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mariekejee'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? It's complicated
2.5
I so badly wanted to dnf this book, but dnf'ing one of the greatest novels of the 19th century, and one with such a high rating at that, felt sacrilegious. Even after my mom had looked me in the eyes and implored me to pick a happier book, I stuck with it. Am I glad I did? Kind of. For sure, I'm glad I have a classic and feminist book like this under my belt, and I appreciate having a wider knowledge of classic literature. But that's a shallow reason for suffering through this book, for suffer I did.
I absolutely, absolutely hated reading about Jane's struggles as a kid. I hate reading about child abuse, and especially that which is so completely unfair, unreasonable and unwarranted. The first few chapters there is so little relief from it, that I could not help but feel angrier as I kept reading it. Of course Jane gets blamed for the abuse she suffers for no reason. Of course the school she gets sent to is so poorly run that the kids go hungry more often than not. Of course the teachers are strict and abusive. Of course her first friend dies within a couple of chapters of meeting them. After a couple of chapters, I almost became numb from the constant misery and injustice; I no longer had any expectations of a happy or comfortable future for Jane, or an enjoyable reading experience for me.
I don't need a happy book to be able to enjoy reading it. I read through I'm Glad my Mom Died and found it a great read, despite the majority of the book chronicling the abuse Jeanette McCurdy suffered at the hands of her mother. But therein lies the difference: I kept being angry at Charlotte Brontë for making me suffer through exhaustive descriptions of Jane being cast aside, unfairly treated, going hungry, wishing for death. She chose to write that, and while I understand why she did, I just plainly hated it. The actual, real world is highly unfair for so many people; I am not interested in fictionalised accounts of this injustice, and I'm especially uninterested in reading about the unfair treatment that women have historically suffered at the hands of men and further society.
As for the plot itself, I found no joy in reading it other than the few chapters Jane seems to settle at Thornfield, because at that point I had spent hours listening to Jane suffering through life and this is the first time she has finally found some peace for herself. There were some surprises for me in the plot, but most of them I had anticipated long before I got to read them. The surprises I did find were in the way she keeps being treated by the men in her life. There are four men of note in this story, and all of them (
There are quite some things which are remnants from the time it was written, such as the classism and xenophobia, and the obsession with beauty. I can't fault the book for it, because no doubt it is just a relic of its time, but god, is there ever so much emphasis on the beauty of women as a signifier of not just their worth but their character.
Is it an important book? Most definitely. Is it well written and contains nice prose? Absolutely. Would I ever willingly expose myself to it again? Not a chance in hell. It's a good book - just definitely not for me.
(also: I love this comic of the Bronte sisters http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=202)
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Confinement
mallory10100'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? No
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Grief, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
snowiceblackfruit77'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
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Child abuse
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Jane Eyre is the knockout star. I loved reading about her. I kind of wish I was born before it was published, so I could read it when it came out. It feels like a story that would have caused major scandal. Maybe it changed the traverse of a young woman’s life.
It drags a little at around page 300, but I enjoyed every second. Jane is such a pleasure. I loved reading about her and I loved that even in spite of her hardships she was kind, and kept true to herself. She did not let anyone dampen her flame, and I think that’s beautiful. She’s the classic strong heroine and her story was so satisfying.
Not a 5 star read for me (casual racism, antisemitism, and ableism) but a read that I found to be very wholesome and interesting. It’s absolutely worth it, I will be thinking about Jane for a while to come.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, and Child death
Minor: Suicide and Misogyny
contrapasso'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
3.5
Graphic: Ableism and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse
reading_for_pluto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Emotional abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Confinement, Death, Religious bigotry, and Grief
recycled_personalities's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Incest, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Classism, Death, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness
naomi_k'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
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Classism, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Racism
Minor: Gore, Death of parent, Cursing, Medical content, and Blood
frantically's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, and Mental illness
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent
flowergirlannaaaaaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
All in all, I found this a highly boring and uninteresting read. Once again, the prose itself was gorgeous, but that's all I can say in its favor. I wouldn't hate this book so much if it weren't for the reputation and reception it tends to have. I had to read this for a feminist literature curriculum and was embarrassed by how terrible the feminist themes were executed. It made me sick to read what felt more like a blatant attack on feminism. Yes, it was original for its time, but that's where it ends. Stop teaching that this book is the pinnacle of feminist literature, old or new.
3/5 from me exclusively on the basis of significance and prose.
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship