Jane Eyre in Reading 1001

Feb 04, 2009 Kristel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1001-books, 1001-challenge, f2f-bookclub-books

Read this classic for f2f bookclub the first year. I enjoyed it. A story of an orphan girl, Jane and the man Rochester. It takes place on the moors. Its a romance but it's also a gothic. ...more

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Jan 02, 2014 Anita Pomerantz rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-books

This book got off to a promising start telling the story of a young girl, orphaned, living with cousins who wanted nothing to do with her and being shipped off to boarding school. I was actually interested in this young woman until she took a job as a governess.

Things went downhill fast from there!

Jane falls in love with the guardian of her charge, and for the life of me I couldn't understand why. He's unattractive. He is wealthy, but she doesn't care for money. He's fairly bossy and not especia This book got off to a promising start telling the story of a young girl, orphaned, living with cousins who wanted nothing to do with her and being shipped off to boarding school. I was actually interested in this young woman until she took a job as a governess.

Things went downhill fast from there!

Jane falls in love with the guardian of her charge, and for the life of me I couldn't understand why. He's unattractive. He is wealthy, but she doesn't care for money. He's fairly bossy and not especially kind. And as more and more is revealed about his past, we'll let's just say that for the times it was fairly risque. He isn't very nice or loving to the little girl for whom he is guardian. The only thing I see that could have intrigued Jane was some (witty, but not very) banter between them.

When it turns out Rochester has a huge secret in his life which he doesn't reveal to Jane prior to their wedding day - - well as you can imagine, when the secret comes to light - - all hell breaks loose.

I'm making it sound more interesting than it was.

Bronte is very enamored with her powers of description (which are strong), and the pace of the book from boarding school to Jane's wedding day, just LAGS. I'm like please don't describe another garden because I can't take it. I found the romance to be unbelievable, and since that's really all that there was and all that happened . . .well, it was very dull.

The book did pick up for me substantially after Rochester's secret was revealed. We continue to follow Jane's story which suddenly devolves into "deus ex machina" territory when her saviors turn out to be related. How convenient.

Without revealing any more in the way of spoilers, we move to a final melodramatic ending - - which I did enjoy to some degree despite the fact that it was fairly over the top.

I see completely why this book is studied as a piece of literature. It has some interesting feminist themes that make for good discussion. In fact, our book club discussion was actually pretty fascinating given how much I didn't care for the book. But, it really doesn't hold a candle to the writing of today in terms of plot development and the use of suspense to propel the reader through the tale. ...more

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May 30, 2007 Jessica Haider rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, favorites, classics, 1001-books, 1000_books

I never had to read "Jane Eyre" in school and as an adult several of my friends raved about how it was one of their favorite novels of all time, so I finally decided to read it. I am so glad that I did...and I am now one of those people that rave about it being a favorite novel. This gothic romance has its fair share of melodrama and one very memorable heroine. ...more

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Feb 04, 2008 Tiffany rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, 1001-books

My absolute favorite book in the world for about 5 years after I first read it. I have come to love other books as well but Jane Eyre will always be a major event in my reading history.

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Oct 26, 2008 Jgrace rated it it was amazing

Shelves: judithg, feminism, women, audio, romance, coming-of-age, jgrace, 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you, play-book-tag, 19th-century

It's not about the romance.
It's not about the crazy lady in the attic.
It's about personal integrity. ...more

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Dec 01, 2008 Rachel N. rated it liked it

I was not overly interested in Jane's story of growing up in a girls school and then becoming a governess. It just didn't interest me as much as Jane Austen's books do. ...more

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