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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was drawn-out and disappointing. I was expecting a feminist gothic romance, but though it had elements of these things, it was primarily a story about piety. It seemed promising at times (the ghostly story from Jane's childhood [her childhood takes up more than 10 chapters before the actual story begins btw], and the "vampire" plot line [iykyk]). About 100 pages of it were a masterpiece of romantic tension, but this novel was way too long, mostly uninteresting, and I'd almost argue largely un-feminist and classist despite it's reputation and Brontë's obvious intentions. I had to dissect this book for a class, so that might slant my interpretation, but it's obvious in the story that religion is used to subjugate women and that the wealthy are held to a lower moral standard. The story's ultimate theme of the importance of faith and living in accordance with Christian values therefore seems to undermine Brontë's portrayal of institutions as a means of oppression and efforts to represent the less fortunate as people with value (which she undermines in many other ways as well). Her depictions and criticisms of power differentials (sex, class, age, occupation) are well done, and I appreciate how they are handled in the central romance. She does highlight social inequalities, it just feels half-hearted and poorly executed. Overall, Mr. Rochester was hot, but this book was far too long, boring, and preachy for me. Jane is also quite insufferable for most of the book (oh, poor you). There were good gothic elements throughout, but because of the sheer length of this book, they were so spaced out that they didn't amount to any sort of mood or atmosphere. This wasn't worth my time.
my most favorite literary tale of soul mates. I only dropped .5 a star because of the last two paragraphs, I despise St. John.
"It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, to absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex."
This was a reread and still one of my all-time favorites. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite literary heroines for damn sure. Charlotte Brontë’s writing is so gorgeous.
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Älskar relationerna mellan kvinnorna i boken. Vissa var extremt fina och också komplexa. Dock hatar jag männen… Varför måste alltid en man vilja gifta sig med sin kusin, och varför måste en annan man vara 20 år äldre än sin fru, när hon är 19 år gammal. Usch usch usch. Men om jag ignorerar det är det fett bra. Också lite för mycket kristendom för min smak, men det var bara i slutet som det blev lite för mycket.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes