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There are currently 26 member reviews
for Manderley Forever
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Shirley P. (Colorado Springs, CO)
Manderly Forever - Tatiana De Rosnay
I read a great deal of Daphne Du Maurier's books as a young woman and enjoyed them very much. I thought of her as a "gothic" writer at the time, which I now find out from this book was an appellation she hated.
At the start of this book, I was a bit put off by the present tense and third person limited (?) point of view of the book, as it seemed to me to make it appear more a work of fiction than a biography. As I read on though, I realized that this presented the reader with a richer, more complicated world than a recitation of facts as in a strict biographical form and I ended up quite enjoying this book.
There have been a few books about Ms. DuMaurier, that have been quite controversial because of the purported "facts" about her sexuality and her identity duality as Eric Avon. Ms. De Rosnay has embraced the supposed lesbian relationships formerly written about, which her children have strongly denied as true. This reader falls on the side of discrediting actual relationships in favor of DuMaurier's dramatics and "crushes" half living in a world of fiction as she did, though De Rosnay's sources are convincing as to her version of DuMaurier's private life.
I recommend this book as an interesting story and a very interesting and comprehensive description of a famous writer's life.
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Melinda H. (Cornelius, NC)
fascinating
Reading Manderley Forever by Tatiana De Rosnay instantly transported me back to one of my favorite homes in literature. Although this is actually the biography of Daphne De Maurier, I couldn't help but relate everything to my treasured memory of Rebecca and Manderley.
De Rosnay easily transitions from her own impressions of the time and place into Daphne's. I loved the novel-like quality of the writing, and the ease with which we were allowed into Daphne's quite eccentric life. Although I was not at all surprised by Daphne's lifestyle, it was most certainly quite risque 75 years ago.
I truly feel as if I know this person, as though we were acquaintances, even friends, not she simply the subject of a book I read. De Rosnay did an amazing job transporting the reader into Daphne's life, her mind, and her books.
This book is for anyone who loves biographies, Rebecca, or studies of real women who didn't fall in line with traditional female roles. For those who are not ready to have those roles shattered, I would recommend a different book. For those who have read or seen some of De Maurier's darker works, this book will enlighten and expose the inspirations affecting Daphne. I highly recommend this book for a few reasons. One, I love delving into the inspirations and writing habits of a beloved author and De Rosnay delivers a beautiful story. Two, for anyone who is learning to live with a different lifestyle choice, or knows someone who is, it honestly reveals an unveiled understanding and acceptance of living outside of societal expectations.
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SMASH
Really a biography?
Manderley Forever is certainly an engaging read. I first read "Rebecca" as a high school student and loved the story. I knew nothing of Daphne du Maurier's life however. While I was drawn in and very much enjoyed reading this book, I did not have the sense of reading a biography (which this book claims to be). As an educator, I would question a student writer using information in this way for a "biography". I felt it was from one point of view rather than objective. So I left this book with the sense of being entertained but not truly informed. I felt there was amazingly strong loyalty on the part of the author. While facts could be verified, so many feelings and inferences went beyond what I believed could be verified by letters or journals. That said, it is an enjoyable read!
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Cheryl M. (Marco Island, FL)
A "Novel" Biography
Biographies can be a dry retelling of names, dates and events. Not so with Tatiana De Rosnay's insightful biography of Daphne Du Maurier. Revelations of her complicated relationships with women, the places and emotions that drove her writing are expertly woven through the pages of this biography. I was captivated by the writing style and the details of Du Maurier's life. I will re-read some of her works with renewed insight into her life and times.
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Cheri S. (Newburgh, IN)
The Creative Soul
Creative souls are within select individuals from birth, I believe, and whether or not they develop into people who act upon that creativity depends on myriad variables; but, I also believe that the whole nature vs. nurture concept is perhaps the most powerful of those variables! In the case of author Daphne du Maurier, the focus of Tatiana de Rosnay's research complied within Manderley Forever, both of my beliefs are given great support! The paternal heritage of du Maurier is a textbook version of artist begetting artist. And the relationships within the family serve as further opportunities for nurturing du Maurier's already highly developed artistic temperament.
Using a very inspired means of giving us the biography of du Maurier's life as if it is a novel being told in the 3rd person, de Rosnay takes us from womb to the tomb in a fairly captivating manner throughout. There are a few places where I feel she does get bogged down with repetitive introspective moments such as moments spent at the du Maurier summer home; otherwise, the work moves at a nice pace. I also enjoyed how she began each section with her present-day notes on the upcoming material which avoided maligning the flow of the work.
While I definitely would not recommend this book for young readers, I do think that most women's book clubs would love to discuss this book! I know I would enjoy discussing it with others who are fans of du Maurier and those who are just now learning about this creative artist's world.
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Barbara K. (Brooklyn, NY)
Manderley Forever - A Biography/Novel Hybrid
Daphne Du Maurier is one of my favorite authors so the idea of reading her biography was exciting to me. However, Tatiana De Rosnay's book, while well written & thus enjoyable, reads more like a novel than a true biography. Apparently, Du Maurier wrote detailed journals throughout her life & it seems that the facts Tatiana De Rosnay extrapolated from Du Mauruer's own words became Manderley Forever. This unusual biography showcases events in Du Maurier's life and family. It highlights her unique abilities & interests which resulted in the creation of Daphne Du Maurier's unique written works. This is a worthwhile read.
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Julia E. (Atlanta, GA)
Readable Uncritical Tribute
In the preface of this biography of Daphne du Maurier, author Tatiana de Rosnay states that Du Maurier's most famous work, Rebecca, had profoundly effected de Rosnay's development as young writer; indeed, she signed her early work Tatiana du Maurier as homage. Her identification with her subject is further deepened by de Rosnay's sharing a similar Anglo-French upper-class background and tastes. Drawing heavily upon du Maurier's autobiographical writings, de Rosnay tells du Maurier's story from an intimate perspective, as if through her subjects very eyes. De Rosnay's storytelling is uncannily like du Maurier's: she smoothly keeps one turning the pages. The result is readable, uncritical biography about a self-centered woman who wrote a highly readable mid-century classic.
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