Scan barcode
unlikelyplaces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Minor: Sexism
vicanarc_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: Incest
nicolinebl's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
I must admit I have seen the newest movie version before reading the book. I was confused at the time what the genre was: at first it seemed like a romance, then a horror, then a thriller. In book form it did make a bit more sense.
There was a thing that kind of irked me the wrong way while reading; the very big age gap between the main character and Maxim. She's described as a young woman around 18-20 and he is around 45. There are several moments that he is described as someone who could be her father. I guess that might've been more normal when this book was published though? Still felt kinda weird.
I hated most characters in this book to be honest but the main character was likable - although I felt sorry for her. She felt a lot of anxiety about a lot of things (relatable, to be honest) and I feel like a lot of that could have been prevented if people in this book just talked to each other. Poor girl.
It was quite hard for me to read as it was old English and English isn't my native language either. I managed quite well though, I think. My English teacher would be proud.
I enjoyed it but think the first part could maybe have been a bit shorter.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Suicide, Incest, and Infidelity
Minor: Dementia and Infertility
sheryl_reads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
I’ve given it 1.5 stars because I did finish it. But it’s so longwinded and ponderous I barely made it to the end. Luckily, the story picked up in the last 100 pages, but getting there was a chore.
The main character is so frustrating and annoying. I spent most of the book wishing that she’d stand up for herself. What is written as shyness is taken to an extreme of social awkwardness, to the point where I wondered how she ever managed to survive to adulthood. The situation she finds herself in is awkward, however hiding from servants in her own house and having trouble just functioning (and when I say function, this is posh English people functioning - so having tea and scones and finding ways to amuse yourself all day cos you don’t actually work) seemed too extreme.
Mr De Winter is horrible - his treatment of the main character (we don’t get to know her name) is psychological abuse. I’m avoiding spoilers in this review, but the end comes as no surprise.
The first 300 pages read like a really boring episode of Downton Abbey. There’s lots of lengthy descriptions of how our narrator fills her days - mainly being debilitatingly shy and self conscious. The last 100 pages or so are an improvement, but all the description are just soooooo long and unnecessary. I thought the shipwreck section would never end!
I had high hopes for this, since it’s a classic and a lot of people love it. But I couldn’t wait to escape Manderley. And I’d be there with Mrs Danvers at the end!
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Minor: Body shaming and Grief
nickoliver's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence
More details to the CW: incest: it's between two cousins, and it's not really seen as something scandalous, so it might've been normal back then suicide: a character is implied to have killed themself, but as a reader, you know that's not true Also CW for casual racism (a character does blackface, for example), murder, and drowning and hanging (both of these two only talked about)jayda_lily's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Ableism, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Racism
ellanarose's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
coolmombeck's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexism, Infidelity, Incest, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death