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buzzingbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
srogan88's review against another edition
3.0
The thing I both love and hate about short story collections is the unevenness of the stories contained within them.
This is only the second book I've read from Daphne du Maurier, the first being her amazing full-length novel, "Rebecca," which is one of my favorite books ever. I was so excited to discover du Maurier had written short stories!
The collection started strong. "The Alibi" is the first entry and perhaps my favorite. It set the bar high with its creepy demeanor, complex characters, and twisted ending. "The Blue Lenses" came next and while it wasn't quite my thing, it was quite other-worldly and "off" enough that I appreciated it. "Ganymede" was more my style and the plot took turns I didn't expect, which some people find frustrating but I often find satisfying. I enjoyed "The Pool" up until the end, when it sort of lost me a bit. "The Archduchess" was both very interesting and yet torturous to read at the same time, a real feat. I enjoyed "The Menace" - exploring the adaptation of a big Hollywood star to new technology while his entourage manages him so poorly brought about a rewarding ending. I didn't feel much about "The Chamois," and the final story, "The Lucky Ones," felt like it was either rushed and underdeveloped or a bit of a throwaway.
So once again, how do you rate a collection of short stories? Do you rate each individual story and take an average? Rate the feeling you have as you look back on the book, realizing you'll likely be influenced most heavily by the last story in it? Rate it based on how it held up to expectations? I'm going with 3 stars - there are two stories I would definitely read again and a third I would consider. There are a couple I would never read again. And a couple that I felt in-between about.
This is only the second book I've read from Daphne du Maurier, the first being her amazing full-length novel, "Rebecca," which is one of my favorite books ever. I was so excited to discover du Maurier had written short stories!
The collection started strong. "The Alibi" is the first entry and perhaps my favorite. It set the bar high with its creepy demeanor, complex characters, and twisted ending. "The Blue Lenses" came next and while it wasn't quite my thing, it was quite other-worldly and "off" enough that I appreciated it. "Ganymede" was more my style and the plot took turns I didn't expect, which some people find frustrating but I often find satisfying. I enjoyed "The Pool" up until the end, when it sort of lost me a bit. "The Archduchess" was both very interesting and yet torturous to read at the same time, a real feat. I enjoyed "The Menace" - exploring the adaptation of a big Hollywood star to new technology while his entourage manages him so poorly brought about a rewarding ending. I didn't feel much about "The Chamois," and the final story, "The Lucky Ones," felt like it was either rushed and underdeveloped or a bit of a throwaway.
So once again, how do you rate a collection of short stories? Do you rate each individual story and take an average? Rate the feeling you have as you look back on the book, realizing you'll likely be influenced most heavily by the last story in it? Rate it based on how it held up to expectations? I'm going with 3 stars - there are two stories I would definitely read again and a third I would consider. There are a couple I would never read again. And a couple that I felt in-between about.
tinywriter_'s review against another edition
4.0
This is a really bizarre collection of short stories, exploring and blurring the lines between health and sickness, sanity and madness. 'The Alibi' and 'The Pool' each deserve five stars. The Pool in particular, is phenomenally beautiful if nothing else. Two out of eight of the stories collected here though - The Archduchess and The Menace - I couldn't find anything particularly good about. Perhaps I'm missing something in them, but for me they somwehat ruined what was otherwise a really gorgeously written collection.
linda_edwards's review against another edition
4.0
This book contains eight short stories which I can only describe as being strange, weird, quirky, dark but also great. My favourites ones were Alibi, The Blue Lenses and The Menace.
daniela_m11's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
danisg's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
crankylibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Some spine tinglingly creepy stories in this one!
maccymacd's review against another edition
4.0
Du Maurier is just an absolute master of the short story. Each story transported me to a different world and I lingered there only long enough to soak up the magic of the writing, before I was plunged headfirst into yet another tale.
kazgriki's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of quirky, timeless stories showcases Daphne du Maurier's marvellous imagination and exceptional story-telling ability. I particularly liked the surreal tale 'The Blue Lenses'.
elliejean28's review against another edition
5.0
I think perhaps my favourite collection of short stories I’ve ever read. The range is astonishing, the stories are complicated, haunting and relevant several decades later. Beautiful.