Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Jan 16, 2012

Kathryn rated it:

IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH CHARLOTTE BRONTE'S BIOGRAPHICAL FACTS, THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

I find it unfortunate that certain fictional memoirs choose to call themselves diaries. Just as one can’t quite visualize Jane Austen’s Fitzwilliam Darcy scribbling his growing attraction to Elizabeth Bennet into the pages of a diary like a twelve year-old girl ("Mr. Darcy's Diary"), neither can one imagine Charlotte Bronte doing the same with her entire life’s story – includin More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Aug 17, 2011

Darlene rated it:

I really liked this book. Now, that said, I need to explain that I am not a Bronte family expert or historian. I have read and loved, Agnes Grey, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, etc, and have read a bit of info on each of the Bronte sisters through the years. Maybe that helps me like the book more than some of the reviewers as I wasn't looking for it to be perfect.
I felt that it touched on all of the things that I had known about the sisters, while adding more, and then tying it all tog More...

0 comments like

Aug 17, 2010

Erin rated it:

As someone who had done a fair amount of research on Charlotte and her family prior to reading this novel, I found the story a little lack-luster. James seemed determined not to stray too far from the facts of Charlotte's life, which is commendable when writing about a historical person, but in doing so left the story feeling predictable for readers already familiar with those facts. The parts that James had made up, and her conjectures about incidents that may have impacted on Charlotte's per More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 16, 2010

Sandy rated it:

Anyone who has studied Charlotte Bronte, as I have, will be appalled by what Syrie James has done to her here. Thank God this isn't "The Secret Diaries of Emily Bronte," or the ghost of Emily Bronte would likely rise from the grave and do great harm to James. Charlotte was a bit less averse to the idea of being "outed" when it came time to reveal her identity to society, but that doesn't mean she was ready to expose her innermost thoughts.

Charlotte Bronte did not More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jan 07, 2010

Andrea marked it as to-read

"I have written about the joys of love. I have, in my secret heart, long dreamt of an intimate connection with a man; every Jane, I believe, deserves her Rochester."

Though poor, plain, and unconnected, Charlotte Bronte possesses a deeply passionate side which she reveals only in her writings—creating Jane Eyre and other novels that stand among literature's most beloved works. Living a secluded life in the wilds of Yorkshire with her sisters Emily and Anne, t More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 27, 2009

Ash rated it:

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James is a fictional account of the life of Charlotte Bronte. Charlotte grew up with two sisters and a brother under the supervision of her parson father. The book mainly focuses on the love interests of Charlotte Bronte, her teacher Monsieur Heger and her father's curate Arthur Nicholls. It is a brutally honest account of Charlotte's life, including descriptive scenes of Branwell's drunken crazes. James allows Bronte to explore her feelings on eve More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 06, 2009

Sarah rated it:

Maybe one day I'll stop reading every Brontë-related work of fiction that I hear about, since I usually hate them. Unfortunately, I haven't learned yet, and this book was embarrassingly bad.

There's a flimsy romance novel set-up: when Arthur Bell Nicholls meets Charlotte Brontë, they get off on the wrong foot. Will they ever learn to overcome their differences? The reader is then dragged through the vaguely-biographical story of Charlotte's life, into which the author has inserted episo More...

0 comments like

Oct 11, 2009

Rachel rated it:

I saw this book displayed at our library and picked it up. I wasn’t sure I would like the book (I didn’t really like the whole “secret diary” ploy), but I was very pleasantly surprised. I think the author did a good job of staying true to Charlotte’s “voice” and of creating or recreating scenes for the important moments of her life. It’s possible, had I known the details of her life before reading this book, that I wouldn’t have liked it quite so much. As it was, though, I found the plotline of More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 04, 2009

Melanie rated it:

Maybe I had low expectations of this book as the title just seems so cheesey. I expected a sweet syrupy book. Instead, it was well written in a voice that seemed so much like Charlotte's voice. Her story read as a novel she might have written herself. I already knew the basics of her life and family, however this novel fleshed it out so much more and I really felt as if I knew Charlotte. I also realized anew how blessed we are to live in this age. First, that we know so much more about bas More...

0 comments like

Jan 29, 2010

Mary rated it:

This is one of those rare 5-star ratings. The writing is wonderful and the charactera rich. It is not a life-changing book, like perhaps Uncle Tom's Cabin was for me, however I was transported to the life and times of Charlotte Bronte here and her family. I felt as though each time I opened the book I was right there in her family parlor, observing the goings on of herself and her parents and siblings. I learned a great deal about the Bronte family and England during the 1800s. I love readi More...

