You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
No
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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
Wuthering Heights meets Treasure Island.
Honestly, it's as good as it sounds. The writing is solid, the plot is juicy, and the characters are intriguing. It's no wonder Jamaica Inn was a bestseller in its day.
Honestly, it's as good as it sounds. The writing is solid, the plot is juicy, and the characters are intriguing. It's no wonder Jamaica Inn was a bestseller in its day.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Oh my goodness. This book was soooooo good! Atmospheric, dark ,tense. I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended, but I didn’t want it to end!
Having read Rebecca and having absolutely loved it I decided to read more by Daphne du Maurier. The second book I read by her was My Cousin Rachel, again I loved it!! I thought I'd try Jamaica Inn, having heard it was also good. I wasn't as impressed with this novel as I were the two previor du Maurier books I read.
Jamaica Inn is the tale of Mary, a young woman who goes to live with her Aunt after her mother passes. Her Uncle is the owner of Jamaica In and turns out to be an outright scumbag. Things at Jamaica Inn are not great for Mary and she becomes involved with the ongoings of her Uncle's mysterious side business which she doesn't know too much about, except for the fact that it's full of trouble. During this time she becomes aquainted with her uncle's brother, Jem...who is also a rather shady character in the beginning. Mary falls for Jem even though she doesn't know if she should trust him. Throughout the book Mary's courage puts her into some less than great situations which land her in the middle of thievery and murder. What happens??? you'll have to read to find out!
This novel, although worth reading, was not my favorite of du Maurier's by far. There were more cryptic messages throughout the text that left me confused during some parts. Having been written many years ago, certain parts of the story which confused me might've been easier to understand if I had read it closer to the time period in which it was written. It took me some time getting into the story however the last few chapters did engage me thoroughly. I must confess though, I figured out who the main villain was way before it was announced!!!Would I recommend this to others? sure...give it a chance. I intend to read more books by du Maurier and would suggest others do too!!!
Jamaica Inn is the tale of Mary, a young woman who goes to live with her Aunt after her mother passes. Her Uncle is the owner of Jamaica In and turns out to be an outright scumbag. Things at Jamaica Inn are not great for Mary and she becomes involved with the ongoings of her Uncle's mysterious side business which she doesn't know too much about, except for the fact that it's full of trouble. During this time she becomes aquainted with her uncle's brother, Jem...who is also a rather shady character in the beginning. Mary falls for Jem even though she doesn't know if she should trust him. Throughout the book Mary's courage puts her into some less than great situations which land her in the middle of thievery and murder. What happens??? you'll have to read to find out!
This novel, although worth reading, was not my favorite of du Maurier's by far. There were more cryptic messages throughout the text that left me confused during some parts. Having been written many years ago, certain parts of the story which confused me might've been easier to understand if I had read it closer to the time period in which it was written. It took me some time getting into the story however the last few chapters did engage me thoroughly. I must confess though, I figured out who the main villain was way before it was announced!!!Would I recommend this to others? sure...give it a chance. I intend to read more books by du Maurier and would suggest others do too!!!
I really enjoyed this book. Okay, I enjoy anything by Daphne du Maurier so take that as you want.
Loved the mystery, loved the world, loved the desolation, loved the gothic mood. Each character (no matter how awful) is so well-rounded- just when you start to hate someone, you find out something interesting about them that changed your opinion... mostly. Mary is a wonderful protagonist, and seeing the world through her eyes- and through the context of the mid 1700s England- was heartbreaking, and thrilling.
Wonderful stuff.
Loved the mystery, loved the world, loved the desolation, loved the gothic mood. Each character (no matter how awful) is so well-rounded- just when you start to hate someone, you find out something interesting about them that changed your opinion... mostly. Mary is a wonderful protagonist, and seeing the world through her eyes- and through the context of the mid 1700s England- was heartbreaking, and thrilling.
Wonderful stuff.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
I love [b:Frenchman's Creek|84573|Frenchman's Creek|Daphne du Maurier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347336421l/84573._SY75_.jpg|2973873] and [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386605169l/17899948._SX50_.jpg|46663] but DNF this book at 40%. I read a plot summary and am glad that I did. Compared to du Maurier's other greatest hits, the underlying motivation for the protagonist is weak, the action is slow, and the setting lacks romance.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BX Link: https://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/7524539
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Where: Cornwall, England
When: 1820
Thoughts/Reflections: I absolutely loved Rebecca, so I was really curious about this one when it arrived in my mailbox last month, a part of a book ring I’m doing. It didn’t disappoint. It’s dark. It’s moody. It’s mysterious. It was a great read to wrap up the spooky season. It was a slow, lingering read for me, but that pace didn’t bother me. DuMaurier tells a great story.
My favorite words:
“When darkness came it was swift and sudden, without warning, and an immediate blotting out of the sun. The mists were dangerous too, rising in a cloud from the damp ground and closing in about the marshes like a white barrier.”
“ ‘I love these moors,' he said. 'You have had a bad introduction to them, of course, so you can't understand me. If you knew them as well as I do, and had seen them in every mood, winter and summer, you would love them too. They have a fascination unlike any other part of the county. They go back a long way in time. Sometimes I think they are the survival of another age.’ “
“There was no talk then of the moonlight on the water. No, Mary had no illusions about romance. Falling in love was a pretty name for it, that was all. Jem Merlyn was a man, and she was a woman, and whether it was his hands or his skin or his smile she did not know, but something inside her responded to him, and the very thought of him was an irritant and a stimulant at the same time. It nagged at her and would not let her be.”
“She realised for the first time that aversion and attraction ran side by side; that the boundary-line was thin between them.”
“I don't want to love like a woman or feel like a woman, Mr Davey; there's pain that way, and suffering, and misery that can last a lifetime.”
“A guilty man does not usually tie the rope around his own neck.”
“Women think differently to men; they travel separate paths. That's why I have no liking for them; they make for trouble and confusion.”
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Where: Cornwall, England
When: 1820
Thoughts/Reflections: I absolutely loved Rebecca, so I was really curious about this one when it arrived in my mailbox last month, a part of a book ring I’m doing. It didn’t disappoint. It’s dark. It’s moody. It’s mysterious. It was a great read to wrap up the spooky season. It was a slow, lingering read for me, but that pace didn’t bother me. DuMaurier tells a great story.
My favorite words:
“When darkness came it was swift and sudden, without warning, and an immediate blotting out of the sun. The mists were dangerous too, rising in a cloud from the damp ground and closing in about the marshes like a white barrier.”
“ ‘I love these moors,' he said. 'You have had a bad introduction to them, of course, so you can't understand me. If you knew them as well as I do, and had seen them in every mood, winter and summer, you would love them too. They have a fascination unlike any other part of the county. They go back a long way in time. Sometimes I think they are the survival of another age.’ “
“There was no talk then of the moonlight on the water. No, Mary had no illusions about romance. Falling in love was a pretty name for it, that was all. Jem Merlyn was a man, and she was a woman, and whether it was his hands or his skin or his smile she did not know, but something inside her responded to him, and the very thought of him was an irritant and a stimulant at the same time. It nagged at her and would not let her be.”
“She realised for the first time that aversion and attraction ran side by side; that the boundary-line was thin between them.”
“I don't want to love like a woman or feel like a woman, Mr Davey; there's pain that way, and suffering, and misery that can last a lifetime.”
“A guilty man does not usually tie the rope around his own neck.”
“Women think differently to men; they travel separate paths. That's why I have no liking for them; they make for trouble and confusion.”