Reviews

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

weirdow's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

elizabeth_its_liz_reading's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed this reading experience. The writing is so descriptive and atmospheric. I especially loved all the descriptions of Manderley and the gardens/plant life. One of the main things I will take from this book is just how unnerving it was to experience the narrator’s thoughts as she questioned everything.

4.5 stars

adeeba_ahmed's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

keirr_a's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

iwlyfb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

emilymknight's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

Rebecca. My first encounter with Daphne du Maurier and I can confidently say, it probably won't be my last. From start to finish, du Maurier's prose was not only engaging, but so immersive - I feel as though I have smelt the rose garden, taken lunch under the chestnut tree, wandered with Jasper down the path and through the woods to the sea and explored the abandoned cottage.

I know there are a few film adaptations of Rebecca, but I have not seen any. All I knew of the plot going into this was that a girl marries a man, but that man had a previous wife who died. This was great because the whole way through, just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, it all changed.

I went from loathing Max and feeling sympathy for Rebecca and our protagonist, to then feeling even more sympathy for Rebecca because she was murdered, and being worried for our protagonist having married a murderer, but then I realised it was Rebecca who was the cruel one. Max was driven to madness and killed her, but in the end, we find out that Rebecca, while not exactly planning it to happen, also did not care due to her recent diagnosis of cancer.

Though the prose was led by the protagonist, it did not feel overly dramatic and long. And I could see this was a conscious choice by the author - to keep the protagonist somewhat normal and just real in the way she encountered all these situations, "We were ordinary people. These things did not happen." Each chapter was interesting and the plot moved on at a good pace which helped the overall experience.

Lastly, I must bring attention to that fact that no fictional house or location has ever touched me as much as Manderley has. It was beautiful and alive but also dark and secretive. Over the past few weeks I have been reading Rebecca, I really have come to love the place. Oh Manderley, Manderley, Manderley. I think I will also dream of Manderley.

"I suppose sooner or later in the life of everyone comes a moment of trial. We all of us have our particular devil who rides us and torments us, and we must give battle in the end."

"Time and Tide wait for no man."

jackohdee's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

What a ride. Starts as a catharsis of class anxiety, but starts shifting gears into thriller territory pretty quickly. 

I completely love Rebecca, she was really living. Maybe the best unseen character in fiction? It's her or Bob Sacamano. I'll miss Frank Crawley and the moments of kindness he offers that are the only relief amongst the utter hostility of Manderly. It does sound like a lovely home, though. Shame about the vibes. 

Can't wait to watch the Hitchcock movie. He's exactly the right kind of freak to take this one on. 

uwujaaver's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mhull510's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

pingo_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.75