Oct/ Nov 2015 Group Read Selection - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

[Bill]

I love the ongoing discussion. As a tip, if you want to spoiler your comments so you don't affect those who haven't finished the book yet, just click on the (some html is ok) tab at the top of this box and it will let you know how to do that. Keep the discussion coming.

[Feliks]

well..but I think its human nature to be unable to resist the urge just to ...click..on..anything that is ...hidden. Its a reflex. Against my usual inclination--and later, much to my regret-- I've often found it irresistible to 'just take a peek' at spoilers on GR...be ware!

You might not believe it but, (view spoiler)[ see what did I tell ya? (hide spoiler)] and then what happened to me one other time was (view spoiler)[ my goodness, what a nosy parker you are! (hide spoiler)] and trust me, I was mortified. The girl's dress was ruined. Later, when the police showed up, I told them we (view spoiler)[ will you stop already?!? shame on you! (hide spoiler)] met on the docks

[Chris]

I refuse to do it! But you're right... it is incredibly tempting. Just finished chapter 16. Not sure if I'll get to go any further today. It's the absolute worst place to have to stop so far, that's for sure.

[Feliks]

you have admirable self-control!

[Feliks]

of course, if we do something like this

SPOILER For Chapter 16 - DON'T READ IT!!! This-means-YOU!(view spoiler)[son, I done told you not to read it... (hide spoiler)] maybe that's more effective...

[Chris]

lol. That would be a bit better... though then we are still having to trust that the commenter will stick to what they are claiming. :)

[Feliks]

A good question to ask is what is DuMaurier doing --in her writing style--which makes her stand out so far ahead of all the later authors who followed in her wake and seek to compete with her?

I recall very 'visual' passages. A lot of attention paid to the attire of characters, the setting of the rooms and grounds; along with the running narrative of how the girl 'feels about' every little thing she sees and hears. But other authors do this as well. Why is 'Rebecca' so much better?

[Chris]

Feliks wrote: "A good question to ask is what is DuMaurier doing --in her writing style--which makes her stand out so far ahead of all the later authors who followed in her wake and seek to compete with her?

I r..."

It doesn't feel tedious in Rebecca. She definitely has a way with words. I don't know how she does it. I'm sure the 1st person narrative helps at least with this one. I haven't read any others to know what they are like.

[Chris]

Just finished the book. Really an incredible piece of work. I had to reread the first chapter when I was done. Almost makes me want to start the whole thing over again.

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

What a great thread! I am new to this group. Saw you all were reading Rebecca tonight and peaked in. This book is on my top 10. I read it a long time ago. I also saw the movie. Which I loved. I actually saw the movie first and loved it so much I went looking for the book at a used bookstore. I also got The House on the Strand and My Cousin Rachel that day. I haven't read them yet but I sure want to. I did read Jamaica Inn recently and didn't like it nearly as well as Rebecca. I saw the Hitchcock film is available for viewing on Amazon Prime and watched a little of it. I would like to see the newer BBC version but can't seem to locate a copy of it. Just wanted to say hello. You all make me wanna jump in and read the book again along with you. I have a number of reads going on right now but I will keep checking in here to see what you all think of Rebecca. I'm def. itching to see the movie again.

[Feliks]

Ken Follett paid a nice homage to the tale with his WWII espionage novel, 'The Key to Rebecca'.

But as is usual with Follett, he based his thriller on true-life events. There *was* a cunning Nazi spy roving around Cairo in 1942--and the codebook he used to encrypt his messages was, indeed-- Daphne DuMaurier's 'Rebecca'

Fun fact!

[Cynthia]

I just received my copy of Rebecca and will began n reading tonight. I know I have some catching up to do. Where do I find the reading schedule?

[Sue]

The_Paperback_Peruser wrote: "Hi Chris, i think, after the book you must watch the Hitchcock movie!:) The picturization is in sync with the novel. At least the beginning part. I've seen the movie but not read the book yet. Hope..."

