Book 57: "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Thursday, June 15th, 2006 19:24![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kittiwakeUnconsciously, I shivered as though someone has opened the door behind me and let a draught into the room. I was sitting on Rebecca's chair, I was leaning against Rebecca's cushion, and the dog had come to me and laid his head upon my knee because that had been his custom, and he remembered, in the past, that she had given sugar to him there.
I suppose I vaguely knew what Rebecca was about before reading this book, although the only scene I could remember was to do with the fancy dress costume (probably from seeing it on TV at some time). I knew that the de Winters lived in a house called Manderley, that Maxim de Winter's second wife was never named, that there was an evil housekeeper called Mrs Danvers, and that his first wife Rebecca had died, and that's about it. But unfortunately, I read the introduction before starting the story and it gave away the whole plot (aargh!). I should probably leave introductions until last when reading novels, but on the other hand I like to read them beforehand so that I know what to look out for while reading the book (such as Rebecca's similarities to Jane Eyre in this case). So it's a bit of a dilemma really.
Anyway, Mrs de Winter 2 is totally wet and needs a kick up the backside if you ask me. She daydreams her way through her days rather than taking any action about the things that are upsetting her. If I was her, I'd have put my foot down and made Max to get rid of Mrs Danvers as soon as I moved in - since her hatred for the new bride was obvious from her first day in the house, and no-one in their right mind would put up with her, when it was possible to get rid of her so easily.
I've just re-read the last paragraph, and I've made it sound as if I didn't enjoy reading this book, which isn't true at all. It has a very spooky atmosphere and is full of gothic-tinged suspense, with Mrs Danvers of the skull-like face as a truly malevolent presence haunting the house, while the descriptions of the old house and its surrounding woods, azalea trees and hidden coves draw the reader into Manderley just as Mrs de Winter is drawn in.
I suppose I vaguely knew what Rebecca was about before reading this book, although the only scene I could remember was to do with the fancy dress costume (probably from seeing it on TV at some time). I knew that the de Winters lived in a house called Manderley, that Maxim de Winter's second wife was never named, that there was an evil housekeeper called Mrs Danvers, and that his first wife Rebecca had died, and that's about it. But unfortunately, I read the introduction before starting the story and it gave away the whole plot (aargh!). I should probably leave introductions until last when reading novels, but on the other hand I like to read them beforehand so that I know what to look out for while reading the book (such as Rebecca's similarities to Jane Eyre in this case). So it's a bit of a dilemma really.
Anyway, Mrs de Winter 2 is totally wet and needs a kick up the backside if you ask me. She daydreams her way through her days rather than taking any action about the things that are upsetting her. If I was her, I'd have put my foot down and made Max to get rid of Mrs Danvers as soon as I moved in - since her hatred for the new bride was obvious from her first day in the house, and no-one in their right mind would put up with her, when it was possible to get rid of her so easily.
I've just re-read the last paragraph, and I've made it sound as if I didn't enjoy reading this book, which isn't true at all. It has a very spooky atmosphere and is full of gothic-tinged suspense, with Mrs Danvers of the skull-like face as a truly malevolent presence haunting the house, while the descriptions of the old house and its surrounding woods, azalea trees and hidden coves draw the reader into Manderley just as Mrs de Winter is drawn in.
