Rebecca's Tale

Rating:
Summary: Du Maurier will be pleased
Review: Sequels, especially for famous books with either beloved or intriguing characters, are VERY tough to write. Beauman deserves praise for having tackled Du Maurier's story and continued it, much in the vein of the original storyteller.

One less star because some parts were slow (perhaps the writing follows Du Maurier too literally), and because the ending was a little too contrived between Tom and Ellie, with no hint or set up for it early on in the book.

But the book kept my attention, even in the slow parts, because I'm an avid REBECCA and Du Maurier fan, and Beauman manages to swirl veils of mystery over every aspect of Rebecca's story, lifting them to reveal a detail here, a detail there, well placed and sometimes not anticipated, so all the more pleasurable.

The author knows her REBECCA, this much is for sure. And the Du Maurier estate has chosen well in asking her to write the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: When you have a masterpiece...
Review: Why mess with it? Sally Beauman forces us to view Rebecca in a different, admirable light, certainly a far cry from the way Rebecca is portrayed in the original novel. I find that a bit daring of Ms. Beauman to assume that she understands a character none of us really do. I think Rebecca must have been a mystery even to Daphne DuMaurier. She also gives an unfair picture of the second Mrs. DeWinter, clearly showing that she found her to be a dull, spiritless character. This is not the same character I read in the original, but we all have our own opinions. However, the biggest problem of the book is that it spends hundreds of pages building up a pathetic romance that takes a surprising, but rather silly and disappointing turn. Finally, she rushes to end the book, lamely trying to convince us all that Rebecca was a woman of strength who manages to inspire women beyond the grave. Somehow, I think I liked Rebecca better when she was just a seductive, domineering presence. Excusing her behavior doesn't seem like the sort of thing Rebecca would ever do. Rebecca does what she wants, and answers to no one; that's why we love to hate her.