I'd been reading good things about The Thirteenth Tale all over the blogosphere for a while, so it was already on my "someday" list when Kristin chose it for her "Something About Me" list. I, therefore, put it on my "second-tier" list of books to read for that challenge. Then, when I saw that Carl had suggested it for his R.I.P. II Challenge, cross-listing it seemed like a terrific idea - hopefully ensuring that I would get to it soon. I finished it today!
Setterfield is a terrific storyteller, and this is a very readable, engaging book. I read it much faster than I had expected. (It helped that I didn't have to work many long days this week.) Not really knowing anything about the plot, I hadn't anticipated the creepiness - at least not until I discovered that it fit the RIP Challenge - but it wasn't so creepy that I didn't like it. (I am a wimp about being scared and am wary of ghost stories.) Beyond the mysterious, dark atmosphere, it's a story about families and belonging, which I think we all can relate to - at least on some level - and, of course, it's also about books.
This is Setterfield's debut novel. There is a fabulous website about the book here.
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I was really surprised by the creepiness, too! I thought it was going to be a "story of an elderly woman's life" with lots of bookishness and maybe one twist thrown in. Little did I know...!
ReplyDeletethis books was way out of my "comfort zone".. but I totally enjoyed it and found I couldn't put it down! I too thought it was great story telling!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book, too. Looking forward to her next book.
ReplyDeleteIt is on my TBR list. I am on watchout for it.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to hear a bad word about this one. I pre-ordered the paperback, and it should be here any day. Now, where to fit it into that endless list, huh?
ReplyDeleteI just received this novel through Bookmooch. I too have heard wonderful things about this book. I'm trying to clean up my currently reading list before I start this one though.
ReplyDeleteI kept seeing this book at the bookstore as if beckoning me to get it, but then I kept putting it off. Maybe I'll get it. Soon. :)
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