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molp's review against another edition
2.0
Wanted this to be much longer, was ending as I was beginning to get immersed (and remembering what actually happens in Jane Eyre, lol).
literaturemaxxer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
chickpeadevotee's review against another edition
5.0
This book will completely change your perspective of Jane Eyre.
quiteliterary's review against another edition
2.0
Mr Rochester scares me in this. I really enjoyed Part 1 and 2 but the writing felt off in Part 3—I ended up scheming through. I’ll probably give this a reread in the future.
ghost_of_the_library's review against another edition
5.0
- Review Edited after my reread- typos -
And what to read when you are rereading Jane Eyre and a biography of its author? well, here is your answer!
Like I said in my review of Jane Eyre, I was never one to like its lead character that much - plain, ugly, level headed, rational, filled with common sense Jane always rattled my nerves, she was always (except on the few occasions she lost her temper) too much for my taste...if I can make myself understood.
On the other hand, the madwoman in the attic always intrigued me, I always wondered what her story could have been, how had she ended up in merry old England locked away and trying to kill someone whenever she could escape....what can I say, I like the outsiders!
Wide Sargasso Sea is precisely that - the story of "Mad Bertha" , her background, her family, her homeland, the exotic island of Jamaica and just how clearly she belongs nowhere.
Born of mixed heritage in colonial Jamaica, Antoinette is from the start an outsider, a castaway whose mother´s 2nd marriage saves her from poverty, but never fully integrates her in society - those Englishmen and their social rules....
After several years in a convent school, Antoinette is finally "wed" to an Englishman, never named, but clearly identified as Mr. Rochester for anyone who has ever read Jane. The culture clash is clear, and even if at first Rochester is powerfully attracted to her and her charms, his "Englishness" sets in and, with a little help from anonymous letters, he starts to hate and resent everything around him - from the weather to, most significantly, his wife.
The alternation of narrators here is a very effective tool and in part two, with Rochester´s voice, we see his difficult situation, for its explained that he was pushed into the wedding by his father and basically for the money. Now he sees himself in a foreign land - the honeymoon takes places in Dominica on a house belonging to Antoinette (hence to him by marriage). However, as he slowly but effectively, contributes towards the total meltdown of Antoinette, one cant help but really dislike him - its impossible not to! His harshness, his inflexibility, his disregard for her when he seduces the maid 2 steps away from his wife´s bed, his insistence in calling her Bertha thus diminishing her even more, all lead to her effective disappearance - Antoinette´s mind, which truth be told was already fragile, simply shuts down on herself and she recognizes nothing and no one no more.
Seen by modern eyes, without the cultural background that knowledge of the age and the situation of the islands might provide, the novel will probably be hard to read and fully understand, perhaps even more so because this was written from a fan/feminist/colonial point of view.
The struggle between empire and colony, the "struggle" between man and woman are all dealt with here trough the 2 characters and, ultimately, Rochester's rejection of Antoinette partly due to her Creole blood.
His "transformation" of her into Bertha and her imprisonment in the attic can be seen both as a rejection by the empire to fully understand/accept its colonies and as another example of man´s will to submit that which he cant understand, woman, to his wishes - this factor is in my modest opinion a focal point and should be taken into consideration by anyone reading this.
From the point of view of someone particularly geeky with everything Victorian Age related, I found it fascinating and very engaging! Its intoxicating, its uncomfortable, its impossible to put down,
the descriptions, the plot, the style of Rhys´s writing, all contribute to make you descend along with Antoinette/Bertha into that dark place where she finally finds herself and the knowledge that there is only one escape.
P.S: There are a few movie versions out there...choose wisely, not all give due credit to this remarkable literary piece.
Try to get your hands on an edition with notes - gives a whole new meaning to the book and its content!
oh and yes, this can be read in one day - easy peasy, as long as there is nothing pressing on your agenda that is!
Happy Readings!
And what to read when you are rereading Jane Eyre and a biography of its author? well, here is your answer!
Like I said in my review of Jane Eyre, I was never one to like its lead character that much - plain, ugly, level headed, rational, filled with common sense Jane always rattled my nerves, she was always (except on the few occasions she lost her temper) too much for my taste...if I can make myself understood.
On the other hand, the madwoman in the attic always intrigued me, I always wondered what her story could have been, how had she ended up in merry old England locked away and trying to kill someone whenever she could escape....what can I say, I like the outsiders!
Wide Sargasso Sea is precisely that - the story of "Mad Bertha" , her background, her family, her homeland, the exotic island of Jamaica and just how clearly she belongs nowhere.
Born of mixed heritage in colonial Jamaica, Antoinette is from the start an outsider, a castaway whose mother´s 2nd marriage saves her from poverty, but never fully integrates her in society - those Englishmen and their social rules....
After several years in a convent school, Antoinette is finally "wed" to an Englishman, never named, but clearly identified as Mr. Rochester for anyone who has ever read Jane. The culture clash is clear, and even if at first Rochester is powerfully attracted to her and her charms, his "Englishness" sets in and, with a little help from anonymous letters, he starts to hate and resent everything around him - from the weather to, most significantly, his wife.
The alternation of narrators here is a very effective tool and in part two, with Rochester´s voice, we see his difficult situation, for its explained that he was pushed into the wedding by his father and basically for the money. Now he sees himself in a foreign land - the honeymoon takes places in Dominica on a house belonging to Antoinette (hence to him by marriage). However, as he slowly but effectively, contributes towards the total meltdown of Antoinette, one cant help but really dislike him - its impossible not to! His harshness, his inflexibility, his disregard for her when he seduces the maid 2 steps away from his wife´s bed, his insistence in calling her Bertha thus diminishing her even more, all lead to her effective disappearance - Antoinette´s mind, which truth be told was already fragile, simply shuts down on herself and she recognizes nothing and no one no more.
Seen by modern eyes, without the cultural background that knowledge of the age and the situation of the islands might provide, the novel will probably be hard to read and fully understand, perhaps even more so because this was written from a fan/feminist/colonial point of view.
The struggle between empire and colony, the "struggle" between man and woman are all dealt with here trough the 2 characters and, ultimately, Rochester's rejection of Antoinette partly due to her Creole blood.
His "transformation" of her into Bertha and her imprisonment in the attic can be seen both as a rejection by the empire to fully understand/accept its colonies and as another example of man´s will to submit that which he cant understand, woman, to his wishes - this factor is in my modest opinion a focal point and should be taken into consideration by anyone reading this.
From the point of view of someone particularly geeky with everything Victorian Age related, I found it fascinating and very engaging! Its intoxicating, its uncomfortable, its impossible to put down,
the descriptions, the plot, the style of Rhys´s writing, all contribute to make you descend along with Antoinette/Bertha into that dark place where she finally finds herself and the knowledge that there is only one escape.
P.S: There are a few movie versions out there...choose wisely, not all give due credit to this remarkable literary piece.
Try to get your hands on an edition with notes - gives a whole new meaning to the book and its content!
oh and yes, this can be read in one day - easy peasy, as long as there is nothing pressing on your agenda that is!
Happy Readings!
lizzie_5678's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
“you would cling to life if you loved it”
Going into this I had no idea about the concept and how it was the backstory of Rochester’s wife (which feels very coincidental because I read Jane Eyre for the first time earlier this year).
It was such a gripping read, and I just felt awful for Antoinette the whole time and the way in which she was mistreated and so misunderstood. Would be so interesting to go back to Jane Eyre after reading this, especially looking at Mr Rochester’s character.
Going into this I had no idea about the concept and how it was the backstory of Rochester’s wife (which feels very coincidental because I read Jane Eyre for the first time earlier this year).
It was such a gripping read, and I just felt awful for Antoinette the whole time and the way in which she was mistreated and so misunderstood. Would be so interesting to go back to Jane Eyre after reading this, especially looking at Mr Rochester’s character.
danywever's review against another edition
5.0
I was trying to remember who the writing reminded me of and it hit me in the end. Ondaatje's "gothic" I don't know whether it can be categorized as tropical gothic or diasporic gothic, but the sense of the tropic overtaking the mind, bound by the past and the mistakes of their ancestors, madness as a direct result of colonial conquest handed down through generations.
thejt33's review against another edition
3.0
Read this very quickly, so can't really judge it fairly, but definitely had some memorable/well-crafted parts. I'm giving it a 3 but it could be a 4. Probably won't return to it, so my speed read will have to suffice.
cvhhvc123's review against another edition
1.0
This was a struggle. Would love to read another book with the same concept.