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I see the next book - you are all in for a WONDERFUL, captivating read!! I've read this book, it is absolutely wonderful! I keep a list of all books I've read, and out of 5 stars, I gave it 4.5

I'm reading it now and am really enjoying it. It was a little hard for me to get into it (i think that is b/c I was reading another really great book at the same time, which I've since put down to finish this one) but I'm nearing the end and am really hooked :) Can't wait to get to the discussions!

I read it last month and really enjoyed it. I loved how it was built around the love of book - bookseller, author, book collector and even classic books themselves were all integral to the book.

Yes, that is really cool! The author's love of language, the written word and storytelling is so evident!

I started the audio of this one and am about half way. I love it so far. I was hooked from the beginning.

This is one of my favorite books. I love the vividness of it. :)

Becky wrote: "This is one of my favorite books. I love the vividness of it. :)"

Same here! I've been meaning to take the time from tackling my TBR mountain to go back and read it. A group discussion might be just the motivation!

I've read The Thirteenth Tale twice, so I think I will pass for this month, however, I highly recommend it. Wonderful description, characters, and a neat twist at the end.

Yeah, I read this one a couple of years ago too. I don't remember all the twists too it, but I do remember falling in love with the writing. What beautiful descriptions about book love!

I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón which is another captivating book if you haven't read it.

I'm about a third of the way through and am loving it! I have had it for a while now and am glad that it was chosen as a group read.

I have just started reading it. It took me sometime to follow the thread and to get used to the writing. I am hooked.

I started this last night, and I am LOVING it. I am totally relating to Margaret and her love of books.

I just finished this and loved it! Can't wait till everyone is done:)

I'm trying to get a sense of the time period, the one Margaret is writing in. She is using pencils and paper (no laptop!!). Also, the type of bookshop her father owns has almost disappeared.

Any suggestions? Maybe 50's?

I've heard a lot of discussion about it taking place in the 70's. There really is very little context clues except that it pre-dates the technology boom. She didn't use any kind of recording device in her interviews with Vida. I'm to young to know when those hit the scene.

Anthony wrote: "I'm trying to get a sense of the time period, the one Margaret is writing in. She is using pencils and paper (no laptop!!). Also, the type of bookshop her father owns has almost disappeared.

Any..."

Another indicator of the time is that Margaret always dons a hat and gloves even when it's not winter, that was the fashion. So I would say the 50's maybe 60's.

Interesting discussion on what year this is. I have not read the book but I doubt it was the 70's or she would be wearing polyester pants (for our sins in another life). Up until the middle 60's people were still dressing up to go on a plane (dress/heels - I speak from experience) which abruptly stopped and people started wearing pants and flats. I never wore a pair of tennis shoes until the 80's unless I WAS playing tennis. In the 50's people wore hats but mostly for church, weddings, etc. altho' there might be a few older people who wore them when they went out, there were very few. Having said all that, I think it would depend on where she lives (East coast vs. West Coast where I was). It is interesting to try and pinpoint it!

I think it could be the 50's because my mother wore hats for special occasions then. I remember wearing hats to church (in the 60's) but also gloves and my mother and grandmother did have a lot of gloves.

Hey Maude, The story takes place in England. I am not sure if that changes anything or not.

Oh, I think so!!!!! Sorry, I haven't read it!

I like your comments on the changing of fashion:) Are you going to read this book? I really liked it.

Danielle, I'm glad you liked my comments - I was hiding my face after my wardrobe faux pas! Thanks for your kind words. I very much want to read this book and hope to get it - maybe this week. It sounds like something I would really like.

Maude, It seems that all styles come back in fashion...even if they shouldn't! hehe

Yes they do but PLEASE not polyester!!

The action takes place near Harrogate in Yorkshire.Northern England. Harrogate is one of the main towns and famous( in the past) for its waters,so it was frequented by 'smart'people. I have not been able to work out where Margaret comes from. She states that she has never been north before, so she obviously came from the south. Also she states she once went to London, so that rules that out. At the beginning she mentionds Laundress Passge. I have been unable to find a Laundress Passge anywhere, but there is a Laundress Green in Cambridge, famous for its University and (wait for it!) old book shops. It also has many short narrow streets called passages. Also she would have had to change at York to get to Harrogate.
About the gloves, I have only found a reference to her wearing gloves when handling rare books (I may have missed other references or not got there yet). When handling rare books or manuscripts it is essential to where cotton, lint free gloves to protect the paper fron the acids etc present in the skin.

Any way, less of my ramblings! I am convinced of the 50's

I love that we have to figure out when this story takes place!

Anthony, What a detective!! It sounds perfect to me especially the Laundress Green. You have now been awarded the Resident Sleuth title.

I just finished this last night, and it is going on my "Keep" shelf! I loved this book!

Maude, Thanks for the honour! I'm like that, I need to know everything. This is especially so with novels with some historical facts. I am not content with reading the author's notes but spend a lot of time on the internet checking up and researching further. I have always been interested in the research aspects.
Another comment about gloves. The story is in Yorkshire in the winter, it can get **! cold sometimes and gloves would be essential to go out.

I believe that the main thread of the story, Margaret's time, takes place in the 90s. I say this because of the feeling that I got from the story of Isabelle Angelfield, which I believe took place either around 1910 or at the very latest 1920ish.

The style of dress that was described seems more 20s-ish to me than earlier, and they had automobiles, so that leads me to think that it was the 20s or so since vehicles would have been more widespread and common.

And Vida I believe is in or near her 80s (if I remember correctly - it's been a while!) so that would make sense too...

