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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I love Du Maurier’s writing style. To be published in the 30s I find her use of language descriptive yet easy to follow. I also love her portrayal of strong women.
This book is no different! Jamaica Inn focuses on Mary who has been sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle after her mother dies. The couple owns the inn, and quite quickly Mary learns that the inn and surrounding moors are full of secrets and danger.
Mary is a badass. She hikes up her layered dresses and walks for miles while trying to discover mysteries. She faces dangerous men head on and tells it like it is. Rain doesn’t stop her, fear doesn’t stop her.
Obviously there are some aspects of this book that were common in that time, such as the women serving the men, even when the women are ill. Women are referred to by the men as ‘fragile’ and short sighted, but Du Maurier makes sure we know that is not true.
Overall, great classic. 4.5 ⭐️
This book is no different! Jamaica Inn focuses on Mary who has been sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle after her mother dies. The couple owns the inn, and quite quickly Mary learns that the inn and surrounding moors are full of secrets and danger.
Mary is a badass. She hikes up her layered dresses and walks for miles while trying to discover mysteries. She faces dangerous men head on and tells it like it is. Rain doesn’t stop her, fear doesn’t stop her.
Obviously there are some aspects of this book that were common in that time, such as the women serving the men, even when the women are ill. Women are referred to by the men as ‘fragile’ and short sighted, but Du Maurier makes sure we know that is not true.
Overall, great classic. 4.5 ⭐️
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Re-read November/December 2018.
Du Maurier is amazing and whilst I don't think anything will quite live up to Rebecca, Jamaica Inn is a close second. It's gloomy, and mysterious, and I absolutely love it.
Du Maurier is amazing and whilst I don't think anything will quite live up to Rebecca, Jamaica Inn is a close second. It's gloomy, and mysterious, and I absolutely love it.
I have loved Rebecca for so long, and always wanted to read another du Maurier, and I"m so glad I did. And I didn't even know it takes place over Christmas when I picked it up mid-December. It's the story of a young woman who is orphaned (of course) and sent to live with her aunt and uncle at Jamaica Inn - a creepy forsaken inn and pub on the moors. She discovers immediately that her aunt has gone almost out of her mind with fright and strain, and begins to uncover what is really going on at the inn. Of course she becomes involved in the mystery and in danger, and all other good things that happen in a gothic Victorian romance. Well-written and engaging - it was a super-fun spooky holiday read.
I'm still loving it. (12/2020)
Reads:
01/2017
10/2018
12/2020
Reads:
01/2017
10/2018
12/2020
dark
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Whenever I can't decide whether to give a book 5 stars or not, I ask myself "Do I love this book enough to read it again?"
Well, the answer for THIS book is YES! I'll read it again and again and again and not get tired or bored because the prose is enough to enchant you. It coils around your heart like a warm blanket on a cold rainy day. I mean, WOW. I'm a sucker for rich prose and Daphné Du Maurier did NOT disappoint.
The plot was both slow and fast paced, both balanced perfectly without irritating the reader. Mary was a strong willed, independent protagonist who didn't let her love for a man dictate her actions. Who struggled in her own way against her vile uncle's clutches and despite having every reason to do so, didn't run away because she couldn't stand to see her aunt suffer at the hands of her husband. So, the protagonist had a perfect blend of a warm heart and a cool head which made me very happy.
Lovestuck girls annoy me a little and I was glad Mary wasn't one to gamble her life away to a man. She stuck to her morals and principles without being too cold hearted or perfunctory.
Us girls love à bad boy don't we? Give us a Will Herondale-like, dark sexy stranger who's witty and funny and makes us swoon. Jem Merlyn wasn't exactly Will H (lol no one can beat HIM) but he was close and I loved him! A horse thief with a witty and charming personality, he didn't treat Mary like women were thought of in the 19th century ie weak feeble creatures who needed men to save them. I liked how he joked about being her savior in his own dark witty way but didn't enact chains on Mary and let her carry on her investigation, trusting her wit and instinct despite the dangerous grounds she was treading.
ALSO I SAW THE ENDING COMING FROM LONG AWAY but it was still exciting when it finally happened and UGH I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I can't wait to re read it! Until then I'll pick up another of Daphné Du Maurier's books with a hopeful heart for another thrilling feminist read!
Well, the answer for THIS book is YES! I'll read it again and again and again and not get tired or bored because the prose is enough to enchant you. It coils around your heart like a warm blanket on a cold rainy day. I mean, WOW. I'm a sucker for rich prose and Daphné Du Maurier did NOT disappoint.
The plot was both slow and fast paced, both balanced perfectly without irritating the reader. Mary was a strong willed, independent protagonist who didn't let her love for a man dictate her actions. Who struggled in her own way against her vile uncle's clutches and despite having every reason to do so, didn't run away because she couldn't stand to see her aunt suffer at the hands of her husband. So, the protagonist had a perfect blend of a warm heart and a cool head which made me very happy.
Lovestuck girls annoy me a little and I was glad Mary wasn't one to gamble her life away to a man. She stuck to her morals and principles without being too cold hearted or perfunctory.
Us girls love à bad boy don't we? Give us a Will Herondale-like, dark sexy stranger who's witty and funny and makes us swoon. Jem Merlyn wasn't exactly Will H (lol no one can beat HIM) but he was close and I loved him! A horse thief with a witty and charming personality, he didn't treat Mary like women were thought of in the 19th century ie weak feeble creatures who needed men to save them. I liked how he joked about being her savior in his own dark witty way but didn't enact chains on Mary and let her carry on her investigation, trusting her wit and instinct despite the dangerous grounds she was treading.
ALSO I SAW THE ENDING COMING FROM LONG AWAY but it was still exciting when it finally happened and UGH I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I can't wait to re read it! Until then I'll pick up another of Daphné Du Maurier's books with a hopeful heart for another thrilling feminist read!
Such a dark and brooding book. Jamaica Inn came to life to the point where I could almost hear the place creaking and feel the creepy chill in the air. The characters and the dialogue between them were excellent, particularly Mary who was such a strong and likable heroine. Daphne du Maurier's writing is just mindblowing and I fell in love with how atmospheric and poetic it is whilst reading this. I wouldn't have imagined myself finding a book focusing on wreckers and smuggling particularly compelling but I found it so interesting and the plot had me hooked.
To give you a sense of why I loved Mary so much, her response to Jem Merlyn asking if she'd been thinking of him - "Yes I thought about you once. I wondered who would hang first, you or your brother".
To give you a sense of why I loved Mary so much, her response to Jem Merlyn asking if she'd been thinking of him - "Yes I thought about you once. I wondered who would hang first, you or your brother".