0 comments like

Mar 20, 2010

Debra rated it:

Loved this book. I'm sure it has its critics as any book that fictionalizes portions of the life of Charlotte Bronte (and to a lesser extent, her sisters) is bound to. Even so, I loved what Syrie James did in researching and respectfully imagining the life of one of my all-time favorite authors. Her book furthered the connection I have felt with Charlotte Bronte since I read Jane Eyre for the first time many years ago. Inspired by James' book, I am eager to revisit Jane Eyre and to read Charlott More...

0 comments like

Jan 25, 2012

Ana rated it:

I received this book as a gift for Christmas (In ultra gigantic print by accident), but the first time I cracked open this book at 3 in the morning after finishing the "Fault in Our Stars" I couldn't put it down. Whatever anyone else says about this book being bad, THEY. ARE. WRONG! I've grown an even greater respect for Charlotte Bronte, and although the story may not be completely completely true, it was based on a TRUE FACTS! The romance between Charlotte and Arthur made me that hap More...

0 comments like

Jul 29, 2009

Susan rated it:

I admit that I was a little reluctant to pick up The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, mainly because of the title, because with the exception of Sandra Gulland's Josephine Bonaparte trilogy, I haven't been terribly impressed by most novels that take the form of diaries, secret or otherwise. But pick it up I did, because I wanted a paperback to take to the beach, and I was very pleasantly surprised.

The title of this book is actually somewhat misleading, in fact, because although th More...

6 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 09, 2009

Laura rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Feb 08, 2010

Gricel rated it:

I selected Syrie James's The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë as my third reading selection for the All About the Brontes Challenge. I was intrigued by the premise behind the novel and found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.

What if Charlotte Brontë had recorded her feelings, accomplishments, and disappointments in a diary? How much more would we know about the author of Jane Eyre? And what would we learn about her relationship with Arthur Bell Nicholls? James imagines the answe More...

0 comments like

Jan 02, 2010

Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it:

It is well known that Charlotte Bronte married Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's curate, in 1854 at the age of 38. In addition, it is also understood that Charlotte Bronte had a strong attachment for Constantin Heger, a Belgian professor whom she studied and taught with. But which of these two men did Charlotte really love? Did she marry for love or to escape being labeled an “old maid?” Were any of her heroes modeled after these men?

“The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte” by More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 31, 2010

Colleen rated it:

I have never read any of the Bronte sister’s books. I picked this book up solely because it was a “secret diary”. I thought it HAD to be good. I am not at all disappointed that I read this book. It is an interesting read, as I didn't know that much about Charlotte or her sisters going into this book. I did find it a little bit on the longer side and a little slow in the beginning, but it did hold my attention. Charlotte’s life was tragic, yet she was she was a remarkable lady, so bright, s More...

0 comments like

May 06, 2011

Erin rated it:

This book mashed together historical fact and fiction to create a portrait of Charlotte Bronte. And it was a fascinating and fun read! (Of course, this isn't a faithful biography -- dialogue and some situations were added for dramatic effect. But if there were a screenplay and movie adaptation of Bronte's life, it would probably look something like this.)

I read Jane Eyre last year and LOVED IT. I was amazed to learn how much of Bronte's novels are autobiographical. I enjoyed the stor More...

0 comments like

May 17, 2010

Sally rated it:

Dear Reader, this book does not have a happy ending. Unlike Jane Eyre and her Mr Rochester, Charlotte Bronte did not get her "happily ever after." As Bronte fans will know, the literary family suffered tragedy beyond compare. Even before checking this book out of the local library, I knew of the death that should be contained within its pages.

Okay, I'm not a writer. But Syrie James is, and she has given us a good idea of how Charlotte's life may have unfolded. Having lived More...

0 comments like

May 13, 2010

Kaye rated it:

“The Lost Diaries of Charlotte Bronte” was an amazing journey through the life of one of my very favorite authors. What author Syrie James does is take the information about the Bronte’s and weaves a beautiful story that fleshes out the skeleton and breathes life into a much loved and respected family in the literary world. Her language is flawless, blending in with the period. The words could be Charlotte’s own as the story unfolds. Syrie’s book is even set up in the “three volume novel” style More...

