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rebeccaWhat: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Who: HarperCollins

When: 2006

How: Purchased.

A classic novel of romantic suspense finds the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter entering the home of her mysterious and enigmatic new husband and learning the story of the house’s first mistress, to whom the sinister housekeeper is unnaturally devoted.

3cats2Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. This is the opening line to du Maurier’s famous novel Rebecca, a haunting tale about a young women who becomes increasingly obsessed with her husband’s late wife, Rebecca. The secrets at Manderley are many, and it is these secrets that keep the new Mrs. de Winter so occupied.

Oh, I had such great expectations for this book. Friends and family said that it was amazing; that I would love it. But it really fell short for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I did like this book. I just found the pace so very slow, with only a few really riveting moments, most of which were in the west wing with Mrs. Danvers.

Until Maxim actually admitted that he loved the new Mrs. de Winter (and I call her this because her name is never given – I liked that), I was convinced he had only married her in order to try and forget Rebecca, and to ward off his loneliness. I was surprised when he said that he loved her ardently, and it was almost too little too late. The new Mrs. de Winter had spent almost four months torturing herself, convincing herself that Rebecca was a saint and that Maxim could never love her as he had Rebecca.

And it was so obvious that Rebecca was no kind hearted angel. If only the new Mrs. de Winter had listened to Ben, instead of waving him off as an ‘idiot’. She would have known that Rebecca wasn’t kind, and that she had threatened Ben with the asylum. I kind of hate it when people are so transparent to me, but not the characters in the book. I feel like shaking them, and saying: pay attention – they’re not who you think they are! But I can’t do that, and instead spend a long time huffing and sighing because the characters are so blind.

To be honest, I was thoroughly annoyed by the vague ending. I won’t say too much, because I don’t want to give anything away, but it just irks me when books are left so unfinished.

I must say I simply adored the cover, it was so beautiful, and it was what ultimately drew me into reading this novel.

Perhaps one day I will read it again, knowing what the story is like. Maybe I will enjoy it better next time.

© 2013, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

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Posted on: July 6, 2013 • By: Chiara

12 Responses to Review: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

  1. acps927 says:

    I enjoyed this when I read it in high school, but I didn’t have super high expectations for it and was pleasantly surprised. Since it’s been a while I don’t remember the pacing, but it doesn’t really surprise me that it’s slow given the time it was written. I need to re-read it sometime!

    • THIS COMMENT DIDN’T SHOW UP IN MY NOTIFICATIONS!
      Luckily I got an email :D
      It was really well written, it just didn’t turn out to live up to the expectations I had. I’m interested to see what you think of it when you reread it, if you loved it the first time!

  2. This has been sitting on my bookshelf FOREVER. I need to read it! Awesome review! :)

  3. ChrissiReads says:

    I love Rebecca, but completely agree with you about pacing! Lovely review :)

  4. Book Blather says:

    Vague endings can definitely be annoying! But it just depends on my mood, I am fickle like that. :-) I’ve never read this classic but I did like the stage adaption. Cool cover on this edition.

    • They can! Sometimes I am open to it, but most of the time I prefer to know exactly what happened to the characters, so I don’t have to wonder.
      I really want to see the play! I think i would be awesome. And I love this cover, too ^.^

  5. Book Bunny says:

    Ooh! I so want to win this even though you didn’t like it that much :D The cover draws me to the book..

  6. I have been wanting to find a good book that is nice and creepy. A few people suggested this one, but I also get annoyed when a book feels unfinished. (Thinner by Stephen King anyone?) I do intend on reading it someday thought. Sorry it didn’t live up to expectations!

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