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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
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