Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Apr 7, 2007 12:15:27 GMT -5
Since so many of us recently read The Thirteenth Tale (or would like to read it soon), I thought it deserved its own thread. So what did you think of the book? The characters? The ending? The lack of a time period? Anything else?
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Apr 7, 2007 13:49:32 GMT -5
i LOVED that it had no time period. It allowed me to imagine my own. Obviously Setterfield gave us some hints.. we know that there were cars. But i imagined that Vida's story was set in the early 1900s maybe 1920s while Margret was present dayish era. I don't know if that could make any sense but...
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Apr 7, 2007 13:58:44 GMT -5
I seemed to think that the present story was taking place in the past as well. I think there was a lack of technology that made me think that. I guess I was picturing Vida's story taking place in the late 1800s. I kind of wish that she had told us eventually - I like knowing things.
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Apr 7, 2007 15:17:22 GMT -5
That's true. I think a lot of both of us feeling that it was in the past was the fact that the tone of the book itself was reminiscent of books like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Speaking of which, it was annoying how she kept repeating the books over and over again. I found it distracting
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Apr 7, 2007 17:49:47 GMT -5
Yes. I thought it was cool at first, but then she repeated them all the time. I thought maybe she could name some other books from that era. Although, I had never heard of The Woman in White before and the repetition of that title made me curious about it.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Apr 7, 2007 19:31:02 GMT -5
I didn't really mind the repetition in the mentioning of the books, especially Jane Eyre. I don't know why exactly, but it didn't bug me. Maybe because I was enjoying the book so much that nothing could bother me. I went to see Diane Setterfield speak and to get my book signed, and she said a lot of interesting things. Regarding how she got her ideas for the book: She had a dream about a fire in a huge old house. It was one of those dreams that just stick out in your mind for months for no apparent reason, and that's where the fire in the book originated. (She said this a lot more eloquently than I just did, but this was in October so it's hard to remember). She also said that the idea for twins came from a student of hers. She taught a group of students and had a great relationship with them, they would meet outside of class in a group and talk about all kinds of things. And one night, a male student told about how his parents told him when he was 18 that he had been a twin, and that the brother had died at birth. And he said as soon as he told them he thought "oh - that's it. that's what's been 'off' about my life - what's been missing all this time." He knew something was wrong and missing and strange, but didn't know exactly what. When they told him he was relieved because everything made sense. One last thing that I can remember is this: She said that it's interesting how people always accuse non-fiction (memoir) writers of making things up, and they often are quick to say that fiction writer's books are auto-biographical. She said that this work is not auto-biographical in any way except for one, that she - Like Margaret - loves to read, and will read late into the night. For anyone who is interested, since this book was a "Barnes and Noble Recommends" pick, there's a lot of fun content on Barnes and Noble's site. There's an interview you can read, and a Meet The Writer's podcast you can download: www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writer.asp?cid=1573749&z=y&cds2Pid=12627
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Apr 8, 2007 11:00:06 GMT -5
that's so cool thanks. i need to move to ny all the authors go there for their book tours. i live in jersey we tend to get the leftovers
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Post by belle on Apr 8, 2007 12:00:11 GMT -5
I liked Margaret's work so much. Such a nice way of earning money. I would like to do that, too. Well, I am working in a bookstore, so there's only the writing missing. I am somewhere in the middle of the novel, but I like it a lot so far.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Apr 8, 2007 12:20:18 GMT -5
Oh, one other thing I really liked-
I found it so cool that the story is told to us by Vida, that she is telling the story to Margaret and we're a silent observer in the telling of the story to Margaret. It reminds me so much of Wuthering Heights - how we hear the story as it's being told to Lockwood.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Apr 8, 2007 12:30:04 GMT -5
Yes. It was very interesting to hear a story within a story.
What did you guys think of the ending to Vida's story and her true identity? Did you think there were enough clues laid out for us to figure it out. I certainly didn't. I needed to be walked through it by Margaret.
Which character do you think was the one that Vida was taking care of all those years?
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Apr 8, 2007 18:58:48 GMT -5
It was shocking no less. Very melo-dramatic. I liked it though because it was so unexpected but i agree it came out of nowhere almost. i'm thinking it's Adeline just because we know that Emmeline was more subdued and well didn't it say that when Vida dragged out one of the twins thinking it was Emmeline she said something to the extent of what have i done wrong!!
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Apr 9, 2007 14:10:34 GMT -5
If enough people want to read this and those people can handle waiting, I think this would be a good bookclub book since so many are interested in it. Is there enough to discuss for a bookclub?
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Post by bookaddict on Apr 9, 2007 14:14:50 GMT -5
I really want to read this book, I already bought it. I'd be interested if there's enough people.
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on Apr 9, 2007 16:02:16 GMT -5
i am for it!!
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Post by swissmiss on Apr 10, 2007 15:53:54 GMT -5
I'm in the middle of it already, so I agree I really like it!
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