Book Buddies: My Cousin Rachel by du Maurier

[Scheherazade]

If you would like to read My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier with us, please get your copies ready!

[dfloyd]

when compared with Rebecca, but it is an interesting book. It is one of those books where the movie is perhaps better, especially since it is an early Richard Burton film. Not trying to dissuade any one from reading it, but for top du Maurier, try Frenchman's Creek and The Scapegoat.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I've just started reading this, well I'm about a third of the way through and I'm enjoying it, I love the atmosphere and place created by du Maurier. Strange, I thought I remember reading some of My Cousin Rachel before and disliking it, but it seems I have not read it? I know I picked up The House on the Strand (is it called?) and I was disappointed and so left du Maurier alone but now I think I will have a go at another, in fact I did to order another one, suggestions? I'll start by looking at the two above. I've also read a collection of her short stories before, The Birds included, though that was a while back.

Ah there are some recommendations here as well:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jun/11/daphnedumaurier

[Emil Miller]

I've just started reading this, well I'm about a third of the way through and I'm enjoying it, I love the atmosphere and place created by du Maurier. Strange, I thought I remember reading some of My Cousin Rachel before and disliking it, but it seems I have not read it? I know I picked up The House on the Strand (is it called?) and I was disappointed and so left du Maurier alone but now I think I will have a go at another, in fact I did to order another one, suggestions? I'll start by looking at the two above. I've also read a collection of her short stories before, The Birds included, though that was a while back.

Dfloyd has already mentioned the film and I watched it quite recently. I thought it was pretty good although I haven't read the book. If you are thinking of reading another by this author I wouldn't recommend Jamaica Inn which I read after having visited the inn on Bodmin moor. The story is fairly typical of 18th century smuggling yarns and did nothing for me.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Dfloyd has already mentioned the film and I watched it quite recently. I thought it was pretty good although I haven't read the book. If you are thinking of reading another by this author I wouldn't recommend Jamaica Inn which I read after having visited the inn on Bodmin moor. The story is fairly typical of 18th century smuggling yarns and did nothing for me.

Oh yes I think that is another I've picked at but never fancied reading. I have just ordered Julius based on the Guardian report and will look into the film as well.

[Emil Miller]

Oh yes I think that is another I've picked at but never fancied reading. I have just ordered Julius based on the Guardian report and will look into the film as well.

I have just looked up Daphne du Maurier's work and cannot find Julius among them

[cacian]

Interesting choice. I read it in French a long time ago when I was a teenager and I have some recollections of it but I do remember getting bored or not liking it that much.
It would be good to read it in English to compare.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I have just looked up Daphne du Maurier's work and cannot find Julius among them

It's here.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Julius-Virago-Modern-Classics-Maurier/dp/1844080684/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345560737&sr=8-2-spell

I don't know what it's like I'm just going on the Guardian piece that suggested it was one of her best works, though it doesn't seem to have had a lot of reader ratings. The Guardian also used the word "middlebrow" in accordance with du Maurier (trying to dispel the term) which I think actually sums her writing up pretty accurately. At her best she does seem to create an atmosphere that quietly disturbs the reader, giving them a growing sense of unease. This is obvious in Rebecca and in My Cousin Rachel - hmm, I don't trust this Cousin Rachel you know.

[Emil Miller]

It's here.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Julius-Virago-Modern-Classics-Maurier/dp/1844080684/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345560737&sr=8-2-spell

I don't know what it's like I'm just going on the Guardian piece that suggested it was one of her best works, though it doesn't seem to have had a lot of reader ratings. The Guardian also used the word "middlebrow" in accordance with du Maurier (trying to dispel the term) which I think actually sums her writing up pretty accurately. At her best she does seem to create an atmosphere that quietly disturbs the reader, giving them a growing sense of unease. This is obvious in Rebecca and in My Cousin Rachel - hmm, I don't trust this Cousin Rachel you know.

My eye slipped over the book in the list because it was originally titled The Progress of Julius, but I should have picked up on it anyway.

The strange thing about the film is that all the way through there's an 'Is she, isn't she?' puzzle going on but at the end the question remains unanswered. It may be that the book has a different ending.

[Scheherazade]

I read Rebecca and Jamaica Inn a few years ago and enjoyed both of them - especially the former. Du Maurier is very good at what she does; create suspence and make reader's imagination work so that they get caught in the story.

Since no one seemed interested at the time, I did not read it then but will pick up a copy from the library and start reading it at the beginning of September.

[Scheherazade]

I've just started reading this, well I'm about a third of the way through and I'm enjoying it, I love the atmosphere and place created by du Maurier. Started reading today and quite enjoying it so far.

As always, Du Maurier manages to create wonderfully suspenseful atmosphere with ease. She may not be an outstanding writer but she is very good at what she does. And agree with Neelly above.

[dfloyd]

of Du Maurier's life. Du Maurier was sued for plagerism on her novel Rebecca by another author and had to go to New York to defend herself. At the time, she was married to a British general and had children. She won her case and charges were dismissed. In the meantime, she had a lesbian affair with her publisher's wife. Her daughter wrote or was responsible for the dramatisation of this biographical movie. I think it was produced by the BBC, but her lesbianism is treated openly by the daughter. Just an interesting slice of a woman's life.

[LitNetIsGreat]

of Du Maurier's life. Du Maurier was sued for plagerism on her novel Rebecca by another author and had to go to New York to defend herself. At the time, she was married to a British general and had children. She won her case and charges were dismissed. In the meantime, she had a lesbian affair with her publisher's wife. Her daughter wrote or was responsible for the dramatisation of this biographical movie. I think it was produced by the BBC, but her lesbianism is treated openly by the daughter. Just an interesting slice of a woman's life.

I didn't know anything about that - have to try to track that one down.

I liked the book. I've been trying to get Mrs N to read it so we can watch the film.