Am reading like a fiend this weather because of NaNoWriMo (yes, am writing as well :)) and for some unknown reason picked up Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.
What a book. The narration, right from the start when the description of the trees outside Manderley set the scene so well; the skill in showing the narrator as a shy, intimidated second wife (I loved the bit where she broke the china figure and hid it in an envelope at the back of a drawer); Mrs Danvers, especially when she tried to get the narrator to jump out of the window; the bit where Max confesses; the way du Maurier sets the whole thing up so that towards the end the reader is cheering for Max to get away with it; the revelation of the true character of Rebecca. Wow. Can’t believe I haven’t read it before - easily up there now in my top 10, and am now ploughing through all the du Maurier I can find.
Anyone else who’s read it - did you enjoy it? What were your favourite bits? Any other books like it you’d recommend? (Have already read Jane Eyre.)
I’ve read it many times over the years, and it just gets better and better. The whole atmosphere of doom that hangs over everything. The way we never learn the narrator’s name. The book is constantly on my current reading shelf because I know I’ll find something new every time I read it. It is so much better to read it at age 50 than at 16…
An English class that I help out with here in Germany just read an extract from Rebecca and then watched the movie. The extract was the climactic conversation between Mrs. Danvers and Mrs. de Winter (the “Jump out the window”) bit. I usually don’t go for that kind of story, but the setting and descriptions won me over, and now I’m looking to read the whole thing if I can get ahold of it in English here.
It’s one of my favorite books, as well. I love the way the narrator indulges in these wild, despairing predictions of the future when she gets upset (I don’t have the book in front of me, so I can’t point out any examples, but…do you know what I mean?). That’s such an insightful detail. I also love the subtle ways du Maurier shows the narrator’s self-confidence growing over the course of the story.
When you ask about books like it, what aspect are you interested in?
Mina by Jonatha Ceely has a very different plot, setting, and tone, but the protagonist feels like a kindred spirit to Rebecca’s narrator – they have similar temperaments – and a kind of love blossoms between her and an older, dark, mysterious man (who happens to be a cook in this story). (The love remains platonic in Mina, but there’s a sequel…)
This one might not be quite what you want, as well, but Valerie Martin’s Mary Reilly has a similar vibe. It’s a twist on the Jekyll and Hyde story told from the point of view of Jekyll’s maid (and was made into a bad movie with Julia Roberts, but forget about that – the book is good).
I think I mean mainly the style in which it’s written, the way the narrator’s most painful and mortifying thoughts are shown to the reader. Also the theme of social inferiority, of fearing/knowing you aren’t up to the situation you’re in, but that very knowledge means you’re unable to do anything about it. And I also like the time in which it was written and is set - I enjoy early 20th century fiction, especially upper class stuff as it’s all so alien and interesting.
Thanks for the suggestions, will check them out.
Ducktail, I am shocked - shocked I tells ye! - that that pivotal extract was given to students who haven’t read the book! I would be mightily miffed if I started reading Rebecca, knew from the first page I was going to enjoy it immensely, but already knew of that scene. Still, you have a treat in store.
Ahh, good. I think both of those recommendations should fit the bill. Those are some of my favorite themes, as well, so I’ll keep my eye out for other suggestions…
Love both the book and the movie (which my great uncle was the assistant music director on :)).
Ducktail, I was going to offer to send you my copy, which I paid all of 25¢ for at the local library book sale, but a somewhat exhaustive search has failed to uncover it. You can get it through amazon.de, though!
The sequel by Sally Beauman, Rebecca’s Tale is way more fun than I expected it to be, too – so much better than the dreadful Mrs. De Winter, by Susan Hill.
Oh, and I liked the original book so well I saddled a kid with the name of the evil main character.
