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milanaradic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
emily_ford16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Cancer
stories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Would be fascinating to study, and even fascinating to reread: the abrupt ending certainly had me jumping immediately back to the opening.
Plenty of ambiguity, as well as foreshadowing, and endless musing on hypothetical scenarios. Gorgeous descriptive language. Lots of mystery, and drawn out reveals of information. Written for the journey of coming to understand, not just arrival at the destination.
Moderate: Murder, Death, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Incest, and Infidelity
theangelssing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Suicide
jayjayjers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Terminal illness and Incest
chellareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Du Maurier's writing is superb. The narrative structure and pacing is also impeccable. And why isn't the last line as famous as the first line of this novel? What an ending.
Her writing is so vivid and at times cinematic. I could see every glance and gesture. And she's very good a page turner chapter endings. A delight to read.
This novel is doing so much. It has elements of Bluebeard and Red Riding Hood, but also intentionally mirrors Jane Eyre.
It has lots of dreams and dreamy sequences, but most of it is social realism. Her dialogue captures to social nuances of the English upper-class. Their snobbery and social rules, which both protect and trap them.
Manderley is the embodiment of the social structures they are trapped in. It puts demands on their lives, as they pass endless days there under rigid routine.
The book also examines the lives of women within this structure. How two women choose to navigate marriage and society and neither really win. But nobody wins in this gloomy tale. Rebecca comes closest, as the anti-heroine from beyond the grave.
A gripping read. I will have to read this again because there is so much to glean.
Highly recommend.
Moderate: Suicide
readingduckling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I will definitely read it again, maybe the rating will be better then, but for now I think 4 stars are fitting.
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
vhispas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Murder and Suicide
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Grief, Suicide, Medical content, Murder, Cancer, Alcohol, Classism, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
itwasrayning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Murder