Rebecca in Classics Without All the Class

May 14, 2011 Audrey rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: england, mystery, fiction, classics, 1930s, listens, suspense, gothic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm not really sure what to write about this. On one hand, the story did keep me interested and the writing has a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic rhythm to it. But...I really didn't care for how things turned out with the major plot twist, which subsequently caused me to lose respect for nearly all the characters. It's still an interesting book for many reasons, but it's just not one that I loved.

I never really liked Maxim much at all, and I don't see what the narrator found attractive in him. He I'm not really sure what to write about this. On one hand, the story did keep me interested and the writing has a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic rhythm to it. But...I really didn't care for how things turned out with the major plot twist, which subsequently caused me to lose respect for nearly all the characters. It's still an interesting book for many reasons, but it's just not one that I loved.

I never really liked Maxim much at all, and I don't see what the narrator found attractive in him. He belittles and laughs at her, and calls her ignorant, unintelligent, and a "child." Even when the supposed reason for this is revealed, his behavior didn't seem justified.

I went back and forth between relating to the narrator and being annoyed at her. The fact that she was shy and insecure made sense to me; the part I didn't like was how she handled the events near the end of the book. It made me feel that she must have no backbone or sense of morality at all. Instead, she was relegated to the role of a simpering, blindly-faithful jellyfish. I've read comparisons of this book to Jane Eyre, and it does share a few similarities, but I find the two novels to be more different than alike. I vastly preferred Jane Eyre for a number of reasons, the main one being how different the heroines are. Jane firmly refused to do something she knew that was not right. Her love did not overpower her reason. In Rebecca, however, the second Mrs. de Winter loves Maxim too much in the wrong way. She doesn’t have the integrity that Jane Eyre has. She will do anything for Maxim, even if it goes against her conscience: “I would fight for Maxim. I would lie and perjure and swear. I would blaspheme and pray.” To her, Maxim’s love is everything, which doesn't sound exactly healthy to me. A fallible man cannot be your whole world, no matter how much in love you are.

I saw the 1940 movie version of this a few years ago and remember liking it quite a bit. In fact, that's what motivated me to read the book. I was aware going into this that there was a major plot point which was altered in the movie, but even though I knew of this it was still shocking to read. I can only imagine how much more repulsed I would have been if I had not been familiar with the difference. (view spoiler) I also really didn't like--and wasn't expecting--all the swearing in this (God's name is repeatedly taken in vain and there are many instances of "d**n" and "h*ll" and that sort of thing).

Although some people characterize this as a romance, to me it's not very romantic at all. I see it more as an examination of neurosis, obsession, deception, and corruption. Even though I can't say I really liked this book, I will admit that the last third or so of the book was quite suspenseful, and that the writing was unique.

P.S. I do wonder whatever happened to good ol' Frank...and the estate...and Mrs. Danvers?

I liked Lindsay's review of this book here (scroll down to the bottom); she conveys almost exactly what I feel about this story.

**I listened to this on an audio book version narrated by Anna Massey (Raymond Massey’s daughter), who also played Mrs. Danvers in a 1979 TV movie adaptation.** ...more

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