A review by allison_on_a_book_break
Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

Not at all what I expected.  I know the story of the Bronte family on a surface level and was looking to learn more about them.  This book, however, focused more on describing the food on the table or the flowers in the countryside than providing any insight into this tragic family's story.  It never mentioned tuberculous by name, doesn't recount how the eldest two died from TB contracted at their boarding school or the deplorable living conditions at said board school, doesn't explain how Charlotte's 2 younger sisters died of the same disease.  It just asks a TON of questions in the form of Charlotte's musings when she starts writing Jane Eyre, then draws comparisons between the book and Charlotte's life - skipping anything informational or remotely interesting.  On one page she's still writing Jane Eyre, jealous that Emily & Anne receive an offer of publication while her own 1st book was rejected, then about 2 pages later not only is Jane Eyre complete, but it's been published and a rousing success.  I could rant with so many more examples of this pattern repeating, but I wasted enough time on this book as it is.  Suffice it to say... All of the potentially interesting tidbits and character developing events happen off-page. 

Complete waste of time.  No insight into any of the girls' lives, other than envy over each other's success.  I learned more about the Brontes from a wikipedia page I read years ago while writing Sim's fiction!  I will definitely be unhauling this one.  

One good thing about it?   - it was short.