I started Rebecca last year, read the first 12 chapters and then soft DNFed it, I decided to pick it up again and now I'm on chapter 13, a bit more then a third of the way in. but I'm still not liking it much. It's so cliche and I don't love the "older broody man marries self conscious young girl". The self consciousness and anxiety of the main character is frustrating and the constant referring to Rebecca is annoying.
I want to give this book more of a chance since everyone seems to love it so much. Where is the "if you don't like it at this point you should dnf it"?
by QueenMackeral
7 Comments
It’s probably not for you. I was captivated by the first page. It’s all about the prose and atmosphere and those are already present in full force by the point you’re at. There is definitely suspense and an unraveling mystery but it’s not like the plot just picks up and becomes radically different, it’s a very slow build.
Wait for the twist- you’re not there yet. If finding out what happens after that doesn’t interest you then stop.
That point is wherever you set it. Maybe in the future you’ll give it another go, maybe you won’t. No sweat either way.
honestly, if you’re not feeling it by chapter 13, it might just not be your thing. a lot of people love the buildup and atmosphere, but if it feels like a chore, it’s okay to let it go.
I was so frustrated because from all the descriptions Rebecca is the type of character I like, while the main character is such a boring little mouse. I didn’t care about her.
I love Rebecca. Absolutely adored it.
Also, it’s a gothic novel so the atmosphere and the broodiness is part of the genre. Rebecca is a ghost haunting the MC’s life. It’s okay if it’s not for you. You also need to remember that what you feel like is cliche now wasn’t so cliche when the book was written.
I know I had difficulty with rolling my eyes when I read 1984 because it seemed cliche but I had to remind myself, “no, this is the beginning what created that cliche. This is the origin for it.” So that might help you to reframe how you view this book. But I read Rebecca in high school and a lot of people really didn’t like it- I was actually the only one that devoured it in a couple of days and couldn’t put it down.
>It’s so cliche
Ok, so, this is the thing with a lot of the older classics – they’re not cliched, or they weren’t when they were written, they’re what inspired works that followed that overused elements to the point they did become cliche.
It was written nearly 100 years ago, now.