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A review by estherdb
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
5.0
4.5 stars. What follows is a rambly review, I might clean it up at some point in time.
Loved the atmosphere, the descriptions, the tension and the character growth (for the main character) in this novel.
I didn't like the main character at first, but for all the right reasons. She was so insecure, awkward, and embarrassing that I kept wanting to grab her by the shoulders and shout at her to get her sh*t together. But the thing is, it felt as though I was supposed to feel this way about her, and it allowed for me to appreciate her growth more.
An element I did like in the protagonist, was her vivid imagination. With every step she takes, she finds herself envisioning so many "what-ifs." I found that remarkably striking and quite recognisable. I've not often come across characters who do this and it was fun to see that part of myself reflected in a fictional character.
Another huge plus for me was the setting. Manderley is this beautiful, yet never fully graspable entity. It is described in great detail (the inside and even more so the nature surrounding it), so that I could perfectly envision it. This in turn practically turned Manderley into a main character itself.
The vibes of this book are impeccable and are responsible for 4 out of the 4.5 stars I'm giving this book. The tension, the mystery, the intrigue... Loved it!
I was quite ambiguous about "women" in this book. This novel was definitely written almost a century ago. Men are the superior beings, even with this novel being dominated by Rebecca, Mrs. Danvers and our nameless narrator.
Loved the atmosphere, the descriptions, the tension and the character growth (for the main character) in this novel.
I didn't like the main character at first, but for all the right reasons. She was so insecure, awkward, and embarrassing that I kept wanting to grab her by the shoulders and shout at her to get her sh*t together. But the thing is, it felt as though I was supposed to feel this way about her, and it allowed for me to appreciate her growth more.
An element I did like in the protagonist, was her vivid imagination. With every step she takes, she finds herself envisioning so many "what-ifs." I found that remarkably striking and quite recognisable. I've not often come across characters who do this and it was fun to see that part of myself reflected in a fictional character.
Another huge plus for me was the setting. Manderley is this beautiful, yet never fully graspable entity. It is described in great detail (the inside and even more so the nature surrounding it), so that I could perfectly envision it. This in turn practically turned Manderley into a main character itself.
The vibes of this book are impeccable and are responsible for 4 out of the 4.5 stars I'm giving this book. The tension, the mystery, the intrigue... Loved it!
I was quite ambiguous about "women" in this book. This novel was definitely written almost a century ago. Men are the superior beings, even with this novel being dominated by Rebecca, Mrs. Danvers and our nameless narrator.