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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
meganrina's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Ableism, Incest, and Terminal illness
hannahsbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Rebecca is an enigma even though she is all anyone at Manderley talks about, and we gather tidbits of information as we read along and the mystery surrounding her death is fully revealed by the conclusion of the novel.
A clever decision from du Maurier was that the book is named after a deceased character, and yet our protagonist, the narrator of this tale, is never named. She is only ever referred to as Mrs de Winter or "my wife" etc, ironic as the deceased Mrs du Winter's name is so prevalently used, and her predecessors first name is never even revealed despite it being written from her perspective, prehaps to solidify the theme of feeling inadequate when she compares herself to Rebecca but is it all in her head...?
Moderate: Infidelity and Murder
Minor: Cancer
amzthebookdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer and Gun violence
Minor: Ableism, Incest, Infertility, Suicide, Dementia, and Cultural appropriation
gvstyris'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
4.25
I wondered how many people there were in the world who suffered, and continued to suffer, because they could not break out from their own web of shyness and reserve, and in their blindness and folly built up a great distorted wall in front of them that hid the truth.
Very unsure about how to rate this book. Rebecca has been on my mental TBR for years, primarily because of its enduring influence on other media I love (Gone Girl, even various Taylor Swift songs hahah), so my expectations were probably unfairly high.
And, in many ways, they were met. I loved the Gothic setting and eerie tone, as well as the slow build of tension -- although I totally get where it'll bug other readers, given how long it takes to reach any action. Manderley is almost a character in-and-of-itself, which was super compelling, and du Maurier's prose really is gorgeous. I also really admired the shift in the narrator's voice throughout the novel as she lost her youthful naivety and grew into her role of 'Mrs de Winter.'
I am glad it cannot happen twice, the fever of first love. For it is a fever, and a burden, too, whatever the poets may say.
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Incest and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, Suicide, and Terminal illness
emily_ford16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Cancer
graceheartsbooks's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cancer, Incest, and Infertility
kirstencholewa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It may have been the audio format, but was difficult at times to know when the narrator was imagining scenarios or if it was actually happening.
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
zulmiro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Dementia, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism