Here are the first set of discussion prompts for December's book The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. These questions only pertain to Beginnings (pp. 1-143).
1. Books play an important role in The Thirteenth Tale. Can you relate to Margaret/Miss Winter's relationship with books/stories? Do you agree with Miss Winter that stories can reveal the truth better than simply stating it outright?
2. Do you think it is harder to keep a secret, or to confess the complete truth?
3. Why do you think Margaret obeyed Miss Winter's summons?
1 comment:
#2: I think it's hard to confess the truth, sometimes, but ultimately easier in the end. Secrets have a tendency to fall into the 'snowball effect; Before you know it, it's hard to keep straight which stories you tell to whom, which parts are true and which parts you've made up. While it may be shameful to own up to our own flaws (a mistake you've made, a poor decision, etc.) it is even more shameful to be caught in a lie. Making a mistake sends a message to others that you are human; Lying about it sends a message to others that you are not trustworthy. To me, it becomes more of a moral/value issue.
"Oh the tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" -Sir Walter Scott
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