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pikusonali's review against another edition
5.0
Last night I dreamt I was 19 again. At 19 I had mastered the art of finding torrents to download movies, particularly old movies and bingeing on them every night. One of the first movies I had downloaded was Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. I had only heard about Hitchcock until then but once I tasted what was on offer, I was hooked. Psycho followed, then the TV series 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and finally I was able to lay my hands on Rebecca.
For someone like me, who grew up on a healthy diet of English Classics, I was surprised to learn that Rebecca was based on a novel by a certain Daphne du Maurier. Unfortunately, this was not a fact I learned when I watched the movie but a few years later when my choice of books became more cautious and refined. I had no idea of who du Maurier was. I had liked Rebecca because of Hitchcock but I was wary of trying out the book despite its many favourable reviews.
I only picked up the book a few days ago when my best friend expressed a desire to read it. He was equally surprised to know I had never read this cult classic. My best friend and I, we are pretty similar. It felt safe to try out reading Rebecca with him and I knew if we didn't enjoy the book, we could abandon it with little to no guilt. We have read books together before, we have watched movies and TV series together, and we have abandoned the stuff together if we didn't find it interesting. It's nice to have a partner-in-crime, someone who has similar tastes and does not think it is necessary to 'like' something only because half of the world celebrates its awesomeness.
I had come across the first sentence of the novel so many times but I had always failed to understand its significance. When I read the first chapter, which just describes a dream the narrator is having, it was still difficult to gauge Manderley's importance in the story. I had seen the movie only once, a long time ago. I remembered the basic outline of the plot but reading a book is very different from watching a movie. Reading requires intense concentration. It compels your imagination to conjure up things from words. You entirely rely on the author to drive your mind to breathe life into structures and people you read about. I had to find out more about Manderley.
The second chapter was not related to Manderley at all and by the time I finished it I wasn't any wiser. Things were a bit confusing. But, not even once, did I feel like abandoning the book at any juncture. du Maurier has a way with words and her rich prose was addictive. The third chapter set things in motion. Starting with the background of the narrator, the story then moved in a linear fashion introducing us to Maxim de Winter, the Lord of Manderley, his marriage proposal to a girl half his age (the narrator), slowly establishing the setting and introducing us to Rebecca, a character which never appears, a character which exists through her memories yet influences an entire course of events.
The book is gripping and moves at a perfect pace, not too fast, not too slow. The strength of the book is not only its setting but also in its characters. All of them are well-etched and developed. Even a character like Rebecca is personified flawlessly. She is dead but you don't miss her at all while reading the book. The story builds up to a stunning finale. You are on the edge of your seat while reading the last 4 chapters and the conclusion finally makes you see sense in the first two chapters. All pieces fall in place and you eventually accept du Maurier's brilliance in crafting a spell-binding story.
I don't regret reading Rebecca so late. It is never too late to discover something wonderful. I think I'll read it again even though I know all its secrets now. Perhaps, I'll read it for that exact reason.
For someone like me, who grew up on a healthy diet of English Classics, I was surprised to learn that Rebecca was based on a novel by a certain Daphne du Maurier. Unfortunately, this was not a fact I learned when I watched the movie but a few years later when my choice of books became more cautious and refined. I had no idea of who du Maurier was. I had liked Rebecca because of Hitchcock but I was wary of trying out the book despite its many favourable reviews.
I only picked up the book a few days ago when my best friend expressed a desire to read it. He was equally surprised to know I had never read this cult classic. My best friend and I, we are pretty similar. It felt safe to try out reading Rebecca with him and I knew if we didn't enjoy the book, we could abandon it with little to no guilt. We have read books together before, we have watched movies and TV series together, and we have abandoned the stuff together if we didn't find it interesting. It's nice to have a partner-in-crime, someone who has similar tastes and does not think it is necessary to 'like' something only because half of the world celebrates its awesomeness.
I had come across the first sentence of the novel so many times but I had always failed to understand its significance. When I read the first chapter, which just describes a dream the narrator is having, it was still difficult to gauge Manderley's importance in the story. I had seen the movie only once, a long time ago. I remembered the basic outline of the plot but reading a book is very different from watching a movie. Reading requires intense concentration. It compels your imagination to conjure up things from words. You entirely rely on the author to drive your mind to breathe life into structures and people you read about. I had to find out more about Manderley.
The second chapter was not related to Manderley at all and by the time I finished it I wasn't any wiser. Things were a bit confusing. But, not even once, did I feel like abandoning the book at any juncture. du Maurier has a way with words and her rich prose was addictive. The third chapter set things in motion. Starting with the background of the narrator, the story then moved in a linear fashion introducing us to Maxim de Winter, the Lord of Manderley, his marriage proposal to a girl half his age (the narrator), slowly establishing the setting and introducing us to Rebecca, a character which never appears, a character which exists through her memories yet influences an entire course of events.
The book is gripping and moves at a perfect pace, not too fast, not too slow. The strength of the book is not only its setting but also in its characters. All of them are well-etched and developed. Even a character like Rebecca is personified flawlessly. She is dead but you don't miss her at all while reading the book. The story builds up to a stunning finale. You are on the edge of your seat while reading the last 4 chapters and the conclusion finally makes you see sense in the first two chapters. All pieces fall in place and you eventually accept du Maurier's brilliance in crafting a spell-binding story.
I don't regret reading Rebecca so late. It is never too late to discover something wonderful. I think I'll read it again even though I know all its secrets now. Perhaps, I'll read it for that exact reason.
angie6's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kimbongiorno's review against another edition
4.0
The writing/description is beautiful, but I didn't fall in love with this one as much as so many insisted I would. I'd say it's 3.5 stars for me. Maybe just not quite the right read for me right now?
cpksheri's review against another edition
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
theforestofarden's review against another edition
4.0
Um, this was SO good and enjoyable? Why didn't I read it sooner? Why wasn't it assigned in school? I have so many essay ideas. This was perfect reading for the miserably hot and humid start to August.
mollboon's review against another edition
5.0
My mom has been telling me to read this book for ages and I wish I had read it sooner!! Loved the classic writing style and the storyline and everything. 10/10
boilergeezer's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
first quarter is really stunning and sets such high expectations that the rest of the book kinda squashes through its pacing, characters, and repetitive bore
andyblv's review against another edition
5.0
Suffocating atmospherics. A narrator who sees very little of the big picture. We learn as she does what is happening in the story. Manderly, the de Winter estate, has seen its share of tragedy. Mrs. Danvers projects steely, icy resolve. Mrs. de Winter attempts to make sense of a new, glamorous world. And everyone is touched by their association with Rebecca.