0 comments like

Sep 26, 2009

Chelsie rated it:

"Every Jane, I believe, deserves her Rochester-does she not?"

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte is a book that the deeper you get into it, the more you cherish it. It was an emotional and powerful work of fiction that captured the Bronte spirit and gave it such life, in a way that few biographies have been able to. On the down side, and I'm not sure if it was just me, but I found that near the end I started to feel like I was reading Pride and Prejudice. Ordinarily More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 03, 2011

Lielabell rated it:

This book. WOW. I have spent the last few weeks reading pretty much everything Syrie James has written- all of which are amazing, btw- but The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte is by far the best of the lot. I don't even know how to describe how good it is. I just...

Okay, look. I love books. I read a lot of them. And, while I do get caught up the in story and lost in new worlds, I typically still manage to have a small part of me that stays objective, that can analyze the plot More...

0 comments like

Feb 02, 2010

Laura rated it:

My first response upon finishing The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte was “Wow!” I thought this was a wonderful novel that fleshes out the life story of Charlotte Bronte in a realistic and fascinating way.

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte is written from the first person narrative of Charlotte Bronte as she relates the events of her life to her diary. The diary starts with a proposal of marriage to Charlotte which has thrown her household into an uproar. As Charlotte states More...

0 comments like

Aug 27, 2010

Kelsey rated it:

I am in love with true stories! This novel was so very interesting from mid-beginning to the end. At first I wasn't to sure if I would like it but then I got more into knowing the characters and I was hooked. I learned a lot about Charlotte Bronte, her real life situations..as a woman I found the book very empowering. Charlotte Bronte was radically for her time, as her sister were too. They were after the Jane Austen time but still very radically. I found Emily Bronte's opinion of Jane Austen to More...

0 comments like

Nov 08, 2009

Sallie rated it:

Jane Eyre is a favorite novel of mine, so it was with some degree of trepidation that I approached James’ The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte. I feared the novel would lean heavily on speculation and cause me to crave Bronte’s actual words even more. But I was quite wrong. Through meticulous research, James has captured the essence of who Bronte was and carefully marked the events in her life that were the basis of her writings. James could have allowed this life beset with tragedy to dar More...

0 comments like

Nov 27, 2009

Rosanne rated it:

This is the second book I have read by Syrie James (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen) and she has done another amazing job in introducing me to another literary giant. As in her previous book, she wrote as if Charlotte Bronte herself were talking about her life through her diary entries. Syrie James has done her homework and her extensive research has allowed her to relate a true and accurate accounting of Charlotte Bronte's life. I feel like I now know Charlotte well enough to be her friend. More...

0 comments like

Jan 25, 2010

Claire rated it:

I enjoyed reading this book. I felt like Charlotte really wrote it and not another author. I understand that all the information came from Charlotte, but it was as if she really sat down and wrote her own autobiography, instead of the book being a compilation of her letters and other pertinent information that the author gathered to create this book.
By the end of the book I really came to know Charlotte Bronte. I feel a connection with her. I saw similarities in our style of thinking More...

0 comments like

Jul 27, 2009

Vic rated it:

The days when I can read a book cover to cover in one or two sittings are gone, but if I’d been able to free up such a large block of time, I would have finished Syrie James’s new book, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë, a month ago. As it was, the book became a constant companion in my briefcase. I would fish it out at opportune moments to steal a few minutes reading about Charlotte, her sisters Emily and Anne, her brother Branwell, and Arthur Nicholls, the young curate who’s been hired to More...

0 comments like

Oct 16, 2011

Gigi Ann rated it:

I had never read a biography of Miss Bronte'. But I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I realize it is a fictional account of Miss Bronte's life. But, it also says it is a novel, and in that sense I did enjoy it.

I read "Jane Eyre" in January 2011, and now I am looking forward to reading her book "Villette" I understand it is as close to an autobiography of her as we will find today. I think I will read it this winter, I've had it on my bookshelf for about th More...

0 comments like

Nov 09, 2009

Shauna rated it:

I loved this book!!! I loved reading about Charlotte and the incredible lives that she and her sisters led. Such a life of sorrow; her father buried his wife and all of his children. I enjoy reading historical fiction. The Bronte sisters were so intelligent, complex, and passionate people. I laughed when they commented on Jane Austen's writing, which I love, but found it true that Austen's society and characters are very tame and a bit boring. I enjoyed most the love story between Nicholls More...

0 comments like

reviews