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hrmsnowy's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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 read Jane Eyre relatively recently and wanted to see what else Charlotte Brontë wrote, so picked this one up at random. Since it's not one of the most famous books by the Brontës, I wasn't expecting it to be perfect, but I enjoyed it to a surprising degree; the characters were entertaining (especially Mr Hunsden, whose appearances were often quite amusing) and the plot was compelling. My primary complaints would be that the main character was a little one dimensional at times, and the entire final chapter was unnecessary and only seemed to dampen the effect of the conclusion - Brontë did the same in Jane Eyre, but it worked better there. These weren't huge drawbacks, however; I greatly liked it overall and would recommend it as a read, especially if you like other works by the Brontës.
momoj8's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
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
0.75
zemroner's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
lilibookworm's review against another edition
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
3.0
starsfrommars's review against another edition
3.0
I agree with a lot of the other reviews here. This novel was far from perfect, but it was a wonderful starting point for Charlotte Brontë to grow from, and we can see that in her later works especially. We see comparisons to herself in the main character, but also his pupil. We see hints of how she became obsessed with her teacher (who was married) in William, but also how she wished he saw her as a student in Frances. What I find odd is her blend of feminist ideals and the theme of obedient women. The strong willed, intelligent character of Frances feels disjoint with how she takes comfort in being obedient to William once they marry. The detail of her crying before their wedding is also interesting to me. Is she satisfied? Is she forcing herself to accept losing her independence? I truly feel there is much more to Frances' character than what William reports. Charlotte Brontë has always kind of had a... *thing* for power dynamics in her writing, so it could also be a result of this. All in all, this feels like a much more realistic telling of a romance than the likes of Jane Eyre. To me, this felt like a story of morally correct decisions, or what Jane and Mr. Rochester chose not to do in Jane Eyre, almost like an alternate reality. A great first novel for Charlotte.
qu1nny's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. Need to read every single thing a Brontë sister wrote ever now.
“I enjoyed, undisturbed, the treble pleasure of having her near me, hearing the sound of her voice - a sound sweet and satisfying in my ear”
like come on…
“I enjoyed, undisturbed, the treble pleasure of having her near me, hearing the sound of her voice - a sound sweet and satisfying in my ear”
like come on…
mmehdi_auteur's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
manderzreadz's review against another edition
3.0
I read classics for fun, but this one was hard to get through. I just could not relate to any of the characters. I did love the classic Bronte writing style though.
anbi's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No