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What Members Thought
WTF kind of ending is that??
Other than the abrupt ending, this book was excellent. Some of the scenes have definitely stuck (that costume ball entrance) with me and I find myself comparing other books to this one. It had a great slow burn of suspense. I kept thinking it was the same time period as the Bronte sisters though, so things like cars and phones confused me at first.
Other than the abrupt ending, this book was excellent. Some of the scenes have definitely stuck (that costume ball entrance) with me and I find myself comparing other books to this one. It had a great slow burn of suspense. I kept thinking it was the same time period as the Bronte sisters though, so things like cars and phones confused me at first.
Great writing and characterization. And I think that du Maurier masterfully evokes the gothic mood and sustains tension throughout. However, I grew impatient with the slow pace of the story, and I couldn't really like the narrator: she is much too passive and without agency for my taste.
But the more research I did about the book afterwards, the more my own understanding was enhanced. I like and admire it much more now that I'm done than I actually enjoyed the experience of reading it. Which is ...more
But the more research I did about the book afterwards, the more my own understanding was enhanced. I like and admire it much more now that I'm done than I actually enjoyed the experience of reading it. Which is ...more
Really lovely writing with an overall gothic creepy vibe that is right in my wheelhouse. The ending was really good. Hints of Jane Eyre, whispers of Wuthering Heights so if you’re into that then it’s definitely a worthy addition to that list. I loved the descriptions of Manderley and the grounds.
Pacing is my main gripe with this. It’s needlessly long in a few parts. Instead of building tension, it made me lose interest. I didn’t quite go far enough with the creepy darkness.
A definite romantic ...more
Pacing is my main gripe with this. It’s needlessly long in a few parts. Instead of building tension, it made me lose interest. I didn’t quite go far enough with the creepy darkness.
A definite romantic ...more
I read this book for Halloween, and it met all expectations: creepily elegant, tragic love story, a chilling antagonist all set against the Gothic backdrop of Manderley. Mrs. de Winter's imagined scenes, her watered-down personality, and her constant comparisons to Rebecca made me love and hate her. The novel is separated into distinct parts, and I distinctly felt the build-up to the ultimate climax and denouement.
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A. I was pleasantly surprised by how excellent this book was! It starts as a tale of a dull woman suddenly entering into a complicated marriage and gradually becomes more and more intriguing. Incredible for a female author in 1938!
When did this book switch from a weird, psychological romance to a crime novel?
Jan 03, 2015
Gabby Gonzalez
marked it as wishlist
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bbc-100-books
Oct 26, 2018
Erica
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
authors-british,
authors-women
