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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I may be reconsidering my disdain of bad boys. Jem Merlyn can steal me a horse any day.
I really wanted to like this book, but the whole way through, I just kept thinking that it's not bad for a second attempt and she has potential, but she's not quite there yet as an author.
It's surprising that I loved [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663] so much and found this book pretty excruciating to finish. If you love bleak descriptions of English moorland, HEAVY misogyny and abuse, a girl with good intentions who still manages to be pretty helpless, and the societal restraints of 19th-century England, this is for you! There are some roguish elements, but they just don't fit the Han Solo, lovable rogue trope that I have come to love. Even the love interest is NOT particularly charming. The whole thing is depressing.
This book was almost completely ruined by the narrator. I may have to re-read the actual book to see whether I have a better impression of the story. It was a male narrator which I thought was weird for a Du Maurier book (not that it always must be a woman, I was just expecting one) and his playing of the female parts was basically offensive. I’m not sure if it was the accent he used or the high-pitched voice but it made all of the women in the book sound like complete idiots. When the main character is a woman, this really affects your enjoyment of the story - or at least it did mine. Really disappointing and I nearly didn’t finish it, but made myself as it’s a Daphne Du Maurier, after all.
Another great book by Du Maurier. Next one to be read: The King's General.
I found it to be a very light, easy gothic mystery romance. It was enjoyable, although predictable. The romance was less gushing, soft romance and more realistic, making-the-best-of-a-(possible)-bad situation, while the mystery was carefully plotted tension rather than seat-of-your-pants terror.
Joss Merlyn was a tough man with a weak character. Aunt Patience was just weak. Jem Merlyn was enigmatic and painted as the 'bad boy rebel'. Vicar Francis Davey was enigmatic and painted as the 'knight in shining armour'. Mary was our spunky, sassy heroine. As independent and in control as a woman of her age was allowed to be (some time in the 1820's I believe).
On reflection, Jamaica Inn was less gothic and more an interesting dip into the mind of an alcoholic. His psychological pain was sympathetically drawn by Du Maurier, curiously more so than the obvious and devastating pain suffered by Aunt Patience at his hands.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/05/jamaica-inn-by-daphne-du-maurier.html
Joss Merlyn was a tough man with a weak character. Aunt Patience was just weak. Jem Merlyn was enigmatic and painted as the 'bad boy rebel'. Vicar Francis Davey was enigmatic and painted as the 'knight in shining armour'. Mary was our spunky, sassy heroine. As independent and in control as a woman of her age was allowed to be (some time in the 1820's I believe).
On reflection, Jamaica Inn was less gothic and more an interesting dip into the mind of an alcoholic. His psychological pain was sympathetically drawn by Du Maurier, curiously more so than the obvious and devastating pain suffered by Aunt Patience at his hands.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/05/jamaica-inn-by-daphne-du-maurier.html
Ok, honesty first and foremost. This is the first time I have read Daphne du Maurier's work. I know. I KNOW. I must read Rebecca and I shall at some point but Jamaica Inn jumped out at me for a couple of reasons.
Firstly I have a wonderful grandmother who took me to Cornwall every year for my entire childhood and secondly, not only did she actively encourage all of her grandchildren to explore the places she took us, she would have us all enchanted with her tellings of the myths and legends of Cornwall while driving us there. From Tintagel Castle to The Beast of Bodmin Moor, Pixies in the woods, the ghosts of Jamaica Inn and of course Pirates, this all resulted in a very romanticised view of Cornwall that I still have to this day.
So this book told the story of smugglers at Jamaica Inn? Of course I was going to leap on it.
If you have never been to this area of Cornwall never fear because du Maurier does an incredible job of painting the perfect picture. You can perfectly understand the bleakness of the moors, the bite of the wind and the isolation of the Inn. (of course the area is very much more built up than it was back then but still you get my drift)
The story has everything it promises. Smugglers, mystery, romance, fear and of course the all important villian/s.
Mary Yellan is a pretty strong character for a book written when it was, she's not scared of holding her own against an intimidating Joss, she stands up for her aunt Patience and when faced with the knowledge that her uncles band of not very merry men are committing the awful acts they are she finds no reason to not spy, follow and confront them. I did think that considering how wilful and hot-headed she could be why she wasn't 'silenced' by Joss considering he had never met her before, they had no blood relation, he obviously couldn't stand his wife and was in way over his head in a situation that was spiralling out of control.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, the end was somewhat predictable but sometimes, even when you know what's coming, it's still enjoyable to go along for the ride.
