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REVIEW: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Reader, this book was published in 1847. Back then, writers liked to describe every bird and leaf and brooklet. Dialogue often consisted of elaborate monologues. Many of the ideas and values of the time are outdated and even offensive today. Still, I couldn’t help but love it. I read an advanced copy, beautifully illustrated by Marjolein Bastin. This would be the perfect edition to own, with gorgeous watercolor paintings that Jane herself would aspire to create. What satisfied me about Jane Eyre was her spirit and character – she was unapologetically herself. She reminded me a little bit of Anne Shirley (except that Anne was more “apologetically” herself.) Jane just wants to be accepted for who she is, but she is unloved for most of her early life. The story follows Jane Eyre through several stages. Her childhood as an orphan living with cruel relatives is heartbreaking. She endures hardship at a poorly run boarding school. She is comfortable, but unfulfilled as a governess at Thor
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About

I have a confession. I am a little bit obsessed with books. A significant part of my every day includes books. I research them, I collect them, I journal about them, I dream about them, I covet them. And I read.

Sadly, life can get in the way of valuable reading time. There are so many books to read, and a limited time to read them. For that reason, I no longer finish books unless I feel a connection. I will give any book a chance, but if I’m not invested by page 50, I usually put the book down and move on. For me, every DNF (did not finish) is a victory; it gets me closer to my goal of reading all the good books.

Every reader is different. I am often frustrated when someone recommends a book and I end up not loving it. Not every good for me book will be a good for you book. My goal for this blog is to explain what I value and look for in a good book. If you value the same qualities, you may find my recommendations helpful in finding good fit books.

What kind of books am I looking for? What makes a book good for me? Although I don’t necessarily limit my reading by genre, I am not a huge fan of typical “genre fiction”. I look for writing styles that are clean and clear, characters that are developed and believable, plots that are authentically suspenseful and emotionally appealing. Sure, I occasionally love a purely plot-driven novel, but only if it’s something completely new to me. I can also overlook wordy or awkward writing if I have a unique personal connection to the story.

To get the blog started, I have gone back to ten of my all-time favorites. Have a look HERE and see if my criteria matches yours. If it does, then these books are for you!

 :) jeatherhane

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