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A review by julianav
Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler
3.0
Sheila Kohler writes beautiful prose and I was intrigued by a fictionalized story of the Bronte sisters, which whilst focused on Charlotte Bronte, gave voice to both Emily and Anne Bronte.
I think I appreciated the tidbits about the sisters, the facts of their actual lives. The author makes one wonder about the hardship experienced by Charlotte and her sisters. Often unwanted, plain (although looking at the portraits of the sisters, only by standards of their times) and their perseverance in staying alive, surviving awful employers, unrequited romances and the cruelty with which children of the not so well off were treated.
I loved Anne's voice most of all, although both Emily and the girls' father provided their own perspectives. I loved the friendship, the imagination of 5 girls stuck with an overbearing father and a religious fanatic for an aunt. I did find Charlotte's manner to be radically different in the end in comparison to the beginning of the book.
To be honest, one of the reasons I am giving this book a 3 is the omission of some of Charlotte's life. a Lot of time is spent on her early life, but not her later one where she becomes a celebrated author. Likewise, her relationship with Arthur Nichols, the man that became her husband is similarly glossed over. It feels that the book evokes only the snippets of the Bronte sisters (and on occasion brother) and in no way some of those snippets are looked on as important in some way.
I think I appreciated the tidbits about the sisters, the facts of their actual lives. The author makes one wonder about the hardship experienced by Charlotte and her sisters. Often unwanted, plain (although looking at the portraits of the sisters, only by standards of their times) and their perseverance in staying alive, surviving awful employers, unrequited romances and the cruelty with which children of the not so well off were treated.
I loved Anne's voice most of all, although both Emily and the girls' father provided their own perspectives. I loved the friendship, the imagination of 5 girls stuck with an overbearing father and a religious fanatic for an aunt. I did find Charlotte's manner to be radically different in the end in comparison to the beginning of the book.
To be honest, one of the reasons I am giving this book a 3 is the omission of some of Charlotte's life. a Lot of time is spent on her early life, but not her later one where she becomes a celebrated author. Likewise, her relationship with Arthur Nichols, the man that became her husband is similarly glossed over. It feels that the book evokes only the snippets of the Bronte sisters (and on occasion brother) and in no way some of those snippets are looked on as important in some way.