A review by bookishreadsandme
Villette by Charlotte Brontë

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

One of my favourite classics is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, so of course I expected to enjoy this one immensely but unfortunately it just felt like a drag. 

I understand that this was written based around Charlotte’s experiences when she fell in love with a married man and was lonely and homesick while she was working as a governess in Brussels. There is definitely a sad, melancholic feel to this story, but it is pretty uneventful and one of the worst things for me was the ambiguous ending. I probably should have just DNF’d this one but I was so certain Charlotte would turn it around for me but nope, it was a dull read from start to finish. It felt like there was no plot to it! 

I found Lucy Snowe infuriating at times, especially when she falls for a guy who insults her intelligence and mocks her. I do think that the writing surrounding her mental health was brilliantly done and ahead of its time, especially when things surrounding depression were swept under the carpet back then.

Charlotte’s writing is beautiful, she has such a great poetic way of describing Lucy’s feelings and commenting on what is going on around her but the sentences were so long. I found my attention dwindling. 

This is often said to be a gothic novel too, but I didn’t get that kind of atmospheric feeling to it at any point. Even with the ghost of a nun supposedly making an appearance. 

Without a doubt Charlotte is one of the best writers of all time but the dreary musings in this just bored me to tears.