Books and Jams Readalong discussion

You made it!! What did you think of the ending? Was it satisfying?

How do your overall impressions of the book compare to the expectations you had at the beginning?

Thanks for reading along! Feel free to pop back into previous posts to chat with others as they get through the book and make comments!

I'm not sure if I liked this book as much as I thought I would, but it got a solid 4 stars from me. I enjoyed the mystery, and I didn't see all of the twists coming, so that was fun. :) I enjoyed reading this book with you all! I thought it was a great pick for the group.
Question for you all: What do you think happened at the very end? I have an idea, but I want to hear what you guys think!

This was no my first time to read Rebecca. But I am so glad that I re-read it. I hadn't realized when I read it before that we never learn the name of the narrator. Very interesting fact. I loved this story and all the mystery.

The last few chapters really picked up!

I'd suspected the secret, but was still surprised when it was confirmed.

It makes me uncomfortable to root for the person who's done something wrong, and especially for Maxim, whom I'd never warmed up to. But Mr. Favell was SOO gross that it was an easier choice.

I'm not sure I buy the "true love" of the narrator and Maxim; it seems like desperation on both sides drove them to each other.

And Mrs. Danvers, whew! Hitting Maxim where it hurt! Did she learn from Rebecca, or had Rebecca learned from her?

Jenna (JenTheLibrarian) wrote: "I'm not sure if I liked this book as much as I thought I would, but it got a solid 4 stars from me. I enjoyed the mystery, and I didn't see all of the twists coming, so that was fun. :) I enjoyed r..." Okay, I did NOT like the end!!! I wanted more! Mrs. Danvers burned down Manderley right?! That's why they weren't in England anymore at the beginning of the book. My thought when I read that the house was burning, I thought "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DOGS?!" in my mind, they made it out okay :)

What was that ending? It was way too abrupt and I needed more. Also I never bought the "love story" between Maxim and the narrator.
I do think it's interesting that we never learn the narrator's name. It seemed to diminish her even further in the shadow of Rebecca.
I'm not sure what to rate this book yet. I really loved the mystery despite my frustrations with the characters. However I really did need more at the end.

Whew. I finished! Finally.

The last few chapters were really good. Favell is perfectly horrible. I love that Maxim didn't give in to his attempt at blackmail and just took the risk to let the "truth" possibly come to light. I thought it was a good twist that Rebecca wasn't pregnant after all but actually very sick. I didn't see that coming. I was glad to see the main character lose some of her insecurity and naiveté by the end. It surprised me that Manderlay went up in flames at the end, but that' probably better for this couple.

I had forgotten about the beginning of the book and how it comes around full circle. I feel like DuMaurier does this quite a bit in her writing, whether it's in a paragraph or the whole book. Even though there were parts that I found myself quite bored, I thought the writing was so well done...especially her descriptions, which included all the senses. I really got a sense of the gothic beauty of Manderlay and the Cornish coast.

Overall I didn't love this book as much as so many others or as much as I was hoping to. I wonder if that is in part because of the crazy month I've had and the lack of extended times to sit and read. My reading was much more choppy and it took quite a while for me to really connect with Rebecca.

However, I still think I'll give this book 4 stars because I really can appreciate the quality of the writing. Can't wait to hear from the rest of you!

Robyn wrote: "Jenna (JenTheLibrarian) wrote: "I'm not sure if I liked this book as much as I thought I would, but it got a solid 4 stars from me. I enjoyed the mystery, and I didn't see all of the twists coming,..."

My guess would be that creepy Mrs. Danvers burned down the house. I had forgotten the book started with them away from Manderlay! I had to go back and skim the beginning again!

Well. The end flew and I had no trouble finishing it today. The twists were masterful - Maxim a murderer, and Rebecca setting him to kill her? Oh she is conniving.
The romantic in me is so sad that our narrator will not be able to take her place as mistress of Manderley.
I agree that the writing is exquisite; the setting and details provided absolutely made me feel as if I was a silent observer to it all.

Who's watching the movie now? I'm off to see if its on Netflix.

