Rebecca

Rating:
Summary: Classic Romance for every reader
Review: I've given this book four, rather than five stars because I haven't read many books which I thought were perfect. Even this one has its flaws (such as a rather pedestrian narrative style). But those flaws are minor in comparison to the truly compelling characters and gripping tale woven by Du Maurier. I only just recently read this for the first time and I was surprised to find that it was a much better read than I thought it would be. I love the Hitchcock movie and was worried that the book wouldn't be as good, but boy was I wrong! The suspense is chilling from the moment the new Mrs. De Winter arrives at Manderley. Du Maurier's greatest achievement is to have created a narrator who is so young and inexperienced that Rebecca (who of couse is never present in the novel) seems more alive than our heroine! In a way, the heroine (who remains unnamed, in what must be one of the master strokes of the novel) becomes more interesting as she, like Mrs. Danvers, becomes more and more obsessed with the dead Rebecca. The slight hint of a lesbian attachment between Rebecca and "Danny" adds spice to the otherwise conventional romance aspect of the novel. In fact, I found this story interesting as a tale of intimate relationships between women - even Maxim, the main male in the book fades into the background as Rebecca beomes more prominent in everyone's memory. I could not put this down and was glad to find that I liked it as much as the movie!

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant masterpiece that satisfies till the end!
Review: When I found this book at a local book-shop, I had not expected the brilliance inside the poetic pages. Decieving plots and characters littered the many words that deprived the reader of sense with the beauty of the novel.

The nameless narrator arrives at Manderly, with a brief and secretive husband, Maxim de Winter. Yet the narrater, so shy and naive, feels out of place at the enchanted home, empty now and odd as the late Mrs. de Winter, Rebecca, had already left her mark of impressiojn upon everyone ever setting foot in Manderly.

The servant of Rebecca, potently loyal Mrs. Danvers, is the main nemisis. Using her and many of the other servants, Daphne du Maurier creats a stunning picture of Rebecca just from the emotions shown of these people, though Rebecca has beern dead through the book.

After strange and cruel unwelcomings, the naiuve narrater finds herself prior to the deciete of Mrs. Danvers and the evil yet devoted Mr. Favell, cousin of Rebecca. When a random yet plotted string of events takes place that hurts the narrater to the core. Yet further breaking points in Maxim and Mrs. Danvers releasing important clues that bring Maxim closer to the narrater and building confidence against Mrs. Danvers.

As her confidence grows stronger and love more profound, she discovers something that will change her life forevert--as th secrets of Rebecca unravel...

This book is slow in the beginning, but patient readers will find that the book is brilliantly written andpersonally, almost creepy. Myself, you will find that every spare moment not withthe book, you will be thiking of Rebecca...

Rating:
Summary: Gripping
Review: This book was so good that the only disappointment came once I turned the last page. The characters were well crafted and the plot was engaging enough that I read the book in a few sittings, unable to resist the pull of what would happen next. There are many twists and turns that the author brings into the story and even the last line was a surprise.

I would recommend this book highly to even the most intellectual of readers.

Rating:
Summary: Truly A Classic
Review: This book was recommended to me several times before I broke down and read it. I am a lover of classic films, yet this is one that I had never seen, for some unknown reason. A good friend suggested that I read the book to truly enjoy the story to its fullest. And boy, was she right.

Although not my usual genre of choice, this is a true classic. The main character, the 'second Mrs. Dewinter' is a simple girl, swept up in a romance with a rich widower while she is on vacation as companion to a pushy, well to do woman. She leaves her employer to marry Max DeWinter, not anticipating all this union entails for her.

She is drawn into the shadow of Rebecca, the first Mrs. DeWinter, and fights to measure up, and to retain her sanity in Max and Rebecca's home, Manderley.

Not helping matters at all is Mrs. Danvers, a maid of sorts, who was utterly devoted to Rebecca, and bitterly resents the appearance of this plain, uneducated, unrefined girl trying desperately to fill the void left in the house when Rebecca died suddenly, under mysterious circumstances.

The second Mrs. DeWinter, never referred to by name, finds herself fighting to find her own place at Manderley, and in Max's heart, as well as seeking the approval of Mrs. Danvers and the other household servants, and Rebecca's friends and relatives, as she slowly comes to the realization that not all was as it seemed with Max and Rebecca, and the grounds of Manderley are the burial place of many secrets, perhaps better left undisturbed.

This is a wonderful story, full of colorful and engaging characters, and one of the best of the more 'modern' classics in 1900's literature.

Rating:
Summary: An All-Time Classic
Review: This book is one of the all-time greatest works of fiction, combining suspense, romance, and character development, all wrapped up in a mystery that is literally not resolved until the last page.

Modern readers should treat this story as a period piece of sorts; American readers in particular should bear in mind the differences between British and American cultures, and also the historical differences (Rebecca was published in 1938), otherwise they are apt to find the story 'slow' or 'dull.'

