By: Diane Setterfield Publisher: Washington Square Press Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Washington Square Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 432 Publication Date: October 09, 2007 Release Date: October 09, 2007
Product Description: Sometimes, when you open the door to thepast, what you confront is your destiny.
Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchantingstories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate livesfor herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about herextraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret forso long. Calling on Margaret Lea, a young biographer troubled by her ownpainful history, Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good. Margaret ismesmerized by the author's tale of gothic strangeness -- featuring the beautifuland willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess,a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Together, Margaret and Vida confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.
Amazon.com Review: Settle down to enjoy a rousing good ghost story with Diane Setterfield's debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale. Setterfield has rejuvenated the genre with this closely plotted, clever foray into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and half-truths. She never cheats by pulling a rabbit out of a hat; this atmospheric story hangs together perfectly.
There are two heroines here: Vida Winter, a famous author, whose life story is coming to an end, and Margaret Lea, a young, unworldly, bookish girl who is a bookseller in her father's shop. Vida has been confounding her biographers and fans for years by giving everybody a different version of her life, each time swearing it's the truth. Because of a biography that Margaret has written about brothers, Vida chooses Margaret to tell her story, all of it, for the first time. At their initial meeting, the conversation begins:
"You have given nineteen different versions of your life story to journalists in the last two years alone."
She [Vida] shrugged. "It's my profession. I'm a storyteller."
"I am a biographer, I work with facts."
The game is afoot and Margaret must spend some time sorting out whether or not Vida is actually ready to tell the whole truth. There is more here of Margaret discovering than of Vida cooperating wholeheartedly, but that is part of Vida's plan. The transformative power of truth informs the lives of both women by story's end, and The Thirteenth Tale is finally and convincingly told. --Valerie Ryan
The end ruins it There were some very good aspects to this book. Unfortunately, the COMPLETELY implausible ending ruined it. Who could think that made any sense?
Brilliant The moment I began to read, I felt like I'm suffering from an addiction.
Addicted to the story that made me lost track of time. Time which seems to flow like fluid.
As I move reluctantly towards the end of the novel, I tried to take it slow but it's just impossible. When you're suffering from an addiction, you crave for more, isn't it?
The story is about twins, but towards the end there is a major twist.
Best book I've read in 2008
Great read, involves and entertains, great for a book club This book was recommended to me by a teacher who used it for a book club discussion. I had never heard of it but got it from the library. It was wonderful, involving, and entertaining. You became invested in the characters, and I feel it would make a wonderful movie as well. I now have purchased it for a Christmas gift, I know my recipient will be pleased.
Great Gothic Tale! I must admit that this book is not my typical reading material but I was intrigued by all the fuss and good reviews. Although it started off a little slow, patience proved to be a virtue as the story soon found its stride. The story is tightly plotted with wonderfully drawn characters. The ending was quite satisfying - I find that I am often disappointed in "mysteries" when the ending comes out of nowhere or is too simply concluded.
An Excellent Read This is a very entertaining book. It may start out a bit slow but picks up quickly. I ususally read to put myself to sleep, but this one kept me up past my bedtime!
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