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jocelyn62013's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, and Gun violence
lk_mcgrewski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It’s giving Walmart Jane Eyre
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt
ratnix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Rebecca has won. In fact, she had already won before even her murder took place, even before the nameless heroine meets Max, even before the narrative begins.
Mrs. Danvers is a scion of Rebecca, she is there to continue her influence on Manderley and even she has lost to Rebecca, though she does not see it; her full allegiance to Rebecca has subjected her to a kind of monstrification fuelled by her hate for both the heroine and Max.
Rebecca not only haunts the narrative, she takes full control of it by creating and enhancing the heroine's insecurities, plaguing her with nightmares of Manderley even after the events of the book have taken place [as the first line of the book suggests] and of Rebecca herself, by unintentionally turning Mrs. Danvers into a loyal servant willing to drive the nameless heroine into committing suicide, by haunting Max's reality.
Rebecca's rage at Max's convenient escape from being imprisoned for his crime is seen in the fire of the mansion. You can almost hear her scream Manderley will go down just like I did, but I will always be there
So, yes. Rebecca has won.
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming and Cancer
graceheartsbooks's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cancer, Incest, and Infertility
readingduckling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I will definitely read it again, maybe the rating will be better then, but for now I think 4 stars are fitting.
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Infertility, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
stavoosh's review against another edition
4.25
We follow an unnamed narrator who serves as a young companion to a bitter old woman and falls in love with the mysterious Manderley estate owner, Maxim de Winter. From the beginning, she compares her "gaucherie" to his late wife, Rebecca's, sophistication. The story unfolds as the narrator tries to find her place in Manderley and has trouble taking on the role of a wife and lady of the house because of her inexperience and their large age gap.
Daphne du Maurier is a talented writer. The setting of Manderley seems to come right off the page and the motifs/symbolism interwoven throughout the setting is worth the read. I know that she actually based the setting on an estate she rented, which is obvious with how the descriptions seem cinematic.
Although the book begins with the aftermath of the story, reaching the end after a long journey almost reinforces the surprise. I can completely understand how this is a gothic classic. I think heavy critique of this book fails to consider that it was published in 1938 and therefore, it has thrilling aspects that are creepy but not as freaky as they would've been had it been written today. I did find it boring at times and lacking the seed of mystery that usually carries you through a thriller. If I hadn't known this book had a creepy factor to it, the gothic aspect would've completely gone over my head until the <i>window incident</i>. The story definitely picked up the pace towards the last third and had me coming up with crazy theories
Would definitely recommend, especially to people who prefer subtle thrillers that aren't too explicit and are more creepy than scary. Also the writing is study-worthy!
Moderate: Death and Suicide attempt
kurumipanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Cancer, Incest, Terminal illness, Dementia, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation
mylou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
yellow_minotaur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest
strawb3rrysugar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder
Minor: Ableism
Mrs. Danvers tries to get the narrator to kill herself in one chapter. A disabled character named Ben is described in many derogatory ways, and says he's afraid of being sent to an asylum.