On a scale of 1-5 stars, 5 being the best, how do you rate the thirteenth tale?
***** (Loved it)
54%
[ 12 ]
****
18%
[ 4 ]
***
18%
[ 4 ]
**
0%
[ 0 ]
* (Loathed it)
0%
[ 0 ]
Didn't finish the book, gave up on it
4%
[ 1 ]
Didn't read this one
4%
[ 1 ]
Total Votes : 22
Author
Message
sparkymarky Moderator
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:11 am Post subject: febuarys book:the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield
Discuss your thoughts on the book here as soon as you have finished reading it. Did you (not) enjoy it? Anything that struck you or maybe someone else can answer if you have a question? We're not really looking for in depth discussions...just tell us what you think of it!
For those who have finished it, please choose a star rating for the book based on how much you liked it. What did you think of it? Do you have any questions based on the book?
If you do have something to post that reveals plot details which could ruin others' enjoyment of the book, please use the spoiler function (details: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about12.html)
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:19 am Post subject:
this was quite rightly voted RISI favourite read 2007 and is a cracking cracking tale....
Spoiler:
loved the way the main character is as besotted of books as we all are and the whole gothic feel of the book that reminded me a little in style of something like fingersmith!!
the whole recounting of Vida's lifestory was fascinating and never saw the hook coming about there being 3 children not two...i had deduced that one of the girls suffered multiple-personality disorder so was delighted to be proved wrong and the way that the tale ties in with the man margaret meets near the ruins of the house was a clever touch that linked the past with the present day. would've liked more about her own siamese twin but overall this book had me smiling from start to finish twio days later. to be fair i only picked it up because so many ppl on RISI were talking about it and had been for awhile and i had a feeling it might get in the final poll of the year by the amount of votes it won the monthly heat by.....
i haven't heard anybody say they didn't like this yet....
I'd quite like to read this but definately won't have time this month and would need to get hold of it first! _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject:
I started this a couple of nights ago and I am hooked. I had left A Gathering Light downstairs so picked up the Thirteenth Tale and now I can't get back to the other.
I'd quite like to read this but definately won't have time this month and would need to get hold of it first!
I am definately losing my marbles! I completely forgot that I've put my name down on the RISI Mobile library for this so will probably get to read it this month, if not next month! _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 538 Birthday: 12th November
Location: In the Land of Pies and Piers
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:
mummymelly wrote:
mummymelly wrote:
I'd quite like to read this but definately won't have time this month and would need to get hold of it first!
I am definately losing my marbles! I completely forgot that I've put my name down on the RISI Mobile library for this so will probably get to read it this month, if not next month!
LOL...just been back to RISI to check my list Mel...
Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2509 Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject:
I have this ready and waiting - it jumped into my supermarket trolley last week. Usually I am quite happy to wait for a book but I have heard so many people praising this one I decided to go for it. Will read it next, should be by mid next week!
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:
eightlegs wrote:
I have this ready and waiting - it jumped into my supermarket trolley last week. Usually I am quite happy to wait for a book but I have heard so many people praising this one I decided to go for it. Will read it next, should be by mid next week!
I read this one about a year ago but it remains vividly in my head. What an outstanding novel!
I was lucky enough to meet Diane Setterfield at an author talk and book sign last year, and got my copy signed.
She speaks as wonderfully as she writes - she did so many drafts of the book and told us all about how the idea came to her - she had dreamt about a library on fire which started her off.
She wasnt as forthcoming about any new books though, I think she finds the instant fame and publicity fairly difficult to get used to and is worried that the next book may not live up to expectations - it's certainly a pressure for her. She did say that she had lots of ideas floating around though! _________________ Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
I read this in December 2006 but it has stayed with me as one of my favourite books ever. It helps that it has the gothic undertones which I love in a book and the spookiness and mystery added to my reading pleasure. Everyone should read this book!!! _________________ Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise
Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 538 Birthday: 12th November
Location: In the Land of Pies and Piers
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:
This book really does deserve all the accolades that are coming its way. It is by far one of the best books I have read in a long time. I just feel that the story is so well executed it keeps you guessing until the end.I hope whatever she writes next will live up to the very high standard she has set herself....if you haven't read it, then you really must ...
Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2509 Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:
It's the strength of all this recommendations that made me buy it! I'm glad, and keen to finish my current book so I can start it (I know it sounds odd but as it's February's book I wanted to wait until Feb to read it).
Also, I bought it as a Xmas pressie for my brother's fiancee, so I'm doubly glad it's good!
Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 676 Birthday: 2nd November
Location: Watford, Herts
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:
I'm starting this one this evening and can't wait to get stuck in! I had a sneeky peek at the first couple of pages and I've been drawn in already... I really must get off the computer and get reading, the book is calling me from the Living room.... _________________ Currently Reading:
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject:
lovely treez wrote:
I read this in December 2006 but it has stayed with me as one of my favourite books ever. It helps that it has the gothic undertones which I love in a book and the spookiness and mystery added to my reading pleasure. Everyone should read this book!!!
I'll second that!
Really loved this book and it kept me guessing the truth. I can’t believe that this book as been on my bookshelf since it came out in hardback. But there again it is one of those books you half wish you hadn’t read so you could read it again for the first time if you see what I mean.
Spoiler:
I realised that Vera probably wasn’t Adeline but I was sure who she was and why she pretended she was. So the ending was quite a surprise.
I don’t quite know how Margaret realised from Hester’s dairy what the truth was. I read the dairy expecting it to reveal what happened but I still didn’t twig.
Having just read Jane Eyre it was quite a co incidence to have some many references is this book, and I think it gets a mention in A Gathering Light which I haven’t finished yet.
I couldnt agree with you more Gwen. I envy anyone who has it yet to read. I dont think I have yet to meet anyone who has not enjoyed it! _________________ Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 19 Birthday: 26 February
Location: West Cumbria
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: The Thirteenth Tale
I read this book back in December 2006 and thought it was very good. I liked the quirky style of writing - almost old-fashioned, although I found it difficult to pinpoint the exact era, and I liked the idea of two stories in one.
I had had this on my tbr for ages, and to be honest, I had half expected it to be something of a chore, but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the style of writing, and the twist was something I did not predict, although I was sure there was going to be one somewhere.
In my edition, there were questions for reading groups at the back, and one of them was 'When do you think the book was set?' Interesting, because I had found myself wondering when it was set - there were no references to anything which might have given a clue. I assumed, but I don't know why, that it was set in the last 20 years or so.
I really felt that the characters seemed to come to life in my mind, and they seemed very real and believeable. _________________ My Blog
"People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading."
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject:
Ruth wrote:
I had had this on my tbr for ages, and to be honest, I had half expected it to be something of a chore, but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the style of writing, and the twist was something I did not predict, although I was sure there was going to be one somewhere.
In my edition, there were questions for reading groups at the back, and one of them was 'When do you think the book was set?' Interesting, because I had found myself wondering when it was set - there were no references to anything which might have given a clue. I assumed, but I don't know why, that it was set in the last 20 years or so.I really felt that the characters seemed to come to life in my mind, and they seemed very real and believeable.
I was thinking about that as well-
Spoiler:
and I thought it must have been in the 1960's or 70's when Margaret met Vera and that Vera was a child in the 20s or 30's because there was no mention of Social Workers etc descending on the house despite it been well known there were children living there who had 'problems'. And the party by the river before Vera was born and the description of the clothes suggested to me that it was pre frist world war. And the attitude of the neighbours when Vera was young is more in keeping to that time. If it had been later they would have been getting the police and soical services involved instead of getting the Dr to sort things out.
When Vera was an old woman , there were cars, ambulance's, taxis, and the construction site sounded fairly modern and the Doctor made house calls! If it had been in the in the recent past they would have had trouble getting the same Dr out to visit so much. Nowadays you would get a duty Dr coming. I think there would have been mention of mobile phones and it is very rare nowadays to get so much snow (even in Yorkshire) to get completely cut off.
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I'd quite like to read this but definately won't have time this month and would need to get hold of it first!
