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alisa_finch's review against another edition
4.0
Delicately infused with some of du Maurier’s original charm. Gently sophisticated, spiced with a feminist angle. And SO meta. I love
real_life_reading's review against another edition
2.0
A long story that left me with a lot of questions about what the author was really trying to get at. It's called Rebecca's Tale, and the story does revolve around Rebecca, but there were also a lot of side stories happening within the search for what happened to Rebecca. The story is as much about who she was as how she died. I suppose it could give you a lot to think about if you wanted to take the time to think about it, but mostly, I was just disappointed because I didn't feel like the story really went anywhere.
francis_deer's review against another edition
5.0
An old favourite of mine, actually getting better with each rereading.
The story is told from four different points of views and the four narrators are not altogether reliable. Even Ellie, the most honest of them, is not above censoring "Rebecca's Tale".
I'm always fascinated by how the fours parts of the story complement each other and how seeing the tale from different angles brings different truths and lies to light. In the end, there is no clear resolution to all the questions - and I appreciate that uncertainty.
This novel does definitely not turn Rebecca into a saint.
The first point of view character deeply cares for Rebecca, so this account favours Rebecca's side. The other accounts look deeper into the shadows. We may understand Rebecca's background and her motivations, but still condemn many of her actions.
As for Maxim, the novel takes a deservedly critical look at him. (Killing your wife is not acceptable, no matter the circumstances.)
The story is told from four different points of views and the four narrators are not altogether reliable. Even Ellie, the most honest of them, is not above censoring "Rebecca's Tale".
I'm always fascinated by how the fours parts of the story complement each other and how seeing the tale from different angles brings different truths and lies to light. In the end, there is no clear resolution to all the questions - and I appreciate that uncertainty.
This novel does definitely not turn Rebecca into a saint.
The first point of view character deeply cares for Rebecca, so this account favours Rebecca's side. The other accounts look deeper into the shadows. We may understand Rebecca's background and her motivations, but still condemn many of her actions.
As for Maxim, the novel takes a deservedly critical look at him. (Killing your wife is not acceptable, no matter the circumstances.)
isadorareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5
jessthebookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Rebecca was one of my all time favourite books. So when I found out that an author I liked had decided to write a "sequel" to Rebecca, I just knew that I had to get my hands on it.
This book did not disappoint. Sally Beauman took the infamous character that is Rebecca, and gave her a voice, while still keeping her somewhat shrouded in a cloud of mystery. Which is as it should be.
This book is essentially fan fiction, but it is so brilliantly written that it doesn't feel like that at all. I loved being immersed in the world of Manderley again.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved the original Rebecca, but I would definitely advise anyone who wanted to read this book to read Rebecca first, otherwise you will spoil the whole story.
This book did not disappoint. Sally Beauman took the infamous character that is Rebecca, and gave her a voice, while still keeping her somewhat shrouded in a cloud of mystery. Which is as it should be.
This book is essentially fan fiction, but it is so brilliantly written that it doesn't feel like that at all. I loved being immersed in the world of Manderley again.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved the original Rebecca, but I would definitely advise anyone who wanted to read this book to read Rebecca first, otherwise you will spoil the whole story.
kingfan30's review against another edition
3.0
It’s been three years since I read Rebecca and if nothing else, this book has made me want to read it again. Told from four different perspectives, each probably as unreliable as the others, it certainly drew me in. I’m not sure it really answered any questions about the type of character Rebecca’s was but it was an entertaining read nonetheless. Of all the sections I enjoyed Rebecca’s the least which was a bit surprising as I thought this would be the one I most enjoyed. And my only other criticism was that it was a bit repetitive at times. Now to dig out Rebecca to refresh my memory.
ciska's review against another edition
3.0
We move away from the characters Maxim and Mrs. de Winter to some very old acquaintances. Colonel Julyan and his family. Letters start arriving holding old memorabilia from Rebecca. Colonel Julyan was closely involved in the investigation of her dead and seen as a close friend of hers. Soon the packages start to tell the story of Rebecca. How she became Mrs. de Winter and experienced things.
The book is told by 4 people. We start with Colonel Julyan talking about his memories of Rebecca and the investigation. His ideas about what happened. Still he never really opens up and you know he is keeping secrets which is annoying. The next person is the newly introduced Terence Grey. Quickly it is clear he has a lot of secrets of his own. It was interesting to find out his ties with the whole history but again a character that was not very open. Which was annoying.
The next chapters we move over to the females. First Rebecca. It was nice to read her chapters. Written as diaries we finally get more of her back story. And the last chapter is Ellie who is supposed to tie all the ends together. She is way to obsessed to be taken serious but does manage to get closure for a lot of parts of the story. Still not even close to Rebecca it is way more entertaining than Mrs. de Winter.
The book is told by 4 people. We start with Colonel Julyan talking about his memories of Rebecca and the investigation. His ideas about what happened. Still he never really opens up and you know he is keeping secrets which is annoying. The next person is the newly introduced Terence Grey. Quickly it is clear he has a lot of secrets of his own. It was interesting to find out his ties with the whole history but again a character that was not very open. Which was annoying.
The next chapters we move over to the females. First Rebecca. It was nice to read her chapters. Written as diaries we finally get more of her back story. And the last chapter is Ellie who is supposed to tie all the ends together. She is way to obsessed to be taken serious but does manage to get closure for a lot of parts of the story. Still not even close to Rebecca it is way more entertaining than Mrs. de Winter.
i_hype_romance's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. For me, there were parts of the story that plateaued. Overall a fascinating reimagination of DuMaurier's classic work.
guiltlesspleasures's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this feminist alternate telling of Rebecca. It's as compulsive a read as the original and, while not as haunting or poetically written, Beauman successfully created the necessary atmosphere.