From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

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: contemporary, mystery, 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

Sep 13, 2011 Jen Ifer's Inklings rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio-books, read-in-2011, 5-star-reads

I don't give a lot of 5 star ratings, but this book really was better than most.

The Thirteenth Tale took me a few chapters to really get into, but once I did, I was hooked. I found myself always thinking about the story. Always trying to figure out what turn was going to come next.

There were a few things that I had figured out pretty quickly, but the story kept me reading anyway. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2009 Marla rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, mystery, book-club, 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

Oct 04, 2022 Soelo rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, z2022lost

Well that was just frustrating. I expected a book about reading or books or an author's career but got a dysfunctional family narrative. ...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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Sep 16, 2009 Rhonda rated it really liked it

This was a great read! I came upon it rather unexpectedly and it was so very suited for me. Incorporating aspects of mystery, intrigue, incest, quirkiness, and mental illness, this book was really well written. I particularly enjoyed the dual protagonists who were both women writers and lovers of fine literature.

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