The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel

This is the book I tell everyone about. Beautiful writing, interesting characters, and an immersive world of family drama and intrigue!

I did not expect to like this book. It had been recommended to me and is clearly popular, but I find myself shying away from super popular books because they're usually not very good. But then this one was on sale for $3 and that's cheaper than a sushi lunch and would take me longer to digest, so I bought it. And I'm glad I did. The story is certainly well crafted and grabs you. It is well written and lyrical. It has a plethora of well-fleshed out characters that keep you interested, and the ending is neat and tidy. Things that bugged me (note: I'm easily bugged): - The inter-generational abuse and neglect presented as normal. - Esoteric words chucked in there where simpler ones would do. .... Ok, OTOH, maybe the author fell in love with those particular words and needed to put them somewhere in homage. I can understand that. But it was still vaguely irritating. - The twin thing. Yes I know it was a major theme of the book, but really, I was happily truckling along, completely immersed in the story universe, and then there would be this whine about the twin and it totally yanked me out of the tale and plonked me firmly back into reality. Like seriously, maybe it's time to get over yourself, girl? This obsession is maybe not quite healthy? In that regard the very end had me rolling my eyes so far back in my head I nearly fell over. - There was something else but with my irritation about the twin thing I've forgotten what it was. Curses. The characters: I find it interesting that most of the male characters, barring Charlie, were extremely comfortable to be around. I liked Dr. Clifton very much. His amusement delighted me. I loved Aurelius not only because his name reminded me fondly of Marcus Aurelius, but because he was so caring and safe. Also the cake. That's pretty important. I liked John because he kept on doing the best he could. Charlie and Charlie's Dad, of course, both needed to be put out of their misery. Of the women, most of them were flawed. Even Hester, who brought cleanliness and order, also brought chaos. Missus cared and loved, but was inadequate. Isabella needed to be put out of her misery. And Margaret whined. I wonder what that was all about? The gender thing? Was it deliberate? Surely not. OH hey...Mrs. Love wasn't flawed. She was just lovely. <3 OH! I remembered what the other thing was that irritated me. The vague hints that this was going to be a ghost story. My mind stamped a firm "NOPE" on that one and I got inwardly snarly whenever it came up. Anyway, I recommend this book. It's a good one. Interesting, compelling, no bad language or explicit sex. Just a really good story.

It is so nice to pick up a novel and find that within a page or two you have become completely entranced. There are some authors who just seem to have a natural-born talent for this. (And way too many that don't). They take you into their world and before you know it, you find that nothing else in your life really matters. Ms. Setterfield has surely accomplished this with this clever, absorbing tale. It is written in the first person and narrated by Margaret, a contemporary Englishwoman, a sketcher of biographies, and a part-time bookseller in her father's store. Before going any further, it should be mentioned that this novel is a perfect example of the effective use of the first person narrative. Margaret immediately takes us into her confidence, giving us her innermost thoughts, sharing with us her firmly-held opinions, and perhaps most importantly, freely disclosing her vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, too many contemporary authors don't seem understand this concept, carelessly using the first-person in narratives that are utterly lacking in intimacy. Ms. Setterfield clearly does understand the concept, and as mentioned above, she has the reader wrapped around her finger in about two pages. The story has to do with an eccentric, popular and critically-acclaimed English author--Vida Winter--who has plucked Margaret out of obscurity to write her biography. Margaret finds her task greatly complicated by the fact that several attempts at this biography have been made by other would-be authors, and all ended disastrously when it became apparent that Ms. Winter was not going to relate anything even remotely approximating the truth. She is a storyteller, you see. But the strong-willed Margaret is not to be trifled with. She is insistent that Ms. Winter be straight with her and she is insistent on her right to verify the facts. The somewhat disdainful Ms. Winter agrees, and then proceeds to tell Margaret about the looniest story one could possibly imagine. It is, to say the least, a lot of fun. First of all, there are the conversations between these two very intelligent, determined women, filled with wit, word-play and confrontation; then there is the emerging story of Ms. Winter's childhood--the biography written by Margaret--her feral upbringing, her insane parents, the decaying, Gothic mansion; finally there is the story of Margaret herself, her lonely life, her scholarly father, her psychotic mother, and her independent investigation. All of these wind among each other seamlessly and are alternately engrossing and suspenseful. If there is a flaw here, it is that the ultimate resolution of Winter's fanciful story is almost too much to believe. It's a bit of a stretch, don't you know, but on second thought, perhaps not. Ms. Setterfield is a storyteller, you see.

The Thirteenth Tale is a rare find and I hope that Diane Setterfield will turn into one of those rare authors who keep punching out great stories. This book deserves to be widely read and I believe it has already found a following. This definitely makes my list of favorites for 2007. Setterfield proves herself a master manipulator as she gracefully twists the plot and characters in versatile ways that will keep you guessing even after you've finished the book. How's that for magic? If you've got it figured out ahead of time, I envy your ability of deduction. It would appear there are many still debating the outcome of the fire. You'll want to pay close attention throughout the reading because this is not a flimsy work of art and it will suck you in, twist you up, and spit you out at the final climax. The novel is rich with complex characters and a compelling plot that will haunt you long after you finish the last page. It may start slow, but it picks up speed and barrels through the finish line. Perhaps the ending was a little too pat for some, but after all the other heavy lifting, it was nice to have a quiet calm conclusion. For certain, the rest of the book will have you holding your breath, rereading passages, and wishing for more. I know it was a sad day when I finally came to the end of the book. And, though I loaned it out, I asked for it back so I can reread it one more time. It's that good. What better endorsement can one give? It's hard to believe this is a first novel and I pray it won't be Diane's last. This is a finely structured story of madness and mayhem, lunacy and eccentricity, love and friendship, in the typical gothic English setting but not during the typical timeframe of most gothic novels. Though some may not care for this type of mystery, I found it compassionate, stimulating, and thought provoking. And though it echoed of Bronte and others, it stands on its own merits and deserves to be read for its own intrinsic worth. I highly recommend this book, read it, share it, and cherish it.

A good, well-written mystery is a pleasure. The journey through the mystery's maze must be enticing and fun, and the answer to the puzzle must tie up all the loose ends in a surprising but believable way. THE THIRTEENTH TALE just squeaks by on both counts. In fact, I had to force myself to read it through to the end, although it did get easier to stay engrossed by midway. Part of the problem was the writing. Ms. Setterfield is not as disciplined, clear a writer as I would like. Her descriptions are often vague. For instance, I was uncertain what time period we were visiting in this book, although clearly it was not present-day. Why was this not delineated? Perhaps if I were English, I'd have an easier time of it, but as an American I had trouble visualizing the places and actions because of this omission. Ms. Setterfield likes to use repetitive sentence fragments. Does she think it makes the writing more like actual thought, that it moves the action along faster, or that it signifies intensity? To me, it makes the book read in spots like a cheap, mass-market paperback. The most serious problem is that the resolution of the mystery, while definitely surprising, is not very plausible. I just didn't buy it. And the neat way in which the pieces are tied up at the end felt contrived. In addition, it's a risky conceit to make a world famous author the central character, and then have to produce examples that are supposed to demonstrate the famous author's brilliant writing style. I, the reader, am forced to take on faith that the sample of said writer's work that's provided at the end is actually top-drawer. Lastly, the degree of overwrought psychobabble regarding the narrator's childhood trauma just got on my nerves. Over-the-top melodrama is not necessarily deeply thought or felt. As I write this, I see that I disliked THE THIRTEENTH TALE more than I thought I did. But, since I finished it and it gave me a few days' worth of diversion, I'll let my 3-star rating stand.

What a beautiful book! 4.5 stars. I bought this at a library book sale several years ago, and tried multiple times to start reading it without any success. Finally, I bought the audio version from amazon, and one full cd (or about 35 pages) in, I was hooked. The Thirteenth Tale tells the story of two narrators, the biographer Margaret Lea, and the best-selling author, Vida Winter. Miss Winter, who is dying, commissions the much younger Margaret to write her biography, the true story of her deeply mysterious, and never before revealed, past. What follows are the tales of both their lives, intertwined in ways not first known to either. Miss Winter is a strong personality, and old lady with copper hair, piercing emerald eyes, and an imperious manner. Margaret is, in many ways, her opposite, someone who nurses a deep sense of emptiness, grief, and solitude. But together, they revisit the past, enchanting the reader, and perhaps, healing themselves. Part of why I think I had difficulty starting the novel is that it is written in a rather old-fashioned manner. It is reminiscent of, and refers consciously to, classic novels such as Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. So if one has been reading contemporary thrillers, as I have been, the change in tone takes a moment to get used to. But once I understood the mood of the novel, and adjusted my expectations as a reader, I was completely taken with it. The Thirteenth Tale is consistently compelling, and full of surprises. It has all the elements of a classic gothic tale; there are twins, ghosts, a crumbling mansion, a neglected garden. There is abuse, and murder, jealousy, romance, and a touch of whimsy. It's an awful lot of fun. Once I got into the story, I listened to the audio while driving, and read the book when at home. I grew attached to the characters, and was sad to see the novel end. Finally, at its heart, The Thirteenth Tale is a tribute to great novels like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. It is a book about books, and about reading. Miss Winter reminisces about what it means to be a storyteller, and Margaret Lea speaks with insight about her great love of reading. Any reader will find a sense of kinship and satisfaction in the importance they give, and the love they have, for stories. The Thirteenth Tale made me think about why I love to read, and it reminded me of how much fun it can be to lose oneself in a good book. I highly recommend it.

Absolutely loved this book and it was definitely worth the price! The twists and turns and dark stories within it is amazing. Great author and well written book.

It's been a long time since I read a novel where I felt the like the author really got me. "Got you?" You ask. "The author can't get you. They never even met you." But you see, this author has more than met me. She is me in some ways. The reader who is more likely to have a book as a best friend than a person-and is ok with that. Not a loner, not a geek, but someone who appreciates the written word, who loves stories, who is constantly reading searching for something special. I'm happy to report I have found another special book. It's not something I expected to find so appealing. A little novel that's more about storytelling than anything else, lacking the historical detail I love to absorb-and it's in first person. But it's hard to resist a story that is told by one of your own kind- a story seeker, a story teller-and it's impossible to resist "The Thirteenth Tale." Imagine an old woman-the most famous, prolific author in the UK about whom almost nothing is known-who one day sends a letter to a young woman working in her family bookshop. She's not famous, she's never written a novel, doesn't even read contemporary novels. But based on a short biographical piece on two brothers she published the old woman wants her to write her biography before she dies. And this time, the old woman, renowned for her fantastic, unbelievable (and unverifiable) life stories, is going to tell the truth. Like I said, this novel is literally irresistible. It is chopped full of secrets on top of secrets, stories that twist and turn and lead you to unexpected places. I never, in a million years could have guessed at the ending for the book. It is a shocker then looking back, fits in perfectly with the story. And the writing is unbelievable. Funny, touching, stuffed with real meaning and heart wrenching sense that will make you laugh, cry, dance around the room. It's a special book all right. I recommend it very highly. And I can't wait for more from this author. Diane Setterfield as a fellow book lover I salute you and your wonderful achievement. Five stars.