Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne du Marier
Jan. 14th, 2006 09:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
juushikaTitle: Rebecca
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Published: New York: International Collectors Library, 1938
Pages: 357
Total pages: 10374
Text number: 31
Read for: my own enjoyment over Christmas break.
In brief: Rebecca is definitely a reread—it is one of my favorite books from one of my favorite genres, and I wanted to revisit it before returning to school after break. Everything from the strong classic gothic plotline of maiden, tall dark man, and secret in the attic to the truly haunting, intimate, detailed writing style appeals to me, and it is a book that I recommend highly and happily revisit myself.
I consider Rebecca a prime example of it's genre: gothic literature. All of the "clichés" are here: a maiden, a tall dark man, a grand house with a secret, fog and storms, and the feminine "secret in the attic" (without giving away the entire plot). But don't let these elements fool you: du Maurier twists some and makes others her own through her distinctive, descriptive writing so that, ultimately, these elements are classic rather than cliché. They also create a dynamic, suspenseful storyline that pulls the reader in.
Not only does plot draw the reader: the unnamed protagonist and enigmatic, capable, enviable Rebecca create a contrast of strengths, beauty, capability and desire so intense that the reader can't help but identify with the former and desire or desire to be the latter. Perhaps that is just me, but I think it extends beyond—the protagonist describes herself so vulnerably and realistically, yet her namelessness gives her an open identity; as a result the reader can imprint, project, and also identify, attaching him or herself to the protagonist and absorbing her envy and fear of Rebecca. The reader becomes emotionally, even personally involved almost automatically and therefore cares more about the reversals and resolution at the end of the book. It becomes an intimate experience, more intimate that such classic elements might seem to allow, and that may be why this is one of my favorite books.
Finally, du Maurier's writing style is exquisite. Haunting, detailed, original, and delicate, her protagonist describes and fantasies and altogether creates a haunting and real and beautiful image. From the opening line ("Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.") onward, the text is nothing if not beautiful. I've remembered descriptions almost as well as plot over the years. For it's gothic style, reader-inclusion, and beautiful writing, I recommend this book very highly and love it a lot myself. I'm glad I kept this one in my room (the rest of my books are downstairs and in boxes as we prep my room for a new carpet) because it made a great end to my book-reading spree this break.
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Published: New York: International Collectors Library, 1938
Pages: 357
Total pages: 10374
Text number: 31
Read for: my own enjoyment over Christmas break.
In brief: Rebecca is definitely a reread—it is one of my favorite books from one of my favorite genres, and I wanted to revisit it before returning to school after break. Everything from the strong classic gothic plotline of maiden, tall dark man, and secret in the attic to the truly haunting, intimate, detailed writing style appeals to me, and it is a book that I recommend highly and happily revisit myself.
I consider Rebecca a prime example of it's genre: gothic literature. All of the "clichés" are here: a maiden, a tall dark man, a grand house with a secret, fog and storms, and the feminine "secret in the attic" (without giving away the entire plot). But don't let these elements fool you: du Maurier twists some and makes others her own through her distinctive, descriptive writing so that, ultimately, these elements are classic rather than cliché. They also create a dynamic, suspenseful storyline that pulls the reader in.
Not only does plot draw the reader: the unnamed protagonist and enigmatic, capable, enviable Rebecca create a contrast of strengths, beauty, capability and desire so intense that the reader can't help but identify with the former and desire or desire to be the latter. Perhaps that is just me, but I think it extends beyond—the protagonist describes herself so vulnerably and realistically, yet her namelessness gives her an open identity; as a result the reader can imprint, project, and also identify, attaching him or herself to the protagonist and absorbing her envy and fear of Rebecca. The reader becomes emotionally, even personally involved almost automatically and therefore cares more about the reversals and resolution at the end of the book. It becomes an intimate experience, more intimate that such classic elements might seem to allow, and that may be why this is one of my favorite books.
Finally, du Maurier's writing style is exquisite. Haunting, detailed, original, and delicate, her protagonist describes and fantasies and altogether creates a haunting and real and beautiful image. From the opening line ("Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.") onward, the text is nothing if not beautiful. I've remembered descriptions almost as well as plot over the years. For it's gothic style, reader-inclusion, and beautiful writing, I recommend this book very highly and love it a lot myself. I'm glad I kept this one in my room (the rest of my books are downstairs and in boxes as we prep my room for a new carpet) because it made a great end to my book-reading spree this break.
