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clare_tan_wenhui 's review for:
Mr. Rochester
by Sarah Shoemaker
This book is guilty pleasure of mine, being that I have always been smitten by the relationship of Jane with Rochester. For all those who have always asked themselves "What the heck did Jane Eyre see in Edward Rochester", you will finally get your answers here.
The story of Rochester's very closely parallel Jane's own. The first part sets up his childhood and teenager years. His lack of any substantial kinship with his father and brother Rowland, are similar to Jane's early experiences of being locked up in the Red Room by the Reeds. Then his schooling experience with Carrot and Touch in Blackhill under Mr Lincoln, as well as his mentorship with Mr Wilson at the mill, reminded me of Jane's years at Lowood growing up together her dear friend Helen.
The second part is basically about him making his fortunes at Jamaica together with his doomed courtship and marriage to Bertha Mason. Of course for the third part, all Jane Eyre fans would be familiar and need no elaboration.
I know some readers have bemoaned that there was insufficient devotion to the third part. However, this would be where I have a different opinion. In fact I'm pretty satisfied and pleased with the lengthy devotion to Rochester's growing up years. Through this, it sets up the character development for Rochester, letting us readers know what principles and values he holds dear. Such that later on in the third act with Jane (be it in the original classic or this book), to us the reader his motivations and thought processes behind his original seemingly erratic mood swings with Jane, comes with a new clarity like never before. This give us some clue to what Jane could sense was hiding in the deep recesses of this man. I mean this book after all is about Edward Rochester as a person in completion, not just his love for Jane. It helped that I found the childhood and teenage years very touching.
Meanwhile for readers who shun this book thinking it will end up being like another [b:Wide Sargasso Sea|25622780|Wide Sargasso Sea|Jean Rhys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453021061s/25622780.jpg|142647], I'd like to put your fears to rest, as it differs from that canon. The depiction of Edward Rochester here is definitely favourable, unlike that weird Othello-ish portrayal there. Richard Mason remains an utter douchebag though, but the elder Mr Mason is quite a character you would sympathise with. In fact, Rochester's moral conflict when dealing with his father-in-law was what took my attention in Part 2. This especially put Rochester in a very very honourable light.
If there's any grouses to be made, I guess it would be to the less than desirable depiction of Edward Rochester's very own father and brother. I guess narratively it makes sense for the plot, but I cannot help but feel weird that every time a piece of "spin-off" fiction happens, there will be some character depiction casualties. For the [b:Wide Sargasso Sea|25622780|Wide Sargasso Sea|Jean Rhys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453021061s/25622780.jpg|142647], it had been Rochester himself and all the men in the Mason family. For this book, it is Rochester's father and his brother Rowland. Rowland is put in an especially unfavourable light, with the additional of a wildcard to the plot later on. Alright, I will not ruin that with any more spoilers. Go and enjoy the book!
The story of Rochester's very closely parallel Jane's own. The first part sets up his childhood and teenager years. His lack of any substantial kinship with his father and brother Rowland, are similar to Jane's early experiences of being locked up in the Red Room by the Reeds. Then his schooling experience with Carrot and Touch in Blackhill under Mr Lincoln, as well as his mentorship with Mr Wilson at the mill, reminded me of Jane's years at Lowood growing up together her dear friend Helen.
The second part is basically about him making his fortunes at Jamaica together with his doomed courtship and marriage to Bertha Mason. Of course for the third part, all Jane Eyre fans would be familiar and need no elaboration.
I know some readers have bemoaned that there was insufficient devotion to the third part. However, this would be where I have a different opinion. In fact I'm pretty satisfied and pleased with the lengthy devotion to Rochester's growing up years. Through this, it sets up the character development for Rochester, letting us readers know what principles and values he holds dear. Such that later on in the third act with Jane (be it in the original classic or this book), to us the reader his motivations and thought processes behind his original seemingly erratic mood swings with Jane, comes with a new clarity like never before. This give us some clue to what Jane could sense was hiding in the deep recesses of this man. I mean this book after all is about Edward Rochester as a person in completion, not just his love for Jane. It helped that I found the childhood and teenage years very touching.
Meanwhile for readers who shun this book thinking it will end up being like another [b:Wide Sargasso Sea|25622780|Wide Sargasso Sea|Jean Rhys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453021061s/25622780.jpg|142647], I'd like to put your fears to rest, as it differs from that canon. The depiction of Edward Rochester here is definitely favourable, unlike that weird Othello-ish portrayal there. Richard Mason remains an utter douchebag though, but the elder Mr Mason is quite a character you would sympathise with. In fact, Rochester's moral conflict when dealing with his father-in-law was what took my attention in Part 2. This especially put Rochester in a very very honourable light.
If there's any grouses to be made, I guess it would be to the less than desirable depiction of Edward Rochester's very own father and brother. I guess narratively it makes sense for the plot, but I cannot help but feel weird that every time a piece of "spin-off" fiction happens, there will be some character depiction casualties. For the [b:Wide Sargasso Sea|25622780|Wide Sargasso Sea|Jean Rhys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453021061s/25622780.jpg|142647], it had been Rochester himself and all the men in the Mason family. For this book, it is Rochester's father and his brother Rowland. Rowland is put in an especially unfavourable light, with the additional of a wildcard to the plot later on. Alright, I will not ruin that with any more spoilers. Go and enjoy the book!