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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Although this title was written in 2017, it is set against the timeline of Jane Eyre, which I found only last year to be my new favourite Classic! The Bronte sisters created such a realm of imagination from their fictional pieces that Charlotte Bronte's heroine, Jane has a secondary novel which tells from the vantage point of Mr. Rochester himself.
If you have not read Jane Eyre, the author does fill in some gaps along the way, but you barely get a glimpse into her mind, as in her novel, she is very introspective, a great quality in an individual I feel. It takes much time and contemplation to be introspective, as much as I have learned in my life to think for myself, so many others seem to spew their opinions and thoughts on all matters, instead of listening and deciding for themselves. This is a quality I have to spend more time on in myself, but enough about Jane Eyre.
Rochester's character has many layers explained, but I think they leave out a bit of why he is so quick and gruff with the servants. The author has done her best to explain that was how he was told to speak to them and to limit any relations with them. She also explains how his father is towards him and in life, a very stern individual indeed. But young Edward Rochester spends barely any time with him during his life, as he is always away on business, or sending Edward to school, or apprentice somewhere. So I am not sure how the father's gruffness overtook his sons personality, but that was a potential harder point to explain for her.
Finally, the further explanation of how long he has kept and dealt with Bertha for almost half his life is heart-wrenching but also very questionable. He took her to the very home he loved, but could think of no other place to keep her? Yes, he tried Ferndean, but that was the only other place he physically tried with her. It was almost as if he was willing to damn his home, his favourite place to be in life, with her presence, eventually driving him away for many years to Europe. I am not sure the promise he kept for her and her father was worth it, as in the end she did kill herself and was not kept safe. This story shows that she seemed perfectly sane at the time of her death and I will have to go back and re-read Jane Eyre when I get my hands on another copy and determine what was told of Bertha from Jane's perspective in Charlotte's original novel.
On another note, a Friend of mine has told me about Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, a story about Bertha. I look forward to seeing how that was depicted and how much it crosses or aligns with Sara Shoemaker's version of Rochester.
If you have not read Jane Eyre, the author does fill in some gaps along the way, but you barely get a glimpse into her mind, as in her novel, she is very introspective, a great quality in an individual I feel. It takes much time and contemplation to be introspective, as much as I have learned in my life to think for myself, so many others seem to spew their opinions and thoughts on all matters, instead of listening and deciding for themselves. This is a quality I have to spend more time on in myself, but enough about Jane Eyre.
Rochester's character has many layers explained, but I think they leave out a bit of why he is so quick and gruff with the servants. The author has done her best to explain that was how he was told to speak to them and to limit any relations with them. She also explains how his father is towards him and in life, a very stern individual indeed. But young Edward Rochester spends barely any time with him during his life, as he is always away on business, or sending Edward to school, or apprentice somewhere. So I am not sure how the father's gruffness overtook his sons personality, but that was a potential harder point to explain for her.
Finally, the further explanation of how long he has kept and dealt with Bertha for almost half his life is heart-wrenching but also very questionable. He took her to the very home he loved, but could think of no other place to keep her? Yes, he tried Ferndean, but that was the only other place he physically tried with her. It was almost as if he was willing to damn his home, his favourite place to be in life, with her presence, eventually driving him away for many years to Europe. I am not sure the promise he kept for her and her father was worth it, as in the end she did kill herself and was not kept safe. This story shows that she seemed perfectly sane at the time of her death and I will have to go back and re-read Jane Eyre when I get my hands on another copy and determine what was told of Bertha from Jane's perspective in Charlotte's original novel.
On another note, a Friend of mine has told me about Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, a story about Bertha. I look forward to seeing how that was depicted and how much it crosses or aligns with Sara Shoemaker's version of Rochester.
Written is a style that is befitting the time period, this isn't a bad book. The reader learns about the childhood that creates the iconic character. A sweet boy becomes a tortured soul. The author creates a childhood and young adulthood that explains why Edward Rochester is so desperate to gain his father's attention and approval. The back story about how he meets his wife and his desire to protect her, even as she goes mad is interesting. Once he meets Jane though you might as well drop this book and pick up Jane Eyre by Bronte. Even though it's supposed to be the same story - Shoemaker's version can't hold a candle to the original.
I loved it. It was slow at times, not unlike Jane Eyre, but I loved it. I loved getting some insight into Rochester. He was sympathetic, but it didn't brush over some of his less admirable qualities. There were times where it moved too fast. Like, you can tell the author was just trying to get to the next big event. I was kind of okay with that, though, because I wanted to get to the next big event too.
As soon as I saw this book appear on Goodreads weeks ago with only two ratings, my heart flipped. Could it be true? Could my favorite classic have a spin-off from the mysterious and brooding Edward Rochester himself? Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker follows Jane Eyre's love interest from the time he's a boy to the time Brontë's novel ends.
I won't waste time walking through all that Shoemaker put in place for Edward's boyhood and adolescence. Sometimes it struck me how intrigued I was by three boys learning from a tutor, or a cocky young teenager running a mill. There was a certain ambiance that enticed me as a reader - or perhaps it was just a burning and not-so-secret fascination with Rochester himself. Regardless of my personal passion, Shoemaker's development of his childhood provided ample explanation for some of the mystery we see in him during Brontë's novel.
