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morenowagain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Terminal illness, Racism, Murder, and Death
ambermarshall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It starts off slowly but so richly described that it drew me right in, and then in the second half it gripped me tightly and pulled me along. So much is revealed that casts earlier parts in a new light, and I found myself flipping back and forth and rereading earlier passages. The mystery and suspense were excellent, and romance took a back seat (it was all rather chaste as far as romance goes). It ends rather abruptly but I read a little more of the beginning again (which takes place after the events of the book) and it can act as a sort of epilogue as well as prologue, and you get a different reading from it after reading the entire novel.
I do wonder if the beginning might serve better at the end, since it takes away a little bit of the suspense to know that MC and Maxim are away and safe after everything, though I did wonder if maybe they were on the lam.
Overall, I'm hugely impressed. A masterpiece indeed.
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Cancer, Infidelity, and Bullying
laurensilva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
That's how I felt upon reaching the last lines of the book. What a wild ride.
Rebecca starts quite slowly, focusing heavily on the setting and narrator's relationships to everything around her. But it soon picks up and has your eyes speeding across the pages, desperate for the next bit of the story. Even when you think the story is slowing down, Daphne du Marier snatches you right back into suspense that will have your stomach in knots.
The main bit that I found tiring throughout was Maxim's treatment of his wife. Every time she interacts with Max, their conversations quickly devolve into him belittling her and treating her like a child. She so quickly and easily falters and backtracks what she has said and meant to better please him. Summed up in my quick as-I-was-reading note: Girl needs a friend and a therapist STAT.
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Cultural appropriation
rory_john14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Murder, Gun violence, Classism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Medical content, Mental illness, Incest, Alcoholism, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
mme_carton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Incest, Violence, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Infertility, and Death of parent
klfgasaway'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, and Incest
midnightcomets's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is full of characters who are burning with a million of emotions, usually passion, guilt, fear and anger, and rhododendrons bloom like bloodstains in strong vines and flood the world. I do not know if I recommend this, but I do recommend going in blind if you intend to read it. I also watched both movies for the university, and I enjoyed both adaptations (I recommend these as well).
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
loxeletters'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
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide, Terminal illness, Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Death, Alcohol, and Murder
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Incest, Medical content, and Pregnancy
iksme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Cancer, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Body horror, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Infertility, Incest, and Pregnancy
ivana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Death, Infidelity, and Murder