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My Cousin Rachel

Daphne du Maurier

Start date: August 1, 2017

Finish date: August 31, 2017

Discussion: Chapter Chicks Reading Info

Why we're reading this: Our August Buddy Read.
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Apr 05, 2017 debbicat *made of stardust* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-authors, audio-book, buddy-read, book-to-movie-challenge, audible, i-bought-it-or-own-it, 2017-reads

Incredibly good! Full review to follow. Going on my top 10 list today. Wow!!!

My Review: (May 30, 2017)
This is now my favorite Daphne book so far. It does come quite close to Rebecca, which was my fave DM. book until this one. Like Rebecca, it is a mystery-romance and first published in 1951. I read this as a buddy read and enjoyed the discussion, which likely enhanced my reading pleasure. I can hardly wait to see the movie June 9, 2017. A little wiki note I found interesting is that the story ha Incredibly good! Full review to follow. Going on my top 10 list today. Wow!!!

My Review: (May 30, 2017)
This is now my favorite Daphne book so far. It does come quite close to Rebecca, which was my fave DM. book until this one. Like Rebecca, it is a mystery-romance and first published in 1951. I read this as a buddy read and enjoyed the discussion, which likely enhanced my reading pleasure. I can hardly wait to see the movie June 9, 2017. A little wiki note I found interesting is that the story has it's origins in a portrait of Rachel Carew at Anthony House in Cornwall, which du Maurier saw and took inspiration.

Philip Ashley is the narrator of the novel. He is a young and sheltered young man of 24. He is orphaned at age 7 and raised by his uncle Ambrose on the Coast of Cornwall. The setting is primarily on a large estate owned by Ambrose in Cornwall. Philip looks up to and greatly admires his uncle. They are quite close. Philip has one female friend, Louise. Other than that he has not really been around women and is a novice in their ways.

Ambrose has to travel due to health reasons and writes home that not only has he met a distant cousin of theirs in Florence, but, he actually has married her and has no plans to return to the estate in Cornwall. Philip is none too happy to hear of this news and is restless and discontent. He is jealous of Ambrose's new wife and suspects something is not right. We begin to wonder that too. Philip gets other correspondence that causes him to believe that Rachel is actually plotting against Ambrose. Then, Ambrose dies! Philip believes Rachel has murdered him. Rachel goes to visit her dead husband's estate and Philip. She is so beautiful, charming and kind....and as much as Philip wants to hate her and distrust her..even seek revenge against her ..he finds himself becoming quite infatuated with her, falling under her spell. She is all he thinks about and while there is a significant age gap, he becomes smitten with her.

I don't really want to give away anymore of the plot. Most know it...but, if not I wouldn't want to ruin it. I did go into it knowing the ending because I had seen an old black and white 1952 movie version of the book by Henry Koster. I truly enjoyed the way the novel played out. The suspense, the nail biting, the slow burn, the insanity at times, the cat and mouse game, the mysterious charm of Rachel. Did she do it???? I listened to the audio book and the actor who narrated it was superb. I highly recommend the audio version. I do own an old used bookstore copy..which I may read some day. It's suspense at it's best. I loved everything about it.

The ending is super clever and we had a great discussion about it. I wish I could say more...but, I'd better hold off. If you have not read this, you are in for a treat. It is Daphne at her best. And I have not read a better gothic. This book is pure pleasure to me. I think Rachel Weisz is going to be amazing as Rachel in the upcoming movie. ...more

43 likes · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2020 Maureen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love how Daphne du Maurier tells a story. I have read Rebecca previously and just adored it. This is another wonderful gothic atmospheric novel.

Philip Ashley has been raised by his uncle Ambrose. Ambrose travels to Italy for health reason and suddenly marries cousin Rachael. This marriage doesn’t last long as Ambrose succumbed to death.
What really happened to Ambrose?
Cousin Rachel comes for a visit and Philip falls in love with Rachel, but there is so much speculation about Ambrose. What did A ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

Aug 23, 2017 Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, dogdaysofsummer2017

This is the first book that I've read by Daphne du Maurier. I am familiar with her work as I love the 1940 film adaptation of Rebecca , directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Like in Rebecca , there is always a foreboding presence that lingers on the pages of My Cousin Rachel . I found myself wondering:
Did Rachel kill Ambrose? How does Rainaldi fit into the story, is he a saboteur? Are the rumors circulating about Rachel true? Who is Rachel and what are her plans? Is she plotting or is Philip just a l ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Aug 28, 2017 Tasha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-2017

So good! I reread this one after having a pretty bland experience with it the first time around. I'm so glad I reread this one, I couldn't put it down!! Talk about books and mood. ;) ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2018 Book Concierge rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, england, 19th-century, classic, library, concierge, strong-women, suspense

Digital audio performed by Jonathan Pryce

Philip Ashley is the young heir to the great Cornwall estate owned by his cousin, Ambrose, who is his guardian and has been like a father to him. For health reasons, Ambrose goes to Italy in the winter months, but this time he does not return. He has married the lovely widowed Contessa and is staying for a time until her late husband’s affairs are fully settled. But then Ambrose dies suddenly, and Cousin Rachel shows up in Cornwall. Is she the bereaved w ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 08, 2012 Tasha rated it liked it

Shelves: gothic-ghost, classics, own-on-kindle

3.5 stars

To be fair, I think this was just not the time and place for me and this book. I had a lot of outside distractions and never fully got into the book. The writing was very good but the story just couldn't compete with other events in my life at the moment. I may reread this one because I was really hoping to love it! ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 06, 2014 Celia rated it really liked it

Shelves: re-read, scribd

As a kid I loved this book. Read it at least 3 times. Maybe I should read it again 50 years later!!

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Sep 15, 2013 MaureenAnn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A page-turning book, I was eagerly wanting to find out what happened next. It keeps its mystery right to the end. Not clear at what period it was set - possibly the Victorian period as they are using horse-drawn transport and it takes 3 weeks to get to Florence, when you can find a boat going that way!

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