2 Minute Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale

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Book: The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Audiobook read by: Bianca Amato and Jill Tanner

This book is for those who loved reading the classics. This is the story of Vida Winter, an aging reclusive, but quite famous author, who requests a young biographer, Margaret Lea, to write her story. With her strange and secretive past, the ailing Winter weaves a strange and extraordinary tale of her lineage, conjuring tragedy, ghosts, beauty and devastation. Winter is running out of time but she may or may not be ready to tell the whole truth. This Thirteenth Tale is a strange tale indeed.

What I did like:
The writing style is wonderful and I found that my own writing improved during the period I had been reading. I love books that affect me in this way, and they are rare. I personally loved how descriptive the author was, choosing words that were refreshing to the ear. This story is quite a winding tale that remained a mystery up until the very end. Twists and turns abound, I did find myself having to listen more carefully to the narrator so as not to miss any cues or hints. It’s a pleasant surprise when the author doesn’t throw everything out or give it all away in the beginning of the book. There are many layers to this book, and many of my top favorite books are similar in this way. The characters are richly developed and believable.

What I didn't like:
The writing style may be difficult for some, and the biggest complaint I have heard is that because of this, the book feels slow at times. I honestly don’t have any complaints about the Thirteenth Tale. As a side note, I listened to the Unabridged Audiobook, if you might discover you don’t like stories written in the 19th century gothic style but still want to give this story a try, maybe get the Abridged version.

Verdict:
I re-read this book I loved it so much. This review was written after the second reading, and I had at least 3 years since the first go round. This is a book I would gift to my friends or family although it’s an adult story so probably not appropriate for the younger family members. I say adult only because of the mature theme and some pretty serious innuendoes that refer to terrible events. It may sound odd, but the manner on which the book was written, I hardly noticed most of the truly atrocious parts. This would be a good book to analyze with a club or group.