Like any great mystery writer, du Maurier throws out subtle clues in the first third of the story; about halfway through, she begins to resolve these clues, and from then on, the story races at full steam. *Don't let* the seemingly slow introduction stop you from finishing the book; patient readers will be well- rewarded when they see how brilliantly du Maurier sets up her surprises.

The story revolves around the unusual marriage of the young, unworldly narrator (whose first name is never revealed, one of the book's charming idiosyncrasies)to the brooding 'landed gentleman,' Maxim de Winter. When she arrives at his grand country manor, Manderly (the house is perhaps the book's most potent character), she is immediately confronted by the other characters' feelings about Rebecca, Maxim de Winter's flamboyant late wife.

Perhaps du Maurier's greatest accomplishment, character-wise, is the way she develops Rebecca, who is already dead when the main action of the story begins, and never really appears 'on-screen,' so to speak. Rebecca is very much alive in the memories of Maxim, the house servants, friends and family members, but most crucially, of her personal maid, Mrs. Danvers (and also of Rebecca's sleazy cousin, Jack Favel). It is Mrs. Danvers who becomes the greatest nemesis of the narrator, and who makes the frightened young woman feel utterly unwanted and unloved in her new home. If Rebecca truly does haunt Manderly, Mrs. Danvers is her conduit to the world of the living.

After a treacherous episode that almost brings the narrator to the breaking point, a string of coincidences alters everything; the narrator learns the truth about what turns out to be a lot of mistaken assumptions. In the process, she herself grows into a far more confident person. The last quarter of the story is an absolute masterpiece, as the action takes one turn, then another, then another. And even when it seems that all the clues have been resolved, du Maurier saves one last whammy for the final page.

I first read this book twenty years ago, and it made more of an impression on me than just about anything else I've read since. I re-read it from time to time, and gain a new insight with every perusal.

In short, Rebecca is a wonderful, wonderful novel, and not to be missed. I can't recommend it highly enough-- read it, linger over it, enjoy it, and read it again. It's a true literary achievement.

Rating:
Summary: Review for Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Review: I thought this was a pretty average book. It could have been a lot better. I didn't get into it after the first 150 pages because it was extremely boring and there were a lot of random things written in it that didn't need to be in the book because they didn't add to it at all. I skipped a lot of paragraphs and even whole pages because I couldn't stand how boring it was. But as it went on it got a lot better and I became much more interested. It was a good story and must have taken a lot of thought to write. But once in a while it was confusing and I sometimes had no idea what was going on. But overall, I think that I liked it because it really wasn't too bad and I would have given it a five-star rating if it only was more interesting in the beginning.

Rating:
Summary: Rebecca
Review: Rebecca is the riveting and romantic tale of a country girl, trying to fill the shoes of a deceased goddess. The story takes place at Manderley, a beautiful mansion over looking an English bay. Rebecca, an elegant mistress, has recently died and her widow, Maxim, decides to remarry. He marries the narrator of our story who is a shy, simple girl now placed in the spotlight by the well-loved deWinter reputation. She must battle the previous standards set by Rebecca and her known way of life. At times she is frustrated to the point of tears, not thinking she fits in. She discovers shocking truths and an abrupt turn of events changes everything. du Maurier does a wonderful job of leaving surprises at every corner, and keeping suspense until the last page. Although the introduction and some of the descriptions tend to be tedious, don't let yourself put down the book. The characters are charming and the events breathless. Rebecca lives up to its reputation as an all-time classic, which should be savored until the very end.

Rating:
Summary: Just finished it for the 3rd time
Review: This book boasts one of the perfect opening paragraphs, quite similar in "instant classic" feel to the 1st paragraph of The Haunting of Hill House. Manderly features as largely as any character, benign and malevolent, shelter and trap. And in the end, I can't bear that it is no more.
I really feel that Maxim is awful and the narrator is a twit. But neither weakens the story; they're just ideas of their time.

Rating:
Summary: now my favorite book
Review: My friend recommended this book to me and so I decided to read it. It was a bit boring at first, then i got into it and i could not put it down! I recommend it to EVERYONE

Rating:
Summary: Pick it Up!!! right now!
Review: I had heard so much about rebecca but never really considered reading it .Finally irritated by all that i heard ,i picked it up and couldnt put it down ( it's true.. my sister even yelled at me)

This is a reallly awesome book as it stresses on characters really well.The name of the protagonist ( caroline) is given just once in the whole book( which is kind of exasperating) but adds to the period drama the best part is that the characters are entirely convincing.They are extremely well drawn especially those of Maxim deWinter , Frank and of course, Rebecca.Even Small characters such as Ben, Bee and Favell do great justice to the intense plot.Most of all, the transformation of the new Mrs.de Winter is truly reviving.This book will keep you in susppense because it will take turns when you least expect it to and leave you yearning for more. Dont miss it! i recommend Jane Eyre and Pride and prejudice too!