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missbryden's review against another edition
3.0
Rather dull and slow til chapter 19 of 25, in which a heroine for the hero firmly appears (she appears earlier, but she hadn't stood out as a character), and includes the only scene I could remember from previous reading. Only from there did it get interesting and even have parts that I really enjoy, and . I understand this story, Charlotte Bronte's first, but which failed to publish before success with [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557343311l/10210._SY75_.jpg|2977639], was reused in [b:Villette|31173|Villette|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320412741l/31173._SY75_.jpg|40852693], which I look forward to reading, as well as finishing [b:Shirley|31168|Shirley|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1422609409l/31168._SY75_.jpg|2685457], to compare all of Bronte's work, and her sisters' works, too.
I'm somewhat troubled by the, for lack of what else to call it, patriotism. It especially comes out in the hero's description of his students and all others he encounters (it's first person, so could be taken as his thoughts), which gives the impression that only the English have good qualities, though the English he leaves behind, before moving to the Continent, are likewise mostly lacking in good qualities. In his descriptions of the French, Belgian, Swiss he meets, works with and teaches, they are mostly not positively described, and their physical and intellectual characteristics are described as belonging to whatever their nativity is: French, Belgian, Swiss, etc.
Yet then, later I suppose my problem is his patriotism doesn't seem to include respect for the other nationalities.
I recognised bits, the spirits of which seem to go one to appear in Jane Eyre, and the notes in my paperback edition reference these and other similarities in Shirley and Villette.
Spoiler
way ahead of their time, the heroine retains her occupation on marrying the hero and they eventually join their occupations, and the story gives a bit of the married life, which isn't often in storiesI'm somewhat troubled by the, for lack of what else to call it, patriotism. It especially comes out in the hero's description of his students and all others he encounters (it's first person, so could be taken as his thoughts), which gives the impression that only the English have good qualities, though the English he leaves behind, before moving to the Continent, are likewise mostly lacking in good qualities. In his descriptions of the French, Belgian, Swiss he meets, works with and teaches, they are mostly not positively described, and their physical and intellectual characteristics are described as belonging to whatever their nativity is: French, Belgian, Swiss, etc.
Yet then, later
Spoiler
the heroine discusses patriotism with another Englishman, perplexed that he doesn't have it for his England, and she believing that each should have patriotism for their country.I recognised bits, the spirits of which seem to go one to appear in Jane Eyre, and the notes in my paperback edition reference these and other similarities in Shirley and Villette.
annekdotes's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Charlotte Brontë’s first novel, which she desperately tried to get published, even after the success of Jane Eyre, but which wasn’t published until after her death. It’s a bit rough around the edges and it has its faults, but her magnificent writing style is already there, and the second half of the novel was a joy to read (but the first couple of chapters are really quite dull). I especially enjoyed seeing where she started, though, and how this exercise led to such literary feats as she wrote after this.
crucible's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
caffeineaddict980's review against another edition
5.0
This book revolved around the life of William Crimsworth who obtains a job as a professor in an all girls school which is situated in Brussels.
Soon after beginning to teach there, he meets the Directress of the school who is named Zoradier Reuter and begins to fall head over heels in love with her, unknowingly entering into a love triangle.
When a new young and brilliant student enters his classes, jealousy ensues.
This book has pretty much risen to one of my favourite Charlotte Bronte books.
The writing is compelling and the novel is VERY hard to put down.
Soon after beginning to teach there, he meets the Directress of the school who is named Zoradier Reuter and begins to fall head over heels in love with her, unknowingly entering into a love triangle.
When a new young and brilliant student enters his classes, jealousy ensues.
This book has pretty much risen to one of my favourite Charlotte Bronte books.
The writing is compelling and the novel is VERY hard to put down.
ejharding's review against another edition
3.0
It was short and sweet and felt extremely different to her other books but I still enjoyed it.
dori_anne's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
itselvv's review against another edition
أسباب ليه ما اقدر استسيغ بعض الكلاسيكيات:
١. لغتها المتكلفة، سواءً كجمال المفردات، أو زيادة في الوصف، أو جعل البشر بياض ناصع أو سواد مؤذي، أو محاولة في إظهار شيء فوق المطلوب
٢. وصف الجمال وكأن له معايير ثابتة حقيقية، وكثرة وصف جمال النساء خصوصًا (all women are beautiful but not to the point that all they have)
٣. ماعرف، فيه شي ماقدر افهمه، احس كأن النص يطير مني أو يهرب وماني قادرة اسيطر عليه، ما أقدر اغرق في عالم القصة لأني مركزة امسكها أول، وما أقدر امسكها مهما حاولت.. ماعرف أوصفه، لكنه يخلي القراءة مُجهِدة.. ومش الجهد اللذيذ
٤. العنصرية الطبقية الذكورية وامسك ورقة وقلم واكتب معي يامعلم
٥. كثرة القوانين، أحس وكأن زمان كان فيه حدود ضيقة وقوانين صارمة لازم يتبّعها الكاتب ولا كتابه ماحيشوف رفوف المكتبات بيوم… لكن هالشيء يقلل من التنوع والتطور ويحد من قيمة العمل للقارئ الحديث خصوصًا
يمكن فيه زيادة بس هذا الموجود الحين
اتمنى لو كان فيه زر turn off لأيش ماكان هذا الشي الي يخليني ما استمتع بقراءة الكلاسيكيات من هالنوع .. لكن بما إني ما أقدر… DNF (:
soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
I certainly would have enjoyed this more if the author hadn't had the characters speak in French so much. Still, it was an interesting story of a schoolteacher's life that reflects Charlotte Bronte's own.
lucy_i_t's review
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
judelon's review against another edition
3.0
I got the impression she wasn't sure when to end the book, and I thought the protagonist was a little stuffed on himself, but it was a good listen.