Becoming Jane Eyre

Aug 01, 2011 Ohthatspinster added it

Anything that has to do with the Brontes pretty much ensures I will pick it up and read it. And this was not disappointing. It was a very intimate, yet strangely distant account of the Bronte family. Mostly, Charlotte (of course) but also quite a bit about Anne and Emily.

And while it is fiction, you can imagine how true some of the issues addressed are. Like how Charlotte must have felt inscure and jealous when her two sisters books (Agnes Grey and Wuthering Heights) were accepted for publishing...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Aban (Aby) rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is a book with enormous (sadly failed) potential. I loved the author's idea of writing a fictional account of the lives of the Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne while, at the same time, focusing on the writing of Jane Eyre. I also liked the way she incorporated lines from Charlotte's novel into book; I thought that was really well done. I also liked the limitation of time period: it takes place from the time Charlotte started writing "Jane Eyre" until her death. However, I was disa...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Cleo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Becoming Jane Eyre is the story of the Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. It focuses particularly on Charlotte and the writing of Jane Eyre. The story starts in a parsonage 1846, with a mother and two children dead, and the Bronte sisters' brother destroyed by alcohol and drugs. Their father has gone blind, and is very weak. But these three independent women are determined to get their books published and survive. The book shifts perspective from chapter to chapter, though it's mainly f...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Big Book Little Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Helen for www.bigbooklittlebook.com

This story is the fictionalised interpretation of biographical events in the life of Charlotte Bronte. I didn’t know much about the family other than the obvious; they wrote wonderful books! So it was of interest to me to learn more about them and it is always fascinating to see how their own lives have affected the authors writing and that is definitely highlighted in this novel. The only thing, of course, is that you have to remember that this is someone else...more Helen for www.bigbooklittlebook.com

This story is the fictionalised interpretation of biographical events in the life of Charlotte Bronte. I didn’t know much about the family other than the obvious; they wrote wonderful books! So it was of interest to me to learn more about them and it is always fascinating to see how their own lives have affected the authors writing and that is definitely highlighted in this novel. The only thing, of course, is that you have to remember that this is someone else’s ideas about the characters thoughts and feelings and not those of Charlotte herself. Shelia’s writing really draws you in and her interpretation of what happened in Charlottes life, how it affected that and how it shows up in Jane Eyre pulls you in and is incredibly plausible.

We begin Charlotte’s story as she starts writing the novel, her pen scratching on the paper as her father lies unable to move waiting to see if he will recover from an operation to restore his sight. As Charlotte nurses him she reflects on her life thus far and finds it in herself to write as she never has before.

Shelia takes us on a voyage through Charlotte’s life and as Charlotte spent a lot of time at home this gives a fascinating exploration of family relationships, especially difficult ones. It is clear that Bramwell is the favourite of the family, especially his father. Bramwell has had all the chances, privileges and opportunities and yet wastes his life and his talent on drink and drugs. How difficult must this have been for his talented and yet ignored sisters. Even more so as they have to care for him and clear up his mess, often literally.

Caring for her father whilst feeling he despises her is an incredible burden for Charlotte. He did not care for her when she was young, when her Mother died or when she was being looked after by another woman who only cared for Bramwell. His distance and discouragement make it even harder for her to write and yet his illness gives her this opportunity that produces literary gold.
That her Father did nothing for her or her sisters also highlights the plight of women in that society. The suffocation that must have been felt by Charlotte and her sisters as they are chastised and criticised must have been immense. In particular as they were writing women and authorship was a man’s world, to say the least. As Shelia points out later in the novel it must have been so degrading for Charlotte to have been called ‘Jane Eyre’ by Thackery himself. In addition how devastating it was for Charlotte to have her manuscript rejected when her two sisters had works accepted, even more so as she considers herself the better writer.

Charlotte has had some independence and life experience at school and as a teacher. She falls for, and is led on by, her Master. He is a married man and as a reader you become increasingly aware of how dependent girls were in the men in their lives for survival, either at home or in the workplace, being a Governess must have been a particularly difficult role sometimes. The Master’s treatment of Charlotte and her passion for him seems to have greatly informed her writing of Jane Eyre.

Through the whole novel there is a darker edgier side shown to Charlotte’s life and it clearly demonstrates her possible inspiration; lovers rejection, fires, secrets in the attic. This is when it became easy to forget this is a kind of fiction, not all factual. But as these events are documented in Charlotte’s life, drawing the parallels is easy.

Towards the end of the story there are some big events in Charlotte’s life that get somewhat skimmed over; the death of her two sisters and Charlotte’s own marriage almost form an epilogue to the main body of the story.

