No Spoiler Review
It is a dark and stormy night as I write this. Or, to be more accurate, a dark and stormy morning. The weather reflects the exquisite melancholy that has settled itself upon me at the completion of The Thirteenth Tale. Diane Setterfield’s debut novel is one of those all-too-rare stories that gets under your skin, that grabs hold of your imagination with both hands and won’t let go.
I have cherised the reading of this book over the last week. All other books were set aside. When I wasn’t reading The Thirteenth Tale, I was thinking about it, remembering it. I looked forward to those stolen moments when I might be able to read but a few pages as much as I did those hours that I could devote to the tale. I hung on every word and savored The Thirteenth Tale as one would a well-prepared meal. And now it has ended and, contrary to my normal habits I am not anxious to pick up the next story. I am not yet ready to move on.
To put it plainly, The Thirteenth Tale was bound to fail. It had to overcome the weight of considerable expectations. It seemed that everywhere I turned prior to its release someone or some thing was inducing me to buy this book. Comparisons to Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca only served to heighten those expectations. And as I stood in the bookstore holding this beautiful volume in my hands (raised letter dust jacket with an image to make a book lover swoon, serrated pages that smelled of new paper and fresh ink, gold embossed designs on the spine of the book itself) my expectations were at a fever pitch.
As I read those first pages I was nervous. Diane Setterfield was obviously attempting to speak with the voice of her gothic ancestors a century or more gone. A few of the initial sentences worried me. This style of writing seems always to be balanced on the edge of a precipice…one sentence fragment too many will tip it over that edge. I needn’t have been concerned. Within a few pages it was apparent that Setterfield was a skilled performer. And really, if you think about it, she had an ace up her sleeve. Her protagonist, Margaret Lea, is a book lover. Sentences like:
“There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce you skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.”
and
“I still believe in stories. I still forget myself when I am in the middle of a good book.”
could be mantras for those of us who have shared our love of books of late. With the kindred spirit of the bibliophile I was willing and anxious to follow Margaret on her adventure. And what an adventure it was.
As I indicated at the beginning I will not spoil any part of the story for you. Simply put, The Thirteenth Tale is a grand novel in the gothic tradition. If you have read the book jacket you know that the story features a ghost, a grand old house, and family secrets. The novel allows us to witness the act of one person telling their story to another and in those moments Diane Setterfield’s writing transports you to the very side of this storyteller, making you feel like the story is being told you and you alone. A delicious air of suspense pervades this story in both its revelation of the nature of evil and in its resolution of the various plot threads that are skillfully woven together by Setterfield.
It should be quite obvious to you now that I loved the experience of reading this book. I cannot begin to express my thanks to those who brought this to my attention and stirred my curiousity. The mood of this book emulates that of some of my favorite classics including Bram Stoker’s Mystery of the Sea and it could not be more thematically appropriate for the R.I.P. autumn challenge.
I look forward to the rest of you finishing this book. I want to discuss it in detail. Until then I will hold on to my secrets. I will turn the story over and over in my head and heart and I will wait, impatiently to be sure, to hear what you have to say fellow readers. I do not expect everyone to have the same reaction that I did and so I look forward to hearing the reasons why you may not have liked it as much as I do the opinions of those who were smitten like I was.
The back inside flap of the book jacket promises that Setterfield will, “in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the shore of your everyday life”. She keeps her promise.
Hmm. Very curious now. I am about 100 pages in, and I suspect I will be reading it for the next few days anyway. It is certainly very gothic! In a way it is hard to read something that is being so heavel hyped, and everyone seems to be reading it. I am trying to just concentrate on the story, though, and not worry what anyone else (critics included) might have to say about it. You do get very wrapped up in Vida’s stories, don’t you?!
That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to read it right away. Despite all my talk of ‘hype’ it was really only reader’s like yourself who were mentioning this book and I didn’t see any other marketing until I went looking for it and I trust true readers opinions more than the hype machine. Had I heard about this on Oprah first I probably never would’ve picked it up! As it is I was thrilled by it, it is exactly the kind of book one should read this season of the year.
I have been waiting to find out if the books was going to live up to its hype. Glad to know it does. I will have to add it to my library π
To me the clincher was its comparison to Rebecca. Rebecca is a fantastic book but it isn’t not stop page turning excitement. It is methodical, building upon its suspense and mystery until you are lost in the story because of the mood it creates. Having finished this I think the comparison is a very good one indeed.
