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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
This was the story that made me fall in love with Cornwall. I dreamed of its marshes and its secluded cover and its taciturn inhabitants for many years before I finally got to visit and I have to say, it is a place that doesn't disapoint. It is unspoilt, rugged and wild with a hint of danger in the air. They still insist they're not a part of england and they have their own language, though like Irish, it is little used. I wouldn't have been surprised to start off of the surfing beach and find the inhabitants of Jamaca Inn plotting in a quite corner.
This story is so atmospheric that I could almost taste smell smell the heather and taste the salt on my lips. That is the genious of Du Maurier.
I originally read this book in my teens and approved wholeheartedly of the choices made by Mary Yellen, at 50, I'd have more reservations! The love story is not as believable to me - have I lost my sense of romance and adventure? Yes,yes, yes!
I listened to the audition read by Tony Britton. His dulcet tones greatly enhanced the listening experience and I would give the narration 5 stars. During part of the story I was sitting doing some seeing repair jobs and it was very soothing and felt so right.
This story is so atmospheric that I could almost taste smell smell the heather and taste the salt on my lips. That is the genious of Du Maurier.
I originally read this book in my teens and approved wholeheartedly of the choices made by Mary Yellen, at 50, I'd have more reservations! The love story is not as believable to me - have I lost my sense of romance and adventure? Yes,yes, yes!
I listened to the audition read by Tony Britton. His dulcet tones greatly enhanced the listening experience and I would give the narration 5 stars. During part of the story I was sitting doing some seeing repair jobs and it was very soothing and felt so right.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5 STARS
While I enjoyed reading Jamaica Inn, especially for its dark atmosphere, the ending felt a bit underwhelming. The big revelation felt flat because I sort of saw it coming and I was not surprised. Still, it is a good read and I recommend it :)
While I enjoyed reading Jamaica Inn, especially for its dark atmosphere, the ending felt a bit underwhelming. The big revelation felt flat because I sort of saw it coming and I was not surprised. Still, it is a good read and I recommend it :)
“there’s things that happen at Jamaica, Mary, that I’ve never dared to breathe. Bad things. Evil things. I can’t ever tell you; I dare not even admit them to myself. Some of it in time you’ll come to know. You can’t avoid it, living here.”
Jamaica Inn is a weird place. It is isolated and tormented and forbidding. And just ugly. Oh and creepy. But to honour her mother’s dying wish, Mary Yellan heads there and lives with her aunt Patience and uncle Joss, the rough ape-like landlord of the inn. Aunt Patience is no longer the beautiful, laughing woman Mary remembered. Instead she is frightened, broken, a tattered shadow of her former self. Mary Yellan is warned against the place, by the coachman who drops her off, by the fact that locals never stop by, by all the hints and signs that she herself notices – signs of smuggling, of murder, of things worse than murder. She wants to leave, to get help, but she can’t because she doesn’t want to leave her aunt, who is blindly devoted to her husband.
She thought of Aunt Patience, trailing like a ghost in the shadow of her master, and she shuddered. That would be Mary Yellan too, but for the grace of God and her own strength of will.
Jamaica Inn doesn’t stick in the mind like Rebecca does. It’s all kinds of creepy but the characters don’t seem all that fleshed out. I admired Mary Yellan for her courage, for her no-nonsense stick-to-her-guns attitude (It seems that she is not called just ‘Mary’ but always ‘Mary Yellan’, as in: She is a bold one that Mary Yellan.), didn’t quite understand her aunt Patience, wondered at her uncle Joss. But du Maurier is at her best when creeping out her readers with the setting:
“No human being could live in this wasted country, thought Mary, and remain like other people; the very children could be born twisted, like the blackened shrubs of broom, bent by the force of a wind that never ceased, blow as it would from east and west, from north and south. Their minds would be twisted, too, their thoughts evil, dwelling as they must amidst marshland and granite, harsh heather and crumbling stone.
They would be born of strange stock who slept with this earth as a pillow, beneath this black sky. They would have something of the devil left in them still.”
