Kelly's Reviews > Rebecca

I'm not sure I have anything to add to this discussion :), but I've been meaning to read this book for some time now. I finally picked up a copy, so now I just need to wait for the right moment.

I promise you there are lots of things that are wonderful about this book... Definitely read it before it warms up again! It's a perfect dark wintry night story.

That's exactly what I want. So last year when I got the itch for this kind of book, I thought The Shadow of the Wind would be perfect...and it wasn't even good. Not good at all.

I didn't like that one either. It was trying far far too hard. One cannot create effective shadows while desperately seeking the approval of long dead gothic authors.

This one does not have that problem, though! I would also recommend Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (Susannah Clarke) if you have time for a larger book and don't mind a bit of fantasy/magic. It's a Victorian gothic and classic fantasy homage in one- plus if you have any interest in the Napoleonic wars, they're a central plot point. (Full disclosure: It's one of my favorite books, so I do try to push it when possible.)

Awesome, I've heard great things about that one from Choupette as well. I think it's been a while since I've read anything with fantasy/magic, although I used to read almost nothing but fantasy as a teen.

...although I used to read almost nothing but fantasy as a teen.

Oh, you'll enjoy JS&MN then! Clarke clearly loves classic fantasy and she gives it a loving tribute. She also uses a lot of dry wit a la Austen, and a lot of Vic gothic imagery and characterisation (you can see a few examples of the writing on my review if you're curious). I will say that some people do find it a bit slow to start but if you've made it through any other Vic monsters I don't think you'll find the pacing unusual.

Also: Don't skip the footnotes! Those are the jewels of the read! You'll see what I mean if you read it.

I did! Its amazing how a little touch like that lends understanding to some of the psychology of the story.

Twin beds, like in 1950s TV/movies?

It's too much fun to waste time being annoyed.

Agreed! Dive right in and have a delightful shiver with the rest of us on the fun side of the party. (... I realize this wouldn't usually be the fun side of the party, but still!)

Kelly, your review has sold me. I'm selecting this book for my book club!

Oh I think it would be a great one for that! I'm pretty sure it won't be hard for everyone to do the reading on time at least. :)

Kelly, I love your review of this book. Well said!! I have had this on my tbr list for a while. You are seriously making me want to read this one...like NOW LOL. :)

I don't think you'll regret it! Enjoy it!

This is exactly how I felt about this book too. My absolute favorite book!

It is one of those books you can just fall into isn't it? I've read it at least five times now and I will probably read it five more.

You couldn't have written a better review. Exactly what I thought. Rainy evening, tea and this book makes the most perfect easy to relax.

Thanks! This book is such a wonderfully absorbing experience. I don't think I will ever get tired of re-reading it.

I love this review. This is my go to book for those days where I want to cuddle up on the sofa with a cup of tea and read all day. It's an old friend of mine and I've read it about 10 times. The undercurrent of tension that seeps off the page is fantastic. The only other book which I feel has that same tension is The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins.

I have never read that. It has come up a few times though in very positive ways so I am thinking I am missing something!

You are! It's another of my go to reads. Daphne Du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel is fantastic too. Has the same sense of intrigue as Rebecca in my opinion!

That one has been lurking on my to-read for years. I tried another one of hers first.. Jamaica Inn, it was. Didn't capture me, so I stopped prioritizing another Du Maurier, but I do want to make my way back to that one.

I owe her at least that for Rebecca, which I have also read at least a dozen times. Somehow it never gets old. I think it really is that amazing atmosphere of it.

I felt exactly the same way about Jamaica Inn. I got on slightly better with Frenchman's Creek but nothing is as good as Rebecca. My Cousin Rachel is good though, it has another woman using her wiles!

The tension in Rebecca is almost physical. You know something bad is coming and part of you is scared. The juxtaposition of such an idyllic setting helps too. You find it hard to imagine such horrible things could happen at a place as beautiful as Manderley. You also feel like the poor innocent Mrs De Winter 2.0 is surrounded by vipers, everyone of them with their own agendas and feelings about Rebecca. I feel equal parts sorry for her and annoyed by her throughout the book. I will read that book over and over again and enjoy it every time. It's a timeless classic.

I agree--Jamaica Inn was my least favorite book of hers. But have you read The King's General? Amazing historically-based fiction. I liked My Cousin Rachel a lot too. And also a weird one called The House on the Strand. Oh, and check out The Flight of the Falcon!

Masterpiece indeed! What a opening passage.

Loved it!

Yeah, it's great!

You are right on Kelly! I was rereading it now and was amazed even by the opening sentence!

Lovely review

Thanks!

You're welcome :p.

I think i can take pride by saying that i think i am the only teenager reading this book in this discussion...

No, you're not, Greg, because I am one, too.

Kelly, I agree with your review! It certainly made me want to read more about what happened afterwards or what happened to Manderley when second Mrs. de Winter talked about it at the beginning.

Good for both of you!

Beware of the terrible sequels that have been attempted by various writers. So disappointing.

I just finished Rebecca... Loved it! Ill look for the other titles that I read from these comments. Thanks!!

Glad you found even more great books to read! Enjoy! :)

I really don't understand all the great reviews--will chalk it up to different tastes! I will commend the author's prose, because there were places where her descriptions were beautiful. However, I wanted to smack some sense into the main character early in the book and that never changed. I kept thinking that I was dealing with a 14year old and had to remind myself constantly that she was in her twenties. There was nothing likeable about Maxim--and why the main character would fawn over him and lie for him baffles me. I would recommend the book for the beautiful prose, but with the warning that this is about the only redeeming factor of the book.

How to answer that? ...Technically not, no. But metaphorically, absolutely.

I haven't read this book yet. Do you know what this book is about?

Rebecca is my sister's name! How cool is that?

that's it. when a book is described as a "delicious, curl up next to the fire under a blanket with tea book" I know I have to read it.

You just described my perfect kinda day... This is a real pleasurable book to re-read time and again, up there with Jane Eyre & North and South. Try Vilette & Hotel du Lac, I think you'd like them

Though I just finished 110 pages of this book, I will say, I don't feel to read it anymore. Can you justify a reason?

My Friends mother recommended it heavily.

Please help.

All my reasons are above. If you're not feeling those, then don't finish it. :)

I love this book! It was mandatory reading in high school and enjoyed it but probably didn't fully understand it. I recently read it again, 25 years later and loved it even more than the first time! It is a sit down for the weekend and shut out the world book. You feel the angst of the characters and can't wait to see how it ends.

Kelly, I agree with you- AMAZING book. Have you seen the movie masterpiece theatre made based on it?

I haven't! I love this book so much I was always apprehensive about watching the movies of it.

Enticing review! I definitely looking forward to reading this book.

I think you had something good here. Why did you stop?

This is it. THE delicious, curl up next to the fire under a blanket with tea book.
THE windowsill on a rainy day with your pet book.
THE stay up all night book.
A chill goes down your spine (but in a good way!) while reading it book.
a masterpiece of gothic literature book.
the inheritor of the tradition of novels like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre book
I'd call it the 20th Century Jane Eyre, actually, with a modernist twist book
It is written so that the characters and events come to seem quite believable in the context even while they slowly make the hairs on the back of your necks stand on end book. (a mouthful)
Whether you're generally a fan of mystery, romance or thrillers, quite simply a deliciously read book.

Thanks, I think! :)