The movie version of this book is excellent. I also like the British TV adaptation done in 1997 with Charles Dance, Emilia Fox, Diana Rigg and Faye Dunaway. I read that Germany have done a musical of this book. I read that Hitchcock was quite dismissive of the longevity of 'Rebecca'. This storyline is so much like 'Jane Eyre'

I wish in school, whilst I we did read 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and 'A Town Like Alice' we had opportunites to read classics from authors Jane Austen or Daphnne du Mariner.

[Sue]

Feliks wrote: "The thing about 'Rebecca' is that it's not just about 'Rebecca'. What reading it does is spur you on to explore all the rest of the author's fascinating works. DuMaurier's style is so poised, and c..."

I have finally read/listened to my first du Marnier book so I hoping it will spur me on to read her other works. I am especially keen to read 'My Cousin Rachel' after half watching the TV drama to which I did not see the ending and am left with the question 'Was Rachel a poisoner?' Also I have half watched the film and tv series 'Jamaica Inn' so I am also keen to read or listen to this one as well.

[Sue]

I can see why people would see the second Mrs de Winters in a poor light, I thought she was sweet, naive, innocent, just wanted to love and be loved.

I think what we feel, well I definately felt a sense of frustation that Mrs de Winters 2 was not for a very long time able to exert her authority. Most of us don't live in big houses now but I can identify with Ms de Winters 2 in that I am a registered nurse so I am middle level colleague and I know if I go to work somewhere new I would often just let some comments and actions slide from lesser qualified staff because I am just settling in and getting the lay of the land until I am able to assert my authority.

[Sue]

Mary wrote: "I love the movie too Frank. I also love Olivier. They changed the ending for Hollywood but that's fine with me."

I was quite surprised by the abrupt ending of the book compared to the TV series and film.

[Zoe]

Thank you ^^ sue that is exactly how I felt with the character I loved the whole story I just felt let down by the second Mrs de winters but looking back on it now I feel I may have been to harsh in my criticisms.

[Sue]

Chris wrote: "I'm on chapter 12 and am finding it hard to put down. There is a tension being built and at this point I really feel for the unnamed heroine. It's funny, I had been avoiding this thread because I d..."

I thought it was quite cool not give a first name to the heroine and for a long time I thought her name was also 'Rebecca' the same and Maxim first wife.

I wonder what anyone else thinks of the heroines first name and surname not being revealed in the novel?

[Sue]

I have heard that 'Electra Complex' can be applied to this novel?

I have heard of the Odepius complex which I had interpreted as a boy subconsciously wants to sleep with his mother which manifest in him being attracted to older women. But it is a boy wants to kill his father in order to marry his mother and the polar opposite is a girl wants to kill her mother to marry her father the 'Electra Complex'

How well does the Electra Complex apply to this novel?

[Zoe]

Mary wrote: "I don't see it in this book. The obsessive one in this story is Mrs. Danvers. I think her obsession with a younger dead woman is another kind of complex. I wonder if psychiatry has a name for that?..."

I agree with you, its definitely not electra complex its obsession and the idea that you are inheriting dead mans (woman's in this case) shoes (mainly marriage and wealth) and I find it interesting that for me the best character portrayal in this is Mrs Danvers her obsession and misplaced loyalty are called into question not by someone stronger but by a modest shy almost retiring women which makes Mrs Danvers turn, in a way, mad.

[Sue]

Mary wrote: "I don't see it in this book. The obsessive one in this story is Mrs. Danvers. I think her obsession with a younger dead woman is another kind of complex. I wonder if psychiatry has a name for that?..."

From what I understand of the 'Electra Complex' the girl/Mrs DeWinter has to metaphorically kill/get rid of mother figures/older women in order to have the HEA with the father figure/Maxim.

The first mother figure to be dispensed with is Mrs Hopper and the girl subconsiously get Maxim to dispense with her, very easily in fact.

The second mother/older woman to dispensed with is 'Rebecca' even though she is dead she is a much harder figure to kill. Rebecca is harder to kill because she seems to be on some high pedestal, Maxim does not talk about her and Mrs Danvers seems to be keeping her alive e.g. the nightdress on the bed etc. I also feel Mrs Danvers is another older woman to be dispensed with as she is keeping 'Rebecca' metaphorically alive.

It is only when we know Rebecca true character that she is killed.

[Chris]

Definitely some sort of sickness. Mrs. Danvers obsession (view spoiler)[becomes all the more twisted when you think about the kind of person Rebecca really was. It's not that Mrs. Danvers knows this, but that she relishes in it. It seems to be the driving force behind her obsession.

It's towards the end when Favell is seeking Mrs. Danvers testimony to the fact that he and Rebecca were lovers. Mrs. Danvers turns on him just as Rebecca would have done and lets him know just what Rebecca thought of him and every other man she played with. Danvers seems to get a kick out of it just as much as Rebecca did. She worships her for it. (hide spoiler)]

On another note my wife and I watched the movie last night and I was so disappointed. I think my problem with the screen is that everything is so much more disjointed and it's like you're watching the book in fast-forward. I always feel that way when I watch movies after reading the book. It makes sense of course when you think about the nature of the medium.

Still, I think the book was well represented. It didn't adjust the plot much except for a few places and how the ending comes about but even a lot of the dialogue was used directly from the book and that is to its credit.

[Chris]

Mary wrote: "This is a case where I wonder who inspired a character. Was Mrs. Danvers an invented character? I hope Daphne Du Maurier didn't actually know someone like her!"

Not a comforting thought if she did :)

[Sue]

It was surprising to me how Rebecca died in the book because I thought it was going to be how it was portrayed in the movie and I prefered the movie death more. I did not know about the Hollywood Hays Code and that was interesting to read about.

Do you think Max was push/goaded to do what he did in the boat house with Rebecca?

[Feliks]

Oh my god, fix those spoilers

post 92 and post 93. no need for that at all.

several folks are just *starting* the book, they said so.

positively criminal!

[VickiLee]

I first read this novel when I was very young (which was back in the days of black and white television!)and du Maurier's novels had a tremendous impact on me. While rereading this book, I began to recognize that my love of lofty language originated in the books I was reading as a teenager. I was not always verbally eloquent but I loved the gothic romance feel of novels like this (and those of writers such as Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart).

In Rebecca, it was characters like the second Mrs. DeWinter, the poor, downtrodden young woman who finds herself loved by a powerful, rich man that fueled my adolescent fantasies. I hope people are enjoying their experience of this novel.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Mary wrote: "My generic ipad thing won't work with the spoiler symbols but I posted a warning. I deleted my posts and I'm bowing out of the discussion. :)"

Mary, that's just wrong. Get back in here and discuss.

Feliks -- I don't mean to be rude, but you're not even the moderator of this discussion, so please stop bullying the people who are reading it with your snarky comments on spoilers. It is a simple matter of courtesy -- if, for example, I was just starting the book now and didn't want to see any plot points revealed, I would expect to be able to skim over the thread confident that I wouldn't see anything that might ruin things. Now someone has actually left the group because of your comments -- Please, Feliks, please just play nice. Thank you.

Vickie Lee -- message received & into the hands of the other moderators for consideration.

[Cynthia]

I'm trying to understand how this works. Is there a reading schedule for the book we're discussing?

[Cynthia]

So we're reading the book now and discussing it later?

[Chris]

I don't think there is a reading schedule. The dates for the reading/discussion are for 10/15-11/15. If I understand right, the one who nominates the book gets to guide the discussion.

I would say as for now, the discussion is ongoing. This is my first for the group. The other book that's selected is Karen Slaughter's Pretty Girls and there is a separate thread for that discussion.

[Jan C]

There is no reading schedule. We pick a book for a month - we read it during that month (hopefully) and discuss it that month. Should you finish that book later you can always come back to the discussion because the thread is never closed, although it may be archived.

This group picks the book in the middle of the month. But no set reading schedule.

[Cynthia]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm up to chapter 13 and enjoying the book!

[The_Paperback_Peruser]

Just finished this book! This book certainly goes in my top 5 list! This is definitely one of the best works of literature out there. I'm so glad I selected this book. I've seen the Hitchcock movie more times than I can count, and yet this story was a whole new experience. Well done, Du Maurier!

[The_Paperback_Peruser]

Cynthia wrote: "Thanks for the feedback. I'm up to chapter 13 and enjoying the book!"

