Jane Eyre By: Charlotte Brontë

“I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.”

Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

This is one of those books that you should have read sometime in your life but somehow never did.

I’m making a point on catching up on the classics because, as someone who loves books, I feel like I don’t have a leg to stand on if I only read contemporary works and completely ignore these well know titles. Also, thanks to public domain laws, most of these are completely free in e-book format so I really had no excuse not to.

I finally get to see what the moors are all about and why the Brontë sisters are so obsessed with setting books there.

Also, I think that sometimes books find you when you need them in life. I can very much relate to the plot of loving someone but you know you can’t be your best person if you are with them.

Overview: After the death of her parents, Jane Eyre is shuffled off to live with her distant family. There, she is mistreated and soon sent of to boarding school. Life at the school is no better and Jane quickly learns that she is destined for a hard life.

Once eighteen, Jane takes a job within Mr. Rochester’s household, Thornfield Hall, as a governess for his charge Adèle.

For the first time since her parents death, Jane feels as if she has a family and falls in love with of Mr. Rochester. However, she cannot shake the feeling that there is something more to the man she loves and that Thornfield Hall maybe hiding secrets of its own.

My thoughts: I often see this book referred to as a love story but the romance was the least compelling portion of the plot. Her boarding school as well as her time at the Moor House are much more interesting in Jane’s character development.

I will say that I did really enjoy this book. It has a lot of nuance and is highly descriptive, however, it is physically hard to get through. I was mentally exhausted just getting through a few chapters. Maybe it would be different reading the physical book versus the e-book but it was hard to focus when paragraphs were pages long. Defiantly not a page turner that you stay up late to finish.

I could very much relate to the last portion of the book. I am currently re-starting my life and the job searching portion really hit home. I feel you Jane, pounding the pavement and handing our resumes is rough. Starting over after a relationship doesn’t work out is hard and you feel as if you are wandering aimlessly, trying to make yourself as small as possible so you can hold yourself together. Meanwhile, you are suffering and the other person is going on with the life that you two built together with no change to their world.

To real, Brontë.

Overall, it was worth the read. I probably need something a little more cheerful to get rid of the emotional hangover that it creates but I am glad that I gave it a chance.

Rating: 4/5 stars