Verdict: I thought this was a beautifully written story with an enthralling take on the life of a woman behind one of the greatest stories ever written.
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Mar 16, 2012 Rachel Crooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book in an airport, expecting that it would be standard, light and frothy airport fare. Strangely, it took me right to early Victorian London, so that I looked up from the book and had to remember I wasn't there. This book is Charlotte Bronte in glimpses, in word snapshots. It is such a "quiet" book, quiet like those women who are mad but are hiding all of the anger behind a frozen smile. It is like sitting in a very quiet room, and hearing the rustle of people's skirts as they walk,...more I read this book in an airport, expecting that it would be standard, light and frothy airport fare. Strangely, it took me right to early Victorian London, so that I looked up from the book and had to remember I wasn't there. This book is Charlotte Bronte in glimpses, in word snapshots. It is such a "quiet" book, quiet like those women who are mad but are hiding all of the anger behind a frozen smile. It is like sitting in a very quiet room, and hearing the rustle of people's skirts as they walk, or the sound of the wind outside, and looking at the faces of your family every now and then as you read or write. But in all of this silence, you can hear all around an intense whispering of words which are only alive on the unspoken page.

Refreshing to me was Kohler's ability to create an atmosphere that never hinted by any means to be other than Bronte's time. I remember watching Somewhere in Time, where the guy is able to visit the past by a sort of mind manipulation, but if on his journey to the past, he sees any reminder of the present, he will instantly be recalled to his own time. In the end, he finds a penny in his pocket from the present day, and it ruins everything.

It seems like many historical fiction writers can't help but throw a 2012 penny into their picture of the past, either overemphasizing famous names and news stories of the time, or trying too hard to write dialogue of the past but making silly mistakes by throwing in modern colloquialisms. How did Kohler avoid doing this? I don't know!

I felt that she painted the real Charlotte somehow. Today we remember Charlotte Bronte for her moral courage, for her emotional honesty, for her passionate intensity. But we forget some of the things about Charlotte Bronte's nature that probably perplexed those around her: her pride and inability to accept criticism clearheadedly, the manner in which her intense emotions probably frightened people off: the fact that until she was recognized for her work, she was obscure and treated so. I am glad that Kohler included these things, and made Charlotte's life and struggles real.(less)

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Jan 07, 2012 localfreak rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Although I have an uneasy relationship with any book which I consider essentially fanfiction where the author is paid for the writing of it, I was very much intrigued by this story. I enjoyed the look at the thoughts of the sisters and the explorations which blurred what is fact and what is conjecture, which worked out quite nicely.

The author's descriptive ability is breathtaking. The lush description of rooms, places and thoughts all had a wonderful quality and vividness to them which really c...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Terri rated it 2 of 5 stars

I picked this up in audiobook format on a whim. Ordinarily, I don’t enjoy fictionalized accounts of the lives of famous people, and this slight concoction proved to be no exception. The bulk of the narrative consisted of imagined thoughts and conversations that for the most part fell heavily on the side of petty resentments within the Brontë family, and superficial condescension on the part of those characters, marginal at best, who brushed fleetingly along the edge of the fold. Long, tedious pa...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Terri rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was torn between giving this book 2 stars or 3 stars. First of all, let me say that I am a big fan of the works of the Bronte sisters. I am also something of an admirer of Charlotte. I recognize that this work is a novel, but it is undoubtedly based on research. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I do not doubt that given the isolation and stress of the family situation and the fact that the three sisters were all writers, professional and sibling rivalry did exist. However, that seemed to be...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler

A fictional, almost biographical account of Charlotte Brontë's life, this novel begins in the year 1846 with Charlotte in Manchester by her father's bedside as he recovers from eye surgery. As she sits with her father during long, tedious days and nights, she finds the time and inspiration to write her novel, Jane Eyre. The story continues from here to recount the challenges of publishing her work along with her sisters Emily and Anne while caring for their alc...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars

More of a character sketch than a story, really. Almost devoid of plot, in fact. Kohler's interpretation of Charlotte Bronte's life as she imagines and writes her classic, Jane Eyre, feels contemplative and genuine. The pacing is somewhat slow, but little jewels here and there ring with whispered truth rather than dramatic impact. I enjoyed the glimpses at Bronte's life and that of her sisters - their struggles with employment (particularly as governesses), the heartbreaking story of caring for...more More of a character sketch than a story, really. Almost devoid of plot, in fact. Kohler's interpretation of Charlotte Bronte's life as she imagines and writes her classic, Jane Eyre, feels contemplative and genuine. The pacing is somewhat slow, but little jewels here and there ring with whispered truth rather than dramatic impact. I enjoyed the glimpses at Bronte's life and that of her sisters - their struggles with employment (particularly as governesses), the heartbreaking story of caring for their addict brother, frequent disappointments in love and publishing - and how they translated their lives to their craft. In the novel (as in their individual writings), Emily actually grabbed me much more forcefully than her protagonist sister. Overall, this book is worthwhile, but will only receive a 5-star rating from those who are obsessed with either literature/writing in general or Jane Eyre and the Bronte sisters in particular.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

He drinks the warmth of his daughter's breath as she leans over him, brushes lightly against his chest, straightens his sheets and blanket. He would like to say: "Lie down beside me. Warm me with your youth. Warm my dry, old flesh and bones."

