The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel
by Diane Setterfield
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Book Reviews of The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel
Book Review: the greatest story nevertold is your own
Summary: 5 Stars
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield centers around the life of reclusive author, Vida Winter, who has spent the last few years creating a series of alternate lives for herself. Now ill and nearing the end of her life, Miss Winter decides it is time to tell the truth and come clean about the events of her life. Thus she sets her sites on, Margaret Lea, a biographer more interested in the dead that lie in books and archives then in living subjects. However, when Margaret receives a letter from Miss Winter inviting her to her home, her curiosity is piqued and she begins reading Miss Winter's most famous collection of short stories. Margaret goes to see Miss Winter unsure of whether or not she should accept the offer to be the biographer of a woman who has lied to so many journalists in the past, and just when she thinks she makes up her mind, Miss Winter draws her in with one simple sentence: "Once upon a time, there were twins."
The novel consists largely of Vida Winter's narration of her past telling the story of a house in Angelfield and of her parents, Isabelle and Charlie, and the staff The Missus and John-the-Dig. Miss Winter's narration of her past and Angelfield is juxtaposed with Margaret's own musings about her own twin sister. Told with the pace of the mystery, The Thirteenth Tale expertly weaves ends of several stories into a wonderful tapestry of sisterhood and friendship with books being the epicenter of this lovely novel.
The book reads much like a work of classic literature with a setting that reminded me of an old estate and a large garden and the absence of any modern day technology to draw away from the drama and feeling of the story. In a sense the little aspects of this book are so subtle and slight that once the story concludes and the mystery of Vida Winter's wife is solves, the tiny insignificant things seem to have a greater purpose in the plot. In this fashion, The Thirteenth Tale remains a page turning experience while at the same time keeping the simple yet sophisticated narrative voice of reluctant Margaret Lea.
In retrospect, it is hard for me to find anything at fault with the story, while some chapters did seem to rage on about certain niche areas of literary history, in hindsight, most of the prose and the theoretical games posed by Miss Winter's narrative are worthwhile and in the end leave the reader looking at symbols that are so slight and delicate that a reader with a cursory glance would never even register that they were there.
I have to say that I was very sorry to see this book end. The story was so original and crafted so beautifully that I am looking forward to see what else Diane Setterfield has up her sleeve in her future literary efforts. In the meantime as we await another literary masterpiece by Setterfield, I recommend picking up a copy of Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger for another story of twins and ghosts that is sure to please those with insatiable appetites for books about sisters and ghosts.
Final Grade: A-
Book Review: When the truth is stranger than fiction...
Summary: 5 Stars
Margaret Lea owns a bookshop with her father. She is a bibliophile, having read every book written by classic authors or writers who no longer exist. She writes biographies about dead authors, trying to immortalize their work by learning something about them, but doesn't publish any of her writing except for one essay about two brothers. And that is how Vida Winters, a mysterious and recluse author who is known for her bestselling literary work, most notably for her first book, a collection of thirteen stories. Or at least it had been intended to be thirteen, but only twelve of them were published, and the publisher made the mistake of submitting the book with the title Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. Winters is also known for making up stories about herself in each interview. Apparently, she is now prepared to tell her true story to Margaret. But after years of lying to the media, should she be believed? After some deliberation (and some thorough fact checking after her initial meeting with the author), Margaret travels to Yorkshire to interview Miss Winters, and what she discovers is a story so bizarre -- full of ghosts, mental illness, incest, nosy governesses, etc. -- that it would rival Jane Eyre and other similar gothic stories. Winters's real life tale also reminds Margaret of her past, a missing part of her life that she had tried to escape since she was a child.
