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lyricallit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Here I will include my final post from the readalong, hidden for spoilers:
Do I wish that this story had been entirely told to us by Helen, like Jane Eyre? 💯 But I can understand why Bronte frames it the way she did -- after all, she needed a male penname to tell her own stories, too! In a patriarchal society, Gilbert is the authorizing ally to lift up Helen's voice, just as "Acton Bell" was Anne's.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
paulagarco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction and Violence
katewhite77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was way way ahead of it's time and very controversial as it is a cering critique on Victorian parenting and the strife it causes in later in life. With a lazer sharp focus on gender. Therefore it is also immensely feminist and lays bare the dark side of Victorian attitude towards marriage and domestic violence. Religion is also an important theme in this novel. Universal salvation was a new concept at the time and also controversial concept. This is the idea that a sinner is not necessarily condemned to hell as long as time is served in purgatory is served.
This is also such a well written novel that you always feel at the centre of the action. The plot is so intricate and intriguing that I didn't know which way to look. Thankfully the Audrey app has handy character list so it is easy to keep track.
I can't recommend tĥis book and if you do take careful note of chapter 3.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Bullying, and Sexual harassment
mattiedancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
- Fans of the Brontë sisters
- Fans of classic literature
- Those looking for a slow, romance-heavy read that bends toward feminism
- Misogyny, sexism, infidelity, emotional abuse, classism, death of a parent, death, injury, terminal illness, pregnancy, bullying
Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
mmehdi_auteur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Dementia, Emotional abuse, Violence, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Child abuse and Infidelity
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
CW: alcoholism, infidelity, gambling, violence, head injury, heteronormative Christian sexism
A reclusive painter and her son move into an old building that had previously been barely habitable, and the neighbours start to gossip about what she's hiding. Idle speculation leads to talk of scandal and stuck in the middle of it all our narrator begins to fall for this dark beauty and her logic, wit, piety and rationality.
I notice that Anne Brontë, like Mary Shelley before her, has delivered the narrative in the form of letters. Within this she also includes journal articles and conversations that flesh out backstory.. so that it becomes a pile of different stories nested within each other. Within this framework she uses characters in opposing schools of thought as verbal combatants to flesh out ideas of practicality and morality. She shows her colours as the daughter of a clergyman as the entire tale is underpinned by Christian sensibilities.
As far as the plot is concerned I could see where it was going and so I was frustrated that JUST as I felt there was going to be a revelation to the oblivious main character, instead he is handed a journal and then we proceed to get the entire backstory of the woman he's interested in... it's a good story though, so I shall pout quietly.
I find it very refreshing to see a lot of arguments about the raising of children in this story. The concept of coddling girls from evil influences, while expecting boys to learn of them from personal experience was a discussion I have had many times. I also noticed the common refrain of the Introvert - that enjoying the society of others doesn't mean that you need it all the time, or that it isn't overwhelming and exhausting. (REPRESENT: Welcome to Autism Appreciation Month 2023! lol)
I felt like one of the last sections of the book was tacked in to make the book longer, and give it a bit more action, pace? tension? It still felt like an afterthought, and that the cohesion and pace of the book was .. coming a bit unstuck as it bloated.
For an "old book" it has a lot in it to recommend it, and I can ignore most of the rest of it. For a book written in the UK in the 1800s it's .. almost ethnically diverse - characters being pale and red-headed, dark haired and black eyed with an olive complexion, or blonde and blue eyed... and there is plenty of forthright discourse about the affect that is expected of women, and men's obliviousness to the sacrifices they make for their husband's comfort. Yes it's wearisome that the framing is all about pairing off of men and women, and the expectations that young women will be married off.. and the tension between love and money/property/status.. that a woman's security is solely at the whims of the men in her life.. it is historical... in our culture if not in others.
My daughter recently stumbled upon the Scholastic rebindings of classic novels and this was one of them. I don't think that I would stop her reading it, as it's mostly about judging virtue, vice, and moderation, and considering honesty and forbearance. It's probably a bit old for her as yet, but for 20+ readers it might be an interesting chill read.
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Physical abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug abuse and Child abuse
morepagesplease's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
rieviolet's review against another edition
- 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
I liked the writing style and the use of different narrative techniques
(the alternating POVs and the mix of letters and diaries entries).
It is an engaging read, there is a bit of mystery to keep your interest alive and I was also really engrossed in the characters' emotions. Though I have to say, as the story progressed, I felt that the emotional portrayals moved a bit too much into melodrama territory. I also struggled to reconcile some of the characters' choices with their depiction and growth up to that point, they felt a bit unexpected (and not in a good way).
The themes that are explored (such as addiction, domestic abuse and women's conditions) are really powerful and so releavant even in the present day. However, at times there was just too much of a
religious focus for my personal taste and that lowered my overall enjoyment of the story.
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Confinement, Grief, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Medical content, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Child death
lillianreadsalot's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
jowmy4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness