A review by jamieson
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

4.0

“life itself is anything beyond a heartless little chimera- it is as real in its weariness and bitter heartache”

I read this book for university and at first, I wasn't that into it but it grew on me a lot as it went on, and I particularly enjoyed the middle section. This is Jane Eyre meets Pride and Prejudice in the Australian bush. Except, Miles Franklin is kind of critical of Jane Eyre and wants to subvert your expectations of romance and the romance genre.

Lots of people seem not to like Sybylla but I did. She's got a lot of flaws and the way she constantly changed her mind frustrated me, but I liked her strength of character. I also liked what Franklin did with her character at the end - it's what I constantly whine about saying Jane Eyre should have been and it's nice to actually see that, happen. Harold Beecham, the love interest, was also actually genuinely sweet which is kind of crazy for a classic.

Franklin also has beautiful writing, the descriptions of the Australian bush were vivid and the emotional language she used allowed you to enter these characters minds with ease.

Overall I really enjoyed this, I could actually see myself rereading it in the future which isn't always the case with classics.