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Title: Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier ISBN: 0-380-72539-8 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 June, 1995 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.97 (29 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Take me back to Manderly.....
Comment: A few years ago someone suggested to me that I would enjoy the gothic writing style of Daphne DuMaurier. That, in itself, was a true statement, and Rebecca remains one of my favorite novels.
Recently I chose Jamaica Inn, after carrying around the weighty Atlas Shrugged for two months. At a scant 240 pages, this novel has a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time.
The death of Mary Yellan's mother, and a deathbed wish that she go to live with her Aunt Patience brings Mary to the much feared and maligned Jamaica Inn. Upon arrival Mary meets her Uncle Joss Merlyn, the landlord of Jamaica Inn, who lives up to every ugly scrap of reputation he has earned. A drunk; a bully; a spouse-abuser....Joss Merlyn is instantly disagreeable and unlikeable.
But Mary finds that Joss is much more than just ugly words. Meryln heads up a band of 'Wreckers' who lure ships to their doom with a false beacon, then murders the passengers and crew, and plunders the ship and sells off the goods. Horrified by this discovery, Mary struggles with her urge to flee Jamaica Inn, and her duty to protect her Aunt.
Mary also encounters Jem Merlyn, the n'er do well younger brother of Joss, and Francis Davey, the Vicar of Altarnun, in the near vicinity. Unsure of whether Jem is friend or foe, Mary finds herself drawn to him, and continually seeking out the aide of Vicar Davey.
But in the end, Mary's trust seems ill-placed, as the real head of the band of smugglers is revealed, murders and imprisonments occur, and the truth comes to light about the goings-on at Jamaica Inn.
Where this novel falls short, even without comparison to Rebecca; is in the brevity of the tale. With a sparse cast of characters; the end is in sight long before you turn the final page. The gloom of the moors is touched upon, with afternoon walks surrounded by mist and foreign noises...late night escapes from impending danger, and the threat of cut-throat smugglers ever present...but the suspense of all these situations is short lived, as the story moves on....
Perhaps a little further fleshing-out of the gloom and doom would have added more enjoyment to the story; at least for me, as I have a great deal of affection for DuMaurier's ability to delivery dark, gothic foreboding and trepidation.
Nevertheless, the story moves along at an easy to follow rate, and is enjoyable. Though I cannot give it a five star rating, I do recommend it to fans of DuMaurier.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great captivating novel of suspense and emotion
Comment: This exciting novel is very deep psychologically. Young and ignorant Mary Yellan is suddenly faced with the terrors and dangers of the world, when her loving mother tragically passes away and she travels to live with her dark and immoral uncle, Joss Merlyn. Not even the wise advice of the coach driver could prevent Mary from disobeying her dying mother's plead that Mary would join her Aunt Patience at Jamaica Inn. And so Mary Yellan's courageous journey begins in the coach heading for Jamaica Inn in the pouring rain. As Mary arrived at Jamaica Inn she already had a sense of the building's dark power, but never did she dream that she would become helplessly entrapped in the inn's vile and crumbling walls. As days turn to weeks, Mary's curiosity for her uncle's mysterious trade grows. Customers are not accepted at Jamaica Inn, instead, during the night, covered wagons arrive at Jamaica Inn carrying strangers and illegal goods. Mary discovers the evilness of the inn and desires to leave it immediately, but she knows that she can't abandon her aunt with her heinous uncle. To add to her troubles, Mary meets the landlord's brother and falls disastrously in love with him. However, this love is tormented by doubts as Jem's behavior changes and clues lead to his guilt of a murder. Mary found him to be so charming, however he is a horse-thief. Can Mary survive this dangerous situation?
Rating: 5
Summary: Jamaica Inn - still with me
Comment: It has been 5 years since I have read Jamaica Inn. It started as a requirement for my Enlish class to read and do a review on an author randomly picked by my teacher. I would never know the impact this book along with another, Rebecca, would have on me. I was never much of a reader before this experience and to this day I remember Daphne Du Maurier's books vividly. She will always remain my favorite author.
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Title: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier ISBN: 0380778556 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 November, 1994 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: The House on the Strand by Daphne Du Maurier ISBN: 0812217268 Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press Pub. Date: January, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier ISBN: 081221725X Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press Pub. Date: January, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: My Cousin Rachel (Common Reader Editions) by Daphne Du Maurier ISBN: 1585790370 Publisher: Trafalgar Square Pub. Date: 01 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier ISBN: 0837604125 Publisher: Bentley Publishers Pub. Date: December, 1971 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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