Reviews

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier

rainynook's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

"Rebecca" is still my favorite Du Maurier, but this one is worthy. The novel is about a modern-day man who takes a potion that allows him to go back to the 14th century, where he watches a story unfold before him. Trouble is, he becomes addicted to the rather unhealthy potion. But the reader becomes addicted to finding out what happens next in this story-within-a-story.  A clever sort of meta situation, where, assuming Dame Daphne has done her job correctly, the reader becomes a sort of addict, too.  Solid writing throughout, this novel has a carefully-researched and well-constructed narrative.  My only complaint is that the old Cornish names from the 13th century are hard to keep straight.  But by the end, I couldn't put it down. I listened to the Audible version, read skillfully by Ron Keith.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

rebkni898's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

tdannecker's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

3.5

valentina_f's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

illusie's review against another edition

3.0

The start was good and the writing was beautiful. Yet I thought this story was a bit boring, hence only 3 stars.

blathnaid_mcq's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Drug use

Moderate: Death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Alcohol

ukbookworm's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

jenhurst's review against another edition

3.0

I was intrigued to see her take on time travel in this novel. I really loved my cousin Rachel and Rebecca by the author, so I was excited to read more. Unfortunately, I found this novel fairly boring. The writing just didn’t feel the same as her other two works, which could be because it’s her last novel.
Basically, the time travel occurs by taking drugs. This is a cool idea and is one of the few instances of time travel that isn’t scifi. It wasn’t really explained. Nothing can be changed by going back in time either.
It was very fitting that the main character was named Dick. Because that’s what he was. I just didn’t like how he treated everyone.

gelainmariaelena's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0