Scan barcode
mrswythe89's review against another edition
4.0
Reread. Aw, I like Shirley. Though I'm not sure Louis Moore is quite good enough for her. The problem is that you see Robert Moore from Caroline Helstone's POV, so you see how he's attractive, but you don't really get that inside look into Shirley's brain. So you're told, but don't quite believe, she's madly in love with Louis ... well, I hope they are happy!
I'd totally forgotten all the stuff about the labourers smashing machines and rioting. /o\
I'd totally forgotten all the stuff about the labourers smashing machines and rioting. /o\
manadziesma's review against another edition
4.0
7.5/10
A very wordy, even rambling novel. At some moments, I felt as if the authoress was writing just for the sake of it, just to let out her thoughts and to find a safe space in this half-imagined, half-real past. Charlotte must have been in a very peculiar, pensive state of mind at the time of writing this. But who can blame her? Her life was not exactly a happy tale.
The characters were wonderfully carved out, though; even if several of them did nothing at all for the plot, I enjoyed the descriptions of their little peculiarities. Also, the parts explaining the sociopolitical context added to my enjoyment of this book.
A very wordy, even rambling novel. At some moments, I felt as if the authoress was writing just for the sake of it, just to let out her thoughts and to find a safe space in this half-imagined, half-real past. Charlotte must have been in a very peculiar, pensive state of mind at the time of writing this. But who can blame her? Her life was not exactly a happy tale.
The characters were wonderfully carved out, though; even if several of them did nothing at all for the plot, I enjoyed the descriptions of their little peculiarities. Also, the parts explaining the sociopolitical context added to my enjoyment of this book.
inesgodinhopereira's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
berlinbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It is an interesting time to read about, and especially the beginning of the book is full of interesting bits about the Methodists and other reform churches, as well as tantalising glimpses of levellers and labour riots in the North of England.
What I found least interesting, sadly, were the principal relationships. I liked Caroline and Shirley's friendship a lot, and I really appreciated Charlotte Brontë's depiction of an entirely independent female character, one who takes care of her own business and is able to do what she likes and only what she likes. What I take issue with are the last ~80 pages of the book, in which the romantic relationships come to a head and Shirley must suddenly be "tamed". In the scene in which Louis Moore, her future husband, forces her to reveals her feelings to him, he says that "I scared her; that I could see: it was right; she must be scared to be won." (p. 512) Shirley can only marry, apparently, when she recognises someone who can curb and control her independent spirit and behaviour, which I had thought was the best part of her character. She is compared to a wild animal, without the human capacity to control herself, and she accepts this judgement of herself: "I am glad I know my keeper, and am used to him. Only his voice will I follow; only his hand shall manage me; only at his feet will I repose." (p. 514) I was disappointed that this book, up until this point full of female characters who organise their own lives and live according to their own ideals and standards, ends with Shirley made to give up management of her property and her own self.
What I found least interesting, sadly, were the principal relationships. I liked Caroline and Shirley's friendship a lot, and I really appreciated Charlotte Brontë's depiction of an entirely independent female character, one who takes care of her own business and is able to do what she likes and only what she likes. What I take issue with are the last ~80 pages of the book, in which the romantic relationships come to a head and Shirley must suddenly be "tamed". In the scene in which Louis Moore, her future husband, forces her to reveals her feelings to him, he says that "I scared her; that I could see: it was right; she must be scared to be won." (p. 512) Shirley can only marry, apparently, when she recognises someone who can curb and control her independent spirit and behaviour, which I had thought was the best part of her character. She is compared to a wild animal, without the human capacity to control herself, and she accepts this judgement of herself: "I am glad I know my keeper, and am used to him. Only his voice will I follow; only his hand shall manage me; only at his feet will I repose." (p. 514) I was disappointed that this book, up until this point full of female characters who organise their own lives and live according to their own ideals and standards, ends with Shirley made to give up management of her property and her own self.
magratajostiernos's review against another edition
5.0
La primera parte es muy lenta pero preciosa, la segunda frenética y maravillosa.
Creo que se ha convertido en mi libro preferido de Charlotte Brontë ♥
Creo que se ha convertido en mi libro preferido de Charlotte Brontë ♥
nolemdaer's review against another edition
might eventually pick it back up but not holding out hope