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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Themes or Characters That Resonated with Me:
I found Rebecca incredibly suspenseful, especially from the moment the second Mrs. de Winter excitedly prepares for the ball. The moment she descends the staircase and receives a shocking reaction had me unable to put the book down. Throughout, I was constantly trying to decipher who was truly an ally to the narrator and who remained loyal to Rebecca—characters like Bee, Giles, Frank, Robert, Frith, and Favell all had me questioning their loyalties.
The narrator’s desperation for Maxim’s admiration was fascinating. A strictly rational person would be horrified to discover their husband murdered his first wife, but instead, she feels relief. The fact that Maxim never loved Rebecca brings her happiness, which raises the question—what is she really in love with? The idea of love, or Maxim himself? At the same time, Maxim’s story paints him as a man trapped in a nightmare marriage, driven to the edge. While I don’t find Maxim particularly admirable—especially since he seems to have married the narrator primarily to avoid loneliness—his confession scene hit me like a ton of bricks.
Frank Crawley stood out as the most respectable character, and I found Mrs. Danvers compelling. Favell, despite being a villain, was incredibly well-written and entertaining to read.
Emotions, Thoughts, or Memories It Brought Up in Me:
The novel made me reflect on how far people will go for love—or what they believe to be love. The narrator sacrifices her own sense of self and morality just to feel secure in her marriage. The moment when Maxim admits to killing Rebecca was shocking and beautifully written. The entire sequence where Favell attempts to blackmail Maxim and Maxim, rather than trying to avoid justice, remains determined to see the investigation through, was incredibly suspenseful.
The novel’s coroner scenes reminded me of Les Misérables—specifically when Monsieur Madeleine (Jean Valjean) faces the moral crisis of revealing his true identity. Meanwhile, the extended confrontation between Favell, Maxim, and Colonel Julyan gave me the same kind of suspense as Crime and Punishment, particularly Raskolnikov’s interrogation by Porfiry Petrovich. Both moments are about far more than the crime itself; they ask a deeper question—who is the criminal now that they have done what they’ve done?
The ending felt bittersweet. On the one hand, Maxim and the narrator seem free of the past and can move on together. On the other hand, Manderley’s destruction could symbolize that they will never truly escape the shadow of Rebecca.
Opinion About the Author or Writing Style:
Du Maurier’s writing is masterful in its ability to build suspense. Even in the quieter, early parts of the book, there’s a constant feeling of unease. The way she slowly peels back layers of deception and hidden truths makes the book impossible to put down. Her ability to craft intense psychological drama—especially through the narrator’s insecurities and the looming presence of Rebecca—was excellent. The dialogue-heavy climax between Maxim, Favell, and Colonel Julyan was incredibly engaging, despite being primarily conversation-based.
Favorite Passages:
Maxim’s confession—it was so unexpected and beautifully written.
Favell’s blackmail attempt—the intensity of the confrontation and Maxim’s resignation to whatever consequences may come.
The final reveal about Rebecca’s illness—I fully expected her to have been pregnant, not terminally ill.
My ratings-
Writing Style: 95
Relatability: 90
Originality: 100
Personal impact: 90
Plot: 95
I found Rebecca incredibly suspenseful, especially from the moment the second Mrs. de Winter excitedly prepares for the ball. The moment she descends the staircase and receives a shocking reaction had me unable to put the book down. Throughout, I was constantly trying to decipher who was truly an ally to the narrator and who remained loyal to Rebecca—characters like Bee, Giles, Frank, Robert, Frith, and Favell all had me questioning their loyalties.
The narrator’s desperation for Maxim’s admiration was fascinating. A strictly rational person would be horrified to discover their husband murdered his first wife, but instead, she feels relief. The fact that Maxim never loved Rebecca brings her happiness, which raises the question—what is she really in love with? The idea of love, or Maxim himself? At the same time, Maxim’s story paints him as a man trapped in a nightmare marriage, driven to the edge. While I don’t find Maxim particularly admirable—especially since he seems to have married the narrator primarily to avoid loneliness—his confession scene hit me like a ton of bricks.
