The orange spine of the 1962 Penguin Class edition of Rebecca use to sit out against the white delicate spines of the world war two love romances that use to fill up my mams bookcase. The smell of the aged, crisp browned pages, the cover one of a haunting illustration - a face cast half in shadow, it's mouth and lips sad, a blackened tree branch creeping over it's eyes. It use to always call to me, it wanted me to turn the pages, yet I knew nothing about it, nothing of the Gothic romance, dark thriller embedded within the lines. Until I was about 12 and my whole world of reading changed.
Few books have a line that stains its way into your mind, it's a line that you carry for evermore;
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again".
I want to say the tale is haunting, but not in the sense of ghosts or ghouls. It's haunting in it's relationship between the characters, Manderely itself is a character, even the landscape upon which the house sits is one filled and built upon lies, despair and loss.
We come to the tale narrated through the unnamed female protagonist, a young, naivee 20 something, we come to learn of her life and transition from companion to becoming the second wife of the troubled, tortured English Maxim de Winter, a man haunted by the lingering memory of Rebecca - his first wife a women who died under mysterious circumstances. Troubled at every turn the second Mrs de Winter is reminded of her inadequacy of failing to rise to the experiences, understanding and standards set by her predecessor, most of all by the upturned housekeeper, Mrs Danvers. While it is not my place to suggest or even hint at the story or the outcome of the plot it is one, most especially an ending which remains haunting in my mind. It's a tale that will stick with you for years to come.
We come to the tale narrated through the unnamed female protagonist, a young, naivee 20 something, we come to learn of her life and transition from companion to becoming the second wife of the troubled, tortured English Maxim de Winter, a man haunted by the lingering memory of Rebecca - his first wife a women who died under mysterious circumstances. Troubled at every turn the second Mrs de Winter is reminded of her inadequacy of failing to rise to the experiences, understanding and standards set by her predecessor, most of all by the upturned housekeeper, Mrs Danvers. While it is not my place to suggest or even hint at the story or the outcome of the plot it is one, most especially an ending which remains haunting in my mind. It's a tale that will stick with you for years to come.
The Penguin Modern Classics edition of Rebecca still sits upon my mams bookcase, and me and my favourite book have been parted since I moved and left many of the books (all of my du Mauriers) behind in the UK. Luckily I've managed to rebuild my collection - now in hardback, original vintage editions from estate sales, but Rebecca is proving harder to find. Granted I could purchase it online, but I want the challenge of seeking it out, of finding the second Ms. de Winter and Mandeley.
Many say Rebecca is the 20th Jane Eyre or perhaps Wuthering Heights - with lost lovers taunting, haunting the protagonists. If you love a haunting read, one that will chill your soul and get you thinking, Rebecca is a must.
What's been your favorite all time read? Or even least favorite book?
Many say Rebecca is the 20th Jane Eyre or perhaps Wuthering Heights - with lost lovers taunting, haunting the protagonists. If you love a haunting read, one that will chill your soul and get you thinking, Rebecca is a must.
What's been your favorite all time read? Or even least favorite book?
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This post is the #3 in the 2014bloggerchallenge
Sounds interesting. Also, your post is much better than my one for the 2014 blogger challenge (it'll be up on Tuesday). Haha. I find it so tough to choose my favourite book because I've read so many that I've loved.
ReplyDeleteDebi x
Yeah it's always hard to narrow down to just one - there's a couple I could have picked, Junk by Melvin Burgess being another. I guess the original film adaptation of Rebecca doesn't help, it's one of the few films that mirror the book so well that it honors it perfectly.
DeleteRebecca is probably my most-favorite book. Everytime I read it, I'm shocked all over again.
ReplyDeleteHave you read any other of du Mauriers works? She published some great stories over her lifetime.
DeleteThere are so many classic novels which I haven't got round to reading yet, Rebecca being one of them! It sounds like the sort of book I would really enjoy, will have to get myself a copy soon. x
ReplyDeleteYeah the modern classics really draw me in every time, Jane Austen goes over my head but I've always been hooked on Daphne du Maurier's work.
DeleteI loved Rebecca and it's one of the classics (in my opinion) that I'll always re-read. It's a beautiful haunting story. My grandma gave it to me from her own bookcase. She did the same with Jane Eyre and Price and Prejudice.
ReplyDeleteAndreea | http://catsfika.blogspot.ro/
It's lovely that you have a copy that's been passed down, I hope I get my hands on another copy of it soon, I know i'll find it eventually, that or I'll give in and treat myself!
DeleteThis sounds like an interesting read! I have bunch of books sitting on my bookshelf to read but maybe after I get through them I may be coming back to you for some ideas.
ReplyDeleteHaha that'll be fun, I have boxes of books, and then piles of books. I've actually lost a box of books too, I have no idea where it's wandered too ...
DeleteWuthering Heights is probably my favourite book ever so now I definitely want to read this!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever read Rebecca, it feels like a book I should have but never got around to. I did see a movie version on TV over Christmas though. I guess this is another book I'll need to add to that never ending To Be Read list!
ReplyDeleteSorcha x Bright Field Notes
I'm not often a big fan of movie versions of books but the 1940 Hitchcock movie has the book spot on, the suspense and the eerie sense of dread that comes through is just how I imagine the story to be.
DeleteBloody LOVE Rebecca. Have you read the book based on it, think it's called Rebecca's Tale, pretty cool :)
ReplyDeleteI *think* I have now that I think about it - I guess it didn't leave too much of a mark in my head as I had to wiki what happened in it lol
DeleteI am named after Rebecca the book (Which probably isn't all that flattering...) I read it young and was so creeped out by it - I didn't realise books could do that to me! Have you read her other ones, recentrly I've whizzed through My Cousin Rachel and Jamaica Inn (I LOVED both) x
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame the protagonist was never named or you might have been named after the second Ms. de Winter! I have read i'd say about 3/4 of her works and slowly rebuilding my collection (luckily this time they are all original vintage hardbacks from the time of the first printing which makes me far too excited!). Jamaica Inn was actually the second of her books that I read and i'll happily say My Cousin Rachel is a favorite along with the Kings General (which might actually be my favorite if we're allowed favorites!). Castle Dor is the only works that i've struggled to really get into.
DeleteOh, I find it very romantic to look for the book yourself and not give in to taking the easier path and purchase it online, big kudos for you!
ReplyDelete