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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A gothic treat but fell a little short for me in many respects. The main character was mostly insufferable but I enjoyed some of the twists and turns, although the ending felt fairly abrupt after dragging the rest of the plot for this long. Would perhaps do with 2-3 "twists" fewer in the end.
5.0⭐ Last Night I Dreamt I Went To Manderley Again.
**Medium Spoilers**
Every single book review I’ve ever done on classic literature usually starts with, “I hate classics, so take this review with a grain of salt.” I guess I’m done with that. *throws up hands*, *shrugs*, I like classic lit okay? I just like it. Jesus. IDK what happened to me, years of reading this nonsense and I guess I just like it now, that’s growing up or whatever. Here I am, with my darkish coffee and my late twenties political opinions, and I ENJOY ME SOME WEIRD SHIT FROM WAY BACK WHEN.
Side note, if you’re new to me/my reviews. I am not college educated or some literary scholar, I just want to understand references and stuff, so usually I force myself to read classics to understand postmodern literature and what inspires authors today, except now I guess I just like classic literature.
But I’m not touchin’ Ulysses. Don’t gotta, not gonna. I am not ready x-D Is anyone?
So, okay, for my non-classic-reading homies, read this, but read it via audio, because its just…so much setting description. If you cut the setting description, this book would be 2 hours long. I’m serious. It’s not all one description, but your protag (or anti-hero) is really into flowers. Like if she walked up your driveway, she’d have something to say about your dandelions and thistles. And your grass. And possibly the masonry of your concrete driveway. And definitely the way the sun cast down upon it all like a fair morning halo. Ya got me?
Being in first person, this book has a few moments of just…incredible, quotable phrase. Stuff that, when interjected in the long descriptors and somewhat slow pace, catches you off guard and burrows in deep. One quote that I saved, and that struck me down in my heart was this:
“…They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so easily bruised, so swiftly wounded, one falls to the first barbed word. To-day, wrapped in the complacent armour of approaching middle age, the infinitesimal pricks of day by day brush one but lightly and are soon forgotten, but then--how a careless word would linger, becoming a fiery stigma, and how a look, a glance over a shoulder, branded themselves as things eternal. A denial heralded the thrice crowing of a cock, and an insincerity was like the kiss of Judas. The adult mind can lie with untroubled conscience and a gay composure, but in those days even a small deception scoured the tongue, lashing one against the stake itself.”
I felt that shit in my bones.
If you are trying to decide if you should read this, stop now, this review gives too much away. Go in blind, you’ll thank me. Yes, read it.
I think something especially captured by this novel is the concept that sometimes in death, it’s the living that haunt. The protag is more of the ghost than Rebecca, even robbed of identity by her own author.
…Content spoiler ahead…IE climax, plot twist, trope, romance, etc…
…
…
…
I didn’t see the plot twist coming—really, I went in blind, and had no idea I was in for more than a runaway marriage/grieving turmoil story. I guess a better-read person might've found it obvious, but I audibly shouted, “Oh, shit!” while driving and listening to the huge reveal.
I found the ultimate ending (after the plot twist) predictable, but, in the way that you want to predict. I feel like it was true to the characters, true to the events that had transpired. Predictable isn’t always negative, some events require a certain end, because that's just the way and nature of the thing.
This ending was perfect.
It was an ending that commanded me to go back to the beginning and reread the first chapter with new eyes. What a sinister intro it was, now that I fully understood it. I came into this novel reading a budding romance, and left it reading a horror. Fuck yes.
In the end, this book just won me. It won my intrigue and eventually my love. Now, Sparky Sweets, do a Thug Note please!
**Medium Spoilers**
Every single book review I’ve ever done on classic literature usually starts with, “I hate classics, so take this review with a grain of salt.” I guess I’m done with that. *throws up hands*, *shrugs*, I like classic lit okay? I just like it. Jesus. IDK what happened to me, years of reading this nonsense and I guess I just like it now, that’s growing up or whatever. Here I am, with my darkish coffee and my late twenties political opinions, and I ENJOY ME SOME WEIRD SHIT FROM WAY BACK WHEN.
Side note, if you’re new to me/my reviews. I am not college educated or some literary scholar, I just want to understand references and stuff, so usually I force myself to read classics to understand postmodern literature and what inspires authors today, except now I guess I just like classic literature.
But I’m not touchin’ Ulysses. Don’t gotta, not gonna. I am not ready x-D Is anyone?
So, okay, for my non-classic-reading homies, read this, but read it via audio, because its just…so much setting description. If you cut the setting description, this book would be 2 hours long. I’m serious. It’s not all one description, but your protag (or anti-hero) is really into flowers. Like if she walked up your driveway, she’d have something to say about your dandelions and thistles. And your grass. And possibly the masonry of your concrete driveway. And definitely the way the sun cast down upon it all like a fair morning halo. Ya got me?
Being in first person, this book has a few moments of just…incredible, quotable phrase. Stuff that, when interjected in the long descriptors and somewhat slow pace, catches you off guard and burrows in deep. One quote that I saved, and that struck me down in my heart was this:
“…They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so easily bruised, so swiftly wounded, one falls to the first barbed word. To-day, wrapped in the complacent armour of approaching middle age, the infinitesimal pricks of day by day brush one but lightly and are soon forgotten, but then--how a careless word would linger, becoming a fiery stigma, and how a look, a glance over a shoulder, branded themselves as things eternal. A denial heralded the thrice crowing of a cock, and an insincerity was like the kiss of Judas. The adult mind can lie with untroubled conscience and a gay composure, but in those days even a small deception scoured the tongue, lashing one against the stake itself.”
I felt that shit in my bones.
If you are trying to decide if you should read this, stop now, this review gives too much away. Go in blind, you’ll thank me. Yes, read it.
I think something especially captured by this novel is the concept that sometimes in death, it’s the living that haunt. The protag is more of the ghost than Rebecca, even robbed of identity by her own author.
…Content spoiler ahead…IE climax, plot twist, trope, romance, etc…
…
…
…
I didn’t see the plot twist coming—really, I went in blind, and had no idea I was in for more than a runaway marriage/grieving turmoil story. I guess a better-read person might've found it obvious, but I audibly shouted, “Oh, shit!” while driving and listening to the huge reveal.
I found the ultimate ending (after the plot twist) predictable, but, in the way that you want to predict. I feel like it was true to the characters, true to the events that had transpired. Predictable isn’t always negative, some events require a certain end, because that's just the way and nature of the thing.
This ending was perfect.
It was an ending that commanded me to go back to the beginning and reread the first chapter with new eyes. What a sinister intro it was, now that I fully understood it. I came into this novel reading a budding romance, and left it reading a horror. Fuck yes.
In the end, this book just won me. It won my intrigue and eventually my love. Now, Sparky Sweets, do a Thug Note please!
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time since I love the movie. I believe that has hurt my enjoyment of the book. The movie is an EXCELLENT adaptation. I knew the twists and turns so I wasn't shocked or surprised by them. Overall, it is a good book and still a good story. I'm always surprise how you never hate Maxim for what he did. He's a cold and distant character, yet you also root for him and his bride.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
slow-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:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think that the first chapter of this book might be one of the most beautiful I have ever read. Unfortunately I went into this knowing it was a book with a twist, and so was quite disappointed with the main turn of events. The last few chapters did change my mind though. The only person I really liked was Frank honestly, and Ben. Exceptionally written, though I can understand why it might not be for some people.