I have to admit that even though I've enjoyed Jane Eyre and Rebecca, gothic style isn't at the top of my list of favorite novels. With Thirteenth Tale, I suspected I would grow irritated enough with a drawn-out plot and dry characters to stop reading part way through, but I was surprised.

I disliked Atonement, one reason being that I felt the author had tricked and manipulated me at the end, and the trick didn't 'work'. Thirteenth Tale had its tricks, but they were deftly handled. The plot was like stitching that keeps doubling back on itself and twisting, crossing one's eyes upclose, yet upon completion turns into an intricately designed piece of cloth.

Of course, my heart always goes out to characters whose mother and/or father has abused, neglected, or abandoned them. I feel a sense of triumph when those same characters, overcome and limp forward. (Not that this was a major theme of the novel.)

Copy 4

For inclusion in my Don't Even Think About It Bookbox.
Being sent to Bluestocking88 3/17/08.

Received this book in the Don't Even Think About It Box. I am sure this is a good book, I plan to pass it along.

RELEASE NOTES:

I'm adding this to KimKerry's Don't Even Think About It! bookbox.

Rec'd in the "Don't Even Think About It!" BookBox today. It looks like a wonderfully exciting story, and even though I have a HUGE TBR mountain, I am taking this book out of the box to add to the mountain! I'll be sure to journal and share the book with someone else when I'm done reading!