I finished The Thirteenth Tale and join those who really enjoyed the book. This novel captured and held me hostage from beginning to end. I loved the allusions to some of my favorite books, and Setterfield connected her narrative to so many of them by similar names, places, plot developments, etc. Many bloggers have quoted excellent excerpts from the novel so I won't bother, but I did love this prescription that Dr. Clifton gave Margaret after her collapse: "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. Take ten pages, twice a day, till end of course."
Another recent review of The Thirteenth Tale: A Chain of Letters
So glad you liked this one! I was thrilled when I rec'd it to review, a few months ago. FINALLY, I thought, something decent from the big publishers... Another one to watch will be Jon Clinch's 'Finn,' which I'm working on now. It won't be out 'til February but is getting big buzz already.
ReplyDeleteThat is a fun quote, Jen. Since our doctors today won't give us that wanted prescription, I guess we'll have to give it to each other!
ReplyDeleteSo here's my prescription for you: Read 10 pages of The Book Thief twice a day. Apply more pages if needed.
Lisa - Looking forward to more about Finn...yes, have heard some of the buzz. Will check in for your final comments on it.
ReplyDeletebooklogged - Finished The Book Thief before completing The Light Years...can I substitute Tender at the Bone, doc? I just found that one after losing it for two days!
The doctor's diagnosis was one of my favorite parts of the book. I literally laughed out loud. I think I've suffered from the same condition more than once!
ReplyDeleteSamsara - :) I think this is sort of like vitamins...a daily dose is required!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you loved it. It was such a fantastic book and so very timely with its moodiness and theme.
ReplyDeleteCarl - Yes, a perfect R.I.P. book, even if a little late.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoyed TTT as well and am curious how I would feel about it in a year or so if I reread it once the furor dies down.
ReplyDeleteLesley - Although I don't think I'd read it again that soon, I quit thinking about anything except the novel within the first couple of pages. That's a good sign. I know you've also recommended The Woman in Black (and carefully skimmed your comments so as not to be unduly aware of what awaits); I can't wait for it to arrive.
ReplyDeleteoh I see in scrolling down to the next entry that you DID finish Thirteenth Tale!
ReplyDeleteyes it was good !
This was the first book I have read since my grandmother died. She lived with me for five years and it was hard work !! but ! we shared books and I loved to see her light up when I had a stack of new books brought home...When I would finish I would always be able to rush in and say " FINISHED !" and hand it over and she would naturally ask "was it good ?" or if she had read it already "well what did you think ? didn't you love the part where....." and we would discuss.
As I neared the end of the book I got so choked up because there would be no calling out "finshed!" to anyone ! and that last page was read thru watery eyes !
Near the last line of the book brought me to a freeze
it said : "...she would never see her on this side of the grave again. Her life was her own now."
I did not know anyone else reading this book and I remembered seeing it in your basket of to be read books....so I was anxious for you to read it so I could tell this.
Love, S.
Crabapple -Last year, when my mother was terminally ill, I found this quote:
ReplyDelete"When someone you love, dies, it's as if they leave you with half shares of your life together. The person you were in their eyes dies with them" (173-74). This quote is from Guppies for Tea by Marika Cobbold and quoted in The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble.