Book #3 - Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier

The First Wives have talked about exploring a few classics at some point, and the time has finally arrived. We will be dipping our toes into the ocean of classic novels by reading "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier. Following are some discussion questions to bear in mind while you read...

Discussion Questions

1. Is Rebecca a ghost story? Why or why not?

2. Discuss the role of Mrs. Danvers in the novel.

3. Discuss the character of Maxim. How are his actions consistent or inconsistent with this character?

4. Is justice served at the end of the novel? Why or why not?

5. Discuss the role of Manderley in the novel--both the house itself and its grounds and beach. How does setting contribute to the book's plot? To the book's tone?

6. Discuss the elements that make Rebecca a work of gothic literature.

7. Discuss the role of Jack Favell in the story. Does he help to shed light on Rebecca's character? How does he impact the plot?

8. Analyze the heroine's marriage to Maxim. How does their relationship develop during the course of the novel?

Happy reading everyone!

The Lovely Bones - Deconstruction

Time waits for no bookclubber, and with our next meeting less than a week away its time to publish the debrief from The Lovely Bones - with or without comments from everyone. Three out of six is not too bad, but I feel sure we will do better with the next review!!

What would you score The Lovely Bones overall?

Vanessa: 4/5

Tanya: 3.5/5

Jen:4/5 - the subject matter was at times too yucky to give it 5/5 but gee it was close!

Which character would you like to hang out with and why?

Vanessa: Grandma Lynn - she's ballsy and loves red lipstick.

Tanya: Grandma Lynn 'cos I reckon she'd be good value and have a more objective perspective on it all. Oh, and Hal Heckler because he's described as being really good looking, rides a motorbike and doesn't appear to have any girlfriends (obviously in this fantasy I am young, hot and single).

Jen: I would love to hang out with Lindsey for a while because she seemed to be such a strong, independent woman. She was sporty and a bit of a go-getter so I think I'd enjoy her company.

General comments:

Vanessa: I have walked past this book at bookstores so many times... it was lovely to discover what lay beneath the cover...would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good emotive and explorative read!

Tanya: I did enjoy this book but was hungry for more. The author seemed to skim over some areas and I wanted more depth or reasoning behind certain scenes - like Susie's influence over things on Earth, "the edge of the grave" and the initial suspense around Mr Harvey that just disappeared once he left town. I really enjoyed the description of heaven and the theory behind a person's soul being able to hang around and watch over loved ones if they decided. I liked Lindsey and how she handled grief, but she seemed to come away from it all with the greater ability to move on (besides Grandma Lynn). Overall, the book was a page-turner. I found myself wanting to read more, even though I wasn't fully satisfied. I think this book will translate well into a movie and I cant wait to see it!

Jen: I would never normally pick up a book about a child who is raped and murdered, but this book is written from such a unique perspective, and its written with a delicacy that makes the gruesome scenes bearable. When Lindsey broke into Mr Harvey's house my heart was racing and I could NOT put the book down until I knew what happened - I was right there with her and bloody scared!

Meet the first wives...

Vanessa



Q. What is the best thing about the first wives book club?
It gives me a chance to expand my reading repertoire and hang with some lovely first wives….very important since I’m a first wife in training!

Q. What is your all time favourite book?
A prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Q. If you could meet any author in the world, who would it be and why?
Hmmm….good question….maybe William Shakespeare (Does he count as an author?), I’d love to ask him how and why he invented the word ‘bubble’ – such a cool claim to fame!

Q. What is your favourite colour?
PINK! (But am partial to Red lipstick)




Bev - currently busy reading, more details soon!





Jen




Q. What is the best thing about the first wives book club?
A great bunch of people who inspire me to read more than I otherwise would, and Bev’s sensational baking!

Q. What is your all time favourite book?
Its hard to pick just one, but probably Dr Seuss’s “The Sneeches” because I’ve loved it for a LONG time.

Q. If you could meet any author in the world, who would it be and why?
Me! I’m not an author yet, but its one of my dreams.

Q. What is your favourite colour?
Red



Karen - currently busy reading, more details soon!






T




Q. What is the best thing about the first wives book club?
The company. It's a completely adult indulgence. The Bev Hewett Special Muffins!


Q. What is your all time favourite book?
3-way tie based on number of times I've re-read them. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams, the Harry Potter Series by J K Rowling and the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer.


Q. If you could meet any author in the world, who would it be and why?
Hmmmm...J K Rowling in the hopes we would become BFFs and in a fit of generosity she would gift me a million or so?? Nicholas Evans so I could give him an ear-bashing about why he should never have ended The Horse Whisperer that way?? Maybe Harper Lee so I could ask whether it was really her or Truman Capote who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.

Q. What is your favourite colour?
Again, a 3-way tie between Red, Blue and Green. Honestly, I'm really not that indecisive....







Merryn - currently busy reading, more details soon!

What's the time?

Hi there,

Okay, so the First Wives Book Club might have been set on Grenwich Mean Time up until now. But hey, I was just testing to see who'd notice....

Yeah, right.

We're on Melbourne time now people - look alive!!

And the next book is...

Stay tuned for the final post on The Lovely Bones - coming soon...

I am looking forward to getting stuck into our next read - I wonder who I'm going to meet in heaven??

One more day to go...

Only one more reading day until the First Wives Book Club meets again - hooray!


I didn't know that there was a movie of The Lovely Bones, but here are a few still images from the movie. The first image is heaven (of course!)

Susie Salmon wearing the hat that was found after her murder. She looks just like I had imagined her to look - I love it when that happens!

Jack Salmon - Susie's Dad. Woo hoo - Susie's Dad is a hottie!! (This sentiment could possibly be a a hangover from 'The Notebook" - he was such a SPUNK in that movie.)

Susie with Grandma Lynn.


Thats enough pictures now - I think I can smell a movie night coming up with the First Wives sometime soon.....

See you tomorrow night ladies!

x

An update...

Some people just have a way with words don't they?

I am completely hooked on The Lovely Bones so far. I have been engrossed, appalled, entrigued, horrified and inspired to consider what my heaven might look like. And I'm only halfway!

I hope the other first wives are happily turning the pages - even as I write this...

27 more reading days (and for some people a Fijian holiday) until our next book club meeting - I can't wait!