Reviews

The Parasites by Daphne du Maurier

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amber_mccabe's review

dark emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've rather shamefully never read any of Du Maurier's books aside from Rebecca so picked this up to rectify that!

I'm glad I did as I really enjoyed it. It seems Du Maurier is very good at writing about spoilt upper classes and that is effectively what this book is about. It takes place, in the most part, over the space of one day and the story unfolds in flashback. There's also a fantastic 'Weekend in the country' scene which made me laugh out loud. Worth reading for that alone.

The characters (and the ending) were very reminiscent of Rebecca! All in all I'm looking forward to reading more by her.

badmom's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Daphne du Maurier is always brilliant at highlighting the worst in people, even those we think might be likable. Maybe especially those - she examines every move, choice, thought in ways that make us question ourselves. In The Parasites, three privileged siblings in post-WWII England are tasked with self-reflection, a chore they take on at first with some disdain and little seriousness. But as one evening wears on, the reader is taken into the past of each from their own increasingly lucid point of view; they begin to understand (or finally admit to understanding) their experiences.
Throughout, du Maurier uses a curious point of view - sometimes second person, sometimes first, occasionally third. This forces an often unpleasant connection between characters and reader; we recognize our own flawed thinking and wonder in the back of our minds if we would behave similarly.
This novel in unsettling but captivating, and necessary still nearly 80 years later.