4 disco balls
First published August 1938 by Doubleday Doran
Category: Classics, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Gothic
Rebecca was Book 1 on my September Reading Challenge High School Reading Redo list; one down, seven to go. This one took me much longer to read, clocking in at 8 days! I could have read two books in that time. Well no use crying about it now.
Let’s discuss why it took so long:
The beginning: sloooooow as molasses, maybe even slower. Why: too descriptive – I prefer dialogue – and the patient build up of each of the characters quirks.
After page 200ish it started to pick up steam. I was like “now we are talking.”
All I remember from high school was that I enjoyed it, but this reread I remembered nothing. Not one single thing came back to me that I may have to reconsider if I actually read this in high school; or at least how present I was when I did. It became a new story to me, and as a fan of suspense reads this one is in a league of its own. The twists weren’t severely outlandish, or thrown out of left field that I totally believed each and every dark and twisty step it took. It was carefully crafted; a slow burn.
Goodreads synopsis:
The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady’s maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives–presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave. First published in 1938, this classic gothic novel is such a compelling read that it won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century.
And, the end scene: hand claps
Now off to read The Outsiders (hopefully much faster).
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A book which you have loved onces now looks like a new story it’s very strange. Hope
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20 years and many books inbetween its easy to forget! That’s what makes rereading so grand.
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Hope you enjoy
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Such a wonderful classic. Despite my dislike of slow stories, I love this one. Fab review.
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I’m excited for this challenge you gave yourself of rereads. I don’t recall reading this one in school myself but it does sound quite intriguing.
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I don’t remember having any required reading in high school and I was in all the honors classes! But then that was the 80’s and a small school.
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How was English class structured? Did you get to pick your own books for books reports?!
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Ooh have to read this classic!
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I remember the sense of waiting, waiting, waiting – knowing something was coming but growing weary that it was taking sooo long.
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That could happen to me too 😀 I tend to forget stories (books and movies) I’ve seen before.
It’s a cool concept, rereading school literature. I might consider doing that too 🙂
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great post.
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Ooooh what an interesting idea, revisiting books from high-school! I’ve been focused on catching up on the ones I missed (for some reason, I was never made to read The Great Gatsby, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Catcher In The Rye – no idea how I missed out on them, but glad to be reading them now and seeing what all the fuss is about). Rebecca seems like a super-heavy read for a high-schooler, well done you making it through (then and now!) 🙂
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I forgot about The Great Gatsby!! I need to add that to my list!!
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I love your photos Nicole. I’m not sure I could go back and reread the classics. I don’t think I have the patience.
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Thank you ☺️ It sure is taking a lot of patience to focus and keep on schedule, but if I did my HW when I should have – I wouldn’t be in this mess! 😂
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Another classic I haven’t read. Great review and I envy you taking the time to reread them.
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