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literatehedgehog's review against another edition
Hit or miss collection of short stories either re-envisioning, retelling from a different perspective, or modernizing anew Jane Eyre. It's taking me a while to work through this small paperback because I can only read one story at a time, then I need to switch to another genre and mood. The writing is mediocre to decent, but so far none of the stories are compelling or adding anything of particular interest to my experience of the Brontes or Jane Eyre itself. After two library loan renewals, I'm calling it as DNF.
marthauhlig's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
abeth_parker's review against another edition
2.0
When I say "Wow" about this book, I don't mean it in a good way. This collection of short stories based on the line "Reader, I married him." from my favorite book "Jane Eyre" was disappointing to say the least. Perhaps basing the stories on the one line from the book was the first mistake. While some of the short stories had characters, settings, or plot lines that hearkened back to the original book, several of them just took the line itself and weaved a short story around that. To a less than amazing end, I might add. Some of the short stories read like incomplete story ideas, or discarded chapters from other books. If I could unread the stories I read (and, no, I didn't read them all), I would.
rachel93's review against another edition
1.0
Disappointed in this book. I so wanted to like it because I love Jayne Eyre. Maybe if I'd read it first instead of reading it while waiting for the second book in a series I'm currently reading to arrive I would have tried to have read more of it. Who knows maybe I'll give it another try in the future.
thehazardofluce's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
I love Jane Eyre and I love short stories, but this is one of the worst collections I have ever read. Only Dorset Gap was good.
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
4.0
Not a fan of short stories, so take my review with that grain of salt.
I loved some of the stories, but others were more like, hmm.
And then the ones that rewrote Jane Eyre were not what I was hoping for in a book that was supposed to be inspired by the book rather than a riff on the book.
But there were some good stories.
I listened to it too, so one story just annoyed because the narrator couldn't read Spanish to my liking.
I loved some of the stories, but others were more like, hmm.
And then the ones that rewrote Jane Eyre were not what I was hoping for in a book that was supposed to be inspired by the book rather than a riff on the book.
But there were some good stories.
I listened to it too, so one story just annoyed because the narrator couldn't read Spanish to my liking.
marria_1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
ljjohnson8's review against another edition
3.0
Tracy Chevalier is the editor of this collection of short stories inspired by the iconic line from the end of Jane Eyre - "Reader, I married him." There are 21 stories in the collection and some authors chose to stay close to the source material (a story each told from the POVs of Rochester and Grace Poole); others chose marriage/a wedding as their theme; and in a few of the stories, I searched for some kind of connection to Jane, or marriage, or anything else, and found nothing. As to be expected in any kind of collection of 21 items, a couple stood out for me, a couple were awful, and most were liked mildly to very much.
What this book did confirm for me is that the short story is not what I love to read. If I like the story, I'm disappointed it isn't a novel. Or, there's so much symbolism and striving in the short format, that I scratch my head and roll my eyes. All in all, however, I'm glad I read this. There was certainly enough enjoyment in it for me.
What this book did confirm for me is that the short story is not what I love to read. If I like the story, I'm disappointed it isn't a novel. Or, there's so much symbolism and striving in the short format, that I scratch my head and roll my eyes. All in all, however, I'm glad I read this. There was certainly enough enjoyment in it for me.
skigirl1689's review against another edition
3.0
I have not read Jane Eyre, but I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection, which I surprised me as I am usually not a fan of anthologies. Some I did not quite understand, perhaps because I did not read the novel, and some I did not like at all, but that is to be expected with a work like this.
frmeden's review against another edition
3.0
Ever since my sixth form English teacher forced my hand in picking up Wuthering Heights, I've been a lover of the Brontë sisters. Wuthering in particular has always stuck with me, and the Brontë's are local girls, so how could I not pick up a book that is lovingly dedicated to 'Charlotte, of course'?
Unfortunately, this book wasn't everything I wanted it to be. Some of the stories are absolute treasures, my favourites being A Migrating Bird, The China from Buenos Aires, Dorset Gap, The Orphan Exchange, and Robinson Crusoe at the Waterpark (to name a few!). Sadly, some of the links to Jane are far too tenuous. Authors like Niffenegger and Chevalier do a wonderful job of retelling Jane's story or incorporating aspects of it, but others I failed to see the connection at all. It seems that some of the authors just took the theme of 'marriage', and ran with it. Eventually I stopped actively trying to find the Jane references and just sat down to enjoy the book for what it was - an anthology of short stories. It just meant I could enjoy the references to Jane whenever they unexpectedly cropped up. But still, I'd hoped for something more Jane-esque. The writing in this anthology is rich and wonderful though, and I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of sexualities, religions and cultures represented within the book! 3/5 stars.
Unfortunately, this book wasn't everything I wanted it to be. Some of the stories are absolute treasures, my favourites being A Migrating Bird, The China from Buenos Aires, Dorset Gap, The Orphan Exchange, and Robinson Crusoe at the Waterpark (to name a few!). Sadly, some of the links to Jane are far too tenuous. Authors like Niffenegger and Chevalier do a wonderful job of retelling Jane's story or incorporating aspects of it, but others I failed to see the connection at all. It seems that some of the authors just took the theme of 'marriage', and ran with it. Eventually I stopped actively trying to find the Jane references and just sat down to enjoy the book for what it was - an anthology of short stories. It just meant I could enjoy the references to Jane whenever they unexpectedly cropped up. But still, I'd hoped for something more Jane-esque. The writing in this anthology is rich and wonderful though, and I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of sexualities, religions and cultures represented within the book! 3/5 stars.