Review - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Book Summary from Amazon

With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew. For in every corner of every room were phantoms of a time dead but not forgotten—a past devotedly preserved by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers: a suite immaculate and untouched, clothing laid out and ready to be worn, but not by any of the great house's current occupants. With an eerie presentiment of evil tightening her heart, the second Mrs. de Winter walked in the shadow of her mysterious predecessor, determined to uncover the darkest secrets and shattering truths about Maxim's first wife—the late and hauntingly beautiful Rebecca.

My Review - 5 Tea Time Perfection

I am glad I chose this as my classic read for the year, a masterpiece, I understand why this is many readers favourite book of all time.  Daphne Du Maurier was a true artist of her time. 

The whole book had this mysterious eerie feel to it which keeps you on the edge of your seat.  Flow is important to me and I think this may be one of the best executed books I have read.  There is no doubt I prefer modern reads but DDMaurier took you back without the unnecessary description, the wording and sentence structure was enough to put you in the time and atmosphere of the Manderley home.   When I got to the revealing of the true secret in the book I was shocked but also pleasantly surprised, it all made sense and then I couldn't put the book down, amazing.

What was most brilliant to me was that we never know the new wife's name, she is called Mrs. de Winter throughout, I wanted her to say just call me "    ", I will not live in the shadow of Rebecca or the latest Mrs. de Winter.  This alone made the book mysterious and creepy.

My favourite character was Mrs. Danvers, she was brilliantly done and I loved to hate her, I couldn't wait for the new Mrs. de Winter to stand up to her or fire her, the thrill of the wait was great.   What a cruel controlling woman.  I would read more about her character.

For those that are struggling with choosing a classic read for a challenge or just intrigued, I highly recommend. 

For those that love audio I have read that a Anna Massey performs it amazingly.  I can see this as a great book club read also.  There is so much more I would love to say but don't want to take anything away from someone's first experience with this one.

Since blogging, I have read To Kill a Mockingbird, And Then there Were None and now Rebecca, I was able to appreciate the others but this one is by far the best in my opinion, I will try more of her works now when I am in the mood for a delightful classic.

A favourite quote that I think represents the story well....

Frank did not have to sit at her place in the dining-room hold the knife and fork that she had held, drink from her glass. He did not throw a coat over his shoulders which had been hers, nor find her handkerchief in the pocket.  He did not notice, every day, as I did, the blind gaze of the old dog in its basket in the library, who lifted its head when it heard my footstep, the footstep of a woman, and sniffing the air drooped its head again, because I was not the one it sought.