“For me to see is to read. It has always been that way.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale
i have to say...
of all the books that we have read, this is the
one that made me wish we had the opportunity to meet and talk about.
it was really good and dallys and i kept calling each other and saying "where are you at?"
it would make a very interesting discussion.
Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father’s antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise—she doesn’t know the author, nor has she read any of Miss Winter’s dozens of novels.
Late one night while pondering whether to accept the task of recording Miss Winter’s personal story, Margaret begins to read her father’s rare copy of Miss Winter’s Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? Intrigued, Margaret agrees to meet Miss Winter and act as her biographer.As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss Winter’s account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story. In the end, both women have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets. As well as the ghosts that haunt them still.
both dallys and i agree that this one of the best we have read and gave it 5 stars...
i was completely drawn in, although slowly at first and then it was very hard to leave it.
everyone that i have heard from so far felt the same way...
we also had a little fun throughout the month...
it started with an official invite which arrived sealed with wax...
if you read the book you will understand the invite a little better with the seemingly burned paper and single book page...
we then had everyone post the invites on instagram when it arrived...
we also threw in a wednesday word...
#ghosts
here is a look at the ghosts and whatnot that
crossed every ones paths...
we ended the month by having some ghost stories and our
2nd annual
"ghost story extravaganza"
in my backyard...
we
had hot chocolate and hot cider,
doughnuts and carmel popcorn...
i told this ghost story
around the fire
which was the winner of the
"JFP creative frightening story"
contest
written by
it was spooky and so much fun!
i want to thank everyone who played along...
if you were able to read the book
"the thirteenth tale"
i would love to know what you thought...
we thought it was just so good!
and if you didn't get the chance to read it, we are not having a book choice for the month of december so you could read it then if you want. it was definitely worth reading:)
bye...
more later...