The Thirteenth Tale is one of the darkest, most intricate and can't-put-it-down stories I have read in quite a while. As far as thought provoking literature goes, it is right up there with Vertigo by Lauren Baratz-Logsted and The Keep by Jennifer Egan as the best read I've had in the last year or so. Once I turned to the first page it became impossible to stop reading. The story in itself is very complex, lots of twists and turns, that it's impossible to describe in a single paragraph, and it is something you have to read yourself in order to grasp everything. I like the fact that the main character is a book lover. I also like Miss Winters's insights on writing and storytelling. The story-within-a-story format is very well done; you will never be confused, wondering who is narrating the story in what given time. The gothic elements are awesome. It does remind you a great deal of Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Rebecca (the previous two novels are mentioned a lot here, especially Jane Eyre). This dark story ends on a bittersweet note and I already miss the characters and the journey Margaret had to take in order to uncover the various mysteries and secrets in Vida Winters's life. If you haven't read The Thirteenth Tale then I suggest you do. Diane Setterfield is a new author whose work I will look into in the future. If you like suspense, literature or gothic stories (or all of the aforementioned genres), you cannot go wrong with this gorgeous effort. But make sure you won't have a whole lot to do when you pick up this book, because you may not be able to put it away once you get started.
Book Review: A book for book lovers
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, I applaud Diane Setterfield, the author, for writing such a novel. I believe it must be a challenge to craft a story that is entirely plausible yet gripping and puzzling and unique.
The central character in The Thirteenth Tale is Margaret Lea, a reticent young woman who is the only child of parents who own a bookshop. I say parents, though it is Margaret's father who is the book expert who spends most of each day in the shop with Margaret. The father and daughter share a tender closeness that adds to the humanity of the book.
Margaret confesses that her love for books actually transcends her feeling for many of the people she knows. Her delight is to slip into bed each evening with a hot cup of cocoa on her bedside table and read for hours into the night. As she has a treasure trove of literary works at her fingertips and enjoys various genres of books, including historical accounts and biographies, she becomes intrigued at times by rather obscure figures in history and takes it upon herself to write small biographies on these men and women, which she occasionally has published.
Her work becomes noticed by a Miss Vida Winter, England's best-known author of her time. Out of the blue, Margaret receives a letter from Miss Winter, requesting Margaret's services to write her life's story. Margaret accepts the position, moves to Miss Winter's estate, and later learns that Miss Winter has given twelve earlier accounts of her life to various biographers, which she confesses have all been untrue. As Miss Winter relates the true account of her life to Margaret, what unfolds is a fascinating tale involving generations of a wealthy, recluse family with a truly dysfunctional lifestyle. There are whisperings of ghosts and ages-old family secrets, which are dark and disturbing.
What transpires is that Margaret grows and learns much about herself, as she first listens and then begins to investigate the truthfulness of Miss Winter's tale. Some pleasant resolutions occur regarding Margaret's and Miss Winter's lives toward the end of the book, which give a nice wrap-up to the many threads of plot woven throughout the story. Along the way, however, there are several cringe-worthy moments and mysterious occurrences that keep the reader riveted.
I will say that the story began a bit slowly for me, but I appreciate how Setterfield takes her time to include elegant descriptions of scenes and feelings and situations. The writing is superb. Also, I appreciate that this work does not include the vulgarity, profanity, violence, and sexual inappropriateness so prevalent in so many of today's novels.
Diane Setterfield is a gem, a writer with an elevated and praiseworthy style. Her tale is a moral one, with honorable characters who display acts of kindness and service, despite some genuinely troubling circumstances. This is definitely a novel worth reading.
Book Review: Behind Green Eyes....
Summary: 2 Stars
Margaret Lea knows what it's like to be the sad woman, to be the bad woman, behind green eyes. (My apologies to Roger Daltry) Lea is plucked from obscurity to be the biographer of the most famous author in England~Vida Winter~a few months before Miss Winters croaks. Vida literally tells the very end of her story on her deathbed, even rousing at one point to give one more vital piece of information. Sutterfield doesn't convincingly establish Vida Winter as the greatest living author of her generation in my mind, so I had a hard time swallowing that confection. And even though we learn EVERYTHING about her life (even her vivid memories before her own mother is born), we do not learn where she gets her ability to create award winning fiction and the adoration of millions of readers who breathlessly await her next novel like I suppose people awaited Daphne du Maurier's next novel 80 years ago.