"But writing cannot be regulated. It is like the cry of the wind or--some sort of electricity." (the Master)

He shines in the family firmament, whereas she glimmers palely, almost invisible, a moon shadow beside him. The moon to his sun, she shines only with his reflected light. (Charlotte of her brother)

Perhaps the best loved always suffers most.

"Read this, It's good news," she manages to say, feeling herself grow old. (Charlotte upon opening the letter that her sisters have been accepted and she rejected)

FAVORITE SECTION (on naming "Jane Eyre"):

It comes to her out of thin air. She is not sure if she has heard such a name. Was there someone she knew with that name? Does it come from the family arms she once saw in a church, or the river she knows well, the beautiful valley of the Ayre? Or is it a name that comes from air, perhaps, or fire? Fire and ire will be in the book: rage at the world as it is. Unfair! Unfair! Ire and eyer: she is the one who now sees in her father's place. She has become the voyeur, the observer. Plain Jane, Emily Jane, her beloved second sister's name, Jane, so close to Joan, brave Joan of Arc, Jane so close to Janet, Jeanette, little Jane. A name that conjures up duty and dullness, childhood and obedience, but also spirit and liberty, a sprite's name, a fairy's name, half spirit, half flesh, light in darkness, truth and hypocrisy, the name of one who sees: Jane Eyre.

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May 01, 2010 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this up in the new releases section of the library. It looked intriguing -- and, indeed, it was.

Kohler presents a historical/biographical fiction of Charlotte Bronte and her writing of "Jane Eyre" by winding in many parts of Charlotte's own life -- the mad alcoholic and opitate addicted brother, the perfect love, her father, her many disappointments and the injustices done to her

She writes about Charlotte's relationships with her father, brother and 2 literary sisters and the genteel po...more

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Apr 04, 2010 Jason Geske rated it 4 of 5 stars

There's something about Jane Eyre that inspires people to explore the moor-filled worlds of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte. At least two of the books borne from Jane Eyre have inspired me, though in very different ways. First is Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair (which I heartily recommend as giggle-worthy for anyone as over-educated as I -- really, DO indulge in it). The other is Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea, which I read in college. It significantly influenced my own writing (it describes the...more There's something about Jane Eyre that inspires people to explore the moor-filled worlds of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte. At least two of the books borne from Jane Eyre have inspired me, though in very different ways. First is Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair (which I heartily recommend as giggle-worthy for anyone as over-educated as I -- really, DO indulge in it). The other is Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea, which I read in college. It significantly influenced my own writing (it describes the life of Rochester's mad wife and how she came to be that way -- without ever quite shouting, "I'm the other half of Jane Eyre!") because it taught me to look at a story (real life or otherwise) from different people's viewpoints. And of course there's Kate Bush's song, "Wuthering Heights" (it's on The Whole Story) to complete the mood. (Really, with all those references you'd think I was seriously into the Brontes.)

As a result of that background, I was attracted to Sheila Kohler's Becoming Jane Eyre when I saw it in my Amazon Vine selections. I'm glad I read it -- but once was enough.

I like the historical novel, as my knowledge of the Bronte's own history was minimal. I enjoyed the author's exploration of what it means to write, to invent a story, to re-interpret one's daily events into the heroine's experiences (perhaps having her say what one does not dare). Kohler writes well, and she certainly kept me turning pages. I turned them slowly, because this is a quiet read without a lot of derring-do and action scenes (not something you care about, probably, if you're into Jane Eyre), but I certainly kept going.

A few things were a little irksome. I wish the author had stayed in one person's head (presumably Charlotte's) rather than changing viewpoint characters so often. Perhaps I would have enjoyed that more if I was "into" the Bronte family history; then, maybe, the servant's observations about the father-and-daughter relationship would have been enlightening. And while I did like the glimpse into "a writer's life" (that is, the creative process), I rather wished for a better (fictional) enlightenment about Charlotte's moments of writing brilliance. For example, her turning away from the story and writing, "Reader, I married him" is one of the most powerful moments in 19th century fiction, yet Kohler puts most of her attention on plot development.

I also found the ending disappointing, because so many important events are wrapped up in a few chapters. Granted, the story is about *becoming* Jane Eyre (or rather becoming the author of a best-selling book) and those "what came after" events occur once she achieved the goal, but it felt like a cheat. After all those interminable details about writing and being a governess and coping with their brother and so on -- to summarize the sisters' deaths in a few pages? That didn't work for me.

However, I did like the book overall. Like, not love. If you're REALLY into Jane Eyre or any of the Bronte sisters, this is a no-question purchase. If Jane Eyre was an assignment you vaguely recall from a school Required Reading List, I think your enjoyment of this novel will match your appreciation of the Bronte's work (for good or ill). That is, if you remember that you liked the book when you read it, you'll like this too. If it was an "Eww do I HAVE to?!" chore, you won't like this book either.(less)

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Feb 28, 2010 Sandy Lender rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Bronte fanatics only

I adore Charlotte Bronte and the novel "Jane Eyre," so finding this novel on the airport bookstore shelf was a treat! Reading it had its inspiring moments, but, overall, I was disappointed in the dark accusations about sibling rivalry that Sheila Kohler packed into this fictional story. The use of present tense was unsettling, but I got used to it. The hopping around to let different characters tell the tale was nice, but seemed an odd device because I thought I was going to see Charlotte's stor...more

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Feb 13, 2010 Stephanie D. rated it 4 of 5 stars

For who would want to read something by an obscure parson's daughter, living in a remote region of Yorkshire? And what could she have written about? What can she possibly know, having lived so much of her life alone, sheltered, protected in this cramped parsonage, with nothing around her but barren moors, her spinster sisters, her spinster aunt, an elderly ignorant servant, a delinquent brother...She has lived all her life either at home, at girls' schools, or as a governess with small children,...more For who would want to read something by an obscure parson's daughter, living in a remote region of Yorkshire? And what could she have written about? What can she possibly know, having lived so much of her life alone, sheltered, protected in this cramped parsonage, with nothing around her but barren moors, her spinster sisters, her spinster aunt, an elderly ignorant servant, a delinquent brother...She has lived all her life either at home, at girls' schools, or as a governess with small children, shut up in various nurseries like a nun. What does she know about the human heart, about love?

Much it turns out.

The "she" is Charlotte Bronte, nursing an autocratic father who is recovering from an operation to correct his blindness. In 1846, Charlotte is already a spinster, as are her two sisters, Emily and Anne. Because they are impoverished, the Bronte sisters have to earn their way as teachers and governesses. Despite the harshness of their circumstances, all three harbor dreams of being published. Although their novels have been rejected numerous times, the Bronte sisters persevere - none more determined than Charlotte.

She is a saddened and bitter woman, having been disappointed in unrequited love for a married French professor and humiliated as a governess. Charlotte comes home to care for a blind father who has never valued her or her sisters, preferring instead her talented but dissolute brother, Bramwell. And in that darkened room by her father's bedside, Charlotte channels all her rage, love, and hurt to paper.

In their rejection letter, the editors have asked for an exceptional incident. She will give them one--no: many of them. She will give them mystery...She will write out of rage at injustice and arrogance, the religious humbugs, the exploiters.

She works on the first scene, writing rapidly, seeing it all vividly, the shadowy picture emerging fast from the darkness of her mind, this shadowy room....This new story of an orphan develops with a kind of urgency she has never known before. She has read and written so much from such a young age. She knows the child's position in this alien family will yield a steady stream of pathos. She knows how to create suspense by putting a fragile creature in immediate jeopardy and by making her fight back with spirit and justice.

Thus, Sheila Kohler imagines what events in Charlotte's life might have shaped what will become one the most beloved stories of all time, Jane Eyre. In this fictionalized account, Charlotte Bronte emerges from the shadow of her famous novel, fleshed out as a passionate, independent woman - much like Jane - and like Jane, also haunted by tragedies.

I found the depiction of the three Bronte sisters (who have always been lumped together in my mind) to be wonderful; their interactions and family dynamic to be real. Like real sisters, they have jealousies, but stand stoicly together under life's burdens. Kohler illuminates some of Emily and Anne's inner lives and what led up to their own masterpieces, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, but the bulk of Becoming Jane Eyre is told from Charlotte's point of view.

It is easy to forget, with the enormous popularity of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, how the notion of women writing novels back in those days was considered preposterous, even scandalous. Against the prejudices of their own time, their numerous rejections and misfortunes, how glad I am that the Brontes had the strength and conviction to persevere!

Becoming Jane Eyre succeeds not in mimicking Jane Eyre, but in giving the reader a beautifully rendered inner portrait of its creator. So wonderfully done that I must read the original again!(less)

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Feb 10, 2010 Lydia Presley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, biography, fiction, historic-fiction

I feel ashamed that I've neglected to re-read Jane Eyre. I think it's been close to 15 years since I've even opened up my old, hardcover copy of it. After reading Becoming Jane Eyre, I've decided to make room in my reading plans to rectify that mistake this month.

