Book Review

[Abhishek]

I recently finished the book Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It is an adventure that is told in the perspective of Jane Eyre the main character. The story is about Jane an orphan living under abusive step parents. The parents often lock her in her room and verbally abuse her. Jane slowly goes to school and finds a man she loves. This is the main premise of the story. ALthough it seems simple there are a bunch of twists and turns. This not only makes the book more interesting it also makes it more readable (if you know what i mean). I honestly believe that this book is one of the best realistic fictions I have read in a long time.

[Jon]

Abhishek wrote: "I recently finished the book Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.......I honestly believe that this book is one of the best realistic fictions I have read in a long time.."

You did not find the many plot devices laughable and ridiculous? I mean things like hiding a raging lunatic in the attic for years without the servants catching on? How about that bizarre mental telepathy between Jane and Rochester near the end? How about the sudden finding of wealth for her? Or the fact that she was in the blind staggers but somehow magically showed up on the porch of people who became known to her as her own cousins?

These devices are all absurd to me, and show no realism at all. But what is real, I think, is her commitment to developing her own self-worth and integrity, and her love for Rochester is what propels that process. That is a message from our own times, I think.

[Robert]

Well, romantic story, stupid sometimes (but for me as for man it is hard to understand women's thoughts) but that is one of the best books in my favorite list

[Jon]

Robert wrote: "Well, romantic story, stupid sometimes (but for me as for man it is hard to understand women's thoughts) ......"

Regarding women's thoughts and understanding them, I find one thing extremely understandable. Bronte gives Jane Eyre a character that is intensely rich in spirit, courage, strength in standing up for herself, and her willingness to endure what she must to make a place for herself. She knows the odds are stacked against her in part for her looks, in part for her circumstances, and in part for so many things she learns after the fact. Her thought in Chapter 12, upon reaching Thornfield, is the most impressive statement of women’s equality and access to rights in any book I have read prior to the women’s suffrage movement. It is the most coherent humanitarian plea for women’s rights in English literature up to the time of the book’s publication date.

[Rose]

Hi All,

I have a dumb question, but am confused enough to ask! How do I know if a kindle edition is the unabridged/full length version of Jane Eyre? Can someone post the link for it? I keep seeing that the book is some 500 pages, but the longest kindle edition I can find seems to be 380-something pages.

Thanks in advance for the help! :)

[HR-ML]

Jon----

My favorite aspect of this book was where Jane by accident found her cousins who gave her unconventional love, even before they knew their connection to Jane. Her male cousin was too preachy but he loved her in his own way. Finding her cousins was more important to Jane than inheriting money. She finally had a loving family!

[Jon]

HR-MovieLover wrote: "Jon----My favorite aspect of this book was where Jane by accident found her cousins who gave her unconventional love, even before they knew their connection to Jane. ......"

I concur. That sense of family belonging is a huge factor in completing her personal development. She could finally bid farewell to those years of rejection growing up.

[HR-ML]

Jon,

As to Bronte's plot devices. She gave this story a gothic feel IE the fog, the house noises in the night, the fortune-teller. Who was Adele? Who was Grace Peele? Who was the male visitor? Why was Rochester so mecurial? Why was Miss Ingram a superficial fortune-hunting beauty? Why did reclusive Rochester confide in Jane?

Reading this classic was like peeling an onion. I have 4-5 DVD versions of this story. Each version approached the story in a different way, at least 2 down=played or skipped Jane's cousins. One version came across as slow and drab & I quit watching.

Look at Orwell's 1984. What reader 1st believed in Big Brother or Double Speak? Orwell's imagination was in overdrive & the reader had to keep up. The oppressive atmosphere
added to the story. When I read it for the 1st time, I recall being fascinated and angry and sad all at once.