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A review by literaryjunarin
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner."
This quote is the perfect description on how Diane Setterfield writes. I was indeed a prisoner when Vida Winter was telling the story of her life.
SHORT SUMMARY: "The enigmatic author Vida Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission. "
I was busy so I only managed to read this book every lunch break and it's a torture on all the times in between because I wanted to continue reading so badly. This book has the same format as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but compared to Monique of Evelyn Hugo, I loved this book's Margaret way, way better.
This book is deliciously gothic, mysterious, a bit sad and surprisingly heartwarming at the end. This is a book for people who loves book.
If you like books that has gothic strangeness with dysfunctional family drama, this book is for you.
This quote is the perfect description on how Diane Setterfield writes. I was indeed a prisoner when Vida Winter was telling the story of her life.
SHORT SUMMARY: "The enigmatic author Vida Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission. "
I was busy so I only managed to read this book every lunch break and it's a torture on all the times in between because I wanted to continue reading so badly. This book has the same format as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but compared to Monique of Evelyn Hugo, I loved this book's Margaret way, way better.
This book is deliciously gothic, mysterious, a bit sad and surprisingly heartwarming at the end. This is a book for people who loves book.
If you like books that has gothic strangeness with dysfunctional family drama, this book is for you.