Sheila Kohler does a beautiful job of meshing fiction with non-fiction. While this isn't the book you want to go to for hard, true facts about the Bronte sisters, it is an interesting look at what might have been their life during the t...more

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Feb 02, 2010 Sophia Musgrave rated it 5 of 5 stars

Although a fictionalized version of Charlotte Bronte's life, this book has a lot of historical basis. Some things the author admits are mere fancy, such as some of the emotions she portrays Charlotte having while caring for her father in Manchester and writing Jane Eyre. But overall, most of the liberties with history taken were not a change of the Bronte's sisters' lives but embellishments that only add to the readers' understandings of a culture that is long lost. Reminiscent of the well known...more Although a fictionalized version of Charlotte Bronte's life, this book has a lot of historical basis. Some things the author admits are mere fancy, such as some of the emotions she portrays Charlotte having while caring for her father in Manchester and writing Jane Eyre. But overall, most of the liberties with history taken were not a change of the Bronte's sisters' lives but embellishments that only add to the readers' understandings of a culture that is long lost. Reminiscent of the well known settings of many Jane Austin novels, this books gives the readers a glimpse of the societal restrictions placed on young women of the time and on those especially who were impoverished. But we see here a brave story of three sisters who supported their family for years by taking demeaning and thankless jobs as governesses or teachers, the only careers open to women of their station.
Then we see the continuing struggle of these sisters to stay together, to continue to love their drunken brother who is bent on destroying his life and those of his family as well. And as in any good story, these struggles make them stronger and more determined to find a way to support themselves without the need to give up the unity of the family they have left. And when one succeeds, we see human nature at its rawest, Charlotte is jealous, and later regrets that when she finally finds her own true success, that far outweighs any that her sister's celebrated, she realizes how much she longs to share it with them.

It is an interesting look into the human heart, with all its jealousies and failings, the responsibilities of family, the desire to be loved for one's own value and not one's pocket. I think the author did an excellent job of breathing life into the story of how Jane Eyre came into existence but also how it would never had been possible without the support and love of Charlotte Bronte's family, such as it was. As with all our own families', it is not always wonderful and great all the time, but when the chips are down, that is when it matters the most. (less)

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Dec 10, 2009 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2009, vine

A Slow Start But A Strong Finish

The adjectives I had written down as I was reading this were not very flattering, in fact they were not flattering at all. This novel, about the Brontes, seemed to have little new or interesting information to add to what little I already knew about this famous family. At first I found it somewhat dull, it seemed little more than a rehash of a Bronte biography, but something happened between page 146 and 195 and by the last page I found that I really liked it.

I...more

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Nov 23, 2009 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: novel

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I enjoyed this book a lot. I really liked how almost every character, in the book had their section, the part that was written first person from his or her POV. The writing is beautiful, the people seem realistic and individual. I know the thoughts, words, and feelings recorded in this book are conjecture based on the known facts about who each person was, but I think the author did a very good job with that. I like, too, that she didn't romanticize the relationship between Charlotte, Emily, and...more I enjoyed this book a lot. I really liked how almost every character, in the book had their section, the part that was written first person from his or her POV. The writing is beautiful, the people seem realistic and individual. I know the thoughts, words, and feelings recorded in this book are conjecture based on the known facts about who each person was, but I think the author did a very good job with that. I like, too, that she didn't romanticize the relationship between Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. They were very close, but had disagreements and differences, sometimes got angry at each other. Branwell, the brother and also the dad were portrayed just as I've pictured them from reading different biographies of the family.

I do think that if I didn't already have a pretty good idea of the life of Charlotte Bronte and her family, I might have felt a bit lost--not a lot, but some--in this book, because it jumps around in time a lot. If someone had never read at least one biography of Charlotte, the story might seem disjointed and confusing.

I felt cheated, too, at the end. After all the intimate details of sickness, death upon death upon death, hardship, suffering, and then the triumphant entry into London society as the author of Jane Eyre, her marriage isn't explored at all. We don't get to experience that. We're told she marries her father's curate but she doesn't love him or expect happiness. So why does she marry him? She isn't poor any more. We are then told that the marriage ended up being a very happy marriage and they traveled and she became pregnant and died after being with her husband only nine months.

The marriage isn't even in the main part of the book, it's in the epilogue! Maybe the point is that Charlotte had already become who she became by the time she married. That's true. But after being there for so much of Charlotte's life, I felt really let down that the last happy months of her life were skimmed over and described--not actually written. I know the author would have done a good job, she did with the rest of the book.

This book really is good--worth reading, in spite of ending too soon.(less)

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Sep 27, 2012 Claudia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-book-challenge-160-books, historical-fiction

Disclaimer: I am a HUGE Jane Eyre fan. My mother and I read it together, we loved it. Mom spent lots of time in Haworth,England at the church, the graveyard, the museums. We love Jane.

