Thursday, March 13, 2008

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Rating: 10/10

Published: 1847
Number of pages: 592

Started: 28 February 2008
Finished: 10 March 2008



Summary (taken from blurb):

Jane comes from nothing but is hungry for everything that life can offer her. She manages to survive her tragic childhood through sheer spirit and strength of character. And when she finds work as a governess in a mysterious mansion, it seems she has finally met her match in the darkly fascinating Mr Rochester.

But Thornfield Hall contains a shameful secret - one that could keep Jane and Rochester apart for ever. Can she choose between what is right, and her one chance of happiness?

Comments:
I had been looking forward to reading Jane Eyre for quite a long time, and I wasn't disappointed. It's a beautifully written novel with great characterisation. I loved all of the chapters regarding Jane's early childhood. I thought it did a great job of setting up her personality and background.

I loved the character of Jane and could identify with her quite a bit, which isn't something that happens to me very often. She's smart, headstrong and passionate, and her dialogue with Mr Rochester, in particular, makes for some enjoyable reading. I started getting a little bored when she went on her excursion to Morton, but once it got back on track at the end it was truly wonderful.

I'm fairly certain I saw a movie version of this many years ago at school but fortunately I didn't remember a thing about it. So as far as I was concerned I knew nothing of the story. I would love to see those closing scenes being played out, and I'd really like to track down the Orson Welles version of the film, seeing as he's one of my favourite actors.

4 comments:

That Hank said...

You might enjoy adding The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde to your reading list. It's a sort of funny little speculative fiction novel about chasing a criminal through the pages of Jane Eyre.

Kylie said...

I started reading The Eyre Affair right after I finished Jane Eyre. I'm enjoying it very much so far.

I'm thinking of reading Wide Sargasso Sea next, which is apparently a kind of prelude to Jane Eyre. Have you read it?

. said...

You're going to hate me for saying this...*gulp*

I got really angry at the scene where Jane falls asleep under a hedge then is rescued by someone who JUST SO HAPPENS to be her cousin. Such convenient coincidences in novels really rip my nips. And as for when she hears Rochester's voice calling her...oh man. That just put the tin hat on it for me.

I'm much more of a fan of her sister's only book than any of Charlotte's.

That said, I read JE in a couple of days when I was ill with flu, years ago. It's a quick read, I'll grant you, but the coincidence with StJohn really annoyed me.

Kylie said...

Yeah, it was a pretty big coincidence, but I was willing to overlook it :)