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sarah_zaffiro's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Body shaming
Minor: Death, Antisemitism, and Alcoholism
buildingtaste's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What an immersive book. It flagged at points--and it's probably a bad sign I thought the final love interest was two different people until nearly the end--but it is a lovely work in all. I liked the ending, though I can see why it doesn't resonate as much as Jane Eyre with most people. Worth a re-read once you know all the things Lucy is being a bit obtuse about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Incest
There is an extended sequence where the main character is to take care of a disabled child, and the characterisation of that child is not kind. The character in question is legally an adult when they get into the romantic relationship, but they are very young and knew the love interest when they were a child. The love interests for this character and the main character are about 10-20 years older than them. There is an extended sequence of fuguelike depression where the narrator is seemingly suicidal. There is significant discussion of catholicism vs. protestantism and attempts to convert characters. The main character's romance begins with mostly her being bullied, verbally assaulted, and at least once physically assaulted, but none of this is ever explicitly sexual. There are significant amounts of grief over family death and lost chances/circumstances. At one point the protagonist is drugged against her will. A character travels to a colonial plantation for several years. A character is meant to marry their cousin.jessthanthree's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Religious bigotry
jrobrien99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.5
This novel was a true character study and an internal reflection on unrequited love. The narrator, Lucy Snowe, struggles with her self-image and seems to be an observer of her own life. Melancholy and reflective, she watches others around her live their lives in selfish, spontaneous, secretive, fantastic ways, while she leads a solitary, introspective life. In this quiet manner, she longs for those out of her reach or those whose attention is captured by another. In this way, she lives, loves, and loses in solitude.
There is a wide range of characters in this novel, such as the dashing Dr. John, the fairy-like Paulina, the giddy Ginevra, and the brooding M. Paul. However, these descriptions come from Lucy's point of view. The first person narration allows for much internal reflection, but also allows for unreliable narration from Lucy. She tends to omit details or revelations until later in the novel, which would have made characters or events seen differently by the reader. For example,M. Paul is painted in an almost bipolar and abusive light at the beginning of the novel, with his brooding and yelling at students and Lucy herself. However, the reader learns later that he has an affinity for gardening and takes care of a small spaniel that follows him around the grounds. If Lucy would have divulged these details earlier, M. Paul might have been more likeable and a much more sympathetic character.
What surprised me most about this novel was how little I liked Lucy. Usually the reader is meant to like or at least relate to the narrator, but not in Villette. Lucy is unreliable and so melancholy that often I was frustrated with her moods or lack of decisions. After a while, though, I came to appreciate that move by Charlotte Bronte. By creating an unlikeable narrator, the reader is distanced from the novel and takes Lucy's place as an outside observer. Instead of relating to Lucy and being put in her shoes that way, the reader is made to feel like she feels, looking at others' actions in an objective way, unable to give any input.
The pace of this book is fairly slow, but it does make you feel. The last five chapters were really a roller coaster of emotions. This isn't a happy book. It's about the pain of feeling like an outsider, and the pain of someone you love not loving you back. It took me a while to get through, but it is definitely worth the read if you're in the mood for something a little painful, but that makes you appreciate the value of life.
There is a wide range of characters in this novel, such as the dashing Dr. John, the fairy-like Paulina, the giddy Ginevra, and the brooding M. Paul. However, these descriptions come from Lucy's point of view. The first person narration allows for much internal reflection, but also allows for unreliable narration from Lucy. She tends to omit details or revelations until later in the novel, which would have made characters or events seen differently by the reader. For example,
What surprised me most about this novel was how little I liked Lucy. Usually the reader is meant to like or at least relate to the narrator, but not in Villette. Lucy is unreliable and so melancholy that often I was frustrated with her moods or lack of decisions. After a while, though, I came to appreciate that move by Charlotte Bronte. By creating an unlikeable narrator, the reader is distanced from the novel and takes Lucy's place as an outside observer. Instead of relating to Lucy and being put in her shoes that way, the reader is made to feel like she feels, looking at others' actions in an objective way, unable to give any input.
The pace of this book is fairly slow, but it does make you feel. The last five chapters were really a roller coaster of emotions. This isn't a happy book. It's about the pain of feeling like an outsider, and the pain of someone you love not loving you back. It took me a while to get through, but it is definitely worth the read if you're in the mood for something a little painful, but that makes you appreciate the value of life.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
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