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A review by jennlessmann
Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler
3.0
"More of a character sketch than a story, really. Almost devoid of plot, in fact. Kohler's interpretation of Charlotte Bronte's life as she imagines and writes her classic, Jane Eyre, feels contemplative and genuine. The pacing is somewhat slow, but little jewels here and there ring with whispered truth rather than dramatic impact. I enjoyed the glimpses at Bronte's life and that of her sisters - their struggles with employment (particularly as governesses), the heartbreaking story of caring for their addict brother, frequent disappointments in love and publishing - and how they translated their lives to their craft. In the novel (as in their individual writings), Emily actually grabbed me much more forcefully than her protagonist sister. Overall, this book is worthwhile, but will only receive a 5-star rating from those who are obsessed with either literature/writing in general or Jane Eyre and the Bronte sisters in particular."
I could have written that review (by Meg). I will add:
Something about the voice of the novel feels very passive, even when the author is grammatically using active voice. On the one hand, this adds to the contemplative feel, and probably accurately portrays life at the parsonage, but on the other, it makes for very slow (and not terribly engaging) reading. The third person present tense feels very impersonal, and although the changing focus between characters gave each of them a moment to shine, it took away from my ability to get attached to Charlotte, whom I had imagined to be the protagonist. Indeed, when her marriage and death are covered in the epilogue, they are so sudden and concise that I did not feel the expected grief, despite the tragic events leading up to them. I should have expected this, since the entire novel is written this way - full of not very detailed description, as another reviewer mentioned.
The book is an excellent example of Telling rather than Showing. Scenes are carefully set, so that you know where everyone is and what they are doing... but then nothing happens. There is either a minimal amount of dialogue added to the scene, or it immediately jumps to describe another setting, from a different point of view.
I give it three stars, despite these faults, because the individual scenes are so True. The book never feels like a work of fiction, and the scenes are well-drawn despite their lack of detail, more like a painting done at a distance than a close-up sketch.
I could have written that review (by Meg). I will add:
Something about the voice of the novel feels very passive, even when the author is grammatically using active voice. On the one hand, this adds to the contemplative feel, and probably accurately portrays life at the parsonage, but on the other, it makes for very slow (and not terribly engaging) reading. The third person present tense feels very impersonal, and although the changing focus between characters gave each of them a moment to shine, it took away from my ability to get attached to Charlotte, whom I had imagined to be the protagonist. Indeed, when her marriage and death are covered in the epilogue, they are so sudden and concise that I did not feel the expected grief, despite the tragic events leading up to them. I should have expected this, since the entire novel is written this way - full of not very detailed description, as another reviewer mentioned.
The book is an excellent example of Telling rather than Showing. Scenes are carefully set, so that you know where everyone is and what they are doing... but then nothing happens. There is either a minimal amount of dialogue added to the scene, or it immediately jumps to describe another setting, from a different point of view.
I give it three stars, despite these faults, because the individual scenes are so True. The book never feels like a work of fiction, and the scenes are well-drawn despite their lack of detail, more like a painting done at a distance than a close-up sketch.