The Thirteenth Tale

In July we reviewed a fantastic debut book by Diane Setterfield titled "The Thirteenth Tale". This engaging read qualifies as part ghost story, part mystery, part fictional biography and perhaps part Gothic tale. The story follows a quiet and introspective young woman named Margaret Lea. She and her father run an antique book store in England and while she is quite comfortable with books and research, she struggles with tense family relationships and ghosts from her past.

She is hired as a biographer to a famous writer, Vida Winter; renowned for her prolific storytelling as well as her tight grip on her privacy. Margaret leaves her comfortable, reliable and quiet existence above the bookshop to stay with the aging author and record the story of Ms. Winter's past. We learn the history of both Ms. Winter's past and pieces of Margaret's own past are revealed, often paralleling the turns of the tale.

The writing is beautiful and lush with a plot and story that is both dynamic and unexpected. The twists toward the end are full of gothic drama, and the many layers the author has created to the tale are often laden with emotion and the satisfaction of a great story from beginning to end.

I know I personally was drawn in to the story almost immediately and craved every chapter to find out what happened. I listened to most of the story on audio, which was captivating with two narrators, one Ms. Winter, one Margaret. But when I happened upon the book at a Library book sale I snapped up the hard copy and finished it on the page-the echoes of the strong narration in my ears.

Definitely worth a read, for the prose alone-and full of little inside winks to those of us who love to read. Mentions of several classic novels and how they reflect a modern story add charm and depth. Those of us who were able to attend all agreed that this book was a great pick. :)

-Merilee

“A good story is always more dazzling than a broken piece of truth.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale