Daphne du Maurier reading week 2020

Last year I decided to have a little reading week event for Daphne du Maurier an eternally popular writer whose birthday I share. It seemed fitting to hold it the week of our birthday, and I was delighted with just how many people joined in. So with April into its second week I thought I better remind you all that as we had so much fun last year, we’re going to do it all again, well I say we – I hope some of you will be joining me.

I have kept the page up sharing reviews from last year – but I will be taking off last year’s links to make way for this year nearer the time – so if you are looking for inspiration, and want to see what everyone was reading last year I would do it now.

Last year I read:

The Breaking Point stories

The House on the Strand

Mary Anne

They were each fantastic reading experiences (in fact my week was closer to a fortnight) I got quite carried away. This year? Well I have The Parasites, The Birds and other stories, The Flight of the Falcon, and Daphne’s Letters from Menabilly which was a birthday gift last year, and I could easily have acquired more by the time May 11^th rolls around. There’s also a part of me that would love to read Rebecca again, despite there being a good number of Daphne du Maurier books I haven’t read. As ever I will see where my mood takes me.

If you aren’t a blogger, that really doesn’t matter – join in the conversation using the hashtag #DDMreadingweek on Twitter and Instagram, read some Daphne du Maurier books, share photos of your books or just let me know what you have read and how you got on in the comments section on my blog. If you are a blogger – please let your readers know you’ll be joining in – and alert me to any reviews of Daphne du Maurier books during the week of 11^th – 17^th May (or after, I know reviews take a while to come in). Most of all celebrate the life and work of a wonderful writer, who I feel is sometimes dismissed rather as a women’s writer or a romance writer. She is so much more than that, fantastic at depicting atmosphere some of her work has some quite dark overtones, touching on the paranormal in places. An extraordinary storyteller, some of her characters; Mrs Danvers, Mary Yellan, Rachel – are quite unforgettable. So, if you have never read her before, now could be your time.

I understand that many people are finding their reading mood to be pretty fickle at the moment – I am finding that myself – so I understand that perhaps not everyone will want to commit to a reading event at the moment. Still, if you find yourself able to share some du Maurier love – whether it’s a photo or a retweet – then that counts too.

If you think you will be reading along with me the week of 11^th -17^th May I would love to hear from you, especially if you already know what you will be reading.

I’m looking forward to it already.