A review by sir_ren
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Rebecca does a really good job of capturing that young-and-inexperienced-person-in-the-world vibe in the protagonist. the feelings that arise out of being in this relationship with a partner significantly older and with his own past haunt our protagonist, as she feels inadequate in several ways for the role she has agreed to play.
the gothic romance elements and the premise immediately reminded me of Jane Eyre, and this book seems to be in conversation with that one- exploring possibilities and different angles. so definitely try this one out if you have read Jane Eyre and enjoyed it and even if you didn't - it is interesting to observe how two authors treat this kinda situation in their books and in their age. so heightened emotion and drama are to be expected with gothic romances and some moments in Rebecca, especially towards the beginning feel straight out of a cheesy movie. but it is still a good read, I promise. even the rare instances of humour in the book do not feel dated - it did make me laugh. if you've enjoyed hearing about the dynamic in Taylor Swift's Tolerate it, you will likely enjoy reading about the relationship in Rebecca. 
don't let the fact that this is a classic make you put off reading this book. since it is a more modern classic the writing style and story feel perfectly fine. the writing in this book... oh man, the author uses language beautifully and you can really feel the shift in writing from her regular prose to the parts where she enhances it for achieving a special effect on the reader. you will probably read them again and again. 

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