The thirteenth tale book discussion

Sep 12, 2006 the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield margaret lea works in her fathers antiquarian bookshop where her fascination for the biographies of the longdead has led her to write them herself. Books play an important role in the thirteenth tale. Im very much looking forward to hearing what she has to say about her book. My book club, the eclectic bookworms, met last weekend at novel places to discuss our september pick, the thirteenth tale by diane. Diane setterfields the thirteenth tale is a mystery told in a storywithinastory format. Discuss margaret and miss winters relationships to books. In the thirteenth tale, the novel jane eyre appears several times. I dont remember when i first came across this book but its been on my goodreads tbr for five years already. The assertion with which vida winter opens her first book also acts as the epigraph to the thirteenth tale. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the thirteenth tale. The thirteenth tale archives page 2 of 21 lincoln city. During their meeting at winters home, lea attempts to politely decline the offer and leave, but is stopped at the door by the pleas of the older woman. Januarys selection was the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield.

The thirteenth tale study guide contains a biography of diane setterfield, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Starting on november 1 the author of the thirteenth tale will join in a discussion of her book with anyone who joins the book club. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Miss winter asks margaret if shed like to hear a ghost story in fact, there. This bestseller is a book lovers book, with much of the action taking place in libraries and book stores, and the line between fact and fiction constantly blurred. How do you feel that the thirteenth tale compares to one book one lincoln finalists of past years. Margarets room above her fathers bookshop, angelfield, and miss winter.

The thirteenth tale if you liked the thirteenth tale you may also like other books in our fiction category. The thirteenth tale is a novel in the tradition of the bronte sisters by new writer diane setterfield. Not only is she scheduled for a 14city tour in the states, shell need to write her next novel quickly, because there is no doubt that we book lovers will be clamoring for more. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield margaret lea works in her fathers antiquarian bookshop where her fascination for the biographies of the longdead has led her to write them herself. The title of this novel is taken from the title of miss winters first book, thirteen tales of change and desperation, a collection of twelve stories with a mysterious thirteenth left out at the last minute before publication.

Mar 28, 2012 im currently reading a book by diane setterfiled called the thirteenth tale and thought to share a couple of passages from the text. We meet once a month for an informal book discussion. The thirteenth tale archives lincoln city libraries. The thirteenth tale discussion novel dame and pages turned. It is enough to say that this is a story in the second story, as a mosaic in a kaleidoscope periodically makes a smooth movement and makes up a new figure of already familiar elements, helps the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The thirteenth tale, by diane setterfield is a gothic suspense novel, the authors first published book in 2006.

In the end, the thirteenth tale is a different book from jane eyre, more similar to daphne du mauriers rebecca. The thirteenth tale join us for a friendly, informal discussion of the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield krause memorial branch kent. And indeed, every major character in the book with the exception of miss winter herself, who characterizes her own birth as a subplot p. Januarys selection was the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield heres how it works. Diane setterfields debut novel arrived already wreathed in acclaim, and its easy to see why. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. It is written in the style of the brontesisters and alternating between the early and present lives,tells the story of two characters, margaret lea and vida. Discuss the appearances and allusions to jane eyre and how this novel echoes that one. Margaret lea grew up in a household of mourning, but she never knew why until the day she opened a box of papers underneath her parents bed and found the birth and death certificates of a twin sister of whom she never knew. The book epitomises that emphasis on storytelling because, not only is its main character, vida winter, an author but she is a notably reclusive one who has carefully guarded the true facts of her life, spreading misinformation in its place. Im going to throw out some discussion topics, and you can feel free to post your commentsabout these topics or other things you want to talk about. Biographer margaret lea olivia colman arrives at the. The thirteenth tale is a cleverly plotted, beautifully written homage to the classic romantic mystery.

The thirteenth tale is a love letter to reading, a book for the feral reader in all of us, a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and that we loved as children. Adeline steps forward as intelligent, wellspoken, and confident the girl in the mists emerges. In which i talk about my reread of the thirteenth tale. It is a handwritten request from one of britains most prolific and wellloved novelists. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books, and family. Once upon a river book club favorites discussion 5 second summaries with off the shelf. Which aspects of the book gave you a sense of time, and which seemed timeless. Setterfield has rejuvenated the genre with this closely plotted, clever foray into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and halftruths. In one interview about her career change from academia to author. Can someone explain to me the ending of the thirteenth tale. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield i read it over a long period of time and maybe i just missed a lot of the clues, but i finished it and am completely confused.

If reproducing, please credit with the following statement. That is why setterfield called the novel the thirteenth tale, as well as the nonexistent thirteenth story from the edition of fairy tales of the heroine vida winter. The thirteenth tale is one of those novels for which discussion of the plot of which is not. Terri the first time i read this book, it was the unabridged audio book. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. This weeks featured book is the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. The characters are so welldeveloped, the writing is beautiful and the plot is intr. It stays with you, taking up brain space, whispering incessantly, like the five notes of a song you cant place, but cant escape. The thirteenth tale archives page 3 of 21 lincoln city. The following are some questions to think about as you finish up the novel. Publishing simultaneously in 28 countries, the thirteenth tale is going to make setterfield, a former academic living in england, a very busy woman.

In what ways is the thirteenth tale a classic, gothic novel. Late one night, while pondering whether to accept the task of recording miss winters personal story, margaret begins to read her fathers rare copy of miss winters thirteen tales of change and desperation. It is an adaptation of diane setterfields gothic novel the thirteenth tale. The story shifts significantly after the death of mrs. From the fictional book referred to in its title to margarets deep love of books deeper than her affection for most people to miss winters renown as a great author, books are the lifeblood of the plot. The framing device revolves around margaret, a bibliophile and occasional biographer who works in a. Former academic setterfield pays tribute in her debut to. If youre looking for an interesting novel for your high school english students, check out diane setterfields the thirteenth tale. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. The thirteenth tale readalong discussion with spoilers. Vida winter, a famous novelist in england, has evaded journalists questions about her past, refusing to answer their inquiries and spinning elaborate tales that they later discover to be false.

It is a classic writers axiom that a symbol must appear at least three times in a story so that the reader knows that you meant it as a symbol. The main characters in the story are two writers an amateaur biographer and a popular novelist. Margaret has yet to understand why she is the one vida chose to record her tale. I really enjoyed the plot twists, especially the fact that there was a third child. How do books, novels, and stories play an important role in this book. Vida winter, a famous novelist in england, has evaded journalists questions about her past, refusing to answer their inquiries and spinning.

The thirteenth tale book club discussion questions thoughtco. She enlists the help of a amateur biographer, margaret lea, by summoning her. Ghost stories abound in the thirteenth tale, and in many american towns and cities as well. These book club discussion questions on the thirteenth tale will help you explore setterfields masterfully created story. To view books in process, and to suggest new books, go to books in process. The thirteenth tale is a novel framed and shaped, virtually permeated, by books.

The thirteenth tale, diane setterfield the thirteenth tale, by diane setterfield is a gothic suspense novel, the authors first published book in 2006. The thirteenth tale topics for discussion diane setterfield this study guide consists of approximately 56 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the thirteenth tale. This book is exceptional because you expect from it quite a different. Diane setterfield will keep you guessing, make you wonder, move you to tears and laughter and, in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the. Jan 25, 2019 in place of the cobwebs, cinders and old books that perfume the thirteenth tale, once upon a river has mud, marsh and ale, drawing on the uncomplicated characters and enigmatic motifs of folklore. Like the book whose secrets are hinted at by its cover, houses reveal much about their owners. Miss winter asks margaret if shed like to hear a ghost story in fact, there seem to be several. As she faces her own mortality, winter is finally willing to divulge her biggest secrets and chooses margaret lea, a rare bookseller, to be her. The main character, margaret lea, is invited to write the life story of bestselling author, vida winter, who has spent her entire career making up her past. Thanks to everyone who participated in our virtual book club which i introduced here. The columbus dispatch a compelling and emotional mystery about family secrets and the magic of books and storytelling, and it captures you right from the very first page. Reading guide for the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield has a bookaxe shelfie score of 66%.

Was vida adeline, emmeline and the ghost child because she. Theres still one more public book discussion opportunity eastridge presbyterian churchs regular book group will be discussing the thirteenth tale on monday, november 24th at 7. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield the independent. The thirteenth tale is a book which shifts between two main stories. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books and family.

To quote from the thirteenth tale, everybody has a story. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield book club. Miss winter asks margaret if shed like to hear a ghost storyin fact, there seem to be several ghost stories weaving their way through. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield book club discussion. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield goodreads. The shared literary landscape that the thirteenth tale recreates with lush precision takes us back to a time when reading could seem more compelling than life. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield is not a book you read then forget. The 2006 gothic novel the thirteenth tale is diane setterfieldsfirst book. Follows aging novelist vida winter, who enlists a young writer to finally tell the story of her life including her mysterious childhood spent in angelfield house, which burned to the ground when she was a teenager. The thirteenth tale is one of those novels for which discussion of the plot of which is not only useless, but also dangerous you can just confuse or frighten off the potential reader. The library is happy to share these original questions for your use.

I understand that on paper the plot doesnt sound too amazing, but the way its written is absolutely enthralling. Lets dig in by putting ourselves in margarets place. Diane setterfield goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. Twins one of the central themes of the book is twins. Discussion questions for the thirteenth tale by kerri wallace january 21, 2009 i hope everyone has been enjoying the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. Reclusive author vida winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Discuss the various roles of books, stories, and writing in this novel. The thirteenth tale is a british drama television film that first broadcast on bbc two on 30 december 20. The thirteenth tale, the novel jane eyre appears several times.

We meet each month at the gwinnett county public librarys collins hill branch, located at 455 camp perrin road in lawrenceville. When her health begins failing, the mysterious author vida winter decides to let margaret lea, a biographer, write the truth about her life, but margaret needs to verify the facts since vida has a history of telling outlandish tales. Intrigued, margaret agrees to meet with the ageing authorif only to discuss her reasons for not accepting the position as winters biographer. Sep 12, 2006 a dying writer bids a young bookshop assistant to write her biography. About the thirteenth tale the thirteenth tale summary. Discussion questions for the thirteenth tale are listed. The thirteenth tale centres around the life of a fictional novelist, vida winter who has always remained elusive until she is struck down by a terminal illness. If you love to read, consider joining the gwinnett daily post book club. In many ways, this is a book for book lovers, and there are multiple passages. This is especially true in the thirteenth tale, where houses are virtual reflections of their inhabitants. Sep 30, 2018 in which i talk about my reread of the thirteenth tale. Did the question of time affect your experience with the novel. If you love books about books, this is definitely one that id recommend. One tells of the life of amateur biographer margaret lea and her exploration of the angelfieldmarch familys past.