It's time for the third installment of The Reading List. I managed to fly through this book in under a week which is unheard of for me. I didn't have much uni work to get on with and I was on nights so I had plenty of time to crank up the percentage. I read this novel on my Kindle and fell back in love with it. I remembered how much I used I whilst lying horizontal.
The novel follows the main female characters life from her transition from working as a lady's maid in Monte Carlo to her new life as a wife to Maxim de Winter in Manderly House. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realises 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.
Overall, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book in its entirety. The first half was extremely slow at times, loaded with heavy descriptive scenes which were enjoyable to read if not a little laboured. This contrast drastically against the second half whereby the story takes an unexpected turn and really goes up a gear. I won't give the game away, but I feel like the ending was a little disappointing. I was waiting for a character to get their comeuppance rather than they all lived happily ever after. Oops, sorry if that's a bit TMI. I read this book as part of a read-a-long with by best friend Nora, who felt that the main character was slightly irritating with a weak personality.
I enjoyed the writing style as it is completely different from the fantastic genres I normally stick to. It was incredibly easy to get through and I am glad I have read it. I am interested to delve deeper into the work of Daphne Du Maurier such as Jamaica Inn.