This book was a wonderful treat. 'What if...' fiction always intrigues me, and this has the added advantage of being based on the facts of the Brontes' lives. From Charlotte's accompanying her father for surgery to her sad, premature death, we are allowed into the minds of the remarkable women who hid their identit...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

"More of a character sketch than a story, really. Almost devoid of plot, in fact. Kohler's interpretation of Charlotte Bronte's life as she imagines and writes her classic, Jane Eyre, feels contemplative and genuine. The pacing is somewhat slow, but little jewels here and there ring with whispered truth rather than dramatic impact. I enjoyed the glimpses at Bronte's life and that of her sisters - their struggles with employment (particularly as governesses), the heartbreaking story of caring for...more "More of a character sketch than a story, really. Almost devoid of plot, in fact. Kohler's interpretation of Charlotte Bronte's life as she imagines and writes her classic, Jane Eyre, feels contemplative and genuine. The pacing is somewhat slow, but little jewels here and there ring with whispered truth rather than dramatic impact. I enjoyed the glimpses at Bronte's life and that of her sisters - their struggles with employment (particularly as governesses), the heartbreaking story of caring for their addict brother, frequent disappointments in love and publishing - and how they translated their lives to their craft. In the novel (as in their individual writings), Emily actually grabbed me much more forcefully than her protagonist sister. Overall, this book is worthwhile, but will only receive a 5-star rating from those who are obsessed with either literature/writing in general or Jane Eyre and the Bronte sisters in particular."

I could have written that review (by Meg). I will add:

Something about the voice of the novel feels very passive, even when the author is grammatically using active voice. On the one hand, this adds to the contemplative feel, and probably accurately portrays life at the parsonage, but on the other, it makes for very slow (and not terribly engaging) reading. The third person present tense feels very impersonal, and although the changing focus between characters gave each of them a moment to shine, it took away from my ability to get attached to Charlotte, whom I had imagined to be the protagonist. Indeed, when her marriage and death are covered in the epilogue, they are so sudden and concise that I did not feel the expected grief, despite the tragic events leading up to them. I should have expected this, since the entire novel is written this way - full of not very detailed description, as another reviewer mentioned.
The book is an excellent example of Telling rather than Showing. Scenes are carefully set, so that you know where everyone is and what they are doing... but then nothing happens. There is either a minimal amount of dialogue added to the scene, or it immediately jumps to describe another setting, from a different point of view.
I give it three stars, despite these faults, because the individual scenes are so True. The book never feels like a work of fiction, and the scenes are well-drawn despite their lack of detail, more like a painting done at a distance than a close-up sketch.(less)

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Jan 19, 2010 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Becoming Jane Eyre is a beautiful story of how Charlotte Bronte wrote her masterpiece, Jane Eyre. Charlotte is alone with her invalid father in Manchester when she is compelled to begin writing her second novel. She flashes back to different experiences in her life including her time as a governess and time spent as a student and teacher in Brussels. The tragedies and passions in her life find themselves transformed into a fictional tale with just enough truth behind it to become a very original...more Becoming Jane Eyre is a beautiful story of how Charlotte Bronte wrote her masterpiece, Jane Eyre. Charlotte is alone with her invalid father in Manchester when she is compelled to begin writing her second novel. She flashes back to different experiences in her life including her time as a governess and time spent as a student and teacher in Brussels. The tragedies and passions in her life find themselves transformed into a fictional tale with just enough truth behind it to become a very original novel. After Charlotte and her father return to Manchester, she finishes Jane Eyre.

Charlotte is more than a bit saddened when her first novel, The Professor, is rejected, while her sisters’ novels, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey are accepted for publication. Ironically, Jane Eyre is printed by a different publisher before her sisters’ novels and it is the fame of Jane Eyre that propelled the sales of Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey. Sadly the happiness of Charlotte’s newfound fame is offset by numerous family tragedies.

I enjoyed this novel immensely. I especially loved the scenes of sisterly bonds and friction when the three Bronte sisters are working on their novels and awaiting publication. To have so much talent under one roof is just amazing. The love and yet the jealousy of each sister and their talent is written very believably.

The only part of this book that I did not enjoy was that it ended so soon. The main focuses of the novel are the writing, publication, and first flush of fame with Jane Eyre. The novel then skips to the end of Charlotte Bronte’s life. I wish there would have been more details in this last portion of the book, but I also realize that the main focus was on the creation of Jane Eyre.

I really enjoyed the “Penguin Readers Guide to Becoming Jane Eyre” at the end of the book. The Reader’s Guide included an enlightening interview with Sheila Kohler as well as a book club questionnaire. I was thrilled to see that Kohler used Lyndall Gordon’s biography of Charlotte Bronte (Charlotte Bronte: A Passionate Life) as an inspiration for Becoming Jane Eyre. A Passionate Life is my favorite Bronte biography.

Overall Becoming Jane Eyre is a fascinating look into the creative process that Charlotte Bronte may have used to write her masterpiece. I highly recommend it to all Bronte lovers!
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Dec 28, 2011 Tally rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-novels

I have always preferred Wuthering Heights to Jane Eyre, and since this book is mostly about how Jane Eyre has come to be, I haven’t expected to enjoy it that much. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized it was actually well written. It wasn't too long or too heavy on the details which, given my poor level of concentration these days, was a blessing. That being said, there were two places where I was hoping to go beyond the place the text had stopped at (view spoiler)...more

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May 03, 2012 Shaunna rated it 2 of 5 stars

I felt confused by this book. The novel starts off by endearing Charlotte to me with her isolated duty of care for her recovering father while finding the time perfect to imagine and write her famous novel for which this books takes its name.

But then without warning I find myself repulsed by her selfishness and arrogance over her sisters. The endearment shifts to her two sisters, Emily with her love and care for their afflicted brother and Anne's tender nature.

The middle section is focussed on...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Francene Carroll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane Eyre and Villete are two of my top 10 desert island books and the chance to revist them through Becoming Jane Eyre was a real treat. I enjoyed so much about this book and learnt a few things about the Brontes I didn't know. Even though the book is fiction it is very well researched and I loved the glimpses it provided into Charlotte's mind as she wrote her books and struggled with rejection (something every author can relate to! I think this book would be most appreciated by writers). I als...more

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Mar 11, 2010 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-novel

Since I had read quite a bit about the Brontes, there was nothing really new in this book. The only problem with it was it was too short.
This is a comfortable read beginning when Charlotte, Emily and Anne are adults. Their mother has died along with two of their sisters and the women are caring for their ill father, Patrick. Their brother, Branwell, is suffering from addictions and beginning his slide toward death.
Out of all this chaos comes Charlotte's "The Professor," and "Jane Eyre." Anne...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Esme rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Praise für den historischen Roman Becoming Jane Eyre von Sheila Kohler stammt von solch renommierten Autoren wie Joyce Carol Oates und J.M. Coetzee. Ich kann nicht sagen, dass meine Erwartungen enttäuscht wurden, weil ich keine hatte. Ich war einfach nur neugierig, was die Autorin aus diesem Thema macht. Nicht sehr viel.

Becoming Jane Eyre ist ein biographischer Roman über die Brontës und behandelt den Zeitraum von 1846 bis 1853. Im Mittelpunkt steht Charlotte Brontë und, wie schon der Titel deut...more Praise für den historischen Roman Becoming Jane Eyre von Sheila Kohler stammt von solch renommierten Autoren wie Joyce Carol Oates und J.M. Coetzee. Ich kann nicht sagen, dass meine Erwartungen enttäuscht wurden, weil ich keine hatte. Ich war einfach nur neugierig, was die Autorin aus diesem Thema macht. Nicht sehr viel.

Becoming Jane Eyre ist ein biographischer Roman über die Brontës und behandelt den Zeitraum von 1846 bis 1853. Im Mittelpunkt steht Charlotte Brontë und, wie schon der Titel deutlich macht, die Entstehung ihres Romans Jane Eyre. Charlotte sitzt neben dem Bett ihres schwerkranken Vaters, erinnert sich an ihre unglückliche Liebe zu einem verheirateten Professor in Brüssel und beginnt mit dem Schreiben. Dabei erhält man dann noch nebenbei eine Zusammenfassung von Jane Eyre. Sheila Kohler berichtet welche Ereignisse und Gedanken Charlotte beim Schreiben inspirierten. Und es ist wirklich wie ein Bericht, denn die tiefen, verletzten Gefühle ihrer unerwiderten Liebe und ihrer Einsamkeit kommen nicht klar und nachvollziehbar zum Ausdruck. Zudem wird dabei eine Interpretation und die Intention Charlottes vorgetragen, so wie "Was will der Dichter uns damit sagen?" in einem Schulaufsatz.

Es ist ein schlankes Buch und kann darum nur in Ansätzen diesen Lebensabschnitt der Familie Brontë schildern. Und in diesem Fall wäre mehr besser gewesen. Sheila Kohler beschäftigte sich bei ihren Recherchen mit der Biographie von Mrs Gaskell und anderen. Aber der Versuch, das was über die bloßen Tatsachen hinausgeht mit Leben zu füllen, mißlingt. Der Bruder Branwell stirbt, kurz darauf Emily und dann auch noch die jüngste Schwester Anne. Die Todesfälle werden viel zu kurz und flüchtig abgehandelt und auch die Trauer und der Verlust, mit dem Charlotte nun konfrontiert ist, werden dabei nur gestreift. Die Familie Brontë wird in diesem Roman nicht lebendig, zu Menschen, die geliebt und gelitten haben.

Offenbar verehrt Sheila Kohler die Schwestern Brontë und ihre Romane sehr, doch leider reicht das nicht aus, um ein gutes Buch zu schreiben.(less)

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Apr 19, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brontë-et-dérivés

C'est en restant au chevet de son père pasteur, opéré des yeux, que Charlotte Brontë va trouver l'idée originale de l'écriture de son merveilleux livre Jane Eyre. En voyant ce père, autrefois autoritaire, froid, sévère et distant, devenu désormais totalement dépendant d'elle, les souvenirs de son enfance et de sa vie de jeune femme vont lui revenir en tête et de là vont sortir beaucoup d'éléments de l'intrigue de son "Jane Eyre" qui avait d'ailleurs comme sous-titre "Une autobiographie".

