Jamaica Inn
From Daphne du Maurier—the beloved author of the timeless classic Rebecca—comes this haunting novel of secrets and suspense
The coachman tried to warn young Mary Yellan away from the ruined, forbidding place on the rainswept Cornish coast. But Mary chose instead to honor her mother's dying request that she join her frightened Aunt Patience and foreboding Uncle Joss Merlyn at Jamaica Inn. From her first glimpse on that raw November eve, she could sense the inn's dark power.
Mary never imagined that she would become hopelessly ensnared in the vile, villainous schemes being hatched within its crumbling walls—or that she would fall in love with a handsome, enigmatic stranger. But what secrets is he hiding from her—and can she really trust him?
Jamaica Inn is a riveting, classic novel of romantic suspense only the brilliant mind of Daphne du Maurier could conceive.
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Community Reviews
I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars, so went with 3 because I read another review with the same quandary who went with 4, so now we even out.
I enjoyed the book. I bought it several years ago, tried to start it a few times, and finally picked it up two days ago and finished it fast, even making dinner (teriyaki chicken, although that's not relevant except that it's easy to stir-fry and hold a book at the same time) while reading the book. So, if you are in a mood for a moody, gothic romance, it's just the ticket.
It is, however, over the top, although enjoyingly so. It's even got an albino in it! (It reminded me of Foul Play like that - "our suspects are albinos and chain smokers.") The heroine is plucky and determined, the hero is... well, I won't say, because I write reviews either for myself or for someone who hasn't read it and doesn't want to know everything.
The descriptions of places were lovely, whether a sinister inn or a moody bog. The one thing that completely bothered me was the constant "you're a woman and women are different." Yes, I figured out that we're different from men a long time ago, so you don't have to say it frequently.
Anyway, it's a fun read when you're in the right mood.
I enjoyed the book. I bought it several years ago, tried to start it a few times, and finally picked it up two days ago and finished it fast, even making dinner (teriyaki chicken, although that's not relevant except that it's easy to stir-fry and hold a book at the same time) while reading the book. So, if you are in a mood for a moody, gothic romance, it's just the ticket.
It is, however, over the top, although enjoyingly so. It's even got an albino in it! (It reminded me of Foul Play like that - "our suspects are albinos and chain smokers.") The heroine is plucky and determined, the hero is... well, I won't say, because I write reviews either for myself or for someone who hasn't read it and doesn't want to know everything.
The descriptions of places were lovely, whether a sinister inn or a moody bog. The one thing that completely bothered me was the constant "you're a woman and women are different." Yes, I figured out that we're different from men a long time ago, so you don't have to say it frequently.
Anyway, it's a fun read when you're in the right mood.
There is a lot of unpleasantness in this story. Most of the characters are terrible people, the atmosphere is bleak, and there's a sense of isolation for the main character as she deals with a lot of difficulties alone. I did like her, she's smart and she fights back as hard as she can when faced with any kind of attack, mental or physical. If it weren't for her strength of spirit, the book would have been rough to get through. I didn't care for the romance, though. Overall, not as appealing as Rebecca but it does build a strong sense of atmosphere and the prose is well done.
Bit of unfortunate implication for the albino person to be evil, even with the main character trying to remind herself not to be creeped out by his appearance before he's revealed as the villain
Bit of unfortunate implication for the albino person to be evil, even with the main character trying to remind herself not to be creeped out by his appearance before he's revealed as the villain
DNF a little over half way through. Not one likeable character. I honestly have no words for how stupid they all were.
I wrote this review earlier and then Goodreads deleted it. >:(
3.5 stars
Compared to Rebecca, I think that I much preferred Rebecca. I saw in a review that someone said Daphne du Maurier takes common book genres and makes them ~spooky (so like Rebecca was a murder mystery/thriller and Jamaica Inn was romance) - since I pretty much never read romance and don't prefer it, that would make sense as to why I preferred Rebecca. I also felt that this book was much more predictable. I sort of knew halfway through who the main villain would end up being and what would happen at the end more or less - not all the details, of course, but still the jist of the matter, and I was pretty much right. The characters all felt very trope-y, as opposed to her other more memorable characters (thinking of Mrs. Danvers, of course). I never felt truly engaged in the plot and sort of just didn't...care what happened to the main character.
Still, if there's one thing she is good at, it is bringing the gothic atmosphere to life. Her descriptions of the moors and landscape is spot on, and she turns it basically into another character of the book. She uses the landscape and weather to represent the plot and character progression, and I love how she ties the setting with the plot so closely. She paints a picture of the landscape for her readers and they get pulled into the story along with the characters.
In addition to the predictability of the plot and the trope-ish (almost one-dimensional) nature of most of the characters, I just think I was uncomfortable with the ending because it was such a parallel of the situation with Mary's aunt marrying her uncle. Of course, that may have been the point of that ending, and the readers were supposed to feel that way. Still, I think I just felt like there was so much that was unknown. On the surface, it's a happy ending, but I can't help but feel like there's something ominous lurking beneath that happy ending. It speaks to the talent of the author to achieve that feeling, and at the same time, just give me my happily ever after lol!
3.5 stars
Compared to Rebecca, I think that I much preferred Rebecca. I saw in a review that someone said Daphne du Maurier takes common book genres and makes them ~spooky (so like Rebecca was a murder mystery/thriller and Jamaica Inn was romance) - since I pretty much never read romance and don't prefer it, that would make sense as to why I preferred Rebecca. I also felt that this book was much more predictable. I sort of knew halfway through who the main villain would end up being and what would happen at the end more or less - not all the details, of course, but still the jist of the matter, and I was pretty much right. The characters all felt very trope-y, as opposed to her other more memorable characters (thinking of Mrs. Danvers, of course). I never felt truly engaged in the plot and sort of just didn't...care what happened to the main character.
Still, if there's one thing she is good at, it is bringing the gothic atmosphere to life. Her descriptions of the moors and landscape is spot on, and she turns it basically into another character of the book. She uses the landscape and weather to represent the plot and character progression, and I love how she ties the setting with the plot so closely. She paints a picture of the landscape for her readers and they get pulled into the story along with the characters.
In addition to the predictability of the plot and the trope-ish (almost one-dimensional) nature of most of the characters, I just think I was uncomfortable with the ending because it was such a parallel of the situation with Mary's aunt marrying her uncle. Of course, that may have been the point of that ending, and the readers were supposed to feel that way. Still, I think I just felt like there was so much that was unknown. On the surface, it's a happy ending, but I can't help but feel like there's something ominous lurking beneath that happy ending. It speaks to the talent of the author to achieve that feeling, and at the same time, just give me my happily ever after lol!
Really liked it! But fyi it's not in Jamaica so don't expect a tropical getaway during a winter storm. XD My mistake for not reading the description thoroughly. lol
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