_inge's review against another edition
3.0
The introduction to this short story collection hinted that this wasn’t Du Maurier’s best work, which I definitely do have to agree with. ‘The Alibi’ was really interesting and gave me food for thought, but the story why I’d bought this collection in the first place (‘The Blue Lenses’) wasn’t all that interesting. I’ve read The Rendevouz and The Birds collections by now, so maybe that’s why it didn’t manage to shock me much. I didn’t quite get ‘the Pool’ and I had to look up what a chamois is, so maybe I just didn’t ‘get’ it. But I have enjoyed her previous works and none of these were up to that same standard; the twist here was usually predictable or a bit of a letdown. Mostly just glad to have read this now.
emily_bg's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
schnauzermum's review against another edition
4.0
‘There comes a moment in the life of every individual when reality must be faced. When this happens, it is as though a link between emotion and reason is stretched to the limit of endurance, and sometimes snaps.’
The author’s note introduces eight short stories. I’d forgotten what a good writer du Maurier could be. Four of the stories (‘The Alibi’, ‘The Blue Lenses’, ‘Ganymede’ and ‘The Chamois’) are very strong, probing the complexities of the human mind. All these stories are dark and unnerving. Two stories (‘The Pool’ and ‘The Lordly Ones’) are poetic and strange. I was less impressed with ‘The Archduchess’ and ‘The Menace’, which seemed to me to be very different in mood and the effect was somewhat jarring.
I think I need to re-read some of du Maurier’s novels.
The author’s note introduces eight short stories. I’d forgotten what a good writer du Maurier could be. Four of the stories (‘The Alibi’, ‘The Blue Lenses’, ‘Ganymede’ and ‘The Chamois’) are very strong, probing the complexities of the human mind. All these stories are dark and unnerving. Two stories (‘The Pool’ and ‘The Lordly Ones’) are poetic and strange. I was less impressed with ‘The Archduchess’ and ‘The Menace’, which seemed to me to be very different in mood and the effect was somewhat jarring.
I think I need to re-read some of du Maurier’s novels.
sadie4d's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
buzzingbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
srogan88's review against another edition
3.0
The thing I both love and hate about short story collections is the unevenness of the stories contained within them.
This is only the second book I've read from Daphne du Maurier, the first being her amazing full-length novel, "Rebecca," which is one of my favorite books ever. I was so excited to discover du Maurier had written short stories!
The collection started strong. "The Alibi" is the first entry and perhaps my favorite. It set the bar high with its creepy demeanor, complex characters, and twisted ending. "The Blue Lenses" came next and while it wasn't quite my thing, it was quite other-worldly and "off" enough that I appreciated it. "Ganymede" was more my style and the plot took turns I didn't expect, which some people find frustrating but I often find satisfying. I enjoyed "The Pool" up until the end, when it sort of lost me a bit. "The Archduchess" was both very interesting and yet torturous to read at the same time, a real feat. I enjoyed "The Menace" - exploring the adaptation of a big Hollywood star to new technology while his entourage manages him so poorly brought about a rewarding ending. I didn't feel much about "The Chamois," and the final story, "The Lucky Ones," felt like it was either rushed and underdeveloped or a bit of a throwaway.
So once again, how do you rate a collection of short stories? Do you rate each individual story and take an average? Rate the feeling you have as you look back on the book, realizing you'll likely be influenced most heavily by the last story in it? Rate it based on how it held up to expectations? I'm going with 3 stars - there are two stories I would definitely read again and a third I would consider. There are a couple I would never read again. And a couple that I felt in-between about.
This is only the second book I've read from Daphne du Maurier, the first being her amazing full-length novel, "Rebecca," which is one of my favorite books ever. I was so excited to discover du Maurier had written short stories!
The collection started strong. "The Alibi" is the first entry and perhaps my favorite. It set the bar high with its creepy demeanor, complex characters, and twisted ending. "The Blue Lenses" came next and while it wasn't quite my thing, it was quite other-worldly and "off" enough that I appreciated it. "Ganymede" was more my style and the plot took turns I didn't expect, which some people find frustrating but I often find satisfying. I enjoyed "The Pool" up until the end, when it sort of lost me a bit. "The Archduchess" was both very interesting and yet torturous to read at the same time, a real feat. I enjoyed "The Menace" - exploring the adaptation of a big Hollywood star to new technology while his entourage manages him so poorly brought about a rewarding ending. I didn't feel much about "The Chamois," and the final story, "The Lucky Ones," felt like it was either rushed and underdeveloped or a bit of a throwaway.
So once again, how do you rate a collection of short stories? Do you rate each individual story and take an average? Rate the feeling you have as you look back on the book, realizing you'll likely be influenced most heavily by the last story in it? Rate it based on how it held up to expectations? I'm going with 3 stars - there are two stories I would definitely read again and a third I would consider. There are a couple I would never read again. And a couple that I felt in-between about.
tinywriter_'s review against another edition
4.0
This is a really bizarre collection of short stories, exploring and blurring the lines between health and sickness, sanity and madness. 'The Alibi' and 'The Pool' each deserve five stars. The Pool in particular, is phenomenally beautiful if nothing else. Two out of eight of the stories collected here though - The Archduchess and The Menace - I couldn't find anything particularly good about. Perhaps I'm missing something in them, but for me they somwehat ruined what was otherwise a really gorgeously written collection.
linda_edwards's review against another edition
4.0
This book contains eight short stories which I can only describe as being strange, weird, quirky, dark but also great. My favourites ones were Alibi, The Blue Lenses and The Menace.
daniela_m11's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
danisg's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5