Before starting to talk about this book, let me clarify one thing: I'm not a person of classics. Or at least, I wasn't until now. The little I've read didn't seem as wonderful to me as to everyone else. It didn't make a great impression on me, and I didn't consider any of them as my favorite by a long shot.

But this book, Jane Eyre, has won a little piece in my heart forever. No matter how hard I try, I won't be able to express everything I liked about this book, but I'll give it a try.

This is a tough novel, with a slow and heart-wrenching pace that details every single feeling that crosses Jane's mind. I think I've never understood a character so well while being so different from him. I've lived through Jane's pessimism, her "frivolous" way of seeing the world, her distrust of everything, and her obvious lack of affection. I've felt almost as sad as she was when bad things happened to her, and I've smiled like an idiot every time she found a bit of happiness. I have no idea what Charlotte Brontë's personality would be like, I have no idea if Jane is a reflection of the writer or if she is entirely fictional. But whatever it is: bravo.

Undoubtedly, Jane is a character I admire with all my soul. I loved seeing how a character from the 19th century rebelled against everything she had been taught, how she refused to be a quiet and obedient woman, and raised her voice for what she believed in. No matter how gentle she may be in some parts of the book, that fighting spirit is always present in her thoughts that I have admired so much. Jane is simply wonderful.

If you know me even a little, you know that I don't usually enjoy love stories. And in fact, I haven't enjoyed this one either; I've lived it. Although sometimes it was impossible for me to understand Mr. Rochester, I loved his relationship with Jane crazy. I don't usually understand love, I don't usually tolerate silliness, but the way the author describes the admiration and passion they feel for each other is simply incredible.

I repeat once again: despite the love Jane feels for Mr. Rochester, she remains true to her principles. She doesn't yield to her "beloved", as any woman of the time was supposed to do. And that's what I loved.

And sincerely, I don't know what else I can say about this book. I thought it was a masterpiece from beginning to end. I've lived this book like few others, I've enjoyed it from the very moment I started it. I'm speechless.

I'm not any bird, nor am I trapped in any net. I'm a free human being with my own will, which I put into operation to leave it.

A CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH REVIEW: Hamlet vs. Jane Eyre!

Setting: A small town in the Old West. Sheriff Hamlet is leisurely relaxing in front of the General Store. The sun is shining, and the dirt road is quiet. Suddenly, Polonius comes running down the middle of the road, waving his hands frantically and shouting, "EVERYBODY RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!! JANE EYRE AND THE BRONTE POSSE IS COMING TO TOWN!!" The townspeople scatter in a panic. Store owners quickly pull down the shades. But Sheriff Hamlet remains as cool as a cucumber, with his legs crossed, calmly reading the newspaper. According to the article, candidate Marcellus is once again complaining about “there’s something rotten” in Mayor Claudius’ administration.

Then, Jane Eyre and the rest of the Brontes arrive on horseback at the end of the street. They come to a halt in a cloud of dust. Jane dismounts and strolls up the middle of the street, her spurs jangling and her eyes darting back and forth, alert for any movement. Sheriff Hamlet gets up and peers at Jane from beneath his hat, his eyes squinted. He saunters coolly and deliberately, taking his position at the opposite end of the street.

Jane: (menacingly) You sheriff round these here parts?

Hamlet: (calmly) I reckon so.

Jane: (calls back to her posse) Well that’s a dandy…Get 'im, Bertha!

Suddenly, a wild-eyed woman in a charred wedding veil, Bertha, bursts into view. She issues a shrill war cry and charges full-speed on her horse towards Hamlet. But Hamlet is unphased. He stands his ground and puts two fingers to his mouth, whistling loudly. At this signal, Ophelia bursts forth from the saloon doors, foaming at the mouth and waving tulips in her hand.

Ophelia: (to Bertha) THESE ARE TULIPS!! THESE ARE FOR TAKING YOU DOWN!!!

Bertha, caught completely off guard, is tackled by Ophelia and pulled off her horse. They hit the ground with a thud and roll into a nearby ditch, where they drown. (The horse runs away.)

Hamlet: (calmly) Fight crazy with crazier, I always say.

Jane: (miffed) Well played, Danebag but Mr. Rochester ain’t crazy. Get 'im, Rochester.

Mr. Rochester charges Hamlet at full speed. Again, Hamlet whistles loudly. The ghost of Hamlet’s father suddenly appears, spooking the horse and causing Mr. Rochester to be thrown crashing to the ground.

Jane: (at Hamlet) You bewitched his horse, you stupid Dane!!
(to Rochester) Are you all right, my dear?

Rochester: (looks pretty beat up, is bruised and laying in a fetal position at the side of the road)
I don't think it's fatal, Sweets, but I shall be incapacitated for some time, I believe.

Jane: (angered, she draws a gun) Enough foolin' around!

She fires off several shots at Hamlet. The bullets seem to travel in slow motion towards the sheriff, who doesn't draw his gun, but instead dodges them, Matrix-style.

Jane: (amazed) You didn't even draw your gun!

Hamlet: Don't you read any Shakespeare? We never use guns! We're all about poison.
(smiles) Did you get your water at that well yonder down the road about a mile?

Jane, startled, looks back at the half-consumed flask of water hanging from her horse's saddle. Suddenly, she is overcome with sickness. She grabs at her stomach and falls to a crumpled heap on the ground. Off in the distance, the opening phrase of the theme from "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" plays as Hamlet, with a twinkle in his eye, is heard to remark, “What a piece of work am I.”

HAMLET WINS!!

I just really love this book.

Jane is such a strong and remarkable character. She has an unwavering determination to do what she believes is right, regardless of the circumstances. Her sass is so genuine and adds a lot of charm to her personality. I simply adore it.

As per usual, I was completely engrossed in it. However, I've noticed that as I get older, I become more aware of the seriously problematic aspects within the story.

Nonetheless, Jane remains the best. Her character is so captivating and her journey is one that I continue to be drawn to. Despite the flaws I may now see, the overall essence of the book and the strength of Jane's character still make it a favorite of mine.

I can't wait to revisit it again in the future and see what new perspectives I may gain.

SPOILERS

I dedicate this review to my dear friend Jeffrey. Jeffrey, you are an incredible friend and a writer, and you should never, ever change.

Jane and Mr. Rochester

More than once I have come across criticism on Charlotte Bronte for fully failing to understand Jane Austen. Charlotte declares her incapable of passion. And while I cannot agree with this assessment, after my second reading of ‘Jane Eyre’, I do understand why someone like Charlotte Bronte sees someone like Jane Austen this way. If Lizzie Bennet is a breath of fresh air, charming and witty, Jane is a force of nature. In the face of a storm, Lizzie will be next to you, encouraging you and consoling you, while Jane will grab you by the hands, look you in the eyes, and tell you “It’s over. You’re going down. Face it and do it right.” Jane carries herself through light and darkness in an equally graceful way. I may disagree with some of her views, yet, I am completely enthralled and mesmerized by her strength, by her determination to fight for herself, and the passion with which she defends her beliefs, regardless of whether I agree with them or not.

\\"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will.\\"

Jane proved to me that freedom and free will are not the same thing. Does the slave, the captive, the sick one, the lonely one, have a free will? We are all captives in some way, we are dependant, and we all suffer. Some more than others. Free will doesn’t go away with freedom. No walls, no humiliations and atrocities can devour it. I shall quote my friend Hades “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’ Even in the face of the most horrendous circumstances, we have the choice, the free will, to decide whether we shall let our identity, our core, the sense of meaning, burn out along with our happiness, or we shall keep remembering that there is always tomorrow. Jane remembers, Jane hopes, Jane believes. Jane cares. I will never understand those who consider Catherine the personification of passion and free human spirit, and Jane just a meek, boring, insipid girl. Catherine is passionate about nothing and no one else but Heathcliff. And even this single source of passion doesn’t prove strong enough. She lets go of him and voluntarily confines herself into a miserable marriage and devotes her existence to a life of bland luxury, lies, and petty rivalries that make neither her, nor anyone close to her happy. This isn’t the face of passion and freedom. Jane is passionate about Mr. Rochester, about women's position, moral, religion, education. About people and the world in general. She has a really big scope. One that Catherine lacks. She knows herself well enough to know that being entrapped in a relationship that goes against her instincts would ruin her. It is people endowed with passion and bravery that dare to throw away the shroud of the common, to peel the veneer and see what’s inside. She breaks the rules. She cares nothing for customs, social norms, and others’ opinion. Her conscience is her only guide. Jane is an adventurer. She longs for “the wind to howl more wildly, the gloom to deepen to darkness, and the confusion to rise to clamour”.