Despite this, the pacing seemed a little off and I couldn't help but wish the scope of the novel was different. Yes, we learned plenty about Edward during his time at the mill and in Jamaica, but it didn't all feel necessary to me. I would much rather have these pages telling more of Edward as a father and a husband to Jane in the end, or more elaboration of his French dalliances.
Alright, we need to pause and have a moment for Bertha Mason. Since my relationship with Jane Eyre that first began in elementary school, the madwoman in the attic has fascinated me. Her mental downfall is quite interesting in Mr. Rochester, to the point that her relationship with Edward was more interesting than his with Jane; although, more could've been done to evoke emotional response to this character rather than an intellectual examination. She felt flat, even if she was quite dynamic. When she was sane, all she cared about was balls, men, African magic, and sex. When her mind was completely lost, she was nothing but guttural screams and rage. I can forgive the insanity portion obviously, but would've liked to see more development during the "sane" portion of her life to cause more contrast with her time at Thornfield. The torture she caused Edward was a large component of his narration, and yet I felt nothing when she plunged off of the roof and never pitied her despite her heinous treatment during her descent into madness. Maybe she's one literary character that won't ever receive her dues.
Moving to Edward's relationship with Jane, I loved seeing someone else's perception of this beloved heroine. However, it read that his regard for her went from curiosity and indifference to oh-my-word-if-I-don't-have-this-woman-I-will-perish-and-my-life-is-meaningless in a matter of two pages. Not to mention for a man who supposedly loved her as much as Shoemaker's narration proposed, he was cruel to Jane about Blanche. It almost felt that Shoemaker's personal feelings differed from Brontë's and she chose to stick with Brontë's rather than take a risk. This is most likely a wise choice, but made these portions abrasive to read.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Shoemaker's writing style, or her use of dialogue. However, the most interesting banter was pulled from Brontë's original work, not the new parts. Shoemaker's style is straightforward (I'm not seeing the deft and literary style the description speaks of), where Brontë's possesses more of an eloquent voice, turning toward poetic devices and flowery figurative language often. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice by the author to contrast Jane's narration from Rochester's, which makes sense. But the dialogue Shoemaker composed herself did not sound harmonious with Brontë's original statements from the same characters.
All in all, I do recommend this to any Eyre fans. It's not a flawless, breath-taking twist on the beloved classic, but it does provide good and plausible insight to one of literature's most infamous leading men.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.
I won't waste time walking through all that Shoemaker put in place for Edward's boyhood and adolescence. Sometimes it struck me how intrigued I was by three boys learning from a tutor, or a cocky young teenager running a mill. There was a certain ambiance that enticed me as a reader - or perhaps it was just a burning and not-so-secret fascination with Rochester himself. Regardless of my personal passion, Shoemaker's development of his childhood provided ample explanation for some of the mystery we see in him during Brontë's novel.
Despite this, the pacing seemed a little off and I couldn't help but wish the scope of the novel was different. Yes, we learned plenty about Edward during his time at the mill and in Jamaica, but it didn't all feel necessary to me. I would much rather have these pages telling more of Edward as a father and a husband to Jane in the end, or more elaboration of his French dalliances.
Alright, we need to pause and have a moment for Bertha Mason. Since my relationship with Jane Eyre that first began in elementary school, the madwoman in the attic has fascinated me. Her mental downfall is quite interesting in Mr. Rochester, to the point that her relationship with Edward was more interesting than his with Jane; although, more could've been done to evoke emotional response to this character rather than an intellectual examination. She felt flat, even if she was quite dynamic. When she was sane, all she cared about was balls, men, African magic, and sex. When her mind was completely lost, she was nothing but guttural screams and rage. I can forgive the insanity portion obviously, but would've liked to see more development during the "sane" portion of her life to cause more contrast with her time at Thornfield. The torture she caused Edward was a large component of his narration, and yet I felt nothing when she plunged off of the roof and never pitied her despite her heinous treatment during her descent into madness. Maybe she's one literary character that won't ever receive her dues.
Moving to Edward's relationship with Jane, I loved seeing someone else's perception of this beloved heroine. However, it read that his regard for her went from curiosity and indifference to oh-my-word-if-I-don't-have-this-woman-I-will-perish-and-my-life-is-meaningless in a matter of two pages. Not to mention for a man who supposedly loved her as much as Shoemaker's narration proposed, he was cruel to Jane about Blanche. It almost felt that Shoemaker's personal feelings differed from Brontë's and she chose to stick with Brontë's rather than take a risk. This is most likely a wise choice, but made these portions abrasive to read.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Shoemaker's writing style, or her use of dialogue. However, the most interesting banter was pulled from Brontë's original work, not the new parts. Shoemaker's style is straightforward (I'm not seeing the deft and literary style the description speaks of), where Brontë's possesses more of an eloquent voice, turning toward poetic devices and flowery figurative language often. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice by the author to contrast Jane's narration from Rochester's, which makes sense. But the dialogue Shoemaker composed herself did not sound harmonious with Brontë's original statements from the same characters.
