Latest reviews about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

bghardcore says "its cool" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

bghardcore — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:10:47 GMT

At first glance, this was not a book that would ordinarily appeal to me. And yet, there was something quite intriguing about it: friends were discussing it, the cover interested me, and it is a debut novel. Once I picked the novel up, I became quite enthralled by the telling of the story, by the descriptive language and by the multiple twists and turns.

I'm not sure how well each of the elements would work alone but I am certain that, for me, the whole package worked magnificently. How to categorise the book? I can't.

Read it for yourself and make your own judgment.

Highly recommended....

adamsmom says "Best book I've read this year!" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

adamsmom — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:21:49 GMT

Definitely the best book I've read this year!!! GREAT reading!...

phukyoo says "Good read" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

phukyoo — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:55:17 GMT

I read this book nonstop and if you are a fan of mystery you are going to love this book. Don't read this book before going to sleep because you are not going to be able to go to sleep without first finishing the entire book. Go to your library and check it out!...

browneyz99 says "wonderful and entertaining" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

browneyz99 — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:33:15 GMT

Hightly enjoyed this book - it was entertaining and kept my attention have recommended it to many people. Each person who has read it has loved it. It is definately a page turner! I even bought this book for my mother as a xmas gift...

shawnat07 says "An amazing novel!" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

shawnat07 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:28:33 GMT

I read a lot. Rarely do I come across a book as great as this one. I had a hard time with the first chapter but after that I found myself coming home from work and picking it up and reading until I was forced to put it down. It was absolutely amazing. My husband who reads sci fi and fantasy novels and old history volumes picked it up at my urging and loved it! I have loaned this book out to all my friends (on the condition they return it!) and everyone has loved it. It was great.
Parts of it were sad but I thought that it led to the poignency of the novel and was not to its detriment.
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Megs530 says "Curl up and get lost inside a wonderful book." about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

Megs530 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:17:26 GMT

Obviously, the author is an avid reader herself--I felt completed identified. Despite some distressing character situations, I found myself thoroughly involved in the story, surprised by the plot twists, and sympathetic to the characters, including their flaws and struggles. I found the story a complete page-turner with fabulous characters and descriptions, beautiful writing, and a "make you feel better while you stay up late curled under your reading blanket getting lost in a new wonderful world" type of story....

neonfish says "I LOVED this book!" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

neonfish — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:19:01 GMT

I listened to this book on tape all the way through 2 times before I had to return it to the library. It was so captivating and with so many suprises. Great characters. Great story....

CrystaBush says "A Surprise Ending That You NEVER Saw Coming!" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

CrystaBush — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:08:13 GMT

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Don't worry, I won't give away any secrets!

Margaret, the main character of the story, is a book lover who works with her Father in the family owned book store. She is also an new biographer who likes to research the dead. Imagine her surprise when she received a letter from one of the world's most famous Authors, who is still alive. Decade after decade, Vida Winter had made up stories about her past and was finally ready to set the story straight, before dying, and she wanted Margaret to write her biography.

This book is filled with a haunted (or is it?) mansion, trusted employees with secrets, twins with an unusual bond, libraries filled to the ceiling with books and Jane Eyre.

As Margaret learns about Ms. Winters secrets, we also learn more about Margaret's secrets and the secrets aren't that much different!

I'm not spilling anymore details. :)

My Viewpoint!
I love a good story. I love to read a sentence and KNOW that I am going to love the...

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vinceandmia says "This is a great book--a grown up gothic mystery. Quick and dark" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

vinceandmia — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:01:21 GMT

The book "The Thirteenth Tale" by Dianne Setterfield kept me interested through two readings--I needed to re-read it for a book club meeting. I found the second time around that it was even more intriguing (less confusing in retrospect). This book reminded me of old gothic mysteries written by authors like Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney--the creepy and haunted houses, the evil relatives, the elusive family secrets, hidden clues, etc.

A troubled and somewhat reclusive book store owner is summoned to write the official biography of a beloved and dying writer, Vida Winter. Ms Winter has told her story before but with much missing, embellished or twisted. She has selected this writer for special reasons which unfold as the story comes to life. There are surprises, some shocks, some touching and beautiful writing and moments, unforgettable characters and lots of hidden clues, many of which reference classic books which might already be familiar. If you are a book lover I would...

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mickeymagic says "A page turner!" about Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale

mickeymagic — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:33:21 GMT

The Thirteenth Tale is a good choice for those who like to read mysterious, intriguing books. The tale is a sad one, but has a good ending. It will keep you guessing until the end. It reminds me of "A Shadow of the Wind," which is another good book, but "Thirteenth Tale" is much shorter. The narrator is a bookish young lady who is asked to write the biography of a well-known but reclusive author. In unlocking the secrets of the author, the narrator discovers and deals with her own past. I haven't read anything else by Diane Setterfield, but I will be looking for more works by her....