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fawnponzar's review against another edition
4.0
The storytelling aspect here was nostalgic for me and comforting. I found myself relating these characters to my grandparents. I have an affinity towards birds, especially peacocks, because of them and grew up on their farm. The diction and daily habits were very real to me. As this is a book about simple country life, I found the writing style to be both rich and raffish. I at once disliked the informality and incomplete sentences and appreciated the purposeful choice to construct them in this way. I also always enjoy learning something new, especially when it’s an “odd” truth of humanity.
lauren708's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this. It was somewhat of a surprise because Jane's story at first seems to make an odd one, but it's rare to find a tale like this that explores someone's life with an in spite of a medical condition of this nature. I definitely became invested in what became of her and thought the setting was just beautiful.
buttermellow's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Ableism
Moderate: Excrement, Alcoholism, and Medical content
Minor: Racism, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
readermeginco's review against another edition
5.0
In this coming of age novel with a twist, Jane Chisolm is born in rural Mississippi in 1915 with a genital birth defect. In a time when women were valued mostly for their reproductive abilities, she lacks a vagina, but more limiting is her lack of control over normal bodily functions, requiring her to grow up wearing a diaper. As Jane grows up, she is endearing without being too charming or precocious. Andrea Barrett refers to this book as "deceptively simple" and I heartily agree; it is a story from a time long past at this point. Miss Jane is a quiet, thought-provoking novel and the choices Jane makes throughout her life will leave me pondering both the limits imposed upon us and those we impose upon ourselves. This book will stay with me for a long time.
kimmeyer's review against another edition
4.0
Read the jacket copy if you wish, but it cant do Miss Jane justice. This quiet novel's strength is in its stunning writing.
notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
5.0
oh, Miss Jane, I adore you. in the early 1900s, a baby is born to a couple on a farm. conceived in less than lovely circumstances, one of the first things they notice about her is a genital defect, which will affect her fit the rest of her life. This baby grows to be Miss Jane, based upon the author's own great aunt and treated just as lovingly through these pages. Brad Watson is a vivid wordsmith. I've never read any of his other works, but do feel that this book will be treated well through history, and someday be considered a classic. It is intimate and emotional and the natural beauty portrayed through his words is unforgettable.
lostlenore's review against another edition
5.0
I forget how much I love southern lit.
A bittersweet but ultimately hopeful exploration of femininity, sexuality, love, marriage, and the dignity of people who don’t quite fit with their society.
A bittersweet but ultimately hopeful exploration of femininity, sexuality, love, marriage, and the dignity of people who don’t quite fit with their society.
thegardenthief's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
tonythep's review against another edition
5.0
A subtle, yet powerful portrait of an extraordinary character, Miss Jane thrills with some of the most gorgeous prose I have ever encountered. Jane Chisholm is born with a genital defect that, in rural Mississippi in the early 20th century, somewhat limits her prospects for a “normal” life. Populated with lovingly wrought characters, sly humor, and keen observations of the human heart, Watson's novel is a beautiful and rare bird indeed.