Frank Crawley stood out as the most respectable character, and I found Mrs. Danvers compelling. Favell, despite being a villain, was incredibly well-written and entertaining to read.
Emotions, Thoughts, or Memories It Brought Up in Me:
The novel made me reflect on how far people will go for love—or what they believe to be love. The narrator sacrifices her own sense of self and morality just to feel secure in her marriage. The moment when Maxim admits to killing Rebecca was shocking and beautifully written. The entire sequence where Favell attempts to blackmail Maxim and Maxim, rather than trying to avoid justice, remains determined to see the investigation through, was incredibly suspenseful.
The novel’s coroner scenes reminded me of Les Misérables—specifically when Monsieur Madeleine (Jean Valjean) faces the moral crisis of revealing his true identity. Meanwhile, the extended confrontation between Favell, Maxim, and Colonel Julyan gave me the same kind of suspense as Crime and Punishment, particularly Raskolnikov’s interrogation by Porfiry Petrovich. Both moments are about far more than the crime itself; they ask a deeper question—who is the criminal now that they have done what they’ve done?
The ending felt bittersweet. On the one hand, Maxim and the narrator seem free of the past and can move on together. On the other hand, Manderley’s destruction could symbolize that they will never truly escape the shadow of Rebecca.
Opinion About the Author or Writing Style:
Du Maurier’s writing is masterful in its ability to build suspense. Even in the quieter, early parts of the book, there’s a constant feeling of unease. The way she slowly peels back layers of deception and hidden truths makes the book impossible to put down. Her ability to craft intense psychological drama—especially through the narrator’s insecurities and the looming presence of Rebecca—was excellent. The dialogue-heavy climax between Maxim, Favell, and Colonel Julyan was incredibly engaging, despite being primarily conversation-based.
Favorite Passages:
Maxim’s confession—it was so unexpected and beautifully written.
Favell’s blackmail attempt—the intensity of the confrontation and Maxim’s resignation to whatever consequences may come.
The final reveal about Rebecca’s illness—I fully expected her to have been pregnant, not terminally ill.
My ratings-
Writing Style: 95
Relatability: 90
Originality: 100
Personal impact: 90
Plot: 95
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Damn, jak to ocenić? Dla mnie to przede wszystkim książka o ślepym zapatrzeniu w drugą osobę, o zapominaniu o sobie i o przykrych tego konsekwencjach. Ale tak naprawdę to i tak brzmi źle, bo ciężko opisac jakie to było dobre xD . Średnio znam się na gatunkach, ale nie określiłaby tego jako romans, bardziej powieść grozy. Można, by na końcu zadać sobie pytanie, kto tak naprawdę ma w niej szczęśliwe zakończenie, i czy ktokolwiek? Czy da się jednoznacznie ocenić dobrych i złych bohaterów? Czy po przeczytaniu całości jesteśmy w stanie uwierzyć w to co twierdzi bohaterka opowiadająca historię na pierwszych stronach książki? Nie wydaje mi się, że jest jedna słuszna odpowiedź, myślę że każdy znajdzie tu coś innego. Uważam, że postacie zostały wykreowane niesamowicie, plot twisty wybitne, a zakończenie na pozór skromne, nagle zyskuje gdy przypomnimy sobie początek książki. Będę o niej długo myśleć.
so she was an evil hoe all along??
crazy.
such vivid image and voice. complex and delightfully surprising exposition.
had me gasping out loud from shock.
crazy.
such vivid image and voice. complex and delightfully surprising exposition.
had me gasping out loud from shock.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I must be the diametrical opposite of this novel's target demographic for how quickly I dropped it.
Extremely long and repetitive descriptions that don't bring anything to the prose and the atmosphere tables, a suspense I'm still looking for, and a nonsensical "romance" between an asshole and a floorcloth of a woman... if this is what gothic horror is, then I shall steer clear of it.
Extremely long and repetitive descriptions that don't bring anything to the prose and the atmosphere tables, a suspense I'm still looking for, and a nonsensical "romance" between an asshole and a floorcloth of a woman... if this is what gothic horror is, then I shall steer clear of it.
emotional
tense
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced