Here ya go Ali...have fun
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Thirteenth Tale*** SPOILERS 12/13/08
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 BCCJillster |
Thirteenth Tale*** SPOILERS 12/13/08 |
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11/28/08 06:59 PM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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Currently reading: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the
Dead by Johan Theorin
Just Finished: Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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ali02000 |
#1 | |||
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11/29/08 01:36 PM |
Ok, where to start?
Let me start with the reviews. I can't believe those reviews. This book is hugely over hyped IMO. The main thing that kept me reading was the fact that it was our group reading, and I haven't read one with you in a very long time. I didn't find the story gripping at all. On contrary, I found it boring for most of the book. Just because the story starts from the end it doesn't mean it is a mystery. So, somewhere in the middle I decided to treat it as normal novel, because quite frankly it sucked as mystery. I was aware of course that some sort of surprise would emerge at the end, but due to the limited number of characters, and the constant references to "Jane Eyre" the end was not that surprising. I think it was fairly obvious that Aurelius is Emmeline's child, so I was thinking there must be another big surprise. I felt from the beginning that Vida Winter will turn out to be someone else Initially I thought that she might turn out to be Emmeline, but then I disregard that due to characterization. So, I was left with two choices. The first would be a miraculous transformation of Adeline, which I thought would be very, very poor. The other alternative is the emergence of unknown character. Something like Mrs Rochester in Jane Eyre, and once you really think about this eventuality, which the author gave plenty of clues to it; you can put things more, or less together. As I said earlier, with so few characters, and all in one location, it wasn't that hard to guess. The biggest failing of this book however was its inability to make me care for the characters. I honestly couldn't care less about anyone up until Vida/"Adeline" started to have some sort of involvement in the story. The fact that the twins didn't talk throughout the story made them rather flat. Towards the end I started to have some engagement with the characters though, which made it more enjoyable. However, the damage has already been done. I think this book should have been at least half. On the positive side the book is beautifully written. I think the author has beautiful images, and some of her phrases are exquisite, but despite the fact the she kept telling us how great is her story, I beg to disagree with her. All in all, a readable book, but it is not something I would recommend. |
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bayjoens |
#2 | |||
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11/29/08 01:48 PM |
Ali, I have to go and see if I can find the book in my house. I read this one at least a year ago and remembered liking it well enough to hand to the dd. I
don't think it was one of my all-time favorites but I think it was light and easy and fun enough.
Sandra |
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ali02000 |
#3 | |||
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11/29/08 03:01 PM |
Sandra,
It is certainly not a bad book, if only for writing. However, i felt the mystery fact was blown out of proportions. Harlan Coben books don't last more than 3-4 days with me. This one i ended up paying library charges for it, lol. I think there is loads, and loads of waffle in it.
Last Edited By: ali02000 11/29/08 03:03 PM.
Edited 1 time.
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bookworm2 |
#4 | |||
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11/29/08 08:52 PM |
I liked the book, but I delved into this book with no preconceived notions - I have not read Jane Eyre, knew nothing about the author, and did not read any
reviews. Had I read Jane Eyre prior to reading this book my opinions may have changed drastically especially if the book parallels Jane Eyre - all the
references to Jane Eyre would have blown the entire ending. I guess ignorance was bliss for me this time around.
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sthurner |
#5 | |||
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12/01/08 10:28 AM |
I hoped to jump in to reading with this group, but The Thirteenth Tale made just no impression on me when ai read it last year. I couldn't bring myself to
revisit it.
Sherry in WI Currently reading Life Class, Murder the the Smithsonian, Ice Hunter, The Color of Magic http://sherry-latebloomer.blogspot.com/
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irishonstars |
#6 | |||
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12/06/08 11:42 AM |
Wwwhhheeww, I was beginning to think I was the only one that didn't care for this one... What they said ^... On a good note, I didn't hate it as much
as Death With Interruptions.
, |
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dlee10 |
#7 | |||
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12/06/08 08:26 PM BCC BookieMonster |
Not a bad read and yet I, too, kept putting it down. I finally forced myself to finish last night. I couldn't figure out how old Margaret was and that
hindered my enjoyment. I couldn't get the time frame down either. It seemed to be so early yet there were cars and indoor plumbing. Definitely more
modern than it seemed so I don't understand how a child could have come from no where. Charlie's victim must have had family who knew she had a baby
and might have wondered where she had disappeared to . After all "Vida" was at least old enough to walk when the gardener found her. I also
don't understand why Margaret was SO upset over a twin she never knew. None of the characters felt real to me. I just didn't care about them. I
expected the thirteenth tale to be so much better after all the build up. It was pretty funny when Hester insisted in her diary that "those things"
did not happen in England. I guess I shouldn't look too closely at this one! LOL
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BCCJillster |
#8 | |||
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12/09/08 10:26 AM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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Isn't anyone else reading this? Like Sandra, I liked it well enough at the time I read it. In fact, I made note that I was pleasantly surprised, probably
because my expectations were so low. It was a pleasant read for a type of book I generally don't favor. The only things I remembered over time were the
twist near the end and the fire.
She was kind of anal about tying up all the threads a bit too neatly, wasn't she? I read big chunks of it to review for the chat, which was kind of easy because one a mini-plot began, I remembered a lot about it. So...what's the consensus? Was it Emmeline or Adeline living in Vida's house?
Currently reading: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, gave up on The White Tiger
Just Finished: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin ; Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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dlee10 |
#9 | |||
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12/10/08 07:13 AM BCC BookieMonster |
It was Adeline wasn't it? I thought that was the twist. We were told it was Emmaline but when she died in the fire, there couln't be two Adelines. If
Emmaline had lived she would have gotten her baby back. Or, did I miss something?
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ali02000 |
#10 | |||
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12/10/08 05:54 PM |
I believe it was Emmeline, although there is no certainty either way.
The big twist of the book is the fact that there were 3 girls instead of 2. The author chose to make both twins mentally ill although in different ways, which i thought was pretty bad, and in a way re-inforcing the steryotype of mentally ill people have mentally ill children. Throughout the book, none of them said anything. We were only presented with their characters. Emmeline sweet, Adeline violent. We don't know enough about the girl surviving the fire. Furthermore, there was an implication that the fire had a mental impact as well. So, it either made Emmeline even more slow/lose her mind, or made Adeline lose her mind totally. The worst thing of all that, i don't really care. I am sorry, but the author failed miserably in making me care about the twins. The only person i cared for little bit was the old Vida Winter, and i thought Aurelius was a waste of space, and paper. Margaret drove me crazy with all that twin stuff. It had big fat zero impact on me. |
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BCCJillster |
#11 | |||
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12/10/08 09:24 PM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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LOL Ali, apparently not a zero, but a negative (number) effect.
I thought it was Emmaline too--that she'd been so damaged by the fire she wasn't a viable functioning person. But...I didn't pay close attention to that assumption and it was only briefly that I wondered.
Currently reading: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, gave up on The White Tiger
Just Finished: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin ; Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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ali02000 |
#12 | |||
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12/13/08 01:50 PM |
BCCJillster wrote: hahaha Jill. I have to say in the case of Margert, and her twin it was in negative numbers,lol. Although, i have to say the finale was rather touching. What saved this book for me is some of the writing was really good. In a way we are very similar to Margert when it comes to her love of books, and some of that description was very good. I strongly believe that this would have been, at least in my case, much better if it was short story. |
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kathylaz |
#13 | |||
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12/13/08 04:08 PM |
I enjoyed this read. It had the feel of the gothics, and an intriguing tale that kept me reading. I thought it was Adeline who was saved, for a number of
reasons. She kept digging up the dirt looking for someone who was dead; Adeline was known to always hunt for her twin and to be destructive in the garden.
Also, Emmaline hated dirt and liked to be clean. After the fire, when Vida thought she had saved Emmaline, she saw the cold empty eyes and suspected it was
Adeline instead. At various points in the book, Vida admits she lost everything in the fire....and "everything" to Vida was Emmaline.
Anyway, this certainly isn't great literature, but for a first novel and a pleasant read, it fits fine.
kathy
Reading Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo, Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and listening to Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow |
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BCCJillster |
#14 | |||
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12/13/08 04:38 PM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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It was great that you were at the chat Kathy, particularly to act as our memory since it was fresh in yours. I have to go recheck a few sections now, but I
have to look up arrowroot first LOL
Currently reading: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, gave up on The White Tiger
Just Finished: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin ; Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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someonegetchristine |
#15 | |||
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12/13/08 04:57 PM BCC BookieMonster |
My mind went off on a tangent with arrowroot Jill...when jane talked about digestive biscuits. I checked and they are made with arrowroot flour...lol
My memory seems to be deteriorating, it needs a reboot or a defrag or somthing (maybe a holiday!). Midwives help people out.
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BCCJillster |
#16 | |||
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12/13/08 06:57 PM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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LOL Chris, well I did look it up and of course the bells rang in my head too. I knew why you went from digestive to arrowroot without knowing why I knew--if
you know what I mean. Oy I think I even bought some for a recipe once.
Currently reading: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, gave up on The White Tiger
Just Finished: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin ; Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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kathylaz |
#17 | |||
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12/14/08 03:27 PM |
And because of both of youse, I am more educated! LOL
kathy
Reading Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo, Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and listening to Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow |
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wernoclue |
#18 | |||
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12/14/08 07:07 PM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
But where is the chat log? I wanted to read the part I missed.
Karen
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen |
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BCCJillster |
#19 | |||
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12/14/08 07:15 PM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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Karen, the chat log is always a bit delayed because I have to take out a bunch of time codes and junk characters to make it readable. what did you miss? I
think you were there for all but Hello.
I'll work on it now if I don't get interrupted.
Currently reading: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, gave up on The White Tiger
Just Finished: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin ; Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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wernoclue |
#20 | |||
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12/14/08 08:27 PM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
Actually, I had to leave at half-past when the grandson showed up so I have no idea what the arrowroot conversation was about!
Karen
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen |
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