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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Meh. Coming to this immediately after reading Rebecca was a big let down. Compared to Pride and Prejudice, the writing is not nearly as beautiful.
The story was just kinda lame...ugly girl who reads a lot has no friends, falls in love with first man she meets, he's a bad boi, then his wife conveniently dies, then she conveniently becomes rich, then they live happily ever after.
There was some other dumb stuff too. Like what, you are telling me she'd rather starve to death than just visit her uncle? I just wasn't engaged in any of this.
I had to try a couple narrators for this one...Josephine Bailey was very mediocre, but Thandie Newton was pretty good.
The story was just kinda lame...ugly girl who reads a lot has no friends, falls in love with first man she meets, he's a bad boi, then his wife conveniently dies, then she conveniently becomes rich, then they live happily ever after.
There was some other dumb stuff too. Like what, you are telling me she'd rather starve to death than just visit her uncle? I just wasn't engaged in any of this.
I had to try a couple narrators for this one...Josephine Bailey was very mediocre, but Thandie Newton was pretty good.
It feels like it took me forever to finish this novel, but that doesn’t mean I’ve found its reading tedious. I think I made the right call when I decided to read Jane Eyre little by little, as it is a dense novel that should be palated in small quantities, like the most exquisite delicatessen.
One of the things I liked the most about this novel is the way it’s written. As much as I don’t tend to like the first person point of view, in this story it worked very well, and the reason I didn’t suffer from one of my literary pet peeves the way I tend to do, it’s because the writing style was extremely beautiful. In fact, I had to stop several times to write down certain passages since they felt like poetry in prose form. I’m aware that this “affected” and more “lyrical” style of writing can be usually found in any centuries old novel by the sole reason that language is a living creature and it changes, so it feels different compared with our actual, more direct and succinct, way of writing. But, in other occasions, I’ve found that old style of writing boring and unnatural, while in this novel it truly moved me.
The other big positive point on favor of this novel is, in my opinion, Jane Eyre herself. In this book we get to learn about her entire life story, and we get to dwell into her more deep and hidden feelings and thoughts. By the end of the story you feel like you know her, like a long lost friend, and what you know is wonderful. Because Jane is not like other heroines of her time. She has a mind of her own, a beautiful mind, and a strong character without it making her unlikable. She is a free bird in a small world, alternating between jails and the sky, without losing herself or her dignity in any of those environments.
Edward Rochester is also a character to behold. He is not the attractive man that tends to saturate the romantic novels of this time period, but a coarse man with a great mind and a level of disappointment in life that seems unusual in a novel of this genre. What I liked is that, even though both Jane and Rochester talk about bettering him, he doesn’t really change in excess. He is loved as he is, and it only seems fair since Jane doesn’t change herself either, even though her personality doesn’t seem propitious for her time and final social position.
Their conversations were extremely entertaining, maybe because they were anything but romantic or cheesy, although you could feel their mutual affection growing.
This novel is also unexpectedly dark, with the big isolated house being at its center and the mystery that floats over it until the big reveal, which was shocking. I also liked that the novel didn’t end when happiness was found, that there were still trials and tribulations to endure until reaching the real ending that, by the way, was to a certain extent unexpected.
All of it make an amazing novel I’ve truly enjoyed, and that I would like to read again, but maybe not anytime soon, because as I said, its main and maybe only downside from my point of view, is that it’s a heavy reading.
One of the things I liked the most about this novel is the way it’s written. As much as I don’t tend to like the first person point of view, in this story it worked very well, and the reason I didn’t suffer from one of my literary pet peeves the way I tend to do, it’s because the writing style was extremely beautiful. In fact, I had to stop several times to write down certain passages since they felt like poetry in prose form. I’m aware that this “affected” and more “lyrical” style of writing can be usually found in any centuries old novel by the sole reason that language is a living creature and it changes, so it feels different compared with our actual, more direct and succinct, way of writing. But, in other occasions, I’ve found that old style of writing boring and unnatural, while in this novel it truly moved me.
The other big positive point on favor of this novel is, in my opinion, Jane Eyre herself. In this book we get to learn about her entire life story, and we get to dwell into her more deep and hidden feelings and thoughts. By the end of the story you feel like you know her, like a long lost friend, and what you know is wonderful. Because Jane is not like other heroines of her time. She has a mind of her own, a beautiful mind, and a strong character without it making her unlikable. She is a free bird in a small world, alternating between jails and the sky, without losing herself or her dignity in any of those environments.
Edward Rochester is also a character to behold. He is not the attractive man that tends to saturate the romantic novels of this time period, but a coarse man with a great mind and a level of disappointment in life that seems unusual in a novel of this genre. What I liked is that, even though both Jane and Rochester talk about bettering him, he doesn’t really change in excess. He is loved as he is, and it only seems fair since Jane doesn’t change herself either, even though her personality doesn’t seem propitious for her time and final social position.
Their conversations were extremely entertaining, maybe because they were anything but romantic or cheesy, although you could feel their mutual affection growing.
This novel is also unexpectedly dark, with the big isolated house being at its center and the mystery that floats over it until the big reveal, which was shocking. I also liked that the novel didn’t end when happiness was found, that there were still trials and tribulations to endure until reaching the real ending that, by the way, was to a certain extent unexpected.
All of it make an amazing novel I’ve truly enjoyed, and that I would like to read again, but maybe not anytime soon, because as I said, its main and maybe only downside from my point of view, is that it’s a heavy reading.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Classism
Very well-written characters, and the writing style is worthy of the appreciation.