My main issue with this novel is that is is filed under Historical Fiction when it really should be considered to be a romance/mystery (except there is no bodice ripping). The book tries to combine _Jane Eyre_, ,_Wuthering Heights_ and _The Woman in White_ into one, single tome, but ultimately fails as TRUE historical fiction. If one is a fan of the romance genres (I am not) then I suppose it is a fascinating tale of incest, crumbling, gothic mansions replete with gardens, stone stair cases, rich, dysfunctional family their ghosts and their servants and (of course) English moors and rain. Every single disastrous problem is fixed with a hot cup of tea.
I don't have anything against this type of thing, it's just mislabeled. It's an average romance masquerading as an important work of fiction. The Thirteenth Tale reminds me of all the above mentioned books, but all mushed together, instead of following one, elegant storyline.
Vida and everyone in her family has copper curls and green eyes, and hardly a page goes by when we are not reminded of this fact. "Emerald and diamonds" ad nauseam whenever someone is crying.
If you like this genre of books, then I think you will be quite pleased. It's lurid, voyeuristic and fantastical, and it doesn't lag. I "read" the audio version, which is serviceably performed and I don't have any complaints about the readers except that they are not outstanding. But reviewer's need to understand their genres. The only thing "historical" about it is that it probably takes place after WWII, but that is never mentioned. When I think of historical fiction, the setting is firmly fixed behind true events. This book does not establish its self in that way.
So, if you are a fan of books that mention other books then you will be quite happy curled up in your library with your cat and your cup of tea while your servant plumps your velvet pillows. If you are that person, enjoy.
Book Review: to tell the truth
Summary: 2 Stars
Two stars because this is good idea for a book but a bad job of realizing its potential. I actually considered one star but it wasn't horrible so much as lazy. This book was chosen by my reading group. I read every bit of it and remain unconvinced by the reviews. In the first chapter, I was intrigued by the statement, "Children mythologize their own births." I thought, OK - that could lead somewhere interesting. Ultimately, I was disappointed.
Here's what bothered me most:
1. Books, libraries, bookstores, and writers figure in the story in the most superficial way!
2. The device of not fixing the story in time was merely annoying since it did not add to the story in any way. So many details were just silly or wrong or nonsensical. Or all three!
3. Margaret seems like a fairly dimwitted biographer/researcher if she does not know common genealogic nomenclature and needs to hire a private detective to locate birth and death records. (Isn't that what researchers do?)
4. The governess is modern enough to challenge cultural norms AND is scientifically inclined AND business-like enough to be un-intimidated by a dilapidated, filthy and apparently evil house associated with decades of village gossip BUT she is so superstitious she is unnerved by "seeing" something seemingly unexplainable? Really?
5. There were shaggy dogs embedded in this story that did everything but sit up and howl. The bizarre exposition with which the storylines are tidied up at the end was a pretty lazy device.
6. The wealthiest, most published author in the English language scratched out her books left handed to save her damaged right hand - there were no typewriters? stenographers? tape recorders? computers?
7. Vera Winter's true identity was a secret and yet, though she is the most famous author in the world and has been for decades, her very distinctive physical appearance was never noticed by people from her past?
8. And there's the whole Jane Eyre thing: Who stops reading a book because something sad happens to the main character? I know, I know - it's supposed to reflect events in the lives of the characters in this book. And foreshadow events in the story within the story. Ho-hum.
The only way to manipulate readers into accepting some of the above mentioned anachronisms is to avoid dates. I am willing to suspend my disbelief in service to a good gothic yarn but this was not it. A much better - and much more satisfying - treatment of similar elements is AS Byatt's Angels & Insects. (Another review mentioned Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews, although that was a little too Jerry Springer for my tastes and read like a romance novel.)