felici_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jannyslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
Another Grammy recommendation, and I'm all in on du Maurier's work. She's such a good writer, super atmospheric and suspenseful.
I gave five stars because I thought it was great, though not on the same masterpiece level as Rebecca, but ratings are arbitrary anyways so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Here, du Maurier flips from the other two books I've read by her, (Rebecca, Jamaica Inn), and swaps her protagonist from a naïve young woman who falls in love with a mysterious older man to an immature young man who falls in love with an enigmatic older woman. And I gotta say, that flip got my feelings all topsy turvy and worked really well in building the suspense of the story.
And the ending!!!! Fantastic.
I gave five stars because I thought it was great, though not on the same masterpiece level as Rebecca, but ratings are arbitrary anyways so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Here, du Maurier flips from the other two books I've read by her, (Rebecca, Jamaica Inn), and swaps her protagonist from a naïve young woman who falls in love with a mysterious older man to an immature young man who falls in love with an enigmatic older woman. And I gotta say, that flip got my feelings all topsy turvy and worked really well in building the suspense of the story.
And the ending!!!! Fantastic.
hopefulgoat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
I hope my mum forgives me for not giving this a higher rating.
A solid four stars, I just guess I wanted a few more gothic elements and am not that obsessed with the book.
A solid four stars, I just guess I wanted a few more gothic elements and am not that obsessed with the book.
sophiefrn's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Spoiler
Is the ending meant to be up for interpretation or am I just utterly confused??corasteffani's review against another edition
I am sure this book is wonderful and as haunting and engaging as Rebecca. But this book wasn't what I expected. This ebook is just a ridiculous abridgment. I have to read the unabridged version of the book no matter what.
kerryanndunn's review against another edition
3.0
"People who mattered not could take the humdrum world. But this was not the world, this was enchantment, and all if it was mine. I did not want it for myself alone"
I don't know, folks. I was bored by a lot of My Cousin Rachel. It's too slow in getting to the meat of the story. But my biggest complaint about this is Philip. WHY IS HE SO ENAMORED OF RACHEL??? I do not understand the insta-attraction. What is so great about her? She's wearing widow's weeds, she likes to garden, she has nice hands? The book does not show me enough between them to account for his infatuation with her. And he gives up EVERYTHING for her, despite a gazillion red flags.
I did like the gender swap where the man is convinced they will now be married because they had sex. And she's all dismissive like, um, no. That was fun.
So then it comes down to DID SHE OR DIDN'T SHE? I found myself defending Rachel in my head all the way until the end and what was inside the locked drawer. But then, as more of the ending plays out, even I was unsure. And that is the compelling thing about this story and the thing du Maurier is so good at: the tension, the doubt, the feeling that we will never know.
But I have no sympathy for Philip in the end. He was a fool.
I don't know, folks. I was bored by a lot of My Cousin Rachel. It's too slow in getting to the meat of the story. But my biggest complaint about this is Philip. WHY IS HE SO ENAMORED OF RACHEL??? I do not understand the insta-attraction. What is so great about her? She's wearing widow's weeds, she likes to garden, she has nice hands? The book does not show me enough between them to account for his infatuation with her. And he gives up EVERYTHING for her, despite a gazillion red flags.
I did like the gender swap where the man is convinced they will now be married because they had sex. And she's all dismissive like, um, no. That was fun.
So then it comes down to DID SHE OR DIDN'T SHE? I found myself defending Rachel in my head all the way until the end and what was inside the locked drawer. But then, as more of the ending plays out, even I was unsure. And that is the compelling thing about this story and the thing du Maurier is so good at: the tension, the doubt, the feeling that we will never know.
But I have no sympathy for Philip in the end. He was a fool.