A review by jeslis
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Notes:
- Very gothic! Not necessarily a fav genre of mine but I really did enjoy this book and I thought it was a great example for the genre as a whole. Very well executed and exemplified the elements of gothic almost perfectly, I felt.
- The writing was so nice! Some really good prose lines and overall made me feel like I was sinking into it after about halfway, which kept pulling me in.
- I loved the imagery of being haunted — created by many things: Rebecca, previous choices on both Maxim's and FMC's parts, townspeople's opinions, Mrs Danvers being creepy, general hauntedness of Manderley.
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I was so viscerally affected by FMC's dressing up in the white dress at the party; the image of her standing at the top of the stairs whilst everyone was dead silent. And knowing it was what Rebecca had done.. Omg, chills!!

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Also loved how their relationship reached its strongest when their characters became more morally grey, giving Bonnie and Clyde energy. Unique way to contrast something you might be rooting for (love) with something you're not (murder, lol).
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