Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

14 reviews

lostinthelibrary's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I'm so glad that I finally got around to reading this much loved book. It kept me guessing throughout with exciting reveals, a rich atmosphere and characters that I grew to love. 

My edition had some reading group notes at the end one of which asked when this book was set. It really made me think as the book is written in such a way that it could be placed anywhere within the 20th century and even the "modern" section could well be historical. The book is truly timeless while still having a strong sense of setting and atmosphere and that takes true skill. This really allowed the book to take its place among the classic gothic tales which it references and is inspired by. Overall, a wonderful reading experience.

WARNING: If you somehow have managed to avoid knowledge of the ending of Jane Eyre, this book will spoil it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Cancer

Minor: Incest

mariebrunelm's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

When I decided to gift this book to a friend, I thought I might as well re-read it before parting with it. Dear me, I had forgotten how dark it was! But it's also a very elegant book, for reasons I can't quite point to.
The story is that of Margaret, a antique book seller who dabbles in biography writing for unknown people of the 19th century. One day she receives a very special invitation in the post: Vida Winter, the most famous writer of her generation, asks her to write her biography after years of misleading journalists about her past. There ensues a story about the stories we tell ourselves, those that shape us and those that we hide. It's an extremely dark character study of two women shaped by trauma and grief for things they can't always identify. But it's also a fabulous hommage to the power of literature.
Rep: lesbian MC.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

anni_swanilda's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Excrement, Grief, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Incest

gardenstparker's review

dark mysterious relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Grief

Minor: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Ableism