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suem's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
book_beat's review against another edition
2.0
Tatiana de Rosnay writes the biography as though the book is a fictional story, assuming Daphne’s thoughts throughout her life. Often, I had to question whether Daphne’s thoughts, hates, passions, etc. were assumed or discovered in her personal journals. I disliked the feeling of having to constantly question facts vs. fiction while reading a biography.
I was excited at the premise: a possibly lighter read! A closer glimpse at an author I enjoy; maybe a more emotional connection with this style of writing. But the whole thing read “clunky” to me with its crazy nicknames for characters (trying to keep them all straight), Daphne’s silly made up language, and the somewhat poor French translation. And Daphne didn’t feel very accessible to me.
Things I did enjoy: learning more about her writing process and inspiration. I loved the different places and countries and finding out about her family’s history in the arts. I didn’t enjoy the details about her love/lust life.
All in all ambitious effort, and I am grateful to have learned more about the lady who wrote Rebecca... even if she tired of those who claimed it to be their favorite work.
I was excited at the premise: a possibly lighter read! A closer glimpse at an author I enjoy; maybe a more emotional connection with this style of writing. But the whole thing read “clunky” to me with its crazy nicknames for characters (trying to keep them all straight), Daphne’s silly made up language, and the somewhat poor French translation. And Daphne didn’t feel very accessible to me.
Things I did enjoy: learning more about her writing process and inspiration. I loved the different places and countries and finding out about her family’s history in the arts. I didn’t enjoy the details about her love/lust life.
All in all ambitious effort, and I am grateful to have learned more about the lady who wrote Rebecca... even if she tired of those who claimed it to be their favorite work.
angelaf's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
If you have even a passing interest in Daphne du Maurier, Manderley Forever is worth reading. The impeccable research includes interviews with du Maurier's three children. I particularly appreciated how the biography makes Daphne feel likable despite her challenging personality. It also beautifully counterbalances her love for her husband and children with the other relationships she had with men and women. For readers, this biography lays out the inspiration for du Maurier's written works. Read if you enjoy: works by Daphne du Maurier, Cornwall, literary history
eseide's review against another edition
5.0
After reading Manderley Forever, I put a photo of Daphne du Maurier on my desk. I think Daphne and I would’ve been good friends. At least, I’d like to think so. Or maybe I would have just trailed behind her like a puppy, begging for a modicum of her affection. Tatiana de Rosnay’s biography shows her admiration and her respect for Daphne, too. I think if I had been able to meet Daphne while she was alive, I would have been enamored but also somewhat intimidated.
The biography de Rosnay has created is enthralling. Daphne du Maurier was a complex, non-conformist, reclusive writer who eschewed contact with fans and the media. I enjoyed reading about her life with the backdrop of the development of her novels, how her love for Cornwall, or her travels abroad, affected her writing or inspired various storylines. I played a game while reading trying to guess which novel was coming next. I learned a lot about Daphne – what inspired her, what motivated her, who captured her heart.
De Rosnay handles Daphne's various loves, those fulfilled and those unrequited, with grace and compassion. Manderley Forever gives insight into the life of this beloved novelist who was often written off by critics as only a best-selling romance writer. She was enigmatic, and her novels were darker and more complicated than she was often given credit for. Her alter ego, Eric Avon, was Daphne as her most genuine, and de Rosnay explores that side of Daphne with wonder.
I appreciated the multi-faceted character de Rosnay gives her readers. She shows Daphne's darker side, her temperamental personality, but also her loyalty and devotion to family and life-long friends. Her peccadilloes are all there in the open, which only serves the book's legitimacy. Daphne had an obsessive personality, often inexplicably drawn to places or people that she would cling to tenaciously, but she also suffered from social anxiety, hiding from fans who came to Menabilly seeking autographs. Her life story was well-researched, but more importantly, it was written with care and love, which shows on every page. Manderley Forever has inspired me to read all the du Maurier novels I haven't yet read, now that I know the story and inspiration behind the tales.
Highly recommended for du Maurier fans, and for those just beginning to discover her.
My gratitude to Netgalley, Tatiana de Rosnay, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The biography de Rosnay has created is enthralling. Daphne du Maurier was a complex, non-conformist, reclusive writer who eschewed contact with fans and the media. I enjoyed reading about her life with the backdrop of the development of her novels, how her love for Cornwall, or her travels abroad, affected her writing or inspired various storylines. I played a game while reading trying to guess which novel was coming next. I learned a lot about Daphne – what inspired her, what motivated her, who captured her heart.
De Rosnay handles Daphne's various loves, those fulfilled and those unrequited, with grace and compassion. Manderley Forever gives insight into the life of this beloved novelist who was often written off by critics as only a best-selling romance writer. She was enigmatic, and her novels were darker and more complicated than she was often given credit for. Her alter ego, Eric Avon, was Daphne as her most genuine, and de Rosnay explores that side of Daphne with wonder.
I appreciated the multi-faceted character de Rosnay gives her readers. She shows Daphne's darker side, her temperamental personality, but also her loyalty and devotion to family and life-long friends. Her peccadilloes are all there in the open, which only serves the book's legitimacy. Daphne had an obsessive personality, often inexplicably drawn to places or people that she would cling to tenaciously, but she also suffered from social anxiety, hiding from fans who came to Menabilly seeking autographs. Her life story was well-researched, but more importantly, it was written with care and love, which shows on every page. Manderley Forever has inspired me to read all the du Maurier novels I haven't yet read, now that I know the story and inspiration behind the tales.
Highly recommended for du Maurier fans, and for those just beginning to discover her.
My gratitude to Netgalley, Tatiana de Rosnay, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
doriastories's review against another edition
3.0
There were elements of this biography-cum-romance that were of interest, notably the author’s descriptions of her own personal pilgrimage visits to Du Maurier houses and sites. However the breathy narration, delivered as if by invisible spirits who hovered just over the subject’s shoulder, felt a bit contrived and even a little silly at times. It was a forced and unnecessary device which didn’t in any way enhance the otherwise carefully researched events and mindset of the Dame. The general pacing and flow of the book is good, and it is not overly long, which I don’t suppose goes far towards recommending it. But for devotees of her writing, it would make for a nice read.
soavezefiretto's review against another edition
3.0
I wondered why I enjoyed the first part about her teens and youth more than the latter part, and then realised it was probably because they are heavily based on her journals, while after that the book is based on letters and accounts from others. What through her journals are engaging and enticing emotional adventures fall flat recounted in later years; it tends to get repetitive. Reccomended if you're a fan of her writing and/or of tales of glamour and luxury.