Rebecca

by Daphne du Maurier

I’m notorious for burning through exciting novels. I just can’t help it – I’m a fast reader and also a sucker for a good story. So once I have that itch to find out what happens next, it’s way to late for BN to remind me how I should be savoring the experience.

Rebecca was recommended to me by my mom as a great story with an exciting plot twist in it. Yep, she was right. (This isn’t going to be a very good book review, because I can’t tell you a thing about it. I’d hate to spoil the surprises for you.)

The story is told in the first person, by a young woman (whose name is not Rebecca) who lets us in on all her inner thoughts. She is very observant and perceptive, and I enjoyed reading her descriptions of people, her soul searching, and “deep thoughts” about memory, destiny, and “living in the moment.” Well, you might wonder, if Rebecca isn’t the main character, who is she? Well, I won’t say who but what: mysterious, beautiful, tragic, menacing…

I sometimes weigh the success of a work of art (images, writing, music…) by how well it makes me feel, see, or learn what the protagonists are feeling, seeing, or learning (whether that’s the main character or the author.) In this book, the narrator tells us what she’s feeling of course, but deeper than that, all the descriptions and dialog really pull the reader in and make you experience things along with her. I like that.

The book is set in the early 20th century, the late teens or early twenties. They have cars and telephones, but it’s still a different world, a good balance between recent and distant history. I enjoyed reading about the lifestyles of the rich and famous – spending summers in Monte Carlo and returning to their vast estates in rural England with a different room for each hour of the day, servants who have been with the family for generations, and masquerade balls for 500 guests. A good contrast to this opulence is our heroine, who is as new to the wealthy lifestyle as I would be and seeing it through her eyes is an enjoyable and entertaining experience. And, though my lips are sealed on the details, the storyline is intriguing, suspenseful and hauntingly memorable. Read it soon and let me know what you think!