RC Part 3 - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Categories: uncategorized
Date: 14 January 2008 21:58:14
The next book on my exciting list is The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I absolutely loved this book. It is about two women, the famous writer Vida Winter and an unknown biographer, Margaret Lea who is asked to tell the life-story of the dying author. Until this point Miss Winter has told a variety of different stories to the media, but is the book-lover Margaret to whom she chooses to tell the real story.
The writer obviously loves classic novels such as Jane Eyre, Rebecca, The Woman in White and Wuthering Heights, and mentions them frequently (some of which I have to confess to never reading, but I will I promise!!) The story is compelling, complex but not confusing and although I guessed a couple of the twists and turns I certainly did not guess the ending.
It is a beautifully written novel focussing on Miss Winter's unconventional and complex childhood and is a gentle thriller and murder-mystery rolled into one. It is a great read and I finished it in a couple of days. Lovely!