Book Review: Rebecca

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
(Last read December 4, 2003)

This is one of only two books my mother recommended to me in my youth that I actually enjoyed — so much that it’s become my favorite story.

Daphne du Maurier’s characters got my attention, and her beautiful imagery kept me rapt. And it’s not just that famous opening line, either; the ending is just as beautifully written, but receives much less attention. Her subtle hinting throughout the book is well done (especially in that last chapter), though you can’t really appreciate its significance until you’ve finished reading (all the more reason to start it over again!).

Our unnamed heroine, the second Mrs. de Winter, was always hard for me to like. I didn’t not like her, as was the case with Rebecca, but I’m shocked at just how shy and spineless this girl is. I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s fought off irrational bouts of paranoia or fantasy, but hers are so extreme! But I guess that’s typical of the character.

Our leading lady is the opposite of Rebecca in most respects — shy, quiet, scared — but I’ve often played out one particular scene, which is more temper-tantrum than timidity, in my head: I envision her throwing a Cindy Brady-like fit (“It’s always Rebecca, Rebecca, Rebecca!” she tells Frank Crawley) while walking up the drive to Manderley (something I certainly couldn’t imagine Rebecca doing). And, now that I know the BBC2 has made a movie of it, I’ll have to search the library and local video stores to see if Joanna David does as good a job at this scene as the actress in my imagination!



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