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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Serial killer version of Jane Eyre. Need I say more?
This was good fun. Faye has a beautiful way of writing descriptions of people, places, and things. I felt like she almost painted these things in my mind's eye.
This was, by far, the best transformative retelling of Jane Eyre that I've read. Brontë's original is one of my favorite 19th century novels and I've read my fair share of retellings. My only complaint is that Faye grossly overused the "Reader, I..." device, as have many other authors too (*cough* Patricia Park's Re Jane *cough*). Correct me if I'm wrong, but Brontë only uses it once at the end, right?
This was good fun. Faye has a beautiful way of writing descriptions of people, places, and things. I felt like she almost painted these things in my mind's eye.
This was, by far, the best transformative retelling of Jane Eyre that I've read. Brontë's original is one of my favorite 19th century novels and I've read my fair share of retellings. My only complaint is that Faye grossly overused the "Reader, I..." device, as have many other authors too (*cough* Patricia Park's Re Jane *cough*). Correct me if I'm wrong, but Brontë only uses it once at the end, right?
I enjoyed this book but felt it fell apart near the end. Everything was wrapped up too pretty. Especially after all that had gone on in the book. Because of my feeling this way, I feel like it is a 4 star book leaning toward 3 1/2 star. It just wasn't much of an ending to me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this retelling of Jane Eyre. Jane Steele is definitely an interesting character. It is as gothic and dark as the original, but of course there are differences, the most obvious being the fact that in this book Jane is a serial killer. All the parts where she kills terrible men brought me a lot of joy. The romance between Jane Steele and Charles Thornfield bored me though. It would have been better if there was no Charles and instead she ends up with her childhood friend Rebecca Clarke, or she could have ended up with both of them, but whatever this is still a fine book. Also seeing "females" and "males" used as nouns really irritated me, and I also got tired of seeing of seeing non-English words being written in italics. Despite its flaws I would still recommend this to readers who like Jane Eyre and gothic novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Death of parent, War
Minor: Suicide attempt
I wanted to love this. Jane Eyre as a serial killer? Sounds great!
It just didn't do anything for me. The Jane Eyre comparison is put right on the page--our main character reads Jane Eyre and compares herself to Miss Eyre with ever major life change that happens. There are certainly parallels between the two that are teased, drawn out in different ways, or subverted, but it's not as much fun when the narrator herself is drawing those comparisons.
I often felt bored, waiting for something to happen. Part of the problem is that this book just wasn't for me, and I should have realized it sooner. I don't particularly care for historical fiction, and while this has a bit of mystery and a few thrills, it's still written in that stiff style of historical fiction, and I just don't vibe with it.
And this may be a spoiler so proceed with caution...
I think the marketing for this book was just a little off. I was expecting more of a fun, murderous romp than what I got. It just wasn't for me.
It just didn't do anything for me. The Jane Eyre comparison is put right on the page--our main character reads Jane Eyre and compares herself to Miss Eyre with ever major life change that happens. There are certainly parallels between the two that are teased, drawn out in different ways, or subverted, but it's not as much fun when the narrator herself is drawing those comparisons.
I often felt bored, waiting for something to happen. Part of the problem is that this book just wasn't for me, and I should have realized it sooner. I don't particularly care for historical fiction, and while this has a bit of mystery and a few thrills, it's still written in that stiff style of historical fiction, and I just don't vibe with it.
And this may be a spoiler so proceed with caution...
Spoiler
but our serial killer is hardly a serial killer at all! The few people she kills are horrible, awful people, and their deaths are practically justified on the page. I didn't feel bad for any of the victims, nor was I supposed to. But our heroine, Jane Steele, barely qualifies as a serial killer. She doesn't exhibit violent tendencies or a lust for blood, or even the desire to kill for fun. The people she kills, she kills for a reason.I think the marketing for this book was just a little off. I was expecting more of a fun, murderous romp than what I got. It just wasn't for me.
I've always had a thing for wry, feisty Victorian heroines and this book fit the bill nicely!
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, imagine there is a young lady that is very similar to Jane Erye, lives in the time of Jane Eyre, experiences situations like Jane Eyre experiences. Now, imagine that this young lady, by the name of Jane Steele, chooses to solve her problems by....murder. Yes, Jane Steele gets things done!
I thought this book was delightful! A great homage to Jane Erye but even more entertaining. I highly recommend it especially if you are a Bronte fan!
I thought this book was delightful! A great homage to Jane Erye but even more entertaining. I highly recommend it especially if you are a Bronte fan!
Totally fun.
The ultimate Jane Eyre/serial killer mashup for those of us who are fascinated by both. I didn't know I needed this book, but I did. Loved it and hated for it to end.
The ultimate Jane Eyre/serial killer mashup for those of us who are fascinated by both. I didn't know I needed this book, but I did. Loved it and hated for it to end.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to review this book.
Would you believe I've never actually read Jane Eyre? I know... I should probably rectify this soon. Jane Steele was a really interesting story. Jane and her mother live in a cottage on the grounds of Highgate House - a manor which Jane has always been told she is the rightful heir to but is where her horrid aunt (who seems to hate her) and cousin live. When tragedy strikes, Jane is sent away to a girls school where your quality of life depends on your ability to follow the rules. When Jane flees the school she leaves destruction in her wake which sets the stage for her future.
While living in London she sees an ad for a governess at Highgate House - her aunt has died and new owners have taken possession. Jane applies under a false name, hoping to discover if she should, indeed have inherited the house. She becomes attached to the family now living in the house and seeks to keep them safe by solving a mystery.
As other reviews have said, the second half of the story is quite a bit slower than Jane's time at the girls school. Was it any less interesting? I didn't think so. It wasn't a story that I sped through but I didn't find myself bored at all.
Would you believe I've never actually read Jane Eyre? I know... I should probably rectify this soon. Jane Steele was a really interesting story. Jane and her mother live in a cottage on the grounds of Highgate House - a manor which Jane has always been told she is the rightful heir to but is where her horrid aunt (who seems to hate her) and cousin live. When tragedy strikes, Jane is sent away to a girls school where your quality of life depends on your ability to follow the rules. When Jane flees the school she leaves destruction in her wake which sets the stage for her future.
While living in London she sees an ad for a governess at Highgate House - her aunt has died and new owners have taken possession. Jane applies under a false name, hoping to discover if she should, indeed have inherited the house. She becomes attached to the family now living in the house and seeks to keep them safe by solving a mystery.
As other reviews have said, the second half of the story is quite a bit slower than Jane's time at the girls school. Was it any less interesting? I didn't think so. It wasn't a story that I sped through but I didn't find myself bored at all.
Oh what fun! A dark and witty riff on "Jane Eyre" starring abused orphan Jane Steele and her eventual partner Charles Thornfield. They are two wonderfully likeable scoundrels, and Lyndsay Faye sure can write! Near book's end Jane is regarding their mutual scars and reflects, "We are doers of deeds, he and I, and as such lose parts of our flesh along the way, and can only pray to meet friends and lovers who can help to stitch us back again, and that we can make them whole in turn." A first, inadvertent, murder eventually leads Jane to become a serial killer (of people who certainly need killing.) Mr. Thornfield proves to be a heroic survivor of the Sikh wars in the Punjab and there is some tasty history to absorb here too. This makes me want to see what ELSE Ms. Faye has written! Well done!