I can not stop thinking about st.john
I can not stop thinking about st.john
Me encanta estos libros románticos diferentes donde cuesta más lograr un final feliz.
If I could do 2.5 stars, I would, but I'm rounding down.
The writing style was pretty good, andade me understand why it was a classic. Some of the ways feelings or situations were described, especially compared to nature, was really beautiful and poignant and relatable even today. I also appreciated the way a lot of biblical comparisons were made in that same way. It was cool to see biblical knowledge on the reader's part be sort of assumed when the narrator drew parallels. That said, I think this bit was done in a way that would be comfortable for my atheist friends to read as well.
This was in no way a Christian fiction read, nor was Christianity (or the version put forth in this book) scoffed at in an intentionally-secular/atheistic way. I will say most of the "Christianity" represented seemed hollow to me even when the book characters praised it. But more on that later. Some of the religious characters (especially the clergy and, in my opinion, one cousin) were really horrible, pious men with sticks up their butts and bad attitudes supposedly held in the name of God. A few other background but lovable characters are people of faith. The main character seemed to consider herself a Christian, but I'm not sure at what point that faith developed necessarily. Most of it wasn't present in her internal monologue, really. I think Christians can enjoy this book (with anger at some of the "godly" actions from the "Christian" characters), but I'd still say it's secular fiction.
The main reason for the low rating is that I didn't care for the story or like the characters. I feel the characters were heralded or complained about more than the book actually showed anything to be happy or unhappy about within them. You know how I said the Christianity in the book often seemed hollow even when it was praised by the book's characters? I feel the same about the characters themselves. I cannot tell you how many times someone in the book would go on a rant about how wonderful Jane Eyre was, and I'd be left wondering why they even thought so. It's not that I think she was a bad person! She's just rather "blah." Most of the characters felt that way to me.
The main romance wasn't appealing to me. Rochester is twice her age, is described like a grumpy old man with questionable morals, and Jane's reason for loving him seems to be that he's not abusive (a low bar), but also he isn't kind enough that she as an abuse survivor feels uncomfortable or suspicious. I didn't like him. I barely liked her. It didn't help when it was discovered he'd basically locked his mentally ill wife(!!!) in the attic so he could pretend she didn't exist and tried to marry Jane instead without even telling her. I never cheered more in the whole book than when she broke up with him. Them getting back together was fine, I guess, but I wasn't exactly happy about it.
I'm glad I finished it, because it's a classic, and I love to discuss popular books or classics. But I really, really didn't like it. I didn't really like Jane. I disliked Rochester. I certainly didn't like them together. I am glad Jane found happiness in the end, because how many awful things can happen to one person, really? But I was definitely left wanting more. Writing style is beautiful, but if you don't tell a compelling story about compelling people with the words, who cares how lovely they are?
The writing style was pretty good, andade me understand why it was a classic. Some of the ways feelings or situations were described, especially compared to nature, was really beautiful and poignant and relatable even today. I also appreciated the way a lot of biblical comparisons were made in that same way. It was cool to see biblical knowledge on the reader's part be sort of assumed when the narrator drew parallels. That said, I think this bit was done in a way that would be comfortable for my atheist friends to read as well.
This was in no way a Christian fiction read, nor was Christianity (or the version put forth in this book) scoffed at in an intentionally-secular/atheistic way. I will say most of the "Christianity" represented seemed hollow to me even when the book characters praised it. But more on that later. Some of the religious characters (especially the clergy and, in my opinion, one cousin) were really horrible, pious men with sticks up their butts and bad attitudes supposedly held in the name of God. A few other background but lovable characters are people of faith. The main character seemed to consider herself a Christian, but I'm not sure at what point that faith developed necessarily. Most of it wasn't present in her internal monologue, really. I think Christians can enjoy this book (with anger at some of the "godly" actions from the "Christian" characters), but I'd still say it's secular fiction.
The main reason for the low rating is that I didn't care for the story or like the characters. I feel the characters were heralded or complained about more than the book actually showed anything to be happy or unhappy about within them. You know how I said the Christianity in the book often seemed hollow even when it was praised by the book's characters? I feel the same about the characters themselves. I cannot tell you how many times someone in the book would go on a rant about how wonderful Jane Eyre was, and I'd be left wondering why they even thought so. It's not that I think she was a bad person! She's just rather "blah." Most of the characters felt that way to me.
The main romance wasn't appealing to me. Rochester is twice her age, is described like a grumpy old man with questionable morals, and Jane's reason for loving him seems to be that he's not abusive (a low bar), but also he isn't kind enough that she as an abuse survivor feels uncomfortable or suspicious. I didn't like him. I barely liked her. It didn't help when it was discovered he'd basically locked his mentally ill wife(!!!) in the attic so he could pretend she didn't exist and tried to marry Jane instead without even telling her. I never cheered more in the whole book than when she broke up with him. Them getting back together was fine, I guess, but I wasn't exactly happy about it.
I'm glad I finished it, because it's a classic, and I love to discuss popular books or classics. But I really, really didn't like it. I didn't really like Jane. I disliked Rochester. I certainly didn't like them together. I am glad Jane found happiness in the end, because how many awful things can happen to one person, really? But I was definitely left wanting more. Writing style is beautiful, but if you don't tell a compelling story about compelling people with the words, who cares how lovely they are?
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Very long and of course the writing is different which takes a little more deciphering the meaning. However, Jane Eyre is an inspiring woman and the way she loves is something special. A wonderful classic.
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No