Cassie wrote: "Well. The end flew and I had no trouble finishing it today. The twists were masterful - Maxim a murderer, and Rebecca setting him to kill her? Oh she is conniving.
The romantic in me is so sad tha..."

I forgot that it's a movie! I need to find it soon! Glad you were able to finish.

Krista wrote: "Cassie wrote: "Well. The end flew and I had no trouble finishing it today. The twists were masterful - Maxim a murderer, and Rebecca setting him to kill her? Oh she is conniving.
The romantic in m..."

The movie is good.

I felt like Maxim and his wife switched roles to a certain extent at the end. She speaks of comforting him and as though he were Jasper, when earlier she had compared herself to Jasper. Also, after the whole matter is settled, she said that she "felt better and stronger. It was I now who was taking care of him".

I believe Manderley burned down, which is why they no longer lived there. It's possible Mrs. Danvers burned it, but don't they mention her at the beginning of the book, before she starts to tell the story? She doesn't seem to blame her for the house burning.

Did anybody else's book have the original epilogue at the end of their book? (after an author's note) I think it gives a bit more information about Maxim and his wife than the way the author changed it, to contain that at the beginning.

I liked this book, but I don't know how much of that is because I've always liked the movie so much. I think I see the book through that filter.

I loved it, but for different reasons I think than others. I thought the ending scene where Rabecca and our narrator melded into one was masterful - somewhere in our dear repressed narrator, there's a Rebecca.

But Maxim killed two people - Rebecca and our narrator. The difference is that our narator has a living death. Whatever individuality our narrator had, she killed to please Maxim. I found her nervousness and shyness endearing, but I thought as she claimed to "find" herself, the more she lost herself to Maxim's ideal. (And I mean really... Maxim de Winter is such a harsh, sterile name). Rebecca was far more alive - even in death - than our narrator.

I hated Maxim. I could understand why Rebecca would hate him too. I could also understand why Rebecca would rebel from her fake, claustrophobic society to be unapologetically who she was. While she seemed to prefer a quick death to cancer, I can't overlook that her crime was... what? Infidelity and Maxim not wanting the spectacle of a divorce? F Maxim.

No, I loved that Rebecca won in the end. I think it's fitting that Maxim, and his wife who sided with Rebecca's murderer because thank-god-he-loved-me-not-her, were living in exile. Maxim and the 2nd Mrs. de Winter aren't in love at the end, and they seem to have no joy. No children running around. To me, it's a perfectly dark ending to two people who perjured themselves and covered up a crime. They deserve it.

Now... if only we could hear Rebecca's side one day... :)

I did love the unexpected twists especially the final one about Rebecca being sick. I knew Ben would play a part and I felt Rebecca got some payback with how she treated him.
I was so glad when Maxim told he narrator the truth. Their relationship was much easier to read and I'm ok with them being a couple very much in love. Neither had much of it before.
I do think Mrs Danvers set the house on fire. So sad for Manderly. She was so beautiful and gorgeous but also so haunted. The gardens were my favorite but Rebecca created them so they had to go as well.
I definitely can't wait to watch the movie - did anyone find it?!
I'm rating this book 3 stars because of the beginning pacing.

Candace wrote: "I did love the unexpected twists especially the final one about Rebecca being sick. I knew Ben would play a part and I felt Rebecca got some payback with how she treated him.
I was so glad when Ma..."

I have seen the movie a long time ago. Try your local library....maybe they have it. Mine didn't.

Stephanie wrote: "I loved it, but for different reasons I think than others. I thought the ending scene where Rabecca and our narrator melded into one was masterful - somewhere in our dear repressed narrator, there'..."

Definitely a side of things I hadn't heard before! I appreciate your thoughts and passion! haha. I can feel your disgust for Maxim and the ending personality of our narrator. Interesting that you found her nervousness/shyness endearing. I found her to be so annoying for most of the book!

I don't ethically agree with how it all ended, but that doesn't make me side with Rebecca either. I thought she was a selfish woman, but we do only see her through others' eyes. It would definitely be interesting to read from her perspective.

Thanks again for sharing your somewhat "unpopular" (and by that I just mean different) opinion. I love it!