Firstly I have a wonderful grandmother who took me to Cornwall every year for my entire childhood and secondly, not only did she actively encourage all of her grandchildren to explore the places she took us, she would have us all enchanted with her tellings of the myths and legends of Cornwall while driving us there. From Tintagel Castle to The Beast of Bodmin Moor, Pixies in the woods, the ghosts of Jamaica Inn and of course Pirates, this all resulted in a very romanticised view of Cornwall that I still have to this day.
So this book told the story of smugglers at Jamaica Inn? Of course I was going to leap on it.
If you have never been to this area of Cornwall never fear because du Maurier does an incredible job of painting the perfect picture. You can perfectly understand the bleakness of the moors, the bite of the wind and the isolation of the Inn. (of course the area is very much more built up than it was back then but still you get my drift)
The story has everything it promises. Smugglers, mystery, romance, fear and of course the all important villian/s.
Mary Yellan is a pretty strong character for a book written when it was, she's not scared of holding her own against an intimidating Joss, she stands up for her aunt Patience and when faced with the knowledge that her uncles band of not very merry men are committing the awful acts they are she finds no reason to not spy, follow and confront them. I did think that considering how wilful and hot-headed she could be why she wasn't 'silenced' by Joss considering he had never met her before, they had no blood relation, he obviously couldn't stand his wife and was in way over his head in a situation that was spiralling out of control.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, the end was somewhat predictable but sometimes, even when you know what's coming, it's still enjoyable to go along for the ride.
I visited the Jamaica Inn in Cornwall in 1997, when I was on a school trip. I didn't know anything about the novel at that time, although I'd read Rebecca in high school. The signs up around the tourist area made the novel sound very exciting, and I was sorry at the time that I didn't understand the context. I bought a copy of the book in the gift shop nearby, and promptly lost it.
20 years later, for the Popsugar Reading Challenge for 2017, I've finally gotten back to it. Mary's tale is indeed exciting and adventurous, and I greatly appreciate her courage and loyalty to her convictions. The male characters in the book too, which is nice, considering the time period when du Maurice wrote this book in. Actually, there is a surprising amount of discussion about what women can and cannot do, what they are and are not expected to do. Some things have changed, which is nice.
The setting of the moors felt like home, after knowing The Secret Garden and some of the tales of the Brontës well. The moors and the toes exert some kind of influence over the story, as if they too are characters encouraging or scaring the humans into movement.
Overall, I love the fact that I didn't know how the story would end. There were a few conflicts, and I expected the book to be formulaic and predictable. Maybe it is, but I don't read many books written in this time period, and I don't read many mysteries. The twists were still wonderfully engaging, and I see myself rereading this book sometime again in the future and falling for the same assumptions.
20 years later, for the Popsugar Reading Challenge for 2017, I've finally gotten back to it. Mary's tale is indeed exciting and adventurous, and I greatly appreciate her courage and loyalty to her convictions. The male characters in the book too, which is nice, considering the time period when du Maurice wrote this book in. Actually, there is a surprising amount of discussion about what women can and cannot do, what they are and are not expected to do. Some things have changed, which is nice.
The setting of the moors felt like home, after knowing The Secret Garden and some of the tales of the Brontës well. The moors and the toes exert some kind of influence over the story, as if they too are characters encouraging or scaring the humans into movement.
Overall, I love the fact that I didn't know how the story would end. There were a few conflicts, and I expected the book to be formulaic and predictable. Maybe it is, but I don't read many books written in this time period, and I don't read many mysteries. The twists were still wonderfully engaging, and I see myself rereading this book sometime again in the future and falling for the same assumptions.
“Mary shook her head. ‘I’ve only seen the evil,’ she said; ‘I’ve only seen the suffering there’s been, and the cruelty, and the pain. When my uncle came to Jamaica Inn he must have cast his shadow over the good things, and they died.”
Another wonderful, atmospheric, creepy tale by Du Maurier. I don't think I will ever not enjoy her stories. The back of the book compared this to both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights -- two stories I have greatly enjoyed--and I can definitely see traces of both of them (even though I keep thinking of the Friends episode where Pheobe and Rachel take that literature class and talk about the wildness of the moors).
I can't give this a full five stars because I guessed the big reveal near the end pretty early on and that spoiled my enjoyment a little bit, but the story overall was well-crafted and twisty and a genuine joy to read. 4 stars
Another wonderful, atmospheric, creepy tale by Du Maurier. I don't think I will ever not enjoy her stories. The back of the book compared this to both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights -- two stories I have greatly enjoyed--and I can definitely see traces of both of them (even though I keep thinking of the Friends episode where Pheobe and Rachel take that literature class and talk about the wildness of the moors).
I can't give this a full five stars because I guessed the big reveal near the end pretty early on and that spoiled my enjoyment a little bit, but the story overall was well-crafted and twisty and a genuine joy to read. 4 stars
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No