\\"I believed in the existence of other and more vivid kinds of goodness, and what I believed in I wished to behold. Who blames me? Many, no doubt; and I shall be called discontented. I could not help it: the restlessness was in my nature; it agitated me to pain sometimes.\\"

And this longing makes her break free from prejudice, to remember that “women feel just as men feel; It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.” It makes her brave enough to have a relationship with an older, prominent, enigmatic, sarcastic, dominant, demanding man, even though many who have been victims of suppression and abuse would see such a position as just another of its faces. Yet, she gives into it. She dares explore the forbidden territory, to jump in the deep without a safety net, and knowing that if it fails, there will be a hell to pay. At the time, having a relationship with the boss wasn’t as easy as it is today.

\\"My eyes were drawn involuntarily to his face; I could not keep them under control. I looked, and had an acute pleasure in looking, - a precious yet poignant pleasure; pure gold, with a steely point of agony: a pleasure like what the thirst-perishing man might feel who knows the well to which he has crept is poisoned, yet stoops and drinks divine draughts nevertheless.\\"

Temptation. It is a powerful force, and for a woman like Jane, endowed with rare sensitivity and sensuality, it is an even greater one. Jane is modest and calm, but on the inside, she is full of “life, fire, feeling”. And she is confident enough not to feel the need to demonstrate and parade her sexuality. As Marguerite Duras says in “The Lover”, “You didn’t have to attract desire. Either it was in the woman who aroused it or it didn’t exist”. Just like she doesn’t feel the need to prove how strong she is. Her mild, calm nature is not a sign of resignation, but a sign of deep inner peace. Fervour and boldness are not the only weapons one might possess. Jane isn’t about effects, but results. She speaks little and calmly, but smartly. Two quiet words, said in the right way and at the right time, have a bigger effect than the most intense and colorful declaration. Everyone can attract attention by being bold and flirtatious, everyone can defend themselves by using strong language and even force. But how many of us can achieve those things without even trying? Jane’s strength and beauty are deeply intrinsic. They are part of her, and not something she needs to evoke. They provoke fear in the cruel, sanctimonious, narrow-minded Mrs. Reid and Mr. Brocklehurst, mollify the innate coarseness of Betsy, gain the favour of Mirss Temple, Diana and Mary Rivers, and the affection and respect of Edward Rochester and John Rivers. I shall quote Mr. Rochester himself.

\\"To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devil when I find out they have neither souls nor hearts - when they open to me a perspective of flatness, triviality, and imbecility, coarseness, and ill-temper: but to the clear eye and eloquent tongue, to the soul made of fire, and the character that bends but does not break - at once supple and stable, tractable and consistent - I am ever tender and true.\\"

He understands and describes her character perfectly.

With all said, Jane isn’t perfect. She has her inner struggles. She questions her principles, she suffers the temptations and dilemmas we all do. It takes her a lot to learn to handle her strong emotions. Both negative and positive. When she is faced with the same dilemma that haunts the protagonist of “Notes From the Underground”,

\\"Which is better – cheap happiness or lofty suffering?\\"

she is very tempted to choose what she perceives to be an immoral act, disregard of her most important values. Her inner struggle at those moments will stay with me. It touched me very deeply.

\\"I have talked, face to face, with what I reverence, with what I delight in, - with an original, a vigorous, an expanded mind. I have known you and it strikes me with terror and anguish to feel I absolutely must be torn from you for ever. I see the necessity of departure; and it is like looking on the necessity of death.\\"

In the end, she adheres to her chosen path. But despite her choice of “lofty suffering”, Jane is not judgmental and self-righteous. She proves exactly how gentle her heart is and how deep her mind when she is faced with Mr. Rochester's point of view regarding relationships and the sanctity of marriage. She doesn’t share his view, yet, she isn’t scandalized, indignant, or angry. She actually sees the sense in what he tells her, despite not agreeing to it. I think it is rare to be able to understand and accept an opposite point of view without sharing it. Time and experience have taught me that two opposite views can be equally valid and truthful. This is a woman able to see nuances. All said about Jane’s depth can be said about Edward Rochester too. I will never forget these words:

\\"Never was anything at once so frail and so indomitable. I could bend her with my finger and thumb: and what good would it do if I bent, if I uptore, if I crushed her? Consider that eye, defying me, with more than courage - with a stern triumph. It is you, spirit - with will and energy, and virtue and purity - that I want: not alone your brittle frame.\\"

It only shows how well they know and understand each other. (Unlike Heathcliff and Cathy) The harmony they find in their disharmony proves the veracity of his earlier words:

\\"It is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame. And if that boisterous Channel, and two hundred miles or so of land come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapt; and then I’ve a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly. As for you, - you’d forget me.\\"

The first sentence anyway. As the plot progresses, we see that, like in every great love story, nobody forgets no one. The way they bear their separation only supports his claim about the deep affinity between them. (sighing)

Jane and John Rivers

The other austere, dominant male presence in Jane’s life. He must be one of the most fascinating characters I have come across. He may not be the man you would want as a best friend or to marry to, but I find him incredibly exciting and thought-provoking. I shall quote myself. Here’s what I say in my review of “Inferno”

\\"I would always choose the sinner who sins, but also forgives, over the saint who never sins, but never forgives either\\"

The juxtaposition between John Rivers and Edward Rochester really instills life into those words. Charlotte Bronte seems to have believed the same thing, judging by the way she has constructed those two characters. And Jane somehow balances their features in herself. She possesses some of the convictions and prejudices of John Rivers. She is deeply religious and despite generally being able to see nuances, in some aspects, just like his, her view is too black and white. She too is used to a very simple, moderate life, she too feels the need to help others. Only, unlike him, she realizes that in some aspects the best way to take care of others is to, first and foremost, take care of yourself. And this is where once again we witness her ability and willingness to see nuances. Unlike John Rivers, she realizes that when an idea, no matter how noble, turns into an obsession, might turn the devotee into someone as – and even more – dangerous than many egotists, opportunists, and criminals out there. Rochester too is an austere, harsh man, but unlike John Rivers, he understands the other side too. He’s also full of love and tenderness and generosity. Not John Rivers, though.

\\"What struggle there was in him between Nature and Grace in this interval, I cannot tell: only singular gleams scintillated in his eyes, and strange shadows passed over his face. He is a good and a great man; but he forgets, pitilessly, the feelings and claims of little people, in pursuing his own large views. It is better for the insignificant to keep out of his way, lest, in his progress, he should trample them down\\"

John Rivers, albeit a good and great man – as Jane herself refers to him – is tainted by the fatal weakness of seeing people as just a big herd and himself as the shepherd who needs to lead and support it. He fails to see them as individual human beings, which is good neither for them, nor for himself. He is ready to sacrifice himself and everyone else he deems necessary to achieve his grand dream. He has a big heart, but a narrow scope. He struggles with every genuine feeling that comes to him.

\\"You are original, and not timid. There is something brave in your spirit, as well as penetrating in your eye; but allow me to assure you that you partially misinterpret my emotions. I declare, the convulsion of the soul. That is just as fixed as a rock, firm set in the depths of a restless sea. Know me to be what I am - a cold hard man.\\"

He is fanatic to the very core of his being and so lacking in confidence and self-esteem that he believes himself worthless without religion. To Jane, religion is a dear friend helping her to keep her hope alive and make hard choices. It is an essential part of her personality, but she sees it as something separated from her. She had her marvelous qualities even before turning to it. However, John Rivers sees his religious self as the only self that is of any worth. He affirms nothing else.

\\"You have taken my confidence by storm, and now it is much at your service. I am simply, in my original state - stripped of that blood-bleached robe with which Christianity covers human deformity - a cold, hard, ambitious man. My ambition is unlimited: my desire to rise higher - insatiable. I watch you with interest, but not because I deeply compassionate what you have gone through, or what you still suffer.\\"

His words show that he too is possessed by a deep passion. But it is a cold flame that inflames it. His goal is noble, but not his ways. He rejects his individuality and that of others, the idea of happiness and self-indulgence. He forgets that every love is first and foremost love for the self. It is from this love that our love for others emanates. If we give up on ourselves, we give up on everyone else. If all you do is just give and give and sacrifice and sacrifice yourself, one day you will find that you have run out of substance and you have nothing left to give. And you will be gone, unable to help anyone with anything. And it will happen quickly. As it really does happen with him. But, as Jane herself proves, if you use your goodness and generosity sparingly enough and not forget yourself, you will be able to preserve yourself and therefore help others for a longer period and in a more quality way. Sometimes the best way to be strong is to let yourself be weak. I choose a weak, but long-burning candle over a bright and short-burning one. Jane is not as free-thinking as Rochester in some regards, but she does share his warmth, his willingness to forgive, the flexibility of his mind, his dream of a happy and content life. She admits her own – and his – importance. It is always hard to decide how much to give to others and how much to keep to ourselves. It’s the hardest balance to keep. The one between the self and the world.

With all said, I do believe that John Rivers, cold as he was, in his own way did love her. But he was too absorbed by his overblown idea of humanity and sacrifice and his refusal to see people as anything else than helpless victims and himself and Jane as the necessary sacrifice laid on the sacred alter and soon to be consumed. For a while, Jane is tempted. For a while, he is as big a temptation as Rochester. In the end, though, her spirit prevails, she breaks free, she remembers who she truly is and whom she needs to be with. The ending brought me so much happiness. I still stand by my claim that Mr. Rochester is the sweetest marshmallow of a man I have come across. And Jane agrees with me. Or, maybe I should say, I agree with her. This is one of my most favorite novels and, in some ways, the favorite. It was the book that made me realize that simplicity and depth don’t mutually exclude each other. It is a simple story, but it tells us so much. And Jane herself, she doesn’t possess the grayness we all appreciate so much in characters and consider to be making them deeper and more interesting. In this regard, Jane is not complex – she is a perfectly good, kind, and amiable girl – but she is a deep character that speaks to me from the distance of 178 years. And I hear her voice. She exhorts me to be compassionate, to be strong in the face of adversity, to be equally kind to myself and others, to love myself and others willingly and openly, without shame, without regret, without reserve. She remains a quiet power in my consciousness that I will never separate with. Thank you, Jane.

Read count: 2

P.S. My only regret is that I didn’t provide Mr. Rochester with enough attention. I feel that I should have explored his character more thoroughly, so this review will probably go through a substantial redaction at some point. Otherwise, it was a really nice experience.

When you are a teenager, having mandatory reading on your list can be a real challenge, especially when it comes to old classics. At that age, you may be inexperienced and not fully understand the true meaning of extraordinary literature.

I confess that my first encounter with a classic novel didn't go as planned. I was a young, dumb, clueless, and annoying brat of sixteen, and like other teenage girls, I only focused on the love story part of the book. I disliked Edward Rochester so much that I wished Jane would marry someone else.

However, when I reread the novel with a wiser mind, many things had changed. I still thought Jane could find a better candidate for herself, but eventually, I enjoyed the ending.

I truly admired the amazing mind of Charlotte Bronte. She published this book in 1847 and addressed so many sensitive issues, including slavery, gender equality, abuse, education, and partners' roles in marriage. She was a bold and brilliant feminist.

This book is a heart-wrenching yet truly inspirational story of a young orphan girl. It follows her discovery of her identity, her dreams, her life purposes, and her right to choose the love of her life. She searches for her own worth and capabilities while chasing her dream of becoming a teacher and then a governess.

After a neglected childhood with an abusive aunt, Jane starts making new friends at a girls' boarding school and slowly finds her interest in education. She becomes a teacher at the same school and later decides to become a governess, which leads her to Thornfield Hall and Mr. Rochester.

As they spend more time together, they get closer and discover their common interests. However, strange and unexplainable things start to occur at the mansion. Eventually, Jane leaves Thornfield and lives with the Rivers family. Her cousin, a clergy man, proposes to her, but... well, you know how it ends.

But don't worry! Jane is a strong character. She chooses herself first and is resilient and wise enough to choose her true happiness. The author's brilliance and unforgettable characterization earned this book five stars from me. I'm so glad I stopped being a dumb teenager and could appreciate the true taste of this amazing novel.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”

“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.”

“Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.”

“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.”

“If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.”

“I am not an angel,' I asserted; 'and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself. Mr. Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial of me - for you will not get it, any more than I shall get it of you: which I do not at all anticipate.”

It seems rather absurd to claim that a book can have a profound impact on you. However, I firmly believe in the power that a great book possesses. Jane Eyre is undoubtedly one such book. I must admit that it wasn't an easy read. But it was a book that truly enriched me. Romance is a genre often looked down upon by many "sophisticated readers." Perhaps they would turn their noses up at Jane Eyre, but they might just raise a few eyebrows themselves. Well, Jane Eyre is the archetype of the romance novel. After reading countless ones, I can easily recognize a romance novel when I see it, and Jane Eyre definitely fits the bill. But it is so much more than that.

It's a story for those who wonder why they keep striving to do the right thing and persevering in life, instead of simply taking what they desire whenever they want it. If Jane Eyre had been that kind of person, she would not have achieved her happy ending. Instead, Jane walked away from the thing she wanted most in the world. She almost sacrificed her life doing what she believed in her heart was right. Had the story ended there, I probably would have loathed this book. But it doesn't. We witness Jane continue to grow and act as the remarkable person she was. Although often oppressed, she is no meek mouse. She has a fighting spirit that keeps her going when others would have given up and died. But despite being a fighter, she is not a user or abuser. At times, it's difficