erica_cronje's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Immediate Initial thoughts
Oh My Word.
I am absolutely in love with this novel. It is the perfect combination of character and plot and descriptive language. I adored annotating and as such, analyzing this novel and all it's characters. Everything was absolutely amazing, it was much better that Pride and Prejudice in my opinion, the entire character development, love story and progression of the love story, i just enjoyed it much more, it felt like there was more depth with the characters even though, there is arguably less information and character growth in Jane than in Pride. In simple terms, I enjoyed Jane more in every wat possible.
I am absolutely in love with this novel. It is the perfect combination of character and plot and descriptive language. I adored annotating and as such, analyzing this novel and all it's characters. Everything was absolutely amazing, it was much better that Pride and Prejudice in my opinion, the entire character development, love story and progression of the love story, i just enjoyed it much more, it felt like there was more depth with the characters even though, there is arguably less information and character growth in Jane than in Pride. In simple terms, I enjoyed Jane more in every wat possible.
Day-after-thoughts
I adored this book, have i mentioned that by chance?
There were so many aspects of this novel that just, it was just perfect, in my opinion. The characters, the plot, everything, the progression in the characters and such.
There were so many aspects of this novel that just, it was just perfect, in my opinion. The characters, the plot, everything, the progression in the characters and such.
Spoiler
Plot and Characters: although it is not perhaps the most essential part of the novel, there is no lack of plot. The thing that made this novel so wonderful to read , is the characters and the plot intertwines with each other. The characters thoughts and actions are integral parts of the plot. The characters and the plot is not two different things, instead they work as a team, enhancing each other even more. For example, when Jane is shoved into the Red Room, we see her lash out, people commenting on her behavior and yet the plot moves on, they keep tying her to a chair, we keep seeing Jane's thought process, it should be a very chaotic scene, yet it is perfectly balanced.Writing Style: I am so absolutely in love with the writing style of Charlotte Bronte. the way that 'Jane' is constantly addressing the reader personally, it makes the entire experience just even more personal and you connect easier to Jane as a character. I wrote in an annotation on page 93,
Its almost like it is a long personal letter to a friend, almost like she wrote it for you.
Then the descriptions in general were absolutely gorgeous, of both Jane's thoughts, as well as what is around her, and her actions.
Chapter 2, pg. 13, "The reproach of my dependence had become a vague sing-song in my ear, very painful and crushing, but only half-intelligible.
Chapter 9, pg. 75, "When mists as chill as death. . .for the forest on its banks, that showed only ranks of skeletons.
pg.76. " Disease had thus become an inhabitant of Lowood, and deaths its frequent visitor.
My favorite of all though, is the descriptions of nature and feelings in general. They are personalized and due to this personalization, it just adds something so eloquently beautiful, it just reads beautifully, as often seen in the descriptions of the moon.
pg. 116, "a blue sea absolved from taint of cloud, the moon ascending it in her solemn march, her orb seeming to look up as she left the hilltops, from which she had come. . .
pg. 158, " Memory had giving given her evidence of the hopes, whishes and sentiments I had been cherishing since last night. . . Reason having come forward and told, in her own quiet way, a plain, unravished tale, showing how I had rejected the real and rapidly devoured the ideal.
the discussion of the themes: Bronte has various commentaries on the society of the time, the way love was seen and portrayed, gender roles and how they are enforced into people since birth, women being learned and expected to repress their emotions, as seen with Jane herself. Bronte intertwines it into characters that, if one is nor looking for it, it would be unnoticeable, yet it is prevalent throughout the novel.
In conclusion, there s nothing about this book that i do not love, it is is unbelievably perfect, from the plot, to the descriptions, to the commentary on society and all the themes prevalant in general.
In conclusion, there s nothing about this book that i do not love, it is is unbelievably perfect, from the plot, to the descriptions, to the commentary on society and all the themes prevalant in general.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Mental illness and Misogyny
Minor: Colonisation and Suicidal thoughts
musingsofazebra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Colonisation, Infidelity, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Abandonment, Classism, Death, and Suicide
pricelesswine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Colonisation
wormgirl's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, and Confinement
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
Minor: Blood, Colonisation, Death of parent, Classism, and Death
mikarala's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Jane is still endearing despite her Victorian sense of propriety, but I don't think some elements of this novel stand the test of time. The romance didn't really work that well for me, but I really enjoyed the coming-of-age elements of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Ableism
gladduck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Great book, I really related to Jane. A lot of her thoughts were exact ones I had before which made the book very fun to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Ableism
Minor: Classism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Child death, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
DISCLAIMER - I read this text as a set text for university meaning I did not pick this up for myself. It does not fit my usual reading selection so my review may be rather biased.
This is the first ever classical novel that I have read that I truly adored. With a purely descriptive writing style, a relatively loveable heroine and a complex moral story, I really enjoyed Jane Eyre.
Bronte's writing is delightful and although long winded at times, beautiful, with lots of extended metaphors and references to the supernatural and fantastical. One other downside to the writing is that of the different languages that are sometimes used; this does add to the book however you may need a translator to understand completly what is being said in dialogue. This in itself is an easy solution to a small problem.
The story is interesting as we follow a girl throughout her childhood as she becomes an adult woman. This is one of the first novels to do this in its time, with less of a focus on marriage and courtship. Instead the focus is on Jane and her life and adventures.
I would highly recommend as a relatively accessible and interesting, classic!
This is the first ever classical novel that I have read that I truly adored. With a purely descriptive writing style, a relatively loveable heroine and a complex moral story, I really enjoyed Jane Eyre.
Bronte's writing is delightful and although long winded at times, beautiful, with lots of extended metaphors and references to the supernatural and fantastical. One other downside to the writing is that of the different languages that are sometimes used; this does add to the book however you may need a translator to understand completly what is being said in dialogue. This in itself is an easy solution to a small problem.
The story is interesting as we follow a girl throughout her childhood as she becomes an adult woman. This is one of the first novels to do this in its time, with less of a focus on marriage and courtship. Instead the focus is on Jane and her life and adventures.
I would highly recommend as a relatively accessible and interesting, classic!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Racism, Blood, Suicide, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
vcriveros's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Ableism, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Mental illness, and Racism
annapox's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Ableism, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, and Medical content
edesia_guest's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I studied this for Uni and it is brilliant, the plot is heavy but amazing to analyse. But Bertha, or Antoinette, is ignored. To take Spivak’s criticism this book is an allegory of colonisation and it is sad that her story is ignored and erased under Jane and Rochester’s love. While we need to understand the time the author wrote in, this criticism still remains when modern readers view this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Deadnaming, Racism, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Classism, Confinement, and Misogyny
Minor: Bullying, Body shaming, and Death of parent