Cynthia, I'm glad you're enjoying this book! Like Chris mentioned earlier, and I agree with him,- Chapter 12 to 15 are nail-biting chapters.

[Chris]

The_Paperback_Peruser wrote: "Just finished this book! This book certainly goes in my top 5 list! This is definitely one of the best works of literature out there. I'm so glad I selected this book. I've seen the Hitchcock movie..."

Glad you got to finish it! I haven't stopped thinking about it since completing it a few days ago. I think it's definitely in my top handful of books as well. One of those that lends itself to rereading every so often.

[Moonlight]

Du Maurier certainly knows how to build tension. After Rebecca, I read My Cousin Rachael and Scapegoat. I liked them both but Scapegoat was my favorite of the two (Rebecca was my favorite). Like Rebecca, the tension just grows in Scapegoat. :)

[Feliks]

the party scene--probably the key sequence in the book, yes or no?

[Chris]

Feliks wrote: "the party scene--probably the key sequence in the book, yes or no?"

I think so. Not really spoiler but if you haven't gotten there yet...(view spoiler)[ did it seem obvious to anybody else what was happening? This was the one time I thought the naivete of the narrator really showed.

But I'm reluctant to be too hard on her here either. It could be that the desire for Mrs. D's approval clouded her judgment. (hide spoiler)]

[Barbara]

Feliks wrote: "the party scene--probably the key sequence in the book, yes or no?"

It did open the narrator's eyes so she was more aware of what was going on.

[Feliks]

Well but let's not forget that a lot of women are exactly that way. Breezy, entertaining, and ornamental. Just as much then, as now. Not sure he can really be faulted for assuming lack of intelligence on her part; he redeems himself at least for appreciating it after it was made known to him.

[Feliks]

Not exactly Nora from 'A Doll's House' yeah

[The_Paperback_Peruser]

Well but let's not forget that a lot of women are exactly that way. Breezy, entertaining, and ornamental. Just as much then, as now.

Aww come on! You were doing so good until now. I don't know whether I should be sad or offended.

[Sue]

Mary wrote: "She was pretty thick but Max liked her to be ignorant. He basically told her that, right before he told her to be a good girl and eat her peaches. I don't know how she could stand him. She left one..."

I thought Mrs DeWinters 2 was a person without guile she must have been a refreshing change to Rebecca, I can understand Maxim attraction to her.

[Sue]

I think if Maxim wanted Mrs DeWinters 2 to stay childlike he should never of married her and let her stay as a companion. Mrs DeWinters 2 loses her childlike innonence by association and rapidly when she has spent some time at Manderley and it is only completely lost with Maxim's confession, it is only then she is his equal.

I think we are different things to different people sometimes we are the child and sometimes we are the parent and Maxim does demonstrate himself as fatherly figure most of the time to Mrs DeWinters 2.

[Bill]

I think he wanted someone who was totally unlike his ex-wife, who was controlling, domineering and basically quite evil. The new missus was a refreshing change.

[Sue]

Bill wrote: "I think he wanted someone who was totally unlike his ex-wife, who was controlling, domineering and basically quite evil. The new missus was a refreshing change."

Maxim must have had some sort of peace rather torment.

[Feliks]

The_Paperback_Peruser wrote: "Aww come on! You were doing so good until now. I don't know whe..."

I have just as bad --or worse-- aspersions to cast upon my own gender, so I'm not at all ashamed.
I'm just not a believer in the 'we are all unique incredible snowflakes' theory. A cad is a cad. A bounder is a bounder. [What do you do with cads and bounders? Set the dogs on 'em!]

Anyway, I don't think it is an aspersion anyway. Just an observation. Observing human nature still takes priority over mincing-one's-words or being cowardly-PC (thankfully so).

[Chris]

I think it would be wise to go back and read chapter 2. Remember that the story starts in the present for the narrator and then looks back. Their situation now is what should be thought of, I would think.

[Chris]

Mary wrote: "They're still a very dysfunctional couple."

I agree completely, but I think their roles have actually reversed to some degree.

[Feliks]

I'd agree with that. Once Maxim is forced to the point of divulging his secrets and dropping his charade, he becomes less sure of himself, less poised, and more needy of approval.