But I love how it was left unclear, so that we each interpret it to be the time that feels right to us. :)

Anthony, You are welome! I love to try and "detect", too. I think I am going to see if I can the book today so I can actually read it.

Having now finished the book, maybe Becky is closer. I would depend on the date of the fire. If this occured in the 20's, then Aurelius's sister could be in her 40's, having two young children, I am assuming these are about 10. By this reckoning It is probably the 70/80's. I am not sure if Vida is 80. Probably 70.
I have not given more detail as it would give away some of the secrets to those who have yet to read or finish.
As Becky say's it is unclear and we can all interpret as we feel. It's just my enquiring mind.

A brilliant read well recommended. Will put it on my 'to read again' shelf.

I think you're right Anthony, probably 70 rather than 80. I haven't read it in a while!

It's only the 19th and I have finished this month's read. Any other suggestions? What came 2nd and 3rd in the polls? I was thinking of I, Claudius, but not my period of music. What are others reading at the moment?

Anthony, what do you like? I am reading The Zookeeper's Wife and really liking it. It takes place in Poland during WWII. It was a strange follow-up to The Thirteenth Tale, but it's still really good.

My interests range from the 16th to 18th century. Also something which jumps from history to modern times. e.g The Rosetti Letter which I have just read.

Just finished reading it last night at 2:00a.m.! Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the discussion.

Kimberly wrote: "Just finished reading it last night at 2:00a.m.! Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the discussion."

Go for it... we're unstructured here. :P You can discuss whatever you like - just remember to mark spoilers for those who haven't finished yet!

Anthony wrote: "My interests range from the 16th to 18th century. Also something which jumps from history to modern times. e.g The Rosetti Letter which I have just read."

Anthony, Have you thought about joining the challenge? I have found it to be fun and it makes me read books that are both inside and outside of my comfort area. It's been great. If you don't mind reading books that are depressing The Woodsman's Daughter is good as is A Map of the World. I highly recommend The Mercy of Thin Air and one of my all-time favorite books Timeline. I am in the process of reading Atonement and will begin reading The Canterbury Papers: A Novel. I think that one is going to be great. Also if you look at people's profiles you can click on the link that has the books that they have read and how they rated them for more ideas.

Danielle wrote: "Anthony wrote: "My interests range from the 16th to 18th century. Also something which jumps from history to modern times. e.g The Rosetti Letter which I have just read."

Anthony, Have you thought..."



I agree with you about The Canterbury Papers: A Novel...I haven't read it yet either, but it looks really good!

Just got my copy of The Thirteenth Tale. After all the comments I can't wait to get started.

Danielle, Thanks for the suggestions. Most sound a bit depressing but like the idea of The Canterbury Papers: A NovelI'll start with that one.

Anthony, It seems that most novels are depressing unless they are the cheesy romance ones (I read those:). Here are a few others that you may like Perfume: The Story of a Murderer this one is written by a foreign writer and it is strange but I think worth reading, and Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar this one is a good solid adventure. I haven't read The Shadow of the Wind and "Everything Under The Sky" by Matilde Asensi yet but they are on my summer reading list. I couldn't find the English version of "Everything under the Sky" on goodreads but if you go onto amazon there is a good description there. Good luck with your reading.

One more thing Anthony, If you look on the right side of the Historical Fictionistas page there is a vertical list that says, group home, bookshelves, discussions and so on. At the bottom of that there is the word "polls." If you click on that you can see what other books were voted on for the group reads.

What I like most about the book is that there really is no defined time or place. That really doesn't either me because the relationships and the story is what is most important. I read this book last year and it instantly became one of my favorites.

It is a fabulous book... I was so drawn in by Vida's tale that I couldn't stop reading if I'd wanted to. I had to know what happened.

The one thing that I did feel was just a bit out of place though, was what Margaret found in the box...


****Spoilers****


Stop reading now if you don't wanna see it...


Last chance...

OK! If you're still reading, prepare to be spoiled... {Spoiler continued} ...about Margaret's dead twin sister. I didn't really understand that part, as it didn't really connect to the story at all. I get that it was supposed to allow her to identify with a twin, but the Angelfield twins were such UNIQUE twins that there's no way that anyone would really be able to identify with them, so Margaret's twin just felt a little out of place and unnecessary for me, especially since Margaret had never known her.



End of spoiler. :)

**Spoiler**

Since Vida played like her twin was dead I think involving Margarets twin was a way to get Margaret to identify with Vida concerning a loss of a twin. And yes Margaret never knew her sister but I think this whole book is grounded in the bond between twins. Plus I got the impression that Margaret was part of conjoined twins which would make the bond really strange to match Vida's although not strange in the same way. Personally, twins freak me out. Someone out there with my face...creepy.

**Spoiler**



I have to agree with Becky. I found the whole twin thing strange and out of place. I think Margaret had a bit of a mental issue. She talks about going to the other side with her twin when she sees her reflection, like she can just be drawn through. I feel like I am missing something. Maybe her sister's ghost lives in her reflection (like the movie mirrors) or maybe Margaret has had a total lapse from reality. And yes Felina, Margaret was a conjoined twin, her sister couldn't live without her physically speaking. And...redheaded and super blond twins can be kinda creepy (ever watch Children of the Corn??)

***maybe spoiler***

I'm not sure why but the Margaret twin thing workes for me. Perhaps its because I liked both stories (Margarets and Vidas) and I liked that they intertwine in the book. And I like the twinge of the supernatural associated with Margaret and her twin. I mean, there is alot of supernatural connections with twins i.e., Reading each others minds and emotions, knowing the other is in trouble from great distances, ect. Besides the twin issue gives depth to her issues with her mother which I think is also an interesting story.