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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
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:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rebecca is such an amazing book that I keep thinking all of du Maurier's other novels must be just as great. Sadly, they don't seem to be. My Cousin Rachel was good. Frenchman's Creek was a huge embarrassment - simply awful. Jamaica Inn is just meh.
It's billed as a suspenseful romance. I figured out the real bad guy of the suspense plot as soon as he was introduced. So yeah, not so suspenseful.
As for the romance - cue retching sound. Just terrible! I guess because the book was written in 1936, temporary lust had to be portrayed as love? Honestly, I couldn't even see how Mary could lust after Jem, the way he was portrayed. He's a sociopath. He's creepy as hell. He's mean to his mother. He probably drowns kittens & kicks puppies & pushes nice old ladies into mud puddles. His loutish behavior negates any thoughts of sexy time for me. I don't get it. Every time I read a scene with the two of them, my lip curled back and I made a face like I was watching someone take a dump on the floor of a restaurant. Horrified and grossed out. Not the reaction a romance is looking for, I presume.
Dang, another disappointing du Maurier novel. Do I dare risk trying another one or was Rebecca an anomaly?
It's billed as a suspenseful romance. I figured out the real bad guy of the suspense plot as soon as he was introduced. So yeah, not so suspenseful.
As for the romance - cue retching sound. Just terrible! I guess because the book was written in 1936, temporary lust had to be portrayed as love? Honestly, I couldn't even see how Mary could lust after Jem, the way he was portrayed. He's a sociopath. He's creepy as hell. He's mean to his mother. He probably drowns kittens & kicks puppies & pushes nice old ladies into mud puddles. His loutish behavior negates any thoughts of sexy time for me. I don't get it. Every time I read a scene with the two of them, my lip curled back and I made a face like I was watching someone take a dump on the floor of a restaurant. Horrified and grossed out. Not the reaction a romance is looking for, I presume.
Dang, another disappointing du Maurier novel. Do I dare risk trying another one or was Rebecca an anomaly?
I picked this up with no idea that it's actually a classic. I thought piracy type stuff and romance? Fuck yes. This was a surprisingly good book as it isn't actually something I would normally read but it was well written, funny and witty, and Mary was a really good characters. All her characters were super well rounded, with the bad guy having glimpses of humanity, and the good guy being surprisingly dark. Really good book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my first time reading du Maurier and it took a while for me to understand her popularity.
The story of Jamaica Inn takes a deal too long in the establishing and it isn't until nearly halfway into the book that it really opens up into a cracking gothic thriller that utilises the bleak Cornish countryside to great effect.
Persevered through the early chapters and you'll find yourself in a gripping tale that you will struggle to put down!
The story of Jamaica Inn takes a deal too long in the establishing and it isn't until nearly halfway into the book that it really opens up into a cracking gothic thriller that utilises the bleak Cornish countryside to great effect.
Persevered through the early chapters and you'll find yourself in a gripping tale that you will struggle to put down!