usually feel when I finish a great book.
Thus, five stars.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A beautifully written story that will take you back to the 50s; you'll be captured by lino, candlewick bedspreads and apple snow as much as the memories of days on the beach!
With vivid portrayal of relationships and a brilliant ability to bring to painful life the contrasting realities of their experience; this writer still leaves you with a sense of hope.
This is an amazing first novel and one that is hard to put down. It's depth is enthralling - don't miss it.
With vivid portrayal of relationships and a brilliant ability to bring to painful life the contrasting realities of their experience; this writer still leaves you with a sense of hope.
This is an amazing first novel and one that is hard to put down. It's depth is enthralling - don't miss it.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By CS Green
Format:Hardcover
An enthralling tale- I really cared about the characters and their intense relationships.The threads of the story were woven together so cleverly building to a thrilling climax.
Jane Rusbridge has written a novel which has a central theme of knots, quite unique in my reading experience. Beautifully worded descriptions evoked strong nostalgia for the seaside holidays of my childhood.
This is story telling at its best.
Jane Rusbridge has written a novel which has a central theme of knots, quite unique in my reading experience. Beautifully worded descriptions evoked strong nostalgia for the seaside holidays of my childhood.
This is story telling at its best.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tragic!
I really enjoyed this book. Its quite a sad book and I felt for Andrew who believes that he did a terrible thing when he was only a little boy. Read more
Published 12 days ago by sue book worm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tragic story beautifully crafted but...
A beautifully written, thoughtful book with wonderful characters and imagery and an unusual way to begin a novel (glossary of knots). Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kirsche
5.0 out of 5 stars
loved this book!
I found The Devil's Music by Jane Rusbridge immediately engaging for three main reasons: the subject matter (I'm a sucker for a tragedy that blows a family apart) the coastal... Read more
Published 4 months ago by selliot
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read.
I really enjoyed this story of a fractured family. The prologue was gripping. Very clever the way it gradually reveals what really happened. The writing was excellent.
Published 9 months ago by M. Callow
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exquisitely witten novel
This is an exquisitely witten novel, I enjoyed every second reading it. Jane Rusbridge is an extremely talented writter evoking characters & places to the perfection. Read more
Published 9 months ago by MME Gubby Cabaret
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exquisitely Written Tale of Redemption
A beautifully written story of childhood trauma and - three decades later - redemption and healing. For years, Andy has believed that he accidentally killed his handicapped sister... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kate Hopkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Devils Music
The Devils Music is one of those fantastic books, that draws you in, right from the start. I couldn't wait to get back to it's pages and, when I wasn't reading it, I was constantly... Read more
Published 12 months ago by George Allan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absorbing, and so beautifully written
It's not often that I stay up till 2am reading a novel, but this was one of those times. I went to bed early, also, and woke early, wanting to read, wanting to know. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Alba
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautiful Book
I had heard nothing but praise for this book and was keen to read it for myself so I nudged it up the TBR pile. And I am very glad I did. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Nettie Thomson
5.0 out of 5 stars
a curious read ...
A very good "read" written in an evocative and visually descriptive way which I found difficult to put down... Read more
Published 16 months ago by whitedove
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