Rebecca, as the title suggests, is all about Rebecca as her presence is always felt on some level in the story. The beginning of the story should have prepared me about its later parts. But I got so engrossed in Mrs. de Winter's life at Manderley, however dull, that I forgot all about it. And I guess that was to my advantage.
The personality of Maxim de Winter is kept under wraps till the last hundred pages or so which got a little annoying. It was like too much was happening for me to digest; after the day after day routine detailed in the way it was. Though, I wouldn't blame it on Daphne Du Maurier, because perhaps, it is her writing style.
The haunting relationship between Mrs. de Winter and Rebecca is truthfully acknowledged and given the existence of Mrs. Danvers, it is reinforced all the more so. What I feel about Rebecca is not really clear cut. It is an intriguing novel, but the intrigue is not really satisfied at first. Given in small doses that were enough to keep me going on.
I wouldn't compare Rebecca to any other novel because it offered me an insight into the life of an inexperienced protagonist, even if she will remain unnamed forever. That fact helps give an air of mystery which envelops her after her fears and dreams are bared for all to see. After all, the opening line of the novel is a verity in itself.