Book Review

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë

Happily surprised with how much I like this book. I think I even love it. A kind of: where has it been all my life? moment. Of course it's been there the whole time I'm just finicky and procrastination-prone when it comes to picking books.

I'm not as chained to my usual genre preferences when it comes to classic fiction; it's a genre of its own. When reading the classic ladies' novels they're often romances and I'm never sure what I'll get. I adored Little Women and while I liked the Jane Austin novels I tried, they lacked some of the "wow" factor. That's probably why I waited so long to try another classic piece. And I think I see now what makes a classic romance appealing to me... when there's a lot more going on than just the romance. It's the defining portion of this novel too, but the protagonist has many other experiences that shape and define her. The book is about Jane Eyre not just Jane Eyre finding love after a relatively love-starved existence. Her journey of growth before meeting Mr. Rochester is its own story and the journey of faith she takes after she leaves Thornfield Hall is yet another. I didn't read the preface thoroughly so I was still able to enjoy some surprises, although most classic fiction is predictable to a certain degree.

Of course modern society teaches disdain for stories like this... I've seen the "describe a classic badly " jokes - examples: a young governess falls in love with a charming asshole edge lord who keeps his wife in the attic - a comic portraying Rochester complaining about how he's suffered terribly from spending his wife's fortune to sleep his way around Europe, etc. There's a kernal of truth that makes them funny. But the psychology of the characters is actually pretty accurate and the romance is a common fantasy women whether they admit it or not. The woman's innocence and gentle goodness changes the man's hardened, scoundrel nature. There's even instances of unrequited love in there as well which is the kind of love story I like. It's also a wonderful reminder of how marriage should not entered into lightly whether it's a marriage of love, of convenience, or arranged. Not something taken very seriously nowadays.

The pacing is a little slow but when it moves it takes you with it. I loved it and recommend it to anyone who likes classics and romance and just a good story. And don't read the forward if you've not read it before.