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Summary: Rebecca's Tale by Sally Beauman
Review: "Rebecca" is my all time favourite book and film so it was with mixed emotions that I picked up the sequel but I was not to be disappointed in fact I found it so interesting that I did not want to put it down. Sally Beauman wrote as near to Dahne Du Maurier as is possible and I found myself turning over the pages in breathless anticipation. The end was different than I expected but as Daphne Du Maurier had left us in suspense as to what happened to Maxim and Mrs De Winter then Sally Beauman also left the door open to write another book. A thorougly enjoyable read and one I will treasure along with my other Du Maurier books.
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Summary: Pale Rebecca
Review: Beauman's sequel is a fine addition to the de Winter story. She captures Rebecca with all the grace, beauty, evil, and deceit that DuMaurier wrote about years ago. It was neat to see the story from other people's point of view, especially Terrence Gray, Rebecca's half-brother. Anyone who is a fan of DuMaurier's novel and Hill's sequel will enjoy this continuation of the story. It brings closure to some things and opens doors to others. It leaves the story open for another sequel, should so be desired, yet is a conclusion if no one does. As a 'Rebecca' fan, I am glad to have this as part of my collection. A must for book lovers!
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Summary: spare yourself
Review: Don't sully your memory of Du Maurier's 'Rebecca' with this book. The author attempts to continue the intriguing story of Rebecca from the viewpoint of an aging neighbor and family friend who was also professionally involved in the case surrounding her death. However, the unsophisticated writing and plodding plot should not even be compared with the original.
There is so much unnecessary dialogue and irritating narrative (including excessive and pointless references to the main character's dog, Barker) that the plot stagnates. I started skipping paragraphs to get to the point. It's difficult to care about any of the dull characters who Beauman seemingly forgot to give differing personalities to.
Don't bother with Beauman. Pick up Du Maurier's 'Jamaica Inn' or 'My Cousin Rachel' for far more wonderful and mysterious stories.
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Summary: Stunning and wonderful book!
Review: For all those who were haunted by Rebecca DeWinter after they read DuMaurier's novel, here is a wonderful book that will answer all your unanswered questions. From the first paragraph I was hooked, wanting to read more about Rebecca's hidden secrrets. I have most of DuMaurier's Rebecca memorized, so I instantly caught on to this story. (I reccomend rereading DuMaurier's Rebecca) The main plot is basically the hunt for information on Rebecca DeWinter. Thomas Grey, a journalist, desperatly wants to know more about her past for an unknown reason, Inspector Juliyan, now an ancient and decrepit old man wants to clear up the rumors that have been spreading about Manderley for the past 20 years. This book drags the reader on this search for the truth about the mysterious Rebecca. After being almost on the verge of obsession with DuMaurier's classic book, I was finally able to feel at peace. Even though this is NOT by the original author, Sally Beauman captured the spirit of the way Rebecca was written. I was captivated by her book from the beginning to end.
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Summary: I LOVED it, but...
Review: I am a huge REBECCA fan, and yes, I have read the other two books in the series. This book was a real page turner, though it didn't start out that way: As much as I liked Colonel Julyan, I thought he rambled a bit too much during his section of the book. In fact, the story was rather ho-hum until the wonderfully inquisitive Terrance Gray took up the narrative. I couldn't put the book down as I voraciously read his account of chasing down and dogging many of the exisiting links to Rebecca. Frith and Favell's accounts were particularly eye opening! Well worth a read. My only criticism was that Gray didn't make more of an effort to connect with Mrs. Danvers, but I was relieved when Ellie did so later in the book. Okay, so what didn't I like? That we are told all of Rebecca's life except for the interim that was sandwiched between her father's death and her marriage to Maxim: What exactly happened during those unaccounted-for years? And I was surprised that neither Terrence nor Ellie made more of an effort to find out, considering what bloodhounds they were. Ellie managed to pinpoint this time in Rebecca's life to a beatnik commune in which she purportedly lived during those years, but that wasn't enough, especially when the inhabitants of the commune all had vague recollections of Rebecca. To my frustration, neither Terrence nor Ellie managed to translate the braille of Rebecca's marriage, to paraphrase the book, which was a reference to this iterim. I know that the journal pages describing these lost years had been destroyed, but nevertheless, I felt that Terrence and Ellie could have turned over a few more stones. I don't know how this piece of the puzzle could have been so blithely left missing, and I'm a little bothered. But this book was great fun; I recommend it to all REBECCA fans.
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Summary: Did I Love it?-- Yes and no.
Review: I had very mixed feelings about starting to read Rebecca's Tale. I loved the original 'Rebecca,' and loved even more the recent BBC television production that was so faithful to it. I wasn't sure I'd want anyone else messing about with my impressions of duMaurier's characters, who are so memorable. Well, I'm glad I gave in. Even though the author takes some liberties that make me extremely uncomfortable, and even though she makes assumptions that go counter to some of mine [for example, I've always felt that Danny burned herself up in the mansion in the final chapter of 'Rebecca'], I found the book well worth reading, and there are some unforgettable passages, particularly in the third section, written by Rebecca herself(!). Anyone who has read a good biography of Daphne duMaurier's life will see what's coming in regard to some of the characters in this book, and I thought it was rather clever of the present author to work that theme in-- it creates a nice little subplot. [One reviewer in these pages has said it amounts to a 'polemic on coming out of the closet.' This is homophobic nonsense.] I agree with several other commentators in these reviews that the second Mrs. DeWinter comes off rather poorly in this book. Yes, she was a mouse, and, yes, sometimes you wanted to take her by the neck and shake her until she woke up and came to her senses, but she was still a valid character in her own right, and represented an integral part of the society of her time. In the sequel, she's plastic and two-dimensional, and utterly unbelievable as the same character that duMaurier so memorably created, with none of the internal conflicts or concerns. But other than that, I feel that this book is very well done. Captain Julyan is the loveable curmudgeon who lets you see 'through' his viewpoint to a more objective reality; Thomas is a mystery in his own right, and the discoveries he makes about his involvement in the original story are very believable and satisfying; Rebecca's 'Diary' is the heart of the book and was probably strong enough to stand entirely by itself, without the other three sections; Ellie's final chapters bring everything to a resonant close, without tying up TOO many loose ends. If you loved 'Rebecca,' as I did, I don't think you can afford NOT to read this sequel.
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Summary: Seems more like a different subject than a sequel
Review: I loved the book Rebecca, so I went ahead and ordered Mrs. DeWinter and Rebecca's Tale. I was disappointed with both. If you read this book as though it's not a sequel, but an entirely different book, it's not so bad. The author seemed to just be using the characters to support her views. For the time frame when Rebecca would have been alive, I highly doubt feminist views would have propelled her to be admired. I also don't think people would have been as okay with homosexuality in the fifties as the book would have one believe. It's a mediocre book that just doesn't follow suit. The characters seemed to have changed so much they are like different people altogether. The nameless Mrs. Dewinter (wife number two) was made to look pathetic and almost insane. This book was a huge disappointment.
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Summary: When you have a masterpiece...
Review: If you haven't read Daphne DuMaurier's 'Rebecca,' I would absoloutely read it before venturing onto this one. It will make much better sense, and add endless delights to your reading. I thought this book was quite well-done. It starts out painfully slow, but after the first narration, picks up & begins to fly. By the time Rebecca's second notebook is revealed- it's exciting! What I enjoyed most about the novel was that even with the words from the oh-so mysterious Rebecca, right there on paper, there were still endless possibilities as to what truly happened between she & Maxim all those years ago. The original novel is a masterpiece, & Beauman was brave to play with such well known character's- she must have had such fun! The overriding theme of freedom for women & what it means to be denied choices, was nicely done & well said. Recommended!
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Summary: A Must-Read
Review: If you haven't read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, then shame on you. Although this novel can stand proudly on its own, it is actually a "companion" to the du Maurier classic about the tragic death of a woman named Rebecca. Rebecca ends when a fire claims her beloved mansion Manderley the same night an inquest has ruled her death a suicide. Rebecca's Tale begins twenty years later and builds on the questions deliberately left unanswered by the first novel. This novel can be read independently of du Maurier's work because Beauman deftly weaves the original story into the fabric of this one without compromising the sense of mystery or du Maurier's style, which she emulates, not imitates. Although somewhat darker than the original, it is no less readable. Beauman takes Rebecca's character to the depths only hinted at by du Maurier; in fact, at times it seems as though Rebecca may well have earned her fate. Beauman reveals Rebecca and her tale through four different narrators, including Rebecca herself. Each narrator is equally credible, but whose perspective is nearest the "truth"?
This is a must read: Beauman's unique talent has resulted in a sequel that both lauds its predecessor and is an experience itself.
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Summary: You can't go home again
Review: Like everyone else who's ever read it, I've been haunted by Daphne Du Maurier's 'Rebecca'. I read the early reviews of 'Rebecca's Tale' and knew I was taking a chance, but I figured what the heck. Early into 'Rebecca's Tale', I was captivated and couldn't put it down. It seemed a marvelous twist on the original. Then--what can I say?--new age sensiblities started raising their ugly heads and the whole thing desolved into a feminist rant. Sally Beauman's portrayal of Rebecca is particularly strange. This woman/child in no way matches the original Rebecca, who--even though dead before the story takes place--is still a powerful character. Beauman's rendition of the second Mrs. De Winter is even worse. She turns her into cardboard. It seems to me that the further Beauman got into her book, the less it had to do with the original, and the more it became a polemic on coming out of the closet. The main message was 'don't let a man tie you down!' That said, I still gave it two stars because Beauman's prose is quite evocative of Du Maurier's and the first section by 'Colonel Julyan' is superb.
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