Jamaica Inn is a weird place. It is isolated and tormented and forbidding. And just ugly. Oh and creepy. But to honour her mother’s dying wish, Mary Yellan heads there and lives with her aunt Patience and uncle Joss, the rough ape-like landlord of the inn. Aunt Patience is no longer the beautiful, laughing woman Mary remembered. Instead she is frightened, broken, a tattered shadow of her former self. Mary Yellan is warned against the place, by the coachman who drops her off, by the fact that locals never stop by, by all the hints and signs that she herself notices – signs of smuggling, of murder, of things worse than murder. She wants to leave, to get help, but she can’t because she doesn’t want to leave her aunt, who is blindly devoted to her husband.
She thought of Aunt Patience, trailing like a ghost in the shadow of her master, and she shuddered. That would be Mary Yellan too, but for the grace of God and her own strength of will.
Jamaica Inn doesn’t stick in the mind like Rebecca does. It’s all kinds of creepy but the characters don’t seem all that fleshed out. I admired Mary Yellan for her courage, for her no-nonsense stick-to-her-guns attitude (It seems that she is not called just ‘Mary’ but always ‘Mary Yellan’, as in: She is a bold one that Mary Yellan.), didn’t quite understand her aunt Patience, wondered at her uncle Joss. But du Maurier is at her best when creeping out her readers with the setting:
“No human being could live in this wasted country, thought Mary, and remain like other people; the very children could be born twisted, like the blackened shrubs of broom, bent by the force of a wind that never ceased, blow as it would from east and west, from north and south. Their minds would be twisted, too, their thoughts evil, dwelling as they must amidst marshland and granite, harsh heather and crumbling stone.
They would be born of strange stock who slept with this earth as a pillow, beneath this black sky. They would have something of the devil left in them still.”
Overall, I liked it, however I wasn't totally enthralled. I'm not sure what exactly was missing for me, but I wasn't able to really connect with the characters and the story. Still enjoyable, but wishing I didn't feel so detached while reading it.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a historical fiction, written in 1930s and set around the year 1800. It features a young woman, Mary, who goes to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother passes away. She quickly works out that her uncle is hiding a lot of things at his inn, the titular Jamaica Inn.
I really really enjoyed this; it was pretty suspenseful, and I was racing through the pages in my eagerness to discover what happens. In the age of thrillers and things being designed to grab our attention, I find this to be a very impressive achievement of du Maurier's. She really proves herself as a master storyteller in this book. I found Mary to be a wonderful character, really well-realised and consistent the whole way through.
First of all, why must they sell DuMaurier books with romance-esque covers? I get so annoyed when someone comments on the 'romance novel' I'm reading. I mean, if that's your thing, that's cool, but it's false advertising for this book. This is a gothic-esque novel, like Wilkie Collins, or the books mentioned in Northanger Abbey. Daphne DuMaurier said in an interview (very emphatically) "I am NOT a romantic novelist!"
Anyhoo.
I was worried that this book would be crap because I so love Rebecca; I thought there was no way DuMaurier's other books could be good and be so much less famous. My fears were unfounded! I really tore into this book. I think DuMaurier offers a good mixture of pointing out how stupid sexism is while still having her characters conform to some aspects of a sexist society. Not sure how to explain that, but I know what I mean...this is why I'm not a professional book reviewer.
The only part I'm not super fond of is the very end (like literally the last page), but no spoilers.
Anyhoo.
I was worried that this book would be crap because I so love Rebecca; I thought there was no way DuMaurier's other books could be good and be so much less famous. My fears were unfounded! I really tore into this book. I think DuMaurier offers a good mixture of pointing out how stupid sexism is while still having her characters conform to some aspects of a sexist society. Not sure how to explain that, but I know what I mean...this is why I'm not a professional book reviewer.
The only part I'm not super fond of is the very end (like literally the last page), but no spoilers.
I love Daphne du Maurier but this was a slog to get through. One of hers I will never re-read. Unless I have a very compelling reason.
DNF book at 37%
Writing and suspense was good, but storyline is really boring. That is why I am rating this book two stars instead of one star.
Writing and suspense was good, but storyline is really boring. That is why I am rating this book two stars instead of one star.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes