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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Holy frijoles! This is a great book!!
I was first intrigued by the description of this book, being a retelling of [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639]. I'd never heard of an author retelling another novel, let alone a classic before. If you are a fan of Eyre, you should read this book. If you like heroines with some seriously bad attitude, you should read this book. If you like some history, some mystery, some skeletons in the closet, and some Gothic, you should read this book.
I borrowed this book from the library because it's still in hardcover and I'm on a budget and I wasn't sure how much I would like it. Well . . . let me tell you, the second this comes out in paperback I am buying it and reading it all over again. You know a book is great when it has you laughing out loud as you read it and people are giving you funny looks, know what I mean?
I was first intrigued by the description of this book, being a retelling of [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639]. I'd never heard of an author retelling another novel, let alone a classic before. If you are a fan of Eyre, you should read this book. If you like heroines with some seriously bad attitude, you should read this book. If you like some history, some mystery, some skeletons in the closet, and some Gothic, you should read this book.
I borrowed this book from the library because it's still in hardcover and I'm on a budget and I wasn't sure how much I would like it. Well . . . let me tell you, the second this comes out in paperback I am buying it and reading it all over again. You know a book is great when it has you laughing out loud as you read it and people are giving you funny looks, know what I mean?
How have I never been recommended this before? Absolutely gripping -- read it in one day. Weirdly hilarious and heartfelt for a murderess' fictional biography. Highly recommend!
A re-telling of Jane Eyre, but in a very light sense. I think the summary plays it off as being more faithful than it is, and also, darker than it is. I picked this up thinking that Jane was now on some mission to gut as many men as possible. They're scums of the earth, but still, it's a dangerous path for a heroine to go on. In reality though, the kills are less like a grocery list and more of a necessity for her survival/circumstances beyond her control. She's got a good heart. It isn't like the murders don't bother her at all. They don't bother her as much, but they still do.
That said, it does get quite dark in terms of material, and people do get hurt, and die. You don't get much avoidance of the gritty details here. I think Jane's childhood and her time at school was the strongest section of the story. The cruelty is something else, but also the camaraderie of the girls in their own small ways. Lyndsay Faye's writing shines most when it's about survival and desperation races through Jane's veins. That said, I enjoyed Jane's voice throughout the telling of her story, and found the method of incorporating the classic original quite clever and not overbearing. You can argue that maybe the story would've worked better if it stuck more to Charlotte Brontë's creation, but also praise this version for being able to stand on its own, even if a reader hadn't ever read or heard of Jane Eyre.
I'll admit that I didn't expect in the storyline but by the first 1/3 of the story I was all for it, so much so that the introduction of Thornfield felt intrusive. Yes, I know he's Rochester and he had to exist for Jane, but when you get something like this, after all that has happened? I reeled:
It was only a brief press, but it was neither dry, nor chaste, nor seeking. It was the kiss of a person who has thought about variants of the same kiss for a very long time, as if it were a hundred kisses, all of them passionate and all of them hopeless. I was startled and - in the moment - grateful enough even to reciprocate, did so before even thinking why I should not, and I tasted years in that kiss. I tasted years of dying hope, and the sweet bellyache of longing, and coffee, and Clarke herself, before she pulled away, running her thumb over my open lips.
"That was how I loved you," she told me.'
RIGHT?! This just felt so much more natural.
I really do need to re-read the original because after all this time, I can hardly remember how I feel about Jane and Rochester coming together. I wonder because this is the second re-telling that I've read (the first was [b:Re Jane|23281610|Re Jane|Patricia Park|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412530979s/23281610.jpg|42819620] last year), and both times I've found the relationship not too convincing, though I did enjoy a lot of their conversations. It didn't have that spark that I remembered from the original, but my memory is so gone that I don't know if this was a fault back then too. I totally get Jane's desire for a home and for affection and all that, but the romantic angle just doesn't work as well as I want it to. In this one, I enjoyed her interactions with the more minor characters more, and was especially rooting for a completely different pairing for most of the story.
A 3.5 rating is more accurate because I thought the pacing was quite solid up 'til the last 1/3 or so, though the ending I liked. As much as I appreciated the different spin in the story and the historical research, it lost a lot of steam. I don't know if I'd recommend this, because I'd have to feel very enthusiastic and confident for that, but it's worth reading out of curiosity, whether or not you've read Jane Eyre. I don't know if it'd be better if you were only vaguely familiar rather than being a fan, because you might end up making a lot more comparisons and enjoying the book less. I'm not sure. I may not have felt this inclined to read the book if it wasn't for all the Brontë I've been consuming as of late - this bicentennial of Charlotte's birth is no joke!
