Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Rebecca

I'd advise readers to remember that Rebecca is a capital-R Romantic book. It's also gothic, and I think people overlook that. I don't think it's a book most people like the first time around, but that's the way of gothic literature. It requires a second read to fully understand what the book is about. In Rebecca, it's the characters and how you're supposed to feel about them that makes you need to re-read the book.

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sir_ren's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective medium-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? No

4.25

Rebecca does a really good job of capturing that young-and-inexperienced-person-in-the-world vibe in the protagonist. the feelings that arise out of being in this relationship with a partner significantly older and with his own past haunt our protagonist, as she feels inadequate in several ways for the role she has agreed to play.
the gothic romance elements and the premise immediately reminded me of Jane Eyre, and this book seems to be in conversation with that one- exploring possibilities and different angles. so definitely try this one out if you have read Jane Eyre and enjoyed it and even if you didn't - it is interesting to observe how two authors treat this kinda situation in their books and in their age. so heightened emotion and drama are to be expected with gothic romances and some moments in Rebecca, especially towards the beginning feel straight out of a cheesy movie. but it is still a good read, I promise. even the rare instances of humour in the book do not feel dated - it did make me laugh. if you've enjoyed hearing about the dynamic in Taylor Swift's Tolerate it, you will likely enjoy reading about the relationship in Rebecca.
don't let the fact that this is a classic make you put off reading this book. since it is a more modern classic the writing style and story feel perfectly fine. the writing in this book... oh man, the author uses language beautifully and you can really feel the shift in writing from her regular prose to the parts where she enhances it for achieving a special effect on the reader. you will probably read them again and again.

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mme_carton's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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bethsicle's review

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lindseyhall44's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

4.5

This novel honestly surprise me (in the best possible way). I’m not much of a classics person, so I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy it. But with stunning plot twists and a ominous mood, I was was flying through pages while simultaneously wanting to savor the book for as long as I could.
Rebecca follows a young bride as she marries an older man with a mysterious past. All she knows is that he lives in an incredible manor and his wife, Rebecca, recently died. As the narrator begins to unravel the truth in Rebecca’s death, the life as she knows it changes.
I loved Du Maurier’s use of imagery and setting, which are definitely a staple in the gothic genre. This, along with the beautiful writing made the narration incredibly strong.
However, the pacing seemed a little bit off, which is why I rated Rebecca the way I did.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book during October, since the vibes are right:)

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