Just finished this book but rereading these passages makes us want to read it again. We have a podcast episode on Rebecca coming out in a few weeks if you still want more Rebecca content!
Also, if you loved du Maurier's style and tension, highly recommend My Cousin Rachel
beautiful in contradictions is so right, especially in the character of Rebecca herself. Du Maurier's writing is so lush, I just started The Scapegoat and the language is so rich!
and thank you for linking to my post, that is truly so kind and made my day!!
I love LOVE Rebecca. I read it many years ago and have revisited it several times. I adore the black and white Hitchcock film as much as the book - I'll never forget some of the scenes (Mrs. Danvers! AH!) I just finished Frozen River (really good historical fiction) and am reading my first Gary Schmidt middle grade novel, The Labors of Hercules Beal - it's great!
I haven’t read either of the books you mentioned, but now I’m intrigued! I also haven’t watched the films. I think I’m ready to check out the Hitchcock one. I can’t wait to see Mrs Danvers!
I haven’t read Rebecca, but I remember seeing it in my childhood house’s library - my mom must’ve read it at some point. Your writing about this book is inspiring me to read it someday, maybe soon. I’m currently reading Sam, after reading Isola (both by Allegra Goodman). I’m eagerly awaiting Charlotte McConaghy’s new book!
I am waiting for Isola at the library! Haven’t ready anything by Charlotte McConaghy. Any recommendations? Also, read Rebecca! I was so surprised to love it as much as I did, given that it was published in 1938.
Isola is an amazing story, I hope you love it as much as I do! I read Migrations (Charlotte McConaghy) when I finished Isola; both books have a strong woman on a ship theme, so it was an interesting pairing. Once There Were Wolves was the first McConaghy book I read, it’s very intense. Her newest book, Wild Dark Shore, comes out next week, I pre-ordered and can’t wait to read it. I’m adding Rebecca to my spring TBR list!
Ahhh I love that character introduction line. Beautiful in its contradictions indeed. I’d like to add an entry to Rebecca’s prose which is one of my favorites.
“I wanted to go on sitting there, not talking, not listening to the others, keeping the moment precious for all time, because we were peaceful all of us, we were content and drowsy even as the bee who droned above our heads. In a little while it would be different, there would come tomorrow, and the next day and another year. And we would be changed perhaps, never sitting quite like this again. Some of us would go away, or suffer, or die, the future stretched away in front of us, unknown, unseen, not perhaps what we wanted, not what we planned. This moment was safe though, this could not be touched. Here we sat together, Maxim and I, hand-in-hand, and the past and the future mattered not at all. This was secure, this funny little fragment of time he would never remember, never think about again…For them it was just after lunch, quarter-past-three on a haphazard afternoon, like any hour, like any day. They did not want to hold it close, imprisoned and secure, as I did. They were not afraid.”
Just finished this book but rereading these passages makes us want to read it again. We have a podcast episode on Rebecca coming out in a few weeks if you still want more Rebecca content!
Also, if you loved du Maurier's style and tension, highly recommend My Cousin Rachel
OMG I can't wait! I will be watching for it! Yes, My Cousin Rachel is high on my radar. I'm so excited. Thanks for reading!
oooh I want more Rebecca content - I will find this episode!
It should be out in about a month! And it'll be followed up with a bonus episode about the two movie adaptations :D
YES. Can’t wait.
Same!!
beautiful in contradictions is so right, especially in the character of Rebecca herself. Du Maurier's writing is so lush, I just started The Scapegoat and the language is so rich!
and thank you for linking to my post, that is truly so kind and made my day!!
You’ll have to let me know how The Scapegoat is! I’ve only read Rebecca, but plan on My Cousin Rachel next.
And of course! I loved your post’
Beautiful in its contradictions indeed.
I wish I came up with the words myself 🤣
You'll come up with better :D. Keep it up!
🥹🥹🥹🫶🏽
Rebecca is one of my all time favorites! I love so many of the lines you highlighted here.
Everything in that book is underline-able!
I love LOVE Rebecca. I read it many years ago and have revisited it several times. I adore the black and white Hitchcock film as much as the book - I'll never forget some of the scenes (Mrs. Danvers! AH!) I just finished Frozen River (really good historical fiction) and am reading my first Gary Schmidt middle grade novel, The Labors of Hercules Beal - it's great!
I haven’t read either of the books you mentioned, but now I’m intrigued! I also haven’t watched the films. I think I’m ready to check out the Hitchcock one. I can’t wait to see Mrs Danvers!
Oh I can’t wait to hear what you think!!! The newish miniseries was okay, but the original - WOW!
I’m always apprehensive for the films but this one I’m excited about. I’ll report back!
I haven’t read Rebecca, but I remember seeing it in my childhood house’s library - my mom must’ve read it at some point. Your writing about this book is inspiring me to read it someday, maybe soon. I’m currently reading Sam, after reading Isola (both by Allegra Goodman). I’m eagerly awaiting Charlotte McConaghy’s new book!
I am waiting for Isola at the library! Haven’t ready anything by Charlotte McConaghy. Any recommendations? Also, read Rebecca! I was so surprised to love it as much as I did, given that it was published in 1938.
Isola is an amazing story, I hope you love it as much as I do! I read Migrations (Charlotte McConaghy) when I finished Isola; both books have a strong woman on a ship theme, so it was an interesting pairing. Once There Were Wolves was the first McConaghy book I read, it’s very intense. Her newest book, Wild Dark Shore, comes out next week, I pre-ordered and can’t wait to read it. I’m adding Rebecca to my spring TBR list!
Woman on a ship — I love it! A theme I’ve never read before. Now I’m excited.
Let me know if you read Rebecca!
That book has been on my TBR for awhile but you just made me want to read it even more! Beautiful work!
Thank you! If it's not clear, I really, really recommend it!!
This book absolutely captivated me. Reading your review makes me want to pick it up again!
I truly can't wait for my reread. If you do reread it, let me know how it goes!
Will do! 😊
This is one of those books I’m forever meaning to read. I really enjoyed your thoughts on it!
Thanks for reading! 🫶🏽
Sophie you would love it!
Ahhh I love that character introduction line. Beautiful in its contradictions indeed. I’d like to add an entry to Rebecca’s prose which is one of my favorites.
“I wanted to go on sitting there, not talking, not listening to the others, keeping the moment precious for all time, because we were peaceful all of us, we were content and drowsy even as the bee who droned above our heads. In a little while it would be different, there would come tomorrow, and the next day and another year. And we would be changed perhaps, never sitting quite like this again. Some of us would go away, or suffer, or die, the future stretched away in front of us, unknown, unseen, not perhaps what we wanted, not what we planned. This moment was safe though, this could not be touched. Here we sat together, Maxim and I, hand-in-hand, and the past and the future mattered not at all. This was secure, this funny little fragment of time he would never remember, never think about again…For them it was just after lunch, quarter-past-three on a haphazard afternoon, like any hour, like any day. They did not want to hold it close, imprisoned and secure, as I did. They were not afraid.”
JAM! I love that you shared this passage! It’s so beautiful and I remember reading it and marveling. God, what a fabulous book.
🥹🥹🥹