Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca (1938) This is such an incredible book; it's like a lost treasure that has recently resurfaced to great fame. A captivating "romance" / suspense novel, du Maurier introduces the narrator, the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter, in a delicious frame story. Incidentally, the new wife of wealthy, magnanimous Max de Winter, is not named, excepting for her relation to her husband. This unlikely couple, a wealthy mid-forties man, whose wife has died ten months prior, and a twenty-year-old girl who is a paid companion, attempt to survive the haunting Rebecca, the first wife of Max. Set in Manderley, complete with a creepy, gaunt housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, and a large mansion with a view, this novel sweeps the spectrum of emotions, back and forth, until the secrets are spilled and the confusion is unraveled. The ending, which I won't disclose, is startling and unexpected, and made me flip back to the beginning to see if the clues were there...and they were!
While romance novels are not something I indulge in, this one was absolutely charming. Perhaps the year it was written, 1938, has something to do with its charisma and unpretentious nature. The author effortlessly weaves romance with suspense and makes the reader guess at every turn. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with an eye for the craft of writing; du Maurier really has a skill in creating believable characters whose fears and misgivings become incredibly realistic. For some reason, the ending reminded me of a mix of Faulkner and Morrison, which is a great ironic mix.
With great descriptions and amazing characters, I give this book ****. Check it out.
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