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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Okay, so this has all of the delicious creepiness of DuMaurier’s other novels, so three stars for that alone. The idea of wreckers is fascinating and revolting. But for goodness sake, I hate Mary and Jem so. much. Jem treats her like garbage and Mary falls at his feet for no reason. She scoffs at her aunt’s weakness but she always says that Jem is what her uncle Joss would have been a few decades earlier. So really, she’s forsaking home and peace for a Merlyn, just like her aunt before her. So. Stupid.
Very gothic, very melodramatic, very atmospheric - but not at all my favourite du Maurier. Go with Rebecca or My Cousin Rachel instead.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While this book was grittier than Rebecca by the same author - I enjoyed seeing a new side of Du Maurier's style. From the setting to the character things just felt dirty and gritty and I liked it. She used the same power of description that made Rebecca beautiful and mysterious to make Jamaica Inn - suspenseful and rougher around the edges.
I figured out the bad guy (at least was suspicious of the 'bad guy') from early on, but it's a nice ending when you guess that villain's true identity and the characters you ship end up together. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I figured out the bad guy (at least was suspicious of the 'bad guy') from early on, but it's a nice ending when you guess that villain's true identity and the characters you ship end up together. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books by this author.
mysterious
slow-paced
Tercera lectura del club de Sputnik... Sí, ella me tiene loca, ya he dicho antes que cambió mi vida lectora y estoy muy agradecida por ello. La experiencia de lectura de este año ha sido tan enriquecedora que hablaré de ella cuanto sea necesario.
Sin embargo, esta vez no estoy fascinada. Es una buena historia, muy bien lograda y contada con precisión. NO le faltan ni le sobran elementos para mantenerme en suspenso, pero en cierto momento me parece predecible.
Lo que me gusta, quizá por una lectura anterior El traidor, porque me hace ver que todos los tiempos también pueden narrar sus redes de crimen y corrupción. Es terrible la historia, pero fascina por eso mismo, porque el crimen está tan a la mano, tan obvio y al mismo tiempo puede generar tanto misterior.
La presencia de Mary rodeada de corrupción nos deja a todos vulnerables, pero también cómplices. Estamos ahí porque en realidad no podemos dejarlo o nos dejamos llevar por esta fascinación que produce el terror de ciertas verdades.
Es todo el pueblo una especie de testigo mudo y, por ello cómplice.
La mujer, es sin embargo, clara en su defensa hasta que pierde el corazón. Hay en ella algunos tintes de feminismo y se presenta fuerte, dura y aguerrida, hasta que deja de serlo. Y creo que es como Jean Eyren, siempre fuerte y resiliente hasta que el amor la vulnera (o la calentura, no sé).
El ambiente es muy Cumbres borrascosas, una novela que no me fascinó. En esta ocasión sin embargo, me parece mucho más interesante.
No será parte de mis lecturas favoritas, pero sí de las que me saquen de la ignorancia sobre esta maga del suspenso.
Sin embargo, esta vez no estoy fascinada. Es una buena historia, muy bien lograda y contada con precisión. NO le faltan ni le sobran elementos para mantenerme en suspenso, pero en cierto momento me parece predecible.
Lo que me gusta, quizá por una lectura anterior El traidor, porque me hace ver que todos los tiempos también pueden narrar sus redes de crimen y corrupción. Es terrible la historia, pero fascina por eso mismo, porque el crimen está tan a la mano, tan obvio y al mismo tiempo puede generar tanto misterior.
La presencia de Mary rodeada de corrupción nos deja a todos vulnerables, pero también cómplices. Estamos ahí porque en realidad no podemos dejarlo o nos dejamos llevar por esta fascinación que produce el terror de ciertas verdades.
Es todo el pueblo una especie de testigo mudo y, por ello cómplice.
La mujer, es sin embargo, clara en su defensa hasta que pierde el corazón. Hay en ella algunos tintes de feminismo y se presenta fuerte, dura y aguerrida, hasta que deja de serlo. Y creo que es como Jean Eyren, siempre fuerte y resiliente hasta que el amor la vulnera (o la calentura, no sé).
El ambiente es muy Cumbres borrascosas, una novela que no me fascinó. En esta ocasión sin embargo, me parece mucho más interesante.
No será parte de mis lecturas favoritas, pero sí de las que me saquen de la ignorancia sobre esta maga del suspenso.
☆ 2.5 stars
↠ I'd like to preface by saying that I'm sure someone who enjoys gothic fiction would give this a full rating. although I have a strong dislike for the genre (and simply read this from recommendation) I can recognise that in comparison with other gothic stories I've read, it definitely is the best.
seriously, I don't think I've ever hated picking up a book more than this one. for some reason I just found it so hard to get through. the writing wasn't necessarily complex but just seemed bland to me and if I hadn't listened to the audiobook on 2x speed for the last third of the book- I doubt I'd have finished it at all.
I have to give some credit for the character development of Mary. she had a valid reason for everything she did and that's definitely something a lot of books lack.
for all it's worth, if you believe that you would enjoy this book then I urge you to pick it up because I have no doubt that you will- but this is one story I never want to return to.
↠ I'd like to preface by saying that I'm sure someone who enjoys gothic fiction would give this a full rating. although I have a strong dislike for the genre (and simply read this from recommendation) I can recognise that in comparison with other gothic stories I've read, it definitely is the best.
seriously, I don't think I've ever hated picking up a book more than this one. for some reason I just found it so hard to get through. the writing wasn't necessarily complex but just seemed bland to me and if I hadn't listened to the audiobook on 2x speed for the last third of the book- I doubt I'd have finished it at all.
I have to give some credit for the character development of Mary. she had a valid reason for everything she did and that's definitely something a lot of books lack.
for all it's worth, if you believe that you would enjoy this book then I urge you to pick it up because I have no doubt that you will- but this is one story I never want to return to.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No