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I realize I may lose my nerd credentials over this one, but I really struggled through the first half of Villette. I adore the Brontës, especially Jane Eyre, and was moved to re-read Villette after coming across this most excellent blog post: http://thehairpin.com/2011/01/books-that-beat-their-iconic-sister-books-jane-eyre-vs-villette. The writer argues that Villette is, in fact, superior to Jane Eyre.
I am unable to join in that sort of praise for it. There are some great plot turns and some memorable characters, of course. But on the whole I had a really tough time cheering on a heroine as passive as Lucy Snowe. It’s one thing to acknowledge that your path through life hasn’t been as smooth as you’d wish. It’s another thing to just lie down on that path and keep letting people trample over you.
The best thing I can say is that the French and franglais that are sprinkled liberally throughout the novel were delightful.
I am unable to join in that sort of praise for it. There are some great plot turns and some memorable characters, of course. But on the whole I had a really tough time cheering on a heroine as passive as Lucy Snowe. It’s one thing to acknowledge that your path through life hasn’t been as smooth as you’d wish. It’s another thing to just lie down on that path and keep letting people trample over you.
The best thing I can say is that the French and franglais that are sprinkled liberally throughout the novel were delightful.