Right. That’s it – I’ve ordered this on Amazon. Sadly the UK cover isn’t as nice though, it would seem.
Have also ordered myself a copy of Jamaica Inn – it has been a long time since I visited a Du Maurier book, and I think that will do wonderfully as an RIP bonus read.
And I’m supposed to be holding off on buying books! Ah well…
You’re right Quixotic, your cover isn’t nearly as cool. Wonder why they do stuff like that. The U.S. cover fits the mood of the book so much better. The UK cover looks too much like chick lit to me.
I want to read Jamaica Inn as well. Someone else on the challenge read or is reading it and it sounded interesting.
I have seen this a lot lately as well and to be honest I did not pay much attention to it.
But it sounds like it might be worth some time. I mean how could a book with quotes
like…
There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce you skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.ΓΒ’Γ’βΒ¬ΓΒ
be that bad. Thanks for the review…
Amanda
As I have been saying for weeks now, I adore this book. I admit, though, I am glad I read it before I heard bad things about it. I am having that problem with New Moon by Stephaine Meyer. I waited and then I heard bad stuff. I should have preordered it, because now I am scared to read it. I try to avoid reviews of books I know I am going to read so that it doesn’t mess stuff up for me.
I thankfully haven’t read anything bad about Thirteenth Tale at all. I refused to read reviews on it before buying it. Glad I didn’t because there is no way even the best critic could convince me now that it isn’t a fantastic novel, even more so considering that it is her debut novel.
Carl – Jamaica Inn is wonderful. I went through a Du Maurier “phase” as a teenager and devoured that, Frenchman’s Creek, Rebecca and a couple of others within a short period. I have really fond memories of those three in particular.
I just picked up The Thirteenth Tale this Friday after school, and added it to my list for the R.I.P. Challenge. I can’t wait to read it, especially after your “endorsement.”
A little side note: Border’s is doing a huge recommendation of this book; they sent me a 40% of coupon so how could I resist? But, along with that, they have recipes for English snacks as one reads an English book. The recipe they sent was Martha Stewart’s shortbread. So, what could be more enticing than an awesome book accompanied by a delectable treat? For more information, of course, go to Borders.com
That’s cool. Both Border’s and Barnes and Noble were giving big discounts on this. I got mine at BN for 40% off. The inexpensive price makes it even more of a treasure.
Great review, Carl…I’ve been resisting the temptation to add to my TBR’s but I think I am going to have to make an exception for this one.
Well, since you steered me so right with Neil Gaiman I may just have to check this one out…
You do such good reviews without giving anything away. After talking to you I knew I wanted to read it; now I’m really anxious to read it. So what if that brings it up to six books I’m in the middle of!
Mary is reading it now Pat and you can borrow it afterwards if you want.
Oh that is so fantastic! I have been watching that book since its release and have been wondering if it was going to as good as it looks! (sigh, so few books are anymore.) I will look forward to reading it after I finish my reading challenge list!
Thank you for giving such a wonderful heartfelt review!
I’ve been hearing so much about this book, and all good, that I’m sorely tempted even though I try not to buy hardbacks. Thanks to Quixotic pointing out that the UK cover is not as nice as the US one, I’m even more confused as I really dislike buying books by British authors in American versions due to the translating US publishers feel compelled to do. Oh the dilemma! π
As tempting as it was for me to just go ahead and get the US copy based on the far superior cover, I have plumped for the UK release…if I really really love the book I daresay I’ll get the US one too and perhaps just swap the covers *grin*
I would be surprised if there was much translating done in this one. There were noticeable British sayings and words that I recognized from other English classics that I’ve read, etc.
Oooh! I am loving the sound of this. I know I haven’t posted much about R.I.P lately, but I’m really enjoying it and getting into the groove, so to speak. This book sounds fab in the extreme.
GG
All right, I’m going to have to get this.
Is the Border’s 40% off still good? Probably not, with my luck. (I am a Rewards member too and get the coupon, but I always lose them.)
I might even have to pick up a copy of Dracula too.
As far as I know the Border’s coupon was good until today. If you check that post there is a link to the coupon. -C
I just finished reading The Thirteenth Tale as well. In fact, I spent all weekend thoroughly engrossed in it and barely came up to eat and sleep. It was well worth it. One of those books that even after you’ve finished it, you still feel like you’re living in that world. I can still see Angelfield as clearly as if the book were open in front of me. I’d love to hear your more spoilerish thoughts on it since no one I know has read it and I am dying to talk to someone about it!
Finished Thirteenth Tale today. Even though I was a chargrined at one point, I ended up loving it in the end.
Amazon also has it at 40% off. Sadly, I’m afraid I will finish the book later today. I want to know how it ends, but I don’t want it to end.
I know that feeling Suzanne!!!
Thanks Carl. Good to know that there might not have been much ‘translating’ done on this one. Was the spelling changed? I know, I’m so picky!
I’m not sure about that to be honest with you. I’m basing my thoughts completely on the fact that there were English words and phrases that I recognize from other readings and from British television. I could be competely wrong…and it wouldn’t surprise anyone, would it???? π
Suzanne stated it best. I am so close to the end of this wonderful book, and I do not want to say good-bye…
looks like B&N will be doing a free online book discussion with the author coming up this fall.
http://university.barnesandnoble.com
Thanks Angela!
Love the book (unhappy that I’ve run out of pages), very glad you mentioned this book and said just enough to get me curious enough to get a copy for myself and read it!
I bought this tonight! And I’m going to go read it for an hour or so π
I managed to get hold of a copy of this pre-publication and tell you now that I sat and read it straight through in three hours. Could not put it down and simply loved it. Great stuff.
I’m glad to hear it Elaine!
This book is worth full price. The cover is as visually seductive as the title is mysterious. It’s a modern day Jane Eyre story with an interesting twist. A ‘must read’ imaginative tale that will take you out of the 21st century.
It is a fantastic book PG, one of my favorites this year.
Great review, Carl. I can totally relate to your not wanting to pick up another book right after finishing this one. I’m still recovering from the experience of reading The Thirteenth Tale.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, LF! I had gotten a little bit of the hype before the book was published which was part of my motivation for grabbing it and devouring it immediately so my hopes wouldn’t get built up too much. Of course then I gave it a gushing review and became a miniscule part of the hype machine myself!
Took exactly 8 hours to finish – and I’m writing the author demanding a sequel ! I believe in this story and cannot have it end. I still have some questions, need answers and the future is still wide open in my hopefull opinion. And Carl, my melancholy matches yours .
Glad you enjoyed it Jules…that is a quick trip through the book! Its one that is hard to put down. I’m hoping Setterfield is a quick rather than slow writer as I am looking forward to her next offering.
hmm. i was hibernating and so missed all the hoopla n hype on this book. picked it up on the principle that it seemed to be a book about a book lovers. am on page 280, and totally hooked!
Glad to hear it, it certainly is a wonderful book. I think I got caught up in the hype, and helped hype it, because it came out during our gothic themed R.I.P. Challenge last year and fit so perfectly in with that theme that a bunch of us were reading it. Some loving it, some, not so much.
Felt the same way about it. Thanks for mentioning it for the RIP2 Challenge. I’m glad I read it.
I like what you say about it getting under your skin. I read it this summer, and I’m still thinking about it, and trying to encourage people I know to read it for your challenge! I definitely want to read it again, maybe for next year’s challenge, if you hold it again and if it’s ok to do rereads.
Rereads, a favorite thing of mine to do, will always be allowed in my challenges. I am so torn as I’d love to read this one again once the weather cools down and yet I have so many books I haven’t read that I want to read…not to mention that there are several other books besides this one that I want to reread. There is never enough time!
If you could give this book a movie rating for maturity (i.e. G, PG, etc.) what would you rate it?
I just finished The Thirteenth Tale today. I absolutely loved it. I have suggested it to all of my close friends and family and, seeing as I am taking time out of my busy day to post this, I want the rest of the world to know that it is great. Suggested by my boyfriend, this tale is a book lover’s dream. Please give it a try. You won’t regret it!
Lizzy: so sorry you’ll probably never see this reply, considering it is a year since you asked the question, but it is an R rated book…not all the way through, but certainly one part of the story line is.
Allison: So glad you loved it. It is indeed very, very amazing. I was completely enraptured with it and still think about it a year later.
I waited a long time to read this, but did finally pick it up two years ago. It completely lived up to all the hype. That book stayed with me for a long time. It was a library copy. Am reminded that I need to acquire a copy for my own shelves. I have found myself revisiting a lot books this year and am thinking I will have to revisit this one too. So far I am agreeing with your top 20 reads.
Jehara: I was fortunate in that I read this before it really got hyped, so I didn’t have to worry about expectations being too high. I am glad when I read the opinions of those who loved it and feel that it lived up to the hype. This is definitely one worth owning.