I discovered Daphne DuMaurier a few years ago and couldn’t stop reading her! Jamaica Inn, The Kings General, and Frenchman’s Creek are my favorites. Except for her sci-fi stuff, I couldn’t get through House on the Strand or some of her short stories.
Another old soul book I accidentally discovered and became an all time favorite is House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
I could not get into The House on the Strand either, Jenny! I was REALLY looking forward to it, so I was pretty disappointed. The others you listed are some of my favorites as well, but I have not read The King’s General yet. I do, however, have a first edition copy of it that I found in a used book sale—so I will move it back to the top of the TBR pile 😂
I pretty much grew up on old books right from childhood, so REBECCA wasn't a "first" for me in that respect—but I do remember it as one of two landmark "grown-up" novels that made teenage me, getting serious about the story scribbling I'd also been doing from childhood, say quietly to myself, "Wow...that is a real *novel.* And I want to be able to write like that." (The other was TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.)
I didn’t. Even apart from so much about the publication story sounding fishy, I just didn’t want it to spoil the magic of TKAM for me. (I’ve put off/avoided other, more straightforward sequels to books I loved for that reason!)
I discovered Daphne DuMaurier a few years ago and couldn’t stop reading her! Jamaica Inn, The Kings General, and Frenchman’s Creek are my favorites. Except for her sci-fi stuff, I couldn’t get through House on the Strand or some of her short stories.
Another old soul book I accidentally discovered and became an all time favorite is House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
I could not get into The House on the Strand either, Jenny! I was REALLY looking forward to it, so I was pretty disappointed. The others you listed are some of my favorites as well, but I have not read The King’s General yet. I do, however, have a first edition copy of it that I found in a used book sale—so I will move it back to the top of the TBR pile 😂
Thank you for your recommendation!
Have you read The Glass Blowers by any chance?
I have not read the Glass Blowers yet, is it a good one?
I haven’t read it yet either! It’s another one sitting on my shelf…
I pretty much grew up on old books right from childhood, so REBECCA wasn't a "first" for me in that respect—but I do remember it as one of two landmark "grown-up" novels that made teenage me, getting serious about the story scribbling I'd also been doing from childhood, say quietly to myself, "Wow...that is a real *novel.* And I want to be able to write like that." (The other was TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.)
Oh, I love that! And yes, it was also definitely one of the earliest books I can recall that made me think “if I could write like THAT one day…” 😍
Did you read “Go Set a Watchman?”
I didn’t. Even apart from so much about the publication story sounding fishy, I just didn’t want it to spoil the magic of TKAM for me. (I’ve put off/avoided other, more straightforward sequels to books I loved for that reason!)