I'm in the middle of reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, which I saw listed on a few blogs as a "don't miss" read. I'm enjoying it, not only because the writing is engaging, but hearing it read aloud is a real treat.
The story is about a biographer, the daughter of a bookseller, who sets out to write about an author with a complicated and mysterious background. She writes with a pseudonym - not an uncommon thing. As the author tells her tale, the biographer develops a relationship with the reclusive writer. It is a subtle, yet distinct touch to the book. As engaging as the story is that's unfolding, there is the back and forth to the present characters, who have their own "tale" going on.
This led me to look over at amazon, where I found the Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean, about a woman who used to work in a museum (the Hermitage) and now has Alzheimers. She is awaiting the wedding of her granddaughter, but keeps going back to the past, describing the art exhibits as part of the narrative. (I was disappointed that I couldn't find the book available (yet) in an accessible format, but added it to my list.)
In the meantime, next up to read is Water for Elephants. Anyone else reading anything interesting?
4 comments:
Just finished The Thirteenth Tale, right before Christmas. It's our local mothers' book group selection for the January meeting. I bet it's great by audio!
I was thinking of you today--noticed that today would have been the 70th birthday of Sister Thea Bowman (1937-1990). She used a wheelchair later in life, during years of cancer treatment; her quote "I don't make sense of suffering; I try to make sense of life," strikes me as a good answer to a lot of questions about disability and faith.
Penny,
I'm loving the accents - the audiobook is done by two narrators on the version I have - it's wonderful.
I may do a post on Sr. Thea Bowman - thanks for that wonderful quote.
Just slammed through A Thousand Splendid Suns in four hours the other night because the local library wouldn't let me extend the loan. Thought The Kite Runner was more powerful. Hosseini is repeating some of the same material...but don't we all?!?
Last night I finished reading Brunonia Barry's novel, The Lace Reader which is part detective story, part family angst portrait, part historical (Salem, MA witches) with mystical components mixed in. The writing is vibrant, which makes it a class or two above pure brain candy.
Meredith - Hadn't heard of The Lace Reader - sounds interesting. Sounds interesting.
Repeat things? Moi? LOL!
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