Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

55 reviews

eleanor_w's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

marianne_clh's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

eminent_reader's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Classism

Moderate: Death

edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I first read this book in middle school and was thoroughly unimpressed; but reading it again, I have absolutely fallen in love. I think it's one of those books where you can find little gems tucked away in every time you read it. There's so much commentary on this (rightful) classic that I won't say much, only that I admire Jane's character for not succumbing to things she finds demeaning or morally wrong. She faces so much pressure from her aunt, her school's discipline and Helen Burns' example, Mr. Rochester, and St. John Rivers, but she refuses to bend to anything she doesn't want. As someone who has experienced far-right, high-control religion, I particularly focused on her rejection of the mamby-pamby, turn-the-other-cheek, obedient-until-death attitude represented by Helen Burns and St. John Rivers. She is a real person, not a monolith or symbol, who makes her own way in within the systems she lives in. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, and Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Colonisation

condor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It does keep you in your toes with some plot twists but also got me frustrated many times when the characters act completely illogically. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism

avsdhpn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

My exposure to classic 19th century English literature is limited, but as compared to the contemporary writing of the time (such as Austen, Dickens, or Irvine), this had much better readability. The language used is not overly full of the flourishes popular of the time, and yet still reflects upon the rhetoric unique to the 19th century. The pacing was fair and only got bogged down in the extension of a few scenes within the book. 

The characters were well written, each having their own distinct and consistent personality. It is hard to gauge the plot of a book that has been out for close to 200 years, but I recognize this as the progenitor of many popular modern tropes within literature today, so it is hard to criticize the themes based on originality, but they were implemented well enough. 

 My only criticisms are few, just that perhaps a few scenes within the book have been expanded upon as compared to others to flesh out the dynamics between characters.

I put off reading this as I figured it was above my level but I, now, encourage others to give it a go if given the chance, especially if one enjoys gothic literature full of drama, injustice, and intrigue. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

linneak's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

thewillowwood's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I loved this book. It has many flaws, to be sure, but it was one that I felt deeply connected to throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

bobcat_thepagemaster's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was the first time I have ever read Jane Eyre despite being an English major (how scandalous I know!!). Having read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte multiple-times and being one of my all-time favorite books, I knew I was in for a treat! 

The book begins when Jane Eyre is a rambunctious young-girl. She is forced to live her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and cousins after the death of her parents. Jane is treated unfairly and punished by Mrs. Reed. Eventually, Jane is sent away to a girls school during this time she befriends a girl named Helen. The book continues to follow Jane throughout her life, she graduates from schools and teaches there for two years until she answers an advertisement for a governess. This is where we get to meet the dark, mysterious, and wealthy Mr. Rochester. We witness both Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre fall for one another knowing their love is forbidden due to the class divide

and the fact that Mr. Rochester is still married to his wife, who he hides in the attic!

 

This book is considered a classic for good reason! It gives us modern readers a look into what life was like for young women in the 19th-century—what their limitations where when it comes to love, work, and opportunity. There’s politics, religion, love, and gothic spookiness all wrapped into one story. Charolette Bronte’s prose is unparallel! She began writing this book in 1846 yet feel very modern. It is intelligent, honest, and unforgiving. I believe everyone should read this book at some point in their life. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Misogyny

bearystarry's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Despite the … views of the time, I guess, and the fact that between the entire cast of characters there were about three redeeming qualities, I enjoyed listening to this book. The first two thirds were the most interesting and the last third sort of lagged for me but in general I guess I was just interested in the way Jane told her story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Incest, Terminal illness, and Alcohol