Saturday, October 16, 2010

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier


I apparently vanished. I am not even sure why! I am back, though, and hoping to catch-up on my R.I.P. Reviews. I even missed the Read-a-thon. Very strange for me!

I threw the piece of paper on the fire. She saw it burn...

Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow - Philip's cousin Rachel - turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet ...might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death?
After reading and loving Rebecca, I had to read something else by Daphne Du Maurier. I was told that this book was similar in tone, so I decided to give it a try. I really don't think I have ever read this book before, but I actually found a lot of the story familiar and even remembered the ending. The memories were not fresh, but still, there was something about the book. I will open this review by saying that while I liked My Cousin Rachel, I enjoyed Rebecca way more. It was my first Du Maurier and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I think I will enjoy many of her other books, but none will likely ever compare with Rebecca for me.

This was another great Gothic novel. Once again you are never entirely sure what to make of the characters and the storyline. Just when you think you have everything figured out; there is another huge change in the story. I am not even entirely sure with finishing it if you really figure out everything. There is still a sense of mystery. Having read Rebecca very close to reading this book I went in with expectations. I was worried it wouldn't compare to my previous experience and Daphne would just be a one-hit wonder for me, but that was not the case at all. This book was a page-turner! I was constantly curious about how things were going to play out and whether my impressions were correct.

The problem with this review is that it has been a while since I read the book and I am also worried about giving too much away. The mystery in the story is the whole point of reading it, so if I reveal the mystery than I will destroy the books for others. Philip acts very young. He will get on your nerves at times because you will not understand at all what he could possibly be thinking. Rachel is a mystery. Actually, Philip is a mystery. Then, there is the ending. The ending was fantastic, but then again it wasn't... I think the best thing to do is to just read this book and find out for yourself how great it really is!

This book counts for the R.I.P. challenge.

15 comments:

  1. Well I'm glad you're back! I haven't read this one but I really want to! It's somewhere in all these stacks of books! :)

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  2. Welcome back :)

    This is a very enthusiastic review, I am intriqued. I honestly never heard of the author before.

    Is this a trilogy or series? or you can read it separately without losing the story?

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  3. Thanks, Amy!

    Novroz: They are standalone books. Other than the Gothic feel to them, they are not really related at all.

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  4. I can't believe I've never read this one but it's true. I really really must. The House on The Strand is probably my favourite DdM book. But it's weird. 8-S

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  5. Rebecca was also my first DuMaurier but I have two other books of hers left unread: House on the Strand and Jamaica Inn. Thing is, both are mass market paperbacks and I'm not in the mood for mass market paperbacks now :) Now I'd like to get this as well.

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  6. Hey Kells :D I vanished too, lol. Trying to come back now though. Good to see you're back as well! I have this one on my shelves to read...One of these days I'll get to it. I don't think I'll ever love another DDM book as much as Rebecca though! Totally with you there.

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  7. wow.. i felt the same way! I've read both books and Rebecca is all on its own, probably the best of her books. While My Cousin Rachel wasn' a bad read, it was lacking in comparison.

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  8. Glad your back too.
    I liked My Cousin Rachel very much when I read it. I read it before Rebecca which I adored but I didn't compare them. I find them very different. I was a bit disappointed by the ending of this one though. It is a long time ago I read it, maybe I didn't get at the time.

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  9. lol...glad youre back! I was wondering where you went :)

    Great review. I need to read this author.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  10. I own this one and will probably save it for next year's RIP. Maybe one du Maurier a year is good enough for me?

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  11. Like you I have a tough time reviewing a book a while after I've read it--but you do just well here! I haven't heard of this one and I agree that after reading Rebecca it's hard for another to live up. Glad it was a page-turner anyway!

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  12. I would completely agree with you that while this was an enjoyable book, it wasn't nearly as enjoyable as Rebecca.

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  13. I'm glad to see you're back! I felt similarly to you about this book I think. Rebecca is one of my favorites, so while I liked this, I didn't think it quite matched up.

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  14. I absolutely know what you mean about this book! It had me reeled in from the start. I loved the ending and I hated it allll at the same time! Now following your blog!

    -Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner (and the Broke and the Bookish)

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  15. I have also been hooked on Daphne DuMaurier ever since I read Rebecca. I haven't read this one, but I definitely have to read it now. I am a big fan of gothic/mystery novels. Thanks for the review!

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