Bring a folding chair or blanket and join us for an evening of mystery and suspense as we watch the Alfred Hitchcock classic “Rebecca” on Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m. in Rex Courtyard located on South Hoyle Avenue. Rex Courtyard is a vastly underused jewel that was the site of the old Rex Theater.

The showing of the film is the second portion of the “Read a Classic, Watch a Classic” program recently started by the Bay Minette Browsers Book Club. The Browsers meet the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. to discuss a book chosen for that month. The Daphne du Maurier classic Rebecca was selected for March. The book is perhaps more familiar to the general public as the 1940 classic film, which won the Best Picture Oscar for that year.

On Monday, the Browsers met to discuss Rebecca, which is widely considered to be du Maurier’s masterpiece. When Browsers member Nina Lisenby told her daughter that she was going to skim the book since she had read it before, her daughter told her she couldn’t do that adding, “Daphne du Maurier demands that you read every word!” She is right. The novel, which is one of my all-time favorites, is beautifully written allowing the reader to be absolutely absorbed in the story.

The book and the film open with the ominous lines – “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again …” and the narrative centers around a heroine who is never given a name as the author could never think of one for her. The novel, told in first person from the heroine’s perspective, is classified as a Gothic romance. For those who squirm at the mere mention of the word “romance,” which can immediately conjure up thoughts of “Harlequin bodice rippers,” rest assured that this novel is a far cry from that. It is more psychological thriller than romance.

Daphne du Maurier lived in and wrote about Cornwall, England and the English lifestyle permeates the pages of her book. The reader is transported to a different time – 1920s and 30s England – and the vivid landscape of a seaside English manor.

The heroine, who is working as a companion to an overbearing, pompous American woman, accompanies her employer on vacation to Monte Carlo. Naive and inexperienced at life, in her early 20s, she meets the wealthy widower Maxim de Winter, who is in his early 40s. Thrown together by circumstance, the couple marries after a whirlwind courtship. Following a wonderful honeymoon in Italy, the couple returns to Maxim’s home, the grand estate Manderley. This is where the story truly begins as the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, and the shadow of de Winter’s late wife begin to interfere with the newlyweds’ happiness. The story is rich in suspense and a must-read for anyone who enjoys suspense and well-crafted characters.

Du Maurier had two novels and one short story made into major motion pictures directed by Hitchcock. In 1939, “Jamaica Inn” starred Maureen O’Hara and Charles Laughton. It was followed by “Rebecca” in 1940. “The Birds” was released in 1963 starring Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor.

An accomplished author and playwright, du Maurier was descended from a talented family. Her grandfather George du Maurier was a famous writer and artist. He was a frequent contributor to the weekly British satirical magazine “Punch.” Her father Gerald du Maurier was an actor.

Don’t miss this opportunity to read this du Maurier classic! Pick up a copy of the book at the Bay Minette Public Library. Then join us for the thrilling courtyard showing of the film on the 28th.

Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Old Town Bay Minette Arts Council final event – an “Art Party” in Blackburn Park on Saturday, March 29 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. This exciting event is the arts council’s gift to the community and will feature music, storytelling by Delores “the Barefooted Poet” Gibson, kid’s art projects, belly dancers and a butterfly release. Plus, there will be vendors selling food, arts, crafts and antiques. This event is a must.

Joanna Bailey is the director of the Bay Minette Public Library. She can be reached at baileyvolumes@gmail.com