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ctaniem's review against another edition
2.0
Dnf. Skipped to the end to find that Charlotte even admitted to not knowing the what the point to the story is! I hope Villette is better :/
zenithharpink's review against another edition
3.0
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, I loved the language and every minute of enjoying the beauty of the prose. That aspect of the book was nearly flawless. In spite of this enjoyment, I found myself often confused, and that's where this book earns only 3 stars.
I was not confused in what was actually happening, that piece was clear enough. What I was frustrated with was the character dynamics-they drifted in and out of focus, character chemistry generally didn't resonate with me, and there were aspects of characters that I found inconsistent. Characters were described in detail frequently, but their behavior and other characters interactions and judgement didn't align with the author's description. Perhaps this was a bit anachronistic of me as a reader 150 years after this had been written, but it grated nonetheless.
I would recommend this book to those looking for a beautifully written book, by a well-known and gifted author. The focus really isn't there, but it's an enjoyable read nonetheless.
I was not confused in what was actually happening, that piece was clear enough. What I was frustrated with was the character dynamics-they drifted in and out of focus, character chemistry generally didn't resonate with me, and there were aspects of characters that I found inconsistent. Characters were described in detail frequently, but their behavior and other characters interactions and judgement didn't align with the author's description. Perhaps this was a bit anachronistic of me as a reader 150 years after this had been written, but it grated nonetheless.
I would recommend this book to those looking for a beautifully written book, by a well-known and gifted author. The focus really isn't there, but it's an enjoyable read nonetheless.
se_wigget's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book--a feminist novel that really resonated.
annevivliohomme's review against another edition
I don't have the brain capacity for this at the moment :o
girlgotnoidentity's review against another edition
5.0
[a:Charlotte Brontë|1036615|Charlotte Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1335001351p2/1036615.jpg] remains my favorite storyteller and this novel provides me a new reason why. I have always admired her genius and aesthetic in her poetry but her prose is a different conversation. Her prose has its own soul, it's poetic and very daring. It's everything I couldn't even imagine possible.
I recently finished her other novel, [b:Villette|31173|Villette|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320412741l/31173._SY75_.jpg|40852693], last month, and I am still high from its magic. Finishing [b:Shirley|31168|Shirley|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1422609409l/31168._SY75_.jpg|2685457] last night adds up to it and it made me very emotional because I am sure I will miss her characters. Shirley, just like Jane Eyre and Villette, is very character-driven. She crafted each one of them with special caution and attention to their details. She is a genius, that's given, but she knows very well how to have strong-minded characters that know how to deliver for the plot.
Meanwhile, regarding Shirley's plot, I will not give away any specific details about it because I want you to discover the novel and its beauty on your own. But what I can provide here is Shirley is quite different from her other novels in some bit. It still has its beauty of romance but this one challenges the norms. It is politically conscious of its time. It bravely tackles current societal issues without the need to compromise everything in the plot. Charlotte Brontë understands how to balance her characters' determination and her plot into one swift, gliding motion.
This novel is chaotic and fun. You can expect a lot of surprises and plot twists waiting to happen at every turn of a page. What else can you expect from a Brontë story? A beautiful masterpiece. Let me end this short drabble with one of my favorite lines in the novel,
‘I believe — I daily find it proved — that we can get nothing in this world worth keeping, not so much as a principle or a conviction, except out of purifying flame or through strengthening peril. We err, we fall, we are humbled; then we talk more carefully. We greedily eat and drink poison out of the gilded cup of vice or from the beggar's wallet of avarice. We are sickened, degraded; everything good in us rebels against us; our souls rise bitterly indignant against our bodies; there is a period of civil war; if the soul has strength, it conquers and rules thereafter.’ (p. 522 Robert Moore)
Read it, it's magical!
I recently finished her other novel, [b:Villette|31173|Villette|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320412741l/31173._SY75_.jpg|40852693], last month, and I am still high from its magic. Finishing [b:Shirley|31168|Shirley|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1422609409l/31168._SY75_.jpg|2685457] last night adds up to it and it made me very emotional because I am sure I will miss her characters. Shirley, just like Jane Eyre and Villette, is very character-driven. She crafted each one of them with special caution and attention to their details. She is a genius, that's given, but she knows very well how to have strong-minded characters that know how to deliver for the plot.
Meanwhile, regarding Shirley's plot, I will not give away any specific details about it because I want you to discover the novel and its beauty on your own. But what I can provide here is Shirley is quite different from her other novels in some bit. It still has its beauty of romance but this one challenges the norms. It is politically conscious of its time. It bravely tackles current societal issues without the need to compromise everything in the plot. Charlotte Brontë understands how to balance her characters' determination and her plot into one swift, gliding motion.
This novel is chaotic and fun. You can expect a lot of surprises and plot twists waiting to happen at every turn of a page. What else can you expect from a Brontë story? A beautiful masterpiece. Let me end this short drabble with one of my favorite lines in the novel,
‘I believe — I daily find it proved — that we can get nothing in this world worth keeping, not so much as a principle or a conviction, except out of purifying flame or through strengthening peril. We err, we fall, we are humbled; then we talk more carefully. We greedily eat and drink poison out of the gilded cup of vice or from the beggar's wallet of avarice. We are sickened, degraded; everything good in us rebels against us; our souls rise bitterly indignant against our bodies; there is a period of civil war; if the soul has strength, it conquers and rules thereafter.’ (p. 522 Robert Moore)
Read it, it's magical!
alicechannington's review against another edition
1.0
So, Shirley is this supposed amazing character but if you really pay attention she’s just spoiled brat who wants what she wants, occasionally having a heart to help others, but it felt like it was afterthought?
Men…were bigots. All of them. Expect for both Mr. Moores. I think Charlotte took delight in fleshing out Martin’s character by making him so bad. Because of that it just made him feel not real. In fact, none of Yorke children even felt real.
Mrs Pryor left Caroline Halstone because she was too pretty? What? That’s kinda a plot hole because it didn’t really explain other than her saying her husband was bad and she left her baby because it was too pretty. Was Charlotte trying to say pretty women are evil?
Was Shirley really Caroline’s friend when she knew Mrs. Pryor was Caroline’s mother and didn’t tell her?! What a friend that Shirley was!
Louis Moore is Robert Moore’s brother and just happens to be the guy Shirley is in love with. Which is weird because he was her teacher…
Of course, Shirley is bitten by a dog and thinks she’s gonna die of rabies without thinking to ask the owner of the dog if the dog is rabid or not?!
The POV gets switched around and then on top of that she talks to the reader. It feels disjointing.
I think I prefer Jane Eyre and The Professor over Shirley. I never liked Villete. At least Charlotte wrote two that I like out of four.
Men…were bigots. All of them. Expect for both Mr. Moores. I think Charlotte took delight in fleshing out Martin’s character by making him so bad. Because of that it just made him feel not real. In fact, none of Yorke children even felt real.
Mrs Pryor left Caroline Halstone because she was too pretty? What? That’s kinda a plot hole because it didn’t really explain other than her saying her husband was bad and she left her baby because it was too pretty. Was Charlotte trying to say pretty women are evil?
Was Shirley really Caroline’s friend when she knew Mrs. Pryor was Caroline’s mother and didn’t tell her?! What a friend that Shirley was!
Louis Moore is Robert Moore’s brother and just happens to be the guy Shirley is in love with. Which is weird because he was her teacher…
Of course, Shirley is bitten by a dog and thinks she’s gonna die of rabies without thinking to ask the owner of the dog if the dog is rabid or not?!
The POV gets switched around and then on top of that she talks to the reader. It feels disjointing.
I think I prefer Jane Eyre and The Professor over Shirley. I never liked Villete. At least Charlotte wrote two that I like out of four.