The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel

The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel Features

Additional The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel Information

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.

What Customers Say About The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel:

I brought "The Thirteenth Tale" on vacation with me and I was finished before I left. Diane Setterfield's got this ghost story/mystery packed full of curiosities that will have you searching for the answers until the end.

So much of the ending of this book just didn't make sense. I kept waiting for some kind of major plot twist or revelation. Instead, I felt like these plot holes were a result of the fact that much of what Setterfield tried to do with this book just didn't work. I had high hopes for this book, so I was disappointed when I wasn't immediately engaged. So although I found some of the characters intriguing, and although I thought the book showed a lot of promise and potential, I was ultimately disappointed. I guess you can say the plot twist came, but it was very disappointed.

There were too many elements that didn't fit together, too many questions left unanswered. I am an avid reader and usually get really wrapped up in the books I read. As I read on, I found that I did want to keep reading. A lot of loose ends were left, but not in the purposeful way a skillful writer might leave his or her readers thinking after the book ends.

Big waste of time. If it wasn't a book club pick I would have dumped it about page 100. I just don't get it. this was one of the most painful books I have ever read. Very tedious read - so tired of overrated reviews and fiction with a total lack of substance.

I have a new favorite book. I want to read it again and again and again1.

THAT'S a good book. One that throws me off, one that grabs and twists my emotions, and one that touches my soul as a sister.FIVE STARS. My emotions were were twisted and twisted as I read this novel. How can you really talk about this book other than it was a great book that I have to have for my bookshelf and one that I know I'll want to read again another time and perhaps another. The secrets, the ghosts, the books, and the people transported me to various places and times. From page 1 right to the end, Diane Setterfield enraptured my mind with a story about a story intertwined with several stories. I was filled with an anxiety, a need, to solve the puzzle of The Thirteenth Tale by Vida Winters as the clues were laid before Margaret Lea and me, the reader. Towards the end I THOUGHT I had it figured out only to realize I completely missed things earlier in the stories.