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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
It regretfully took me a bit of time to read this, but not for lack of wanting to read it. I didn't have the time to sit down and devour this book in one go as I'd have liked to, but it is definitely the sort of book that lends itself to binge-reading. The tone is arch clever, and it recalls nineteenth-century novel language without being indecipherable to a more modern reader.
While this isn't a YA book, I think it is a book that recommends itself to readers who enjoy YA. I hesitate to say that, of course, because so often people think that the YA is somehow less of a genre than literary fiction meant to be consumed by adults, but with a heroine whose age is twenty-four, she exists in a sweet spot that brides the gap between YA novels and adult novels and also speaks to the young readers who, like myself, find themselves somewhere in between these two intended age groups. I would definitely read another nove, by Faye like this--drawing cleverly on the classic novel we all know while adding new elements and crafting her own story that is fresh and engaging.
I was also under a somewhat false impression - my own fault I think - that Jane Steele was a serial killer Jane Eyre, what with the description like "leaving a trail of corpses of her tormentors"-- instead Jane Steele is more of vigilante who doesn't mind getting her hands bloody. She kills mostly out of self-defense or to defend those who she loves from abuse. At first I was a bit disappointed that Jane didn't end up being a heartless sociopath (I mean come on, what a fascinating concept), but in the end, I liked the story for what it was instead.
Jane Steele is a story of redemption. Jane herself is a fantastic character, who undergoes lots of growth as the story progresses. Her path starts off in a very dark place, abused by her extended family after her mother dies, and then she faces even more abuse at the boarding school. But at the school, Jane also finds people she cares about, and I think that's what helps her escape darkness entirely, but her past enables her to do whatever it takes - including murder- to protect those she loves. Jane's arc of redemption begins early, but it doesn't really start until she becomes entirely surrounded by people she cares about-- and who care about her. It was very touching to see Jane realize that she may not be as awful and condemned as she had thought.
The plot itself is meandering, we follow Jane to many places, her childhood home, her school, the criminal London, and then a rich man's house. Faye’s description of the various settings are rather vivid and it’s not hard to picture yourself, traveling along side of. This is a story of a survival, growth, redemption, mystery, and even romance.
I liked most of the supporting characters, but the main focus is always on Jane. I'm not entirely sure I liked the romance, but then I again, I rarely do.
Overall, I really liked the novel, it didn't turn out to be what I thought it would be, but it turned out to be great for what it was.
1st edition: Hardcover, 432 pages
Publication Date: March 22, 2016
Publishing House: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Wow I actually really really enjoyed this! It was dark but also set in one of my favourite time periods! And it had a way different spin with some Sikh culture. I loved what was done in this adaption. It’s been a very long time since ive read Jane Eyre and this prompted me to want to re read it.
when i started this, i was kinda meh about it, but maybe a third of the way in i got really into it. i really appreciated the total lack of purposeful misunderstandings and loved the protag's forthrightness.