Rebecca

 Synopsis

Working as a lady's companion, the heroine of Rebecca learns her place. Her future looks bleak until, on a trip to the South of France, she meets Max de Winter, a handsome widower whose sudden proposal of marriage takes her by surprise. She accepts, but whisked from glamorous Monte Carlo to the ominous and brooding Manderley, the new Mrs de Winter finds Max a changed man. And the memory of his dead wife Rebecca is forever kept alive by the forbidding housekeeper, Mrs Danvers . . . 

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the Other Woman. An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.

Loved

• The eeriness. I went into this expecting it to be a little eerie, but romantic in the end, like Jane Eyre. Wow, was I wrong! This is a thriller, not a romance. The creepiness of this story is absolutely delicious and completely hit the spot. For much of the book, the spookiness is very subtle, but effective and I literally shivered a few times while folding laundry in my semi-dark bedroom late at night. Opulent Manderley with its tragic history, austere housekeeper, and broody master all serve to create a delightfully atmospheric setting and mystery.

• Mrs. Danvers! This is my new favorite villain right here. Mrs. Danvers is the creepiest- but I love that she's subtly creepy and unsettling, not overtly scary like your typical bad guy. Her hostility and austerity are enough to make you shiver, then add some peeping through keyholes, constant awareness of her watching you, and a dash of good-old fashioned gaslighting-- and you've got the perfect villain. 

• The heroine. Du Maurier was clever to withhold a name from the heroine of this story because it's so indicative of her personality and the plot of the story- she is nameless and shapeless compared to Rebecca. Although the main character is frustrating and totally without backbone, I actually really enjoyed seeing the story through her perspective. This is a refreshing protaganist because she's relatable-- she's shy, awkward, introverted, and feels totally inadequate to fill Rebecca's shoes in running a famous estate like Manderley. Her youth and inexperience also provide solid character development throughout the story as she becomes a little stronger, wiser and more capable. However, it is interesting that she begins the story as the caretaker of an older lady and ends the story as essentially the caretaker of an older man- and she never quite develops her own role and personality--or her own name.

• The writing. The real skill and charm of this story is Du Maurier's writing. She has the talent to write exactly the way we think- thinking through every situation, overthinking, and capturing impressions of emotions or thoughts that shape important moments of our lives. These small impressions and moments are so much more realistic in how we think, rather than long dialogues or descriptions in long paragraphs. From the first few chapters of this story I found myself thinking, "Wow, I think exactly like the main character!" But then realized I don't think like her, but Du Maurier has the ability to write just how we view the world and process situations and emotions- that takes talent.

• The ending. I won't spoil, but wow, it was such a shock. I felt like I all of the sudden drove off a cliff and found myself flailing in midair, realizing there was nothing to catch me at the bottom. The abruptness of it was perfectly designed, and I've been reeling for days from it.

• Other things to love: the audiobook narration and soundtrack (do the Booktrack edition!!), very morally gray characters, Jasper the friendly and loyal dog, the overbearing and tactless sister, and the ominous mystery of feeling vaguely unsettled, but not knowing exactly why.

Didn't Love

• I didn't like Maxim, but that doesn't reflect on my love for this story. I absolutely love the story and wouldn't change anything!

Content

• Language: 
• A few uses of "damn" and "hell."

• Sexual content: 
• A few kisses, some described as passionate, but no details.
• Lots of mentions of different affairs. Talk of one character having a lover and becoming pregnant with a child from someone other than her spouse.

• Violence
• A character is shot and killed.
• Some speculation about a character being drowned or murdered.
• Theme of death as the death of Rebecca is talked about throughout the whole book.

Overall Thoughts

Wow, I don't know where I've been because it seems like everyone else knew about this book except for me, and I wish I would've discovered it sooner! There are so many things to love about this story: the eerie setting, the creepiest housekeeper ever, a tragic and mysterious past that no one will talk about, an adorable dog that's there for everything, and a nameless woman trying to find her place against a poised and stunning ex-wife-- all written exquisitely with beautiful and relatable thoughts and descriptions. This is essentially a 1930s Jane Eyre, with a little less romance and a more subtle creepiness. If you like Jane Eyre, or you're in the market for a classic thriller, definitely don't miss this! This will be one that I read over and over again throughout my life, and I know it'll be deliciously creepy every time.