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Community Reviews
I finally finished a book that I have had since I was 14 and haven't ever been motivated to pick up. I knew it was considered a classic, yet I’d never felt compelled to engage with it until now. I’m so glad I did. Brontë’s writing is imaginative, to say the least, and there’s something refreshing about stepping back in time to read sentences crafted with such artistry.
I came away with not only a richer vocabulary but also a renewed appreciation for the environmental details around me. Color, smell, noise, and more grounding thoughts I can't place into words right now. The story itself was deeply engaging. As with many period classics, it’s remarkable how much plot is packed into a single novel, yet the overarching story comes together seamlessly in the end. Some chapters moved slowly and felt burdensome to get through, while others were so dense with events that I found myself rereading them to fully grasp whatever happened.
At times, it was difficult to feel true empathy for Jane, Mr. Rochester, or even the other characters. Jane reminded me of my early twenties and the mistakes I made so it was often frustrating not to cringe at her. Yet a thought I kept having (even after finishing the book) was my ignorant talent to constantly forget how lucky I am to have the freedoms of modern life. I had to remind myself of the stark reality for women in that era, when options beyond marrying well were scarce.
My copy is now full of tabs and highlights, and I feel genuinely enriched by the experience. I hope this encourages you to pick up the book if you haven’t already because it’s worth it. After finishing, I was so excited to watch the 2011 movie. While it did leave out so many defining details of the characters, I thought it did a wonderful job of humanizing the characters for me, especially Jane. Now I just want to adopt her myself.
I came away with not only a richer vocabulary but also a renewed appreciation for the environmental details around me. Color, smell, noise, and more grounding thoughts I can't place into words right now. The story itself was deeply engaging. As with many period classics, it’s remarkable how much plot is packed into a single novel, yet the overarching story comes together seamlessly in the end. Some chapters moved slowly and felt burdensome to get through, while others were so dense with events that I found myself rereading them to fully grasp whatever happened.
At times, it was difficult to feel true empathy for Jane, Mr. Rochester, or even the other characters. Jane reminded me of my early twenties and the mistakes I made so it was often frustrating not to cringe at her. Yet a thought I kept having (even after finishing the book) was my ignorant talent to constantly forget how lucky I am to have the freedoms of modern life. I had to remind myself of the stark reality for women in that era, when options beyond marrying well were scarce.
My copy is now full of tabs and highlights, and I feel genuinely enriched by the experience. I hope this encourages you to pick up the book if you haven’t already because it’s worth it. After finishing, I was so excited to watch the 2011 movie. While it did leave out so many defining details of the characters, I thought it did a wonderful job of humanizing the characters for me, especially Jane. Now I just want to adopt her myself.
Prefer the mini series than the book. Just a little too long for me and I prefer Jane Austen's writing and stories. Glad she finally got her 'happy ending' - just took entirely too long to get there.
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