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aka_neri's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the book, I liked that uneasy feeling, that something bad will happen. I liked the twists and turns that the story line took. It's 4.5 book for me.
starly1217's review against another edition
5.0
Dark page turner, I found myself distressingly supportive of the husband character and protagonist in the conclusion.
listener15's review against another edition
5.0
Read for Bookriot's Read Harder challenge to read a book I've read before. Loved this book then, love it now. The narrator, Anna Massey, was great (though my download has audio problems) and I'm throughly glad I chose this one to reread.
stinky_lo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
The horrors of first love.
carrieann618's review against another edition
5.0
“I believe there is a theory that men and women emerge finer and stronger after suffering, and that to advance in this or any world we must endure ordeal by fire.”
em1066's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hollowman777's review against another edition
4.0
A gothic tale in the truest sense of the word. The story involves deceit, manipulation, jealousy, and the rigors of a marriage absent of love. This book is an all-time classic from beginning to end. Here is the opening passage that sets the tempo for the entire story:
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again... I came upon it suddenly; the approach masked by the unnatural growth of a vast shrub that spread in all directions... There was Manderley, our Manderley, secretive and silent as it had always been, the gray stone shining in the moonlight of my dream, the mullioned windows reflecting the green lawns and terrace. Time could not wreck the perfect symmetry of those walls, nor the site itself, a jewel in the hollow of a hand.
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again... I came upon it suddenly; the approach masked by the unnatural growth of a vast shrub that spread in all directions... There was Manderley, our Manderley, secretive and silent as it had always been, the gray stone shining in the moonlight of my dream, the mullioned windows reflecting the green lawns and terrace. Time could not wreck the perfect symmetry of those walls, nor the site itself, a jewel in the hollow of a hand.
mirame's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read anything this good for a long time! Fantastic read...great writing, good story. Du Maurier can really set the atmosphere and describe human emotion. This was the first book I read from this author and it won't be the last.
kliukaite_v's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mrscoady's review against another edition
5.0
I chose this book because it was mentioned as one of the titles in The Reading List, and I thought I should probably be familiar with this classic gothic novel. Shortly after starting it, I was reading The Hacienda, which is often compared to this book, or more aptly, a combination of Rebecca and Mexican Gothic. Although I am not a fan of the latter, I did thoroughly enjoy The Hacienda and am a fan of the classic gothic novel Jane Eyre; therefore, I decided this one might have a chance.
The story started out slowly, and since it begins at the end, I was a bit confused. However, I read some summaries about the opening online and was quickly on board and pulled into the story. Much like other classic novels, this one has a ton of description and backstory. At times this was a bit much, but it also allowed me to zone out of the audio and still be able to maintain the gist of the story.
I am not sure what to make of the ending, but after reflecting on the opening and what was happening in the future, I suppose it makes sense. I was just hoping for a more solid conclusion rather than the open-ended way it left the reader wondering what would become of the characters.
In 2020, Netflix made a movie of this story with some heavy-hitting actors playing in it, and I am eager to watch this and see the story brought to life. I know that the character Rebecca herself will not be a prominent role physically, but she will still be a haunting influence on the story and all the characters involved.
The story started out slowly, and since it begins at the end, I was a bit confused. However, I read some summaries about the opening online and was quickly on board and pulled into the story. Much like other classic novels, this one has a ton of description and backstory. At times this was a bit much, but it also allowed me to zone out of the audio and still be able to maintain the gist of the story.
I am not sure what to make of the ending, but after reflecting on the opening and what was happening in the future, I suppose it makes sense. I was just hoping for a more solid conclusion rather than the open-ended way it left the reader wondering what would become of the characters.
In 2020, Netflix made a movie of this story with some heavy-hitting actors playing in it, and I am eager to watch this and see the story brought to life. I know that the character Rebecca herself will not be a prominent role physically, but she will still be a haunting influence on the story and all the characters involved.