That said, it does get quite dark in terms of material, and people do get hurt, and die. You don't get much avoidance of the gritty details here. I think Jane's childhood and her time at school was the strongest section of the story. The cruelty is something else, but also the camaraderie of the girls in their own small ways. Lyndsay Faye's writing shines most when it's about survival and desperation races through Jane's veins. That said, I enjoyed Jane's voice throughout the telling of her story, and found the method of incorporating the classic original quite clever and not overbearing. You can argue that maybe the story would've worked better if it stuck more to Charlotte Brontë's creation, but also praise this version for being able to stand on its own, even if a reader hadn't ever read or heard of Jane Eyre.
I'll admit that I didn't expect
Spoiler
Clarke living this long and survivingSpoiler
'The whisper of fingertips touched my cheek, and then Clarke was kissing me.It was only a brief press, but it was neither dry, nor chaste, nor seeking. It was the kiss of a person who has thought about variants of the same kiss for a very long time, as if it were a hundred kisses, all of them passionate and all of them hopeless. I was startled and - in the moment - grateful enough even to reciprocate, did so before even thinking why I should not, and I tasted years in that kiss. I tasted years of dying hope, and the sweet bellyache of longing, and coffee, and Clarke herself, before she pulled away, running her thumb over my open lips.
"That was how I loved you," she told me.'
RIGHT?! This just felt so much more natural.
I really do need to re-read the original because after all this time, I can hardly remember how I feel about Jane and Rochester coming together. I wonder because this is the second re-telling that I've read (the first was [b:Re Jane|23281610|Re Jane|Patricia Park|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412530979s/23281610.jpg|42819620] last year), and both times I've found the relationship not too convincing, though I did enjoy a lot of their conversations. It didn't have that spark that I remembered from the original, but my memory is so gone that I don't know if this was a fault back then too. I totally get Jane's desire for a home and for affection and all that, but the romantic angle just doesn't work as well as I want it to. In this one, I enjoyed her interactions with the more minor characters more, and was especially rooting for a completely different pairing for most of the story.
A 3.5 rating is more accurate because I thought the pacing was quite solid up 'til the last 1/3 or so, though the ending I liked. As much as I appreciated the different spin in the story and the historical research, it lost a lot of steam. I don't know if I'd recommend this, because I'd have to feel very enthusiastic and confident for that, but it's worth reading out of curiosity, whether or not you've read Jane Eyre. I don't know if it'd be better if you were only vaguely familiar rather than being a fan, because you might end up making a lot more comparisons and enjoying the book less. I'm not sure. I may not have felt this inclined to read the book if it wasn't for all the Brontë I've been consuming as of late - this bicentennial of Charlotte's birth is no joke!
I remember reading this so fast. great read.
Stayed up way too late last night to finish this. I loved everything about this ode to/satire of Jane Eyre & other mid-19th century gothic-ish lit: the style, the characters (Lyndsay Faye really has a knack for characters), the descriptions. Loved it.
Jane was a fun narrator but there's only so much horrible boarding school activities I can take before I start getting bored and wanting Jane to stabinate everyone.
Maybe my excitement for this story is the reason I was underwhelmed by it. Jane Eyre is one of my all time favorites, and I thought Jane Eyre with a twist would be even better, but I really just ended up wishing I was reading Jane Eyre and not something based on it. I either was expecting more serial killer or less Jane Eyre-ish and their wasn't enough of either for me to be either impressed or satisfied.
I really wanted to like it.
I really wanted to like it.
I love this book! The tale is delightfully gothic and dark. There is a drama to the whole tale that make you feel like you are on a rain swept english countryside hill. This book has mystery, romance, intrigue and action.
I am only disappointed this is not the first in a series. I think there was enough character development for there to be many more adventures for Jane.
I absolutely treasured this book and it has joined the ranks of my all-time favorites. It’s a re-telling of Jane Eyre, but this Jane a totally bad-ass vigilante version. While there are several parallel plot points, it’s also entirely original. The historical details are perfect and for those who love Jane Eyre, it’s like meeting up with an old friend. I cannot recommend this one enough. Plus, it basically has my favorite cover art ever.