A review by phantastic
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A book with very low lows but pretty high highs! 

The beginning dragged out for SOOOO long I almost dropped it at 12% and then at 20%, but I held out and this book is actually worth the read. I think the story truly starts around 40%. I really did not expect this story to go into the directions that it did.

I originally rated Rebecca 3.75⭐️ but it’s been seven days and two books and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind, so I’m raising it to 4.00⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Classism

Moderate: Incest, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder

Minor: Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol

• Death and Grief: The novel takes place after Rebecca de Winter’s death, and focuses on her lingering presence around Manderley. / • Classism: The majority of characters at Manderley heavily dislike the main character for not being raised noble and disrespect her for it despite her role as the lady of the estate. / • Toxic relationship: Lord Maxim de Winter holds little affection for the main character, and she yearns to win over his heart.

Later on, we find out that Lord Maxim de Winter and Rebecca de Winter were not in love at all, and Rebecca would often antagonized Maxim.

/ • Incest and Infidelity:

Rebecca slept with multiple men because she considered it a fun game, most prominently her lover and her first cousin, Jack Favell.

/ • Murder:

It’s revealed that Maxim killed Rebecca, and it’s hinted at the end that Miss Danvers and Favell are planning on killing Maxim as revenge.

/ • Suicide:

Miss Danvers heavily urges the main character to commit suicide and jump out of a window. The scene goes on for a while, with Miss Danvers listing every reason why she should jump. Later on in the story after Rebecca’s body turns up, the court ruled that she committed suicide and the story begins to discuss reasons why she would and why that seemed unlikely. It is revealed that Rebecca did commit suicide in a way, by egging Maxim on enough that he would shoot her. At the end of the story, it’s implied that Maxim chooses to commit suicide.

/ • Alcohol: Many characters drink throughout the story, with Favell being a prominent example as he is known for regularly drinking. / • Cultural appropriation: At a costume ball, Lacy and Giles dress up as “Arabian sheikhs,” including Giles darkening his face. This is mentioned a few times afterwards. Another guest at the ball dressed up as a “Chinese Mongolian.” / • Forced institutionalization: A mentally handicapped character, Ben, is afraid of being sent to an asylum. / • Terminal illness:

It is revealed that Rebecca suffered from cancer, which was her motive for committing suicide by egging Maxim to murder her.

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