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A review by boomwormbrittany
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.5
Trigger Warning: Suicide is encouraged from one character to another
Rebecca is the classic novel about a young woman who marries Maxim de Winter. When she is brought back to his estate, Manderly, in England, she finds that the presence of his deceased first wife seems to wander the halls and plagues them at every turn.
Please give me some time to gush about this novel. I have been meaning to read Rebecca for years but never had it as required reading in any of my English classes or was distracted by other books. However, I adored this book so much.
First off, Daphne du Maurier's writing was just fantastic. It made the story flow so well and it made me want to keep reading because it sucked you right into the novel. Daphne du Maurier knew how to bring her audience in and keep them captivated.
I thought the choice of not giving the new Mrs. de Winter a name was so fascinating. It really made me, as the reader, put myself in her shoes and see how I would deal with this situation that she was living in. The main character is very naive which I think worked for her character. She is described as being on the younger and less experienced side when she married Maxim and moved to Manderly. Yet she grows so much in this novel and I loved that for her.
I thought Mrs. Danvers was such a fascinating character as well. She clearly had an obsession with Rebecca having raised her since she was a child. She was so angry at the main character for trying to "take over" Rebecca's home and she really added this creepy facto to the story that I loved.
I thought the plot was so interesting as well. Everyone is so cagey about what happened to Rebecca but it seems nobody saw her beyond her beauty. Through Maxim, we learn what a complicated and manipulative person Rebecca really was and how she played her part so well. I really loved unravelling this story and learning more about Rebecca and figuring out the plot.
The setting was so well done too. It was vividly written and I really found myself imaging being at Manderly.
I did give this book 4.5 stars because the ending was quite abrupt. There was something big happening at the end and then it was just over. We never get a full resolution but that might be so the reader can make their decisions on how it ended.
I would say that if you are going to watch a movie version of this after reading it, watch the 1940 version with Laurence Olivier in it. It is so faithful to the book and directed by Alfred Hitchcock so it is well done.
Overall, I loved this book. I am so glad that I read it and it has definitely become one of my favorite classic novels.
Rebecca is the classic novel about a young woman who marries Maxim de Winter. When she is brought back to his estate, Manderly, in England, she finds that the presence of his deceased first wife seems to wander the halls and plagues them at every turn.
Please give me some time to gush about this novel. I have been meaning to read Rebecca for years but never had it as required reading in any of my English classes or was distracted by other books. However, I adored this book so much.
First off, Daphne du Maurier's writing was just fantastic. It made the story flow so well and it made me want to keep reading because it sucked you right into the novel. Daphne du Maurier knew how to bring her audience in and keep them captivated.
I thought the choice of not giving the new Mrs. de Winter a name was so fascinating. It really made me, as the reader, put myself in her shoes and see how I would deal with this situation that she was living in. The main character is very naive which I think worked for her character. She is described as being on the younger and less experienced side when she married Maxim and moved to Manderly. Yet she grows so much in this novel and I loved that for her.
I thought Mrs. Danvers was such a fascinating character as well. She clearly had an obsession with Rebecca having raised her since she was a child. She was so angry at the main character for trying to "take over" Rebecca's home and she really added this creepy facto to the story that I loved.
I thought the plot was so interesting as well. Everyone is so cagey about what happened to Rebecca but it seems nobody saw her beyond her beauty. Through Maxim, we learn what a complicated and manipulative person Rebecca really was and how she played her part so well. I really loved unravelling this story and learning more about Rebecca and figuring out the plot.
The setting was so well done too. It was vividly written and I really found myself imaging being at Manderly.
I did give this book 4.5 stars because the ending was quite abrupt. There was something big happening at the end and then it was just over. We never get a full resolution but that might be so the reader can make their decisions on how it ended.
I would say that if you are going to watch a movie version of this after reading it, watch the 1940 version with Laurence Olivier in it. It is so faithful to the book and directed by Alfred Hitchcock so it is well done.
Overall, I loved this book. I am so glad that I read it and it has definitely become one of my favorite classic novels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide