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bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Review of Rebecca’s Tale
By: Sally Beauman
In Kerrith, the people did not know the truth about Rebecca de Winter, but they did speculate. Time has passed and the remaining people involved with the de Winters are still haunted by Rebecca. A Scottish historian comes to Kerrith to research who Rebecca was and what really happened all those years ago.
In the original du Maurier novel “Rebecca” the title character is an overbearing shadow that haunts the other characters. She has no voice and is shown through others, but in this book, she gets to tell her own story. Beauman still manages to remain unbiased, unlike the characters. There’s a section in the book that is from Rebecca’s perspective, and we finally read what’s going on in her head. She has a fanciful mind but is it full of dark thoughts. Each of the characters sees Rebecca in a different way but cannot give straight answer when characters like Terrance Gray or Ellie Julyn asks. It was great getting the perspective of a minor character like Colonel Julyn. He sees things differently, but is biased, as he was also in love with Rebecca. He is old fashioned and has a hard time viewing her negatively. He would rather not talk about the bad and is focus on protecting her reputation. His daughter Ellie admires Rebecca and cannot be objective either. Rebecca influences Ellie’s fears about marriage and Rebecca gives her motivation to strive for independence. She is sympathetic towards her but feels her cruelty is just, not acknowledging the hate in her heart. Like Ellie I was fascinated by how Rebecca could charm and seduce people. She used her anger at how the world treated her and her mother as a way to motivate her transformation into a powerful woman. She is a master of manipulation, but she is also a sad woman who was taken from her mother. We explore through her what women have to do to survive and how you have to harden yourself. Rebecca’s story is one of revenge and you almost feel she is justified in her actions. I liked Terence Gray as one of our main characters, but he is socially awkwardly but he can be oblivious. I enjoy academically driven characters, as well like him. Ellie is likable too, but she can be frustrating too. Colonel Julyn and other characters receive more development, but she stays true to who they are in the original novel. Also, as with du Maurier’s novel, it leaves the reader open to their own interpretation but does answer the questions the reader has at the beginning. It is more about understanding Rebecca then telling the reader what really happened.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Miscarriage, Grief, Infertility, and Suicide
wiltingnightshade's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
showell's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be a much more interesting read than Rebecca.
shuheda's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
lileesee's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 4.5 stars for this one!
Rebecca's Tale explores the events and crimes that are established from Daphne de Maurier's fantastic classic, 'Rebecca' - and for what it's worth, I think it does a pretty good job of doing that.
I enjoyed seeing what Sally Beauman envisioned as the aftermath of the 'Rebecca' and the way certain characters developed from the events. Though I would say it's a good idea to distance yourself from the idea of seeing this a book sequel to the classic. It is very much a new imagining of what happens next, and you shouldn't really be worried too much about the interpretation and accuracy of some aspects. If you're good to look past whatever your own thoughts and interpretation of du Maurier's novel is, then you're good to delve in Sally Beauman's. So then once that's aside, you can truly appreciate Rebecca's Tale as story on its own.
The plot was intriguing and had twist and turns I didn't expect, though I did find it slow at some parts. The beginning especially, dragged a little for me, as - for obvious reasons - a fair amount of exposition had to laid down before we really got into the meat of the story. But once I was there, (a good hundred pages in,) I thought it unfolded in unexpected and intelligent ways.
The four perspectives worked well, and were distinctive, however it did make me unable to latch onto specific characters in quite the way I'd like to in a book such as this. Just as I was becoming fond of one character, it would be time to move onto the next. But overall, each of them had depth and flaws that were resolved nicely in the end.
The writing was solid and, as I mentioned before, was distinctive when it came to each characters voice.
So in conclusion, I think this novel would be great for anyone who is openminded when it comes to interpretations, and wants explore what might have taken place twenty years after the events of 'Rebecca'.
A real enjoyable read!
Rebecca's Tale explores the events and crimes that are established from Daphne de Maurier's fantastic classic, 'Rebecca' - and for what it's worth, I think it does a pretty good job of doing that.
I enjoyed seeing what Sally Beauman envisioned as the aftermath of the 'Rebecca' and the way certain characters developed from the events. Though I would say it's a good idea to distance yourself from the idea of seeing this a book sequel to the classic. It is very much a new imagining of what happens next, and you shouldn't really be worried too much about the interpretation and accuracy of some aspects. If you're good to look past whatever your own thoughts and interpretation of du Maurier's novel is, then you're good to delve in Sally Beauman's. So then once that's aside, you can truly appreciate Rebecca's Tale as story on its own.
The plot was intriguing and had twist and turns I didn't expect, though I did find it slow at some parts. The beginning especially, dragged a little for me, as - for obvious reasons - a fair amount of exposition had to laid down before we really got into the meat of the story. But once I was there, (a good hundred pages in,) I thought it unfolded in unexpected and intelligent ways.
The four perspectives worked well, and were distinctive, however it did make me unable to latch onto specific characters in quite the way I'd like to in a book such as this. Just as I was becoming fond of one character, it would be time to move onto the next. But overall, each of them had depth and flaws that were resolved nicely in the end.
The writing was solid and, as I mentioned before, was distinctive when it came to each characters voice.
So in conclusion, I think this novel would be great for anyone who is openminded when it comes to interpretations, and wants explore what might have taken place twenty years after the events of 'Rebecca'.
A real enjoyable read!
_lilbey_'s review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
3.75 The pacing was a bit odd, it really drug on at times then all sorts of stuff would happen a lot once. An interesting approach to trying to unravel the mystery of de Maurier's Rebecca.
micheleheather's review against another edition
4.0
I read Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca" in seventh grade, and was immediately enamored with it, so I was hesitant at first to read a "sequel" to it written by a different author.
But Beauman handles this surprisingly well - it is set 20 years after the end of "Rebecca," and the main characters are ones of her own invention (or who were such minor characters in du Maurier's book that they are basically Beauman's invention).
The premise: a neighbor of the de Winters and his daughter are still examining Rebecca's mysterious death 20 years later. A man comes to town, also researching Rebecca's death, and they reluctantly join forces to get to the bottom of the mystery.
This book was suspensful and full of mystery. It was also well-written, with nicely developed characters that, for me, augmented rather than detracted from my original reading of "Rebecca."
But Beauman handles this surprisingly well - it is set 20 years after the end of "Rebecca," and the main characters are ones of her own invention (or who were such minor characters in du Maurier's book that they are basically Beauman's invention).
The premise: a neighbor of the de Winters and his daughter are still examining Rebecca's mysterious death 20 years later. A man comes to town, also researching Rebecca's death, and they reluctantly join forces to get to the bottom of the mystery.
This book was suspensful and full of mystery. It was also well-written, with nicely developed characters that, for me, augmented rather than detracted from my original reading of "Rebecca."
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"April 1951. It is twenty years since the death of Rebecca, the hauntingly beautiful first wife of Maxim de Winter. Twenty years since Manderley, the de Winter family's estate, was destroyed by fire. But Rebecca's tale is just beginning. Colonel Julyan, an old family friend, receives an anonymous package concerning Rebecca. An inquisitive young scholar named Terence Gray appears and stirs up the quiet seaside hamlet with disturbing questions about the past -- and with the close ties he soon forges with the Colonel and his eligible daughter, Ellie. Amid bitter gossip and murky intrigue, the trio begins a search for the real Rebecca, and the truth behind her mysterious death." (From Amazon)
A great look at Rebecca the woman that haunts Daphne Du Maurier's gripping novel, Rebecca. I am not a fan of the character Rebecca but it gives her more dimension.
"April 1951. It is twenty years since the death of Rebecca, the hauntingly beautiful first wife of Maxim de Winter. Twenty years since Manderley, the de Winter family's estate, was destroyed by fire. But Rebecca's tale is just beginning. Colonel Julyan, an old family friend, receives an anonymous package concerning Rebecca. An inquisitive young scholar named Terence Gray appears and stirs up the quiet seaside hamlet with disturbing questions about the past -- and with the close ties he soon forges with the Colonel and his eligible daughter, Ellie. Amid bitter gossip and murky intrigue, the trio begins a search for the real Rebecca, and the truth behind her mysterious death." (From Amazon)
A great look at Rebecca the woman that haunts Daphne Du Maurier's gripping novel, Rebecca. I am not a fan of the character Rebecca but it gives her more dimension.
threethousandducats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0