All in all, I do recommend this to any Eyre fans. It's not a flawless, breath-taking twist on the beloved classic, but it does provide good and plausible insight to one of literature's most infamous leading men.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.
I approached this novel with a little trepidation. Reviewers seemed to really like or dislike it. I liked it.
It's not a simple redo of Jane Eyre from the other point of view. The first two thirds of this are well-written, new fiction. Particularly in the beginning, I felt sympathy for Mr. Rochester - perhaps more than I felt the last time I read Jane Eyre. It sounds like I am in good company for preferring that part of the book over the part where he meets and woos Jane. (Quite honestly, by the end, I more sympathized with his own qualms about his behavior - such a possessive employer! But that, perhaps, is more a critique of Jane Eyre itself than this novel.) The first two-thirds give him a better, more understandable backstory. Other reviewers have commented that the author adds little new to Jane Eyre's story aside from Mr. Rochester's own feelings - but that's not a flaw. I would rather the author leave the core story intact, as she does here, to enhance our understanding of it (by giving us Rochester's thoughts), rather than fabricate new scenes with Jane.
It's not a simple redo of Jane Eyre from the other point of view. The first two thirds of this are well-written, new fiction. Particularly in the beginning, I felt sympathy for Mr. Rochester - perhaps more than I felt the last time I read Jane Eyre. It sounds like I am in good company for preferring that part of the book over the part where he meets and woos Jane. (Quite honestly, by the end, I more sympathized with his own qualms about his behavior - such a possessive employer! But that, perhaps, is more a critique of Jane Eyre itself than this novel.) The first two-thirds give him a better, more understandable backstory. Other reviewers have commented that the author adds little new to Jane Eyre's story aside from Mr. Rochester's own feelings - but that's not a flaw. I would rather the author leave the core story intact, as she does here, to enhance our understanding of it (by giving us Rochester's thoughts), rather than fabricate new scenes with Jane.
As Jane Eyre is one of my of all time favourite books I was excited but also reluctant to read Edward Rochester's story for fear it wouldn't meet my expectations. I was delighted to find it is the perfect mirror and companion to Jane Eyre, covering Rochester's childhood and his time in Jamaica which I particularly enjoyed as well as the historical detail. I felt the author captured the time, place and characters of this era authentically and beautifully. The author presented a believable version of how Rochester's relationship with his father, brother and Bertha created the Rochester Jane meets. A sympathetic Rochester was presented and that to me was perfect, as I always felt Jane wouldn't have loved him otherwise.
slow-paced
I read this for a book club and I’m curious what other people in my club think.
I’m sure it’s clear that this is the story of Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre. I can’t remember if I read Jane Eyre or not. I looked at a couple movies and they looked so old.... but all of that to say, I thought this novel was just kind of yucky to read. Not much good happens to Mr. Rochester - his mother is dead, his father has little interest in him and he just moves from place to place as is told to him from his father.
I guess he is somewhat a likable person, but he is mostly just looking for this love of his life to make him happy, hence the perfect Jane Eyre. Nothing else to him is important or meaningful.
I just felt kind of gross reading the whole thing. I knew by the end of the first section, when the author proceeds to tell you how awful his future would be, that it wasn’t my idea of a great book.
I’m sure it’s clear that this is the story of Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre. I can’t remember if I read Jane Eyre or not. I looked at a couple movies and they looked so old.... but all of that to say, I thought this novel was just kind of yucky to read. Not much good happens to Mr. Rochester - his mother is dead, his father has little interest in him and he just moves from place to place as is told to him from his father.
I guess he is somewhat a likable person, but he is mostly just looking for this love of his life to make him happy, hence the perfect Jane Eyre. Nothing else to him is important or meaningful.
I just felt kind of gross reading the whole thing. I knew by the end of the first section, when the author proceeds to tell you how awful his future would be, that it wasn’t my idea of a great book.
When I read “Jane Eyre”, I could not understand why Jane fell in love with Mr. Rochester. I picked up this book hoping to understand “the why”. To tell the truth, I still do not know “the why” after completed reading. I really feel sorry for Bertha. (I need to read her story with “Wide Sargusso Sea” by Jean Rhys next!!) Edward was very vulnerable and sensitive when he was a small boy. His father’s neglect made the future Mr. Rochester who is arrogant and enigmatic in a way due to his lack of confidence with affections.
Jane being strong, she fell for him for his weakness? I still do not know.
I think the only person who knows the reason is Charlotte Bronte herself and other authors are just imagining all the surrounding stories, or we should speculate . However, I am engrossed each retelling of “Jane Eyre” so far, and am hoping to enjoy more of these.
Jane being strong, she fell for him for his weakness? I still do not know.
I think the only person who knows the reason is Charlotte Bronte herself and other authors are just imagining all the surrounding stories, or we should speculate . However, I am engrossed each retelling of “Jane Eyre” so far, and am hoping to enjoy more of these.