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Mary Anne (2013)

by Daphne du Maurier(Favorite Author)

3.35 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0316323713 (ISBN13: 9780316323710)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Little, Brown and Company

review 1: I love Daphne and whilst this book isn't up to her usual excellent standards it is still a good read and kept me interested right until the end. The thing about Mary Anne that is compelling is that she was actually one of Daphne's family members (aunt, great aunt, can't quite remember) and so the part is written with empathy for someone who was quite often not very nice!What I love about the character is how modern she is even by today's standards, the way she behaves is not dissimilar to many young, hungry girls out there today and the portrayal of the men in her life made me laugh out loud.Nonetheless she is pretty much a trumped up prozzy who takes, takes, takes throughout the book but then I still was impressed with her - and Daphne's version of events.nb. if you get ... morethe new edition (might be UK only) there is a great introduction that explains the back story to this book which is as compelling as the book itself - try and read it, bloody brilliant!
review 2: This book started off well but really dragged by the end. The concept of the book is excellent. Mary Anne is a poor, lonely child who constantly watches her mother go through hell for a man who barely appreciates her. Being smart and passionate, she escapes through her first marriage, a partnership that ends in disaster when she discovers her husbands drinking, debts and lack of success. Being a destitute but pretty woman, she turns to the option of selling herself, even going so far as to being mistress to the Duke of York.Up until her life with the Duke, this book was excellent. I really felt for Mary Anne and her torturous life. I wanted to see her succeed and for her to use her intelligence to be an individual and strong. [SPOILERS] Even when her relationship with the Duke dissolved and she was legally in trouble, she showed ingenuity and caution which was interesting to read. It was great to see her rise from a penniless nobody to a woman that everyone talked about and cheered for. I think the problem with this book is that it just went on too long. It's as if Daphne looked at the plot she had created and then decided to inject too much realism in it. Yes, we know that there are logistics to her lifestyle that need to be addressed. Yes, we know she a talentless woman living on her own.... but the reality of Daphne explaining those issues is frightfully boring. By the end of it, Mary Anne seemed revenge mad and a horrible person to be around. You can feel the suspicion of her friends in every line as she turns from a sweet lady into a tongue wagger and secret revealer. Overall, I gave this book a three stars. It's well written and Mary Anne is a curious character. However, it goes too long and by the end, Mary Anne is not the woman we want to read about. less

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