Ce sont...more C'est en restant au chevet de son père pasteur, opéré des yeux, que Charlotte Brontë va trouver l'idée originale de l'écriture de son merveilleux livre Jane Eyre. En voyant ce père, autrefois autoritaire, froid, sévère et distant, devenu désormais totalement dépendant d'elle, les souvenirs de son enfance et de sa vie de jeune femme vont lui revenir en tête et de là vont sortir beaucoup d'éléments de l'intrigue de son "Jane Eyre" qui avait d'ailleurs comme sous-titre "Une autobiographie".

Ce sont d'abord ces moments de vie difficiles, la mort de sa mère, son passage dans une pension où les conditions de vie sont très dures, et la perte de ses 2 soeurs aînées (dans cette pension justement), qui vont agrémenter la vie et le personnage de Jane. Charlotte, d'ailleurs, à travers son personnage, va pouvoir vivre et dire tout ce qu'elle n'a jamais pu ni su faire ou dire.

Nous découvrons aussi comment les relations de la fratrie des Brontë - Charlotte, Emily, Anne et Branwell - vont inspirer beaucoup de personnages.

Sheila Kohler nous entraîne avec bonheur dans l'intimité de Charlotte Brontë au moment de l'écriture de son livre. On a l'impression de la suivre partout, de rester auprès d'elle lorsqu'elle écrit.

J'ai été fasciné de voir comment une auteure telle que Charlotte Brontë faisait vivre et se développer une histoire au fur et à mesure que les idées lui viennent. Lorsqu'elle débute ce livre, Jane est très jeune et elle va grandir et évoluer petit à petit au fil des pages grâce aux expériences de la vie de Charlotte, mais le destin de son personnage peut changer à tout moment en fonction d'un évènement ou d'une rencontre.

Sheila Kohler mentionne bien sur d'où lui est venu l'inspiration pour le mystérieux et au combien charismatique Mr Rochester, mais j'ai trouvé dommage que sa relation avec le professeur H. n'ai pas été plus poussée.

En contre partie, j'ai trouvé passionnant de découvrir en parallèle le travail d'écriture de ses 2 soeurs, Emily (avec les Hauts de Hurlevents) et Anne (avec Agnès Grey). D'ailleurs, c'est par cela que SK nous présente la rivalité professionnelle entre les 3 soeurs.

Cette introspection dans l'esprit de Charlotte Brontë est plutôt bien menée par Sheila Kohler. Son roman est à la fois une biographie et une fiction, ce qui donne un élan et un style assez agréable à lire, même si parfois les personnages ressemblent trop à des "personnages" de roman justement, et la dimension de réalité et de mémoire se voit un peu bafouée à mon sens.

Mais tous les faits mentionnés sont vrais et Sheila Kohler n'a fait qu'imaginer un moment de la vie de Charlotte Brontë, certes qui a fait d'elle ce qu'elle deviendra à tout jamais dans l'histoire de la littérature anglaise. Nous avons tous fantasmé sur ce moment, sur les origines de l'extraordinaire oeuvre qu'est celle de Jane Eyre, et Sheila Kohler, ma foi, nous donne une version plutôt bien faite!

Pari plutôt gagné, donc, et le petit plus pour moi c'est qu'au travers de son livre Sheila Kohler ma donné envie d'en connaître plus sur Emily Brontë!! Personnage fascinant!! Bravo et merci Mme Kohler!(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Teresa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jane Eyre is my favourite novel of all time so, whilst I am not a expert in the Brontes, I have a penchant for any books, films about them or their novels/poetry. I've also visited the Parsonage at Haworth where you get a real feel for the isolation they must have felt, cooped up in that dark house, left motherless at an early age.

I admire any writer who takes on a project like this, a merge of fact and fiction, as Brontephiles can be quite sensitive to any conjectures re their heroines. Sheila...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Catherine rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

I'm afraid I found this rather turgid and didn't enjoy it much. It re-tells the plot of some other Bronte novels as well as Jane Eyre, interweaving them with chunks of their life story. It doesn't deal with all of the novels equally eg Shirley gets a mention, but there is little on what Charlotte might have drawn from when writing it. If you haven't read a biography, you might discover things you didn't know - the generally accepted facts are pretty much stuck to, to the extent that I found it s...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Lola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, adult-fiction, historical-fiction

I have always admired the Bronte sisters. They were talented, unbelievably strong, and reliant on each other. It's crazy to think no one wanted to publish their novels. Kohler did an excellent job of chronicling not only Charlotte Bronte's inner workings but her family's as well. The Brontes were a wonderfully complicated: an alcoholic son, a nearly blind father, a dead mother and two oldest daughters, and three sisters left with nothing but their writing. Kohler filled in the blank spaces of t...more

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