A Modern Gothic
If you love the Brontës and the rugged English moors, this book is for you. Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale pays homage to gothic tales of the past.
Bookish biographer Margaret Lea, who lives above her father’s antique bookstore, is invited by mysterious novelist, Vida Winter, to write her biography. Winter is very ill and wants to finally tell her story before she dies. Margaret at first is hesitant, since she has never even read any of Winter’s novels. Considering the offer, Margaret begins reading a collection of Winter’s short stories entitled, Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. As she finishes the book, she realizes that there are only twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale?
Her curiosity piqued, Margaret agrees to write Winter’s life story; however, as the story unfolds she begins to doubt its validity and tries to verify the dying woman’s tale. As family secrets begin to unravel, Margaret uncovers a haunting and suspenseful tale of ghosts, old English estates, twins, and abandoned and illegitimate children.
Suspend reality and curl up to relax with the tale, which can be forgiven its over the top excesses and few implausible twists and characters, since it is so enjoyable!
Also available in:
Talking Book (Restricted to Print Disabled Patrons)
Posted by Erin
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The Thirteenth Tale is the Book Buzz read for August. Read the book, then discuss it online.
http://bookbuzz.torontopubliclibrary.ca