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The Thirteenth Tale

Diane Setterfield

Start date: August 2, 2014

Finish date: August 21, 2014

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What Members Thought

Jul 26, 2014 Yzabel Ginsberg rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, contemporary, group-reads

3.5 stars.

Overall, I quite liked this story—it has quite few vibes of Charlotte Brontë and V.C Andrews, since it deals with a fair share of family secrets, hidden relationships that shouldn't be, people who might or might not be dead... Knowing those authors, the books this novel alludes to, is definitely a plus. There are several twists that, in retrospect, may have been guessed, but one of the main characters, Vida Winter, is such an unreliable narrator that you can never be sure.

The writing s ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 Julie Wann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-literature, gothic, suspense

I give a 5 rating sparingly, but this book caught me by surprise. I've had it on my shelf for a couple of years, and I picked it up on a whim.

The gothic feel of this book is dreamlike, and there are so many jewels of phrases and quotes that I will probably read this book at second time at some point.

If this book is not on your "to read" list, add it now. If it is on your "to read" list, move it up to next in line.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite lines in the book.

"Do you know the feeling ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 12, 2008 Jen B rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, 2011

This one feels heavy, dark and creepy from the outset - not usually my favorite type of book. In fact, I actually put this one down when I tried to read it a few years ago. But I decided to give it another try, and this time I fell in headfirst. Setterfield is a wonderful writer, and this is a well-told, captivating story. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this one if you enjoy them - the narrators are fantastic and really enhance the story.

2 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2009 Marla rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, book-club, adult, zz-2009, book-discussion, book-about-books, ghosts

I found the book interesting, but still a slow read. I thought the author did an excellent job of giving clues and answers throughout the book. This was a really good book club selection, because we had a great discussion about the different characters and twists in the story. My advice is to just keep reading...

2 likes · Like · see review

May 22, 2015 Amanda A rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, read-in-2015

Audio re-read May 2015

2 likes · Like · see review

May 25, 2009 Avigail rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library, borrowed, physical-book, buddy-reads, podcast-rec, youtube-rec, own, librofm

Only a highly skilled author can write a compelling tale about a reclusive family whose world is small and not overly exciting. Yet Diane Setterfield does exactly this in The Thirteenth Tale. Yes, it has suspense, off-stage violence, and even a ghost it also has gorgeous writing, fascinating characters, and a great plot. It was fascinating to my psychologist's mind, and enthralling. It is part Gothic; part fantasy fiction, part suspense novel. I loved the protagonist's love affair with books. I ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 31, 2010 Yz the Whyz rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010-reads

Not a book I would have normally picked up, if not for having been recommended as part of a Pick-It-For-Me challenge.

It's a tale of Margaret Lea, a woman haunted by a dead twin, and her unexpected role as biographer to famous recluse writer Vida Winters. It is a story filled with mysteries upon mysteries, revealing secret family scandals, dysfunctional relationships, and the eerie relationships between twins.

The prose is lovely, bordering on poetic. The story, intriguing enough to keep me readi ...more

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