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laurenjpegler's review
5.0
I really didn't know what to expect when I purchased this at the Brontë Parsonage the other week. I had my doubts - I thought it might drag considering it's more of an academic/scholarly read than anything else. Luckily, though, I quite like reading books of this nature when they concern the Brontë family.
Christine Alexander and Sara L. Pearson join together to analyse and view Jane Eyre from a whole new angle. Instead of focusing on the mainstream sections of the novel, they have honed in on the material objects to analyse the novel. By taking objects from the narrative, they look at how Jane and Charlotte's worlds are interconnected. By providing both commentaries and illustrations (photographs, drawings, etc.), the authors explore how Charlotte managed to 'transform her lived experiences into a fictional masterpiece'.
I really enjoyed this - it introduced me to so many new arguments. From now on, I will be able to read my favourite novel in a completely different light. I will be able to make connections between Charlotte's juvenilia, her earthly possessions, and her experiences with those of Jane's. I will have a much richer view of Jane Eyre, and I cannot wait to re-read it. Every time that I do, I pick up on something new, and this has provided me with a wealth of new arguments for my next re-read.
In particular, I really enjoyed the writing style. I never picked up on the fact that this was written by two different people. Their writing flowed effortlessly, and you couldn't discern between who was arguing what. Having two authors allowed more arguments, and more insights into the novel. I don't think the novel could have achieved its success without both Alexander and Pearson. I liked this a lot more than I expected.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this if you're interested in this kind of academic and analytical read. What's great is that the authors provide you with rich biographical detail alongside an analysis of the novel. They combine the two, which makes it all the more fun to read.
Christine Alexander and Sara L. Pearson join together to analyse and view Jane Eyre from a whole new angle. Instead of focusing on the mainstream sections of the novel, they have honed in on the material objects to analyse the novel. By taking objects from the narrative, they look at how Jane and Charlotte's worlds are interconnected. By providing both commentaries and illustrations (photographs, drawings, etc.), the authors explore how Charlotte managed to 'transform her lived experiences into a fictional masterpiece'.
I really enjoyed this - it introduced me to so many new arguments. From now on, I will be able to read my favourite novel in a completely different light. I will be able to make connections between Charlotte's juvenilia, her earthly possessions, and her experiences with those of Jane's. I will have a much richer view of Jane Eyre, and I cannot wait to re-read it. Every time that I do, I pick up on something new, and this has provided me with a wealth of new arguments for my next re-read.
In particular, I really enjoyed the writing style. I never picked up on the fact that this was written by two different people. Their writing flowed effortlessly, and you couldn't discern between who was arguing what. Having two authors allowed more arguments, and more insights into the novel. I don't think the novel could have achieved its success without both Alexander and Pearson. I liked this a lot more than I expected.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this if you're interested in this kind of academic and analytical read. What's great is that the authors provide you with rich biographical detail alongside an analysis of the novel. They combine the two, which makes it all the more fun to read.
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