Reviews

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

keepreadingbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I finally(!) read Jane Eyre. I want to start på saying that I loved it, because I did. I loved reading it and never got impatient with the story, despite occasionally long dialogues, ramblings and descriptions. I am fond of slow novels, so internal goings on are not a hindrance to my enjoyment – quite the opposite. I was content and happy in Jane’s world (for the most part). The ending had of course been spoiled for me long ago. It’s almost impossible otherwise with classics, and especially ones with such iconic quotes as “Reader, I married him”. But the journey there was new and unknown, and, on the whole, a good one. 

 

The feminist in me did have some issues. I always try to remind myself to judge books by the time they’re written in, but I still want to mention the things that I had difficulty overlooking. Firstly, the very inappropriate (again, by today’s standards) relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester. I could’ve stomached it better if they felt more like equals, but I cringed every time Jane called him “master” (even after the engagement, yuck), and every time he described her as “my little Jane” and other variations thereof meant to emphasise her innocence and youth. Not to mention his very possessive language and demeanour. And the fact that he blames her leaving him – in order to protect herself and her own self-respect, mind – for his possible downfall, indicating that if *he* ruins his life, it will be *her* fault. Duck no. Take responsibility for your own choices. St John is just as bad, if not worse, trying to guilt-trip Jane into marrying him by telling her a rejection of him is a rejection of God. I mean, these men pissed me the eff off. 

 

Jane I generally liked and admired (except for the chapters where the love-sick puppy behaviour peaked), but her stay in Morton revealed her to be a complete snob. “To live amidst general regard, though it be but the regard of working people”. Are you serious? Said the orphan with no “house or brass” herself. But she is sensible enough to make up for this flaw, and I generally loved her directness and sharpness. 

 

All in all, I'm glad I finally got this one under my belt! 

isobel_a's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.75

loyaultemelie's review against another edition

5.0

A stunning book, filled with great emotion and reminiscent in times of Poe or Shelley's Gothic prose, this combined with the independence of Jane, the feminist tones of this novel feel fresh and bright, and, unlike with some quotes such as "Beware; for I am fearless and therefore powerful" which, when read, are revealed to be taken grossly out of context, the highlighted passages in classrooms and articles feel genuine when read in context. That is to say when Jane declares: “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." it is revealed to be truly in context about her own power.
I once read a comment that, to this reader, Jane Eyre was more a coming of age story than a romance. After reading I'm inclined to agree, for if it were solely a romance and not meant to be anything more, this is my own extrapolation not necessarily reflective of the view of the author, then the first 130 or so pages spent solely on Jane's own learning and coming into the world wouldn't've played so large a role. Her leaving Thornfield Hall and the way she describes her growth and change those months before she'd reunited with Mr. Rochester also affirm this in my mind. That isn't to say it isn't a romance, for it is indeed very romantic, both in the loving and, in my opinion, Byronic sense. Charlotte Bronte is masterful in balancing both aspects of the novel and I didn't find one aspect overblown or shoved to the side, even in the midsection Charlotte Bronte didn't forget Jane's own development and character, even while she was falling in love with Mr. Rochester. Nor did the romance seem forced, an impressive feat considering circumstances.
The ending puzzled me a bit, I'll not lie ending on St John, who I found at the best of times obnoxious and at the worst a manipulative and malignant human, though Jane assures us otherwise, and it can be debated the sarcasm of her statements that her cousin was without malice, but the final line "My Master has forewarned me. Daily he announces more distinctly 'Surely I come quickly!'" on reflection I find to be a good way to sum up the relationship, in the final act, of Jane and Rochester.

marcusuhre's review against another edition

5.0

This shit is fucking perfect
How to invent plottwist #BrontëSWAQ

ronbert's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.25

bookcrazy2023's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

5.0

aroda's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.75

heathssm's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

aminahlu's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

ilaria_14's review against another edition

3.0

3 stelline perché la vecchia, stupida edizione del mio libro ha storpiato non solo la traduzione ma anche la lunghezza della storia, riducendo il numero delle pagine a meno della metà del tomo originale.
Non dimenticherò facilmente il giorno in cui confrontai una frase del mio libro con l'originale scritta sul libro di letterarura inglese...
E pensare che prima di scoprire lo scempio avevo adorato il libro. Ora invece, non sono più sicura di aver letto Jane Eyre.

Oh well, mi toccherà leggerlo di nuovo.