I have been thinking about Maxim stopping on the coast. I love how du Maurier writes this with the beautiful juxtaposition of the speedy ascent upwards in a showy, flashy car and then a sudden descent for Maxim inside himself into what the Narrator describes as a trance-like state. Taking clues from the first chapters, I wonder if this vantage place is associated with Rebecca. They may have visited there together. Maxim suggests he wanted to see if the place had changed, but maybe he just drove here out of an old habit. I wonder if Maxim is asking if his relationship with this place on the coast has changed. The Narrator mentions that their exile together has a very routine schedule of habit, also a bit like being in a repetitive trance, so the trance-like state could be him not being able to process this alongside someone he has just met. The whole scene reminded me of the mixed emotions of seeing a place you lived in a long time ago. You think you are simply going to look and reflect, but the experience can go a bit deeper than that. Did anyone else feel like this in this scene?
I love your comparisons between ascending and descending here Angela. It's certainly a tumultuous journey which we are taking. I remember when I read it for the first time, I was absolutely dying to know what he was returning to find out.
I have read up to Chapter 7 twice now. Yes, tumultuous is the word Colin! The first read through is for swearing out aloud about how harrowing this is as a psychoanalytic reflection on my younger self that I didn’t know I signed up for. hehehe. I then I calm down and can read it again like the grown up that I am. ow, reading some beautiful Gothic literature and trying to answer some deeply intellectual questions being posed.
I adore this book! Probably my absolute favorite. I was lucky enough to get to visit ‘Manderley’ (aka Menabilly) TWICE since 2020, and even got to stay in the infamous boat house! A dream come true!!
Wait, WHAT? How did that happen? That's absoluely amazing Sarah! Absolutely thrilled you managed to have that experience. I'd say it was nothing short of magical, especially being such a fan of the book.
It absolutely was!!! There was even furniture that was purchased when Daphne DuMaurier lived there. We were able to get in only because people cancelled in 2020 with Covid. The second time we were in the gardeners cottage, not the boat house but still had free roam of the property. One of the best experiences of my life! (:
I have been thinking about Maxim stopping on the coast. I love how du Maurier writes this with the beautiful juxtaposition of the speedy ascent upwards in a showy, flashy car and then a sudden descent for Maxim inside himself into what the Narrator describes as a trance-like state. Taking clues from the first chapters, I wonder if this vantage place is associated with Rebecca. They may have visited there together. Maxim suggests he wanted to see if the place had changed, but maybe he just drove here out of an old habit. I wonder if Maxim is asking if his relationship with this place on the coast has changed. The Narrator mentions that their exile together has a very routine schedule of habit, also a bit like being in a repetitive trance, so the trance-like state could be him not being able to process this alongside someone he has just met. The whole scene reminded me of the mixed emotions of seeing a place you lived in a long time ago. You think you are simply going to look and reflect, but the experience can go a bit deeper than that. Did anyone else feel like this in this scene?
I love your comparisons between ascending and descending here Angela. It's certainly a tumultuous journey which we are taking. I remember when I read it for the first time, I was absolutely dying to know what he was returning to find out.
I have read up to Chapter 7 twice now. Yes, tumultuous is the word Colin! The first read through is for swearing out aloud about how harrowing this is as a psychoanalytic reflection on my younger self that I didn’t know I signed up for. hehehe. I then I calm down and can read it again like the grown up that I am. ow, reading some beautiful Gothic literature and trying to answer some deeply intellectual questions being posed.
I adore this book! Probably my absolute favorite. I was lucky enough to get to visit ‘Manderley’ (aka Menabilly) TWICE since 2020, and even got to stay in the infamous boat house! A dream come true!!
Wait, WHAT? How did that happen? That's absoluely amazing Sarah! Absolutely thrilled you managed to have that experience. I'd say it was nothing short of magical, especially being such a fan of the book.
It absolutely was!!! There was even furniture that was purchased when Daphne DuMaurier lived there. We were able to get in only because people cancelled in 2020 with Covid. The second time we were in the gardeners cottage, not the boat house but still had free roam of the property. One of the best experiences of my life! (: