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ophelia_wears_black's review against another edition
5.0
This honest, unfiltered account of the life and workings of the enigmatic novelist delves into the very heart of what makes Daphne du Maurier so unique - her strong voice and ever stronger opinions, her singular obsession with writing, her ways of finding inspiration and her inability to connect with the mundane world make her both a solitary and magnetic figure. Without disguising the selfishness and doubt that permeates certain part of the story of the novelist's life, Tatiana de Rosnay nevertheless paints a compassionate portrait of Daphne.
We are allowed to inhabit the world she had - the draughty yet beautiful Menabilly, her beloved Paris, Hampstead Heath. The sense of place, so important in the writer's own work, has not been omitted by her biographer.
We are allowed to inhabit the world she had - the draughty yet beautiful Menabilly, her beloved Paris, Hampstead Heath. The sense of place, so important in the writer's own work, has not been omitted by her biographer.
bleyz16's review against another edition
4.0
I've only read Rebecca, but loved it and when this was offered in a goodreads giveaway I entered and won.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the life of Daphne du Maurier and her motivations for her writing. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Daphne's books.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the life of Daphne du Maurier and her motivations for her writing. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Daphne's books.
viktoriya's review against another edition
1.0
I have mixed feelings about Tatiana de Rosnay's books. I loved [b:Sarah's Key|556602|Sarah's Key|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438863728s/556602.jpg|2523229] but was bored to death with [b:A Secret Kept|7963208|A Secret Kept|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442696422s/7963208.jpg|11870076]. I was excited to read another book by her just to see once and for all where do we stand in our relathinship. Unfortunately, I think it is time for us to break up. I did not like [b:Manderley Forever|25042551|Manderley Forever|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433056805s/25042551.jpg|44720332]. I didn't like how it was written, I didn't like the pace of it. This book simply bored me.
annm1121's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book bc I loved Rebecca and I wanted to know more about Du Maurier. However, there are issues with the structure - the story clunks around skipping some important moments and jumping ahead only to back track. In addition, it is impossible to keep track of all the characters.
However, I enjoyed hearing about Du Maurier's personality and how she wrote Rebecca. It's incredible to think that these novels were written with a pen and paper! And then later on in her life, she wrote on a typewriter. For some reason, I never thought of that before.
However, I enjoyed hearing about Du Maurier's personality and how she wrote Rebecca. It's incredible to think that these novels were written with a pen and paper! And then later on in her life, she wrote on a typewriter. For some reason, I never thought of that before.
memphisholli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
wishesandpages's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I love Daphne du Maurier with my entire heart. If you've only read Rebecca by her, please give her books another chance. That's what she wanted. Don't categorize her as a romance writer. She isn't. She was such a great writer, who tried out so many genres, fiction, non-fiction, plays, and so on.
A few things bothered me in this biography though, like how the author put herself in the narrative at the beginning of each section of the book, or how much she focused on the French translations of du Maurier's books. I understand that it was written in French, but du Maurier was an English writer. Yes, France was so important to her, but it's not a reason. Also, as I read it in French, I would have liked for Tatiana de Rosnay to put the English titles of du Maurier's works, because I always had to look them up on the Internet (it quite puzzles me because de Rosnay herself read du Maurier in English, but oh well), I know it sounds snob but once again, du Maurier wrote in English. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this biography and I loved that Tatiana de Rosnay talked so much of what inspired du Maurier to writer her work. It meant the world to me to learn how she came to write The Loving Spirit, as it was her first novel and she had put so much of herself in it. Reading the last few pages was painful and I have to admit I cried, I really didn't want to say goodbye to Daphne, but that's how it is, unfortunately.
I love Daphne du Maurier with my entire heart. If you've only read Rebecca by her, please give her books another chance. That's what she wanted. Don't categorize her as a romance writer. She isn't. She was such a great writer, who tried out so many genres, fiction, non-fiction, plays, and so on.
A few things bothered me in this biography though, like how the author put herself in the narrative at the beginning of each section of the book, or how much she focused on the French translations of du Maurier's books. I understand that it was written in French, but du Maurier was an English writer. Yes, France was so important to her, but it's not a reason. Also, as I read it in French, I would have liked for Tatiana de Rosnay to put the English titles of du Maurier's works, because I always had to look them up on the Internet (it quite puzzles me because de Rosnay herself read du Maurier in English, but oh well), I know it sounds snob but once again, du Maurier wrote in English. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this biography and I loved that Tatiana de Rosnay talked so much of what inspired du Maurier to writer her work. It meant the world to me to learn how she came to write The Loving Spirit, as it was her first novel and she had put so much of herself in it. Reading the last few pages was painful and I have to admit I cried, I really didn't want to say goodbye to Daphne, but that's how it is, unfortunately.