passionatereader78's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.0
Nice read. I enjoyed this classic. It's detailed, but not to the point where you want to skip paragraphs. I enjoyed the characters and the ending was perfect. Jane is an orphan being cared for by her aunt who hates her. When she can no longer tolerate Jane she sends her to boarding school. After boarding school she becomes a governess. This is when the story gets interesting. Jane starts to find herself and realizes what she wants to do with her life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Toxic relationship
bobcat_thepagemaster98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was the first time I have ever read Jane Eyre despite being an English major (how scandalous I know!!). Having read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte multiple-times and being one of my all-time favorite books, I knew I was in for a treat!
The book begins when Jane Eyre is a rambunctious young-girl. She is forced to live her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and cousins after the death of her parents. Jane is treated unfairly and punished by Mrs. Reed. Eventually, Jane is sent away to a girls school during this time she befriends a girl named Helen. The book continues to follow Jane throughout her life, she graduates from schools and teaches there for two years until she answers an advertisement for a governess. This is where we get to meet the dark, mysterious, and wealthy Mr. Rochester. We witness both Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre fall for one another knowing their love is forbidden due to the class divide
Spoiler
and the fact that Mr. Rochester is still married to his wife, who he hides in the attic!This book is considered a classic for good reason! It gives us modern readers a look into what life was like for young women in the 19th-century—what their limitations where when it comes to love, work, and opportunity. There’s politics, religion, love, and gothic spookiness all wrapped into one story. Charolette Bronte’s prose is unparallel! She began writing this book in 1846 yet feel very modern. It is intelligent, honest, and unforgiving. I believe everyone should read this book at some point in their life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Classism, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Misogyny
machen27's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this as a young person multiple times for school, and wished to revisit it as an adult; even knowing the broad twists and turns I delighted in how strangely relatable Jane is. While a longer read with unexpected twists and turns, it is no wonder, to me, why this remains a classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Mental illness and Racism
It’s hard to ignore that the lynchpin of the drama revolves around a character who isn’t white and suffers mental illness, handled as an impediment to be removed, rather than a full person. I find keeping the context of who Brontë is and who she writes for offsets this, but it is problematic to say the least. That said, I don’t think these flaws outweigh what the book has to say.queenofthenorth's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Child abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Fire/Fire injury
voicenextdoor's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This is a hard no from me.
I really liked Jane and the writing was fine, and anything that didn’t involved the romance was fine, but Rochester is a toxic, manipulative, gaslighting prick.
I don’t care that he sorta, kinda stops being a complete dick after he loses everything. He’s a raging jealous creep even then.
The way psychosis is described in this book is disgusting and offensive. A complete dehumanizing of the person. For instance using the following to describe someone “beastly”, “savage”, “snarling”, “standing up on their hind legs”. WTF.
I really, really don’t get why everyone stans this book so hard. From gross classism to unbridled misogyny to straight up abuse. Yuck. No.
I really liked Jane and the writing was fine, and anything that didn’t involved the romance was fine, but Rochester is a toxic, manipulative, gaslighting prick.
I don’t care that he sorta, kinda stops being a complete dick after he loses everything. He’s a raging jealous creep even then.
The way psychosis is described in this book is disgusting and offensive. A complete dehumanizing of the person. For instance using the following to describe someone “beastly”, “savage”, “snarling”, “standing up on their hind legs”. WTF.
I really, really don’t get why everyone stans this book so hard. From gross classism to unbridled misogyny to straight up abuse. Yuck. No.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Child abuse
bearystarry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Despite the … views of the time, I guess, and the fact that between the entire cast of characters there were about three redeeming qualities, I enjoyed listening to this book. The first two thirds were the most interesting and the last third sort of lagged for me but in general I guess I was just interested in the way Jane told her story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Body shaming, Ableism, Classism, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death, Abandonment, Racism, Mental illness, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Incest, and Terminal illness
sgferguson's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Mental illness, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Colonisation, Ableism, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
carolinecronj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I went into this without knowing anything about the plot and would recommend you to do the same if you are still unspoilered, because some of the turns of the plot really surprised me.
What I greatly enjoyed about the book is its superb writing. Charlotte Bronte's command of the English language is nothing short of astounding, and her description of the various setting and a treat to read.
However, my main problem with Jane Eyre is the romanticisation of abusive, manipulative and toxic character traits and relationships. I could not help but cringe at many of the supposedly sweet or romantic interactions throughout the book.
Furthermore, there are some deeply misogynistic archetypes, and the language throughout the book is at times ableist, racist and colonialist.
In its own time and society, Jane Eyre was in many ways a revolutionary piece of writing and I definitely recommend it to be consumed as a historic product of its time. But if you are looking for a sweet and unproblematic love story, you should be looking somewhere else.
What I greatly enjoyed about the book is its superb writing. Charlotte Bronte's command of the English language is nothing short of astounding, and her description of the various setting and a treat to read.
However, my main problem with Jane Eyre is the romanticisation of abusive, manipulative and toxic character traits and relationships. I could not help but cringe at many of the supposedly sweet or romantic interactions throughout the book.
Furthermore, there are some deeply misogynistic archetypes, and the language throughout the book is at times ableist, racist and colonialist.
In its own time and society, Jane Eyre was in many ways a revolutionary piece of writing and I definitely recommend it to be consumed as a historic product of its time. But if you are looking for a sweet and unproblematic love story, you should be looking somewhere else.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
cathh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Mental illness
dianacally's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness