Reviews tagging 'Incest'

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

147 reviews

babeeyaga's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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While reading this novel, I was constantly thinking about the story of Bluebeard. Specifically, in my mind, this novel seems to ask, what if Bluebeard’s newest wife past his test? What if she learned about his bloody chamber and still loved him? 

Going into this story, I expected a story of a young heroine living in the home and shadow of the wife that came before her. And yeah, I kinda did get that. But while many compare this book to Jane Eyre, Du Maurier portrayal of marriage, class and gender remind me of Shirley Jackson’s domestic horror. By the end of the book, I felt like almost every character — including the sweet, naive protagonist — was on some level sinister. There is no clear villian, victim or victor. There is absolutely no escape for anyone in this story. 

I honestly am not sure how much I really love or like this novel, but I know that I am going think about this book for a long, long time afterwards. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Incest, Fire/Fire injury

implied/potential death of dog after house is caught on fire

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition

4.75

funny mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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It has gone over feeling like a dream.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Violence, Grief, Murder, Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty

whoisrois's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is like when you get a new job but everyone keeps talking about how great your predecessor was but then it turns out they left the company half a mil in debt. Not that that happened to me! 😇

anywya, really good. Got better as it went on. Really interesting look at power dynamics in relationships. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Murder

Moderate: Cancer

hollydyer328's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Overall, I enjoyed this. For a classic, I felt this was pretty readable. Really enjoyed du Maurier’s writing style and exploration of class with the narrator. I had a good gasp with the twist about ~75% in, but the ending left me wanting more. There was probably a lot that went over my head with themes/symbolism, but I guess that’s the point of reading a classic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest

bearystarry's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I thought this was going to be different than it was, but I was very engaged the whole time. The ending was very surprising to me and I definitely should have paid more attention to the content warnings... but overall... I'm not sure if "enjoyed" is the correct word but I'll use it anyway; I enjoyed this read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Classism

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

haley49's review against another edition

4.5

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I loved the way this book wrapped up. It is so smart and absolutely nails the twists and beats of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Murder

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Incest, Sexism, Sexual violence, Pregnancy

jamie_el's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I did enjoy the book overall and definitely found the plot interesting, but it feels like it didn't quite reach its full potential. Quite a few characters are introduced and almost fleshed out to a degree that you think they'll be important, only for them to be never mentioned again. I also found Maxim to be inappropriate and the narrator frustrating at points. The ending was also a little predictable. Despite this, the writing itself was good and the story gripping, even though I felt justice wasn't truly served in the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Classism

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Incest, Terminal illness, Dementia, Alcohol

Many of these triggers are minor and only mentioned in passing or are a product of the time it was written. I would not let them deter if it is a preference rather than an mental health trigger as nothing is particularly explicit.

The main plotline of the book focuses on the deceased ex-wife of the narrator's husband, whom we find out he murdered because she was cheating on him with her cousin. He later gets away with the crime because it is found she had a chronic illness and it is thought that she committed suicide. Most of the triggers pertain to this plotline and the aftermath, but none of the descriptions are hugely explicit and it comes during the reveal at the end of the book.

sareidle's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Daphne du Maurier's writing is truly immersive, which makes the atmosphere and plot of the story work so well. The narrator lacks a name and any identifying details - we never learn her name, exact age, or family situation - which allows the ghost of Rebecca to loom large over Manderley. As I think more about how the narrator's perspective is limited and heavily informed by her insecurity, I question the retelling of events and the true circumstances surrounding Rebecca's death. I would highly recommend this book - it's even better at creating suspense than the Hitchcock adaptation!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Cancer, Incest, Fire/Fire injury

lethargicbat's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Bullying, Incest, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol

piecesofamber's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Dementia, Murder, Alcohol, Classism

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail