When you start rereading books, is it a sign that you are getting old? I recently dug out two books which I had enjoyed during my college days. I was curious to know if they evoked the same reaction after a gap of these many years.
The first one I read was 'Rebecca'. Manderley was majestic and so was the story. Even after knowing that Rebecca was murdered by her own husband, my sympathies were with Maxim and his new wife. I personally felt cheated when Manderley was set on fire towards the end of the story. The new Mrs. & Mr. de Winter deserved peaceful and beautiful days in Manderley. I wonder if a sequel was written and if Manderley was restored to its former glory. I wish it was.
Going back to the plot, there was a huge suspense around the hearing after the discovery of boat near the beach. All the fragments of the story fitted together. At the end, there weren't any questions, only regret.
On the other hand, I was far less impressed by 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' this time around. I felt there were gaping holes in the plot.
One, didn't the boat owner in San Remo report the matter to local police and wasn't a hunt launched for two guys who had hired the boat and gone missing?
Two, how could Marge accept whatever was dished out to her? Why didn't she try to contact Dickie personally even once while he was in Rome? She evidently had a deeper relationship with him and she would have known him better.
Three, after Freddie's murder, wasn't the landlady questioned? Later, when the case was in newspapers, didn't she see a different picture of Dickie in the paper? Same for all the hotel staff in Rome and Palermo? Couldn't one person recognise that the picture of Dickie Green-leaf did not match with the guy who lived there?
Fourth, why did Marge suddenly turn friendly towards Tom in Venice, specially after he stood her up at Rome?
Fifth, why did Dickie's father turn friendly towards Ripley? Why didn't he question the will?
Sixth, this is not a loophole in the plot. I just have been brought up on a diet of 'triumph of good over evil'. When you see evil winning, your whole conviction takes a thrashing.
Interestingly, I wanted the de Winters to enjoy their well deserved wealth, which they could not. And I grudged Mr. Ripley his ill-gotten wealth which he, unfortunately, got to enjoy. That's how life is!
Verdict: I came out equally impressed with Rebecca as I was the first time but Mr. Ripley disappointed.
