i finished reading The Thirteenth Tale - from kristin's list - this afternoon, and i have to say i'm glad i was "pushed" into reading it by this challenge. i thoroughly enjoyed it! you can read more of my thoughts here. (btw i cross-listed this book with the R.I.P. II Challenge.)
kristin said she choose this book partly because of the settings and occupations of the main characters - all having to do with books! how can a book lover resist a book like that?!
Showing posts with label The Thirteenth Tale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Thirteenth Tale. Show all posts
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The Thirteenth Tale
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
5 stars
This was an amazingly entertaining book - suspenseful, shocking, with wonderful language. I was hooked from the very beginning, with Setterfield's description of the way light came through a window onto the doorstep. I sometimes found Margaret just a bit tiresome - I wanted to get on with Vida's story instead of Margaret's agonizing over her past and relationship with her mother. Jane Eyre, one of my favourites, plays a big part in the novel, although I confess I didn't always make all of the connections. At one point Margaret had figured out all of the clues and I still hadn't, this one kept me guessing til the end!
Favourite quote: This book is chock-full of great writing, but I particularly enjoyed this one about the joys and perils of reading:
"I never read without making sure I am in a secure position. I have been like this ever since the age of seven when, sitting on a high wall and reading The Water Babies, I was so seduced by the the descriptions of underwater life that I unconsciously relaxed my muscles. Instead of being held buoyant by the water that so vividly surrounded me in my mind, I plummeted to the ground and knocked myself out. I can still feel the scar under my fringe now. Reading can be dangerous."
Kristin said she picked this one because she really, really enjoyed it and so did I! I'd vaguely heard about through the book grapevine (the bookvine?) but I probably wouldn't have picked it up without her recommendation. So thanks, Kristin!!
(Cross-posted with a bit of a summary on my blog.)
5 stars
This was an amazingly entertaining book - suspenseful, shocking, with wonderful language. I was hooked from the very beginning, with Setterfield's description of the way light came through a window onto the doorstep. I sometimes found Margaret just a bit tiresome - I wanted to get on with Vida's story instead of Margaret's agonizing over her past and relationship with her mother. Jane Eyre, one of my favourites, plays a big part in the novel, although I confess I didn't always make all of the connections. At one point Margaret had figured out all of the clues and I still hadn't, this one kept me guessing til the end!
Favourite quote: This book is chock-full of great writing, but I particularly enjoyed this one about the joys and perils of reading:
"I never read without making sure I am in a secure position. I have been like this ever since the age of seven when, sitting on a high wall and reading The Water Babies, I was so seduced by the the descriptions of underwater life that I unconsciously relaxed my muscles. Instead of being held buoyant by the water that so vividly surrounded me in my mind, I plummeted to the ground and knocked myself out. I can still feel the scar under my fringe now. Reading can be dangerous."
Kristin said she picked this one because she really, really enjoyed it and so did I! I'd vaguely heard about through the book grapevine (the bookvine?) but I probably wouldn't have picked it up without her recommendation. So thanks, Kristin!!
(Cross-posted with a bit of a summary on my blog.)
two books reviewed by raidergirl3
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
This was a great read, full of atmosphere, and perfect for this spooky fall season. I also read this as a selection for the Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) challenge. My favorite aspect of the book, besides the mystery that is oh so wonderfully, and slowly revealed, is the homage to Jane Eyre, another selction I read for this challenge. If I hadn't read them so closely together, I'm not sure I would have seen the similarities, but I loved that they were somewhat parallel.
Kristin suggested this book and I'm glad she did; I've been wanting to read it for a while.
Kristin said: This book is set in all my favorite places: libraries, used bookstores and archives. I share interests with both of the main characters, one loves to research and the other is a writer. The main reason I pick this book is that I really, really enjoyed it....I think it's one of the best new books I've read in years!
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
How cute is this book? A classic fairy tale, narrated wonderfully, being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread.
This was the Newbery Award winner from 2004, and I would think it is destined to be a classic book.
I loved the narration, as the Reader is spoken to during the story in the tradition of The Princess Bride, warning that bad things are coming, and advising looking up a word like 'perfidy'* as it comes along.
I chose this book for the Something About Me Challenge as recommended by booklogged, and she has chosen wonderfully.
She said in chosing it: Sometimes I feel the size of a mouse trying to conquer problems that are so much bigger than me. My tools seem silly and inefficient, sort of like Despereaux's needle and thread. And sometimes my goals are not realistic in the same way that Despereaux had his heart set on marrying the princess.
I think this sums up the book better than I could. Also, I bought a copy of the book today so we will have one here in the house. I can't just return it to the library and not have a copy if I need some uplifting and hopeful reading. And my children must read this.
*perfidy: a breach of faith
This was a great read, full of atmosphere, and perfect for this spooky fall season. I also read this as a selection for the Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) challenge. My favorite aspect of the book, besides the mystery that is oh so wonderfully, and slowly revealed, is the homage to Jane Eyre, another selction I read for this challenge. If I hadn't read them so closely together, I'm not sure I would have seen the similarities, but I loved that they were somewhat parallel.Kristin suggested this book and I'm glad she did; I've been wanting to read it for a while.
Kristin said: This book is set in all my favorite places: libraries, used bookstores and archives. I share interests with both of the main characters, one loves to research and the other is a writer. The main reason I pick this book is that I really, really enjoyed it....I think it's one of the best new books I've read in years!
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
How cute is this book? A classic fairy tale, narrated wonderfully, being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread.This was the Newbery Award winner from 2004, and I would think it is destined to be a classic book.
I loved the narration, as the Reader is spoken to during the story in the tradition of The Princess Bride, warning that bad things are coming, and advising looking up a word like 'perfidy'* as it comes along.
I chose this book for the Something About Me Challenge as recommended by booklogged, and she has chosen wonderfully.
She said in chosing it: Sometimes I feel the size of a mouse trying to conquer problems that are so much bigger than me. My tools seem silly and inefficient, sort of like Despereaux's needle and thread. And sometimes my goals are not realistic in the same way that Despereaux had his heart set on marrying the princess.
I think this sums up the book better than I could. Also, I bought a copy of the book today so we will have one here in the house. I can't just return it to the library and not have a copy if I need some uplifting and hopeful reading. And my children must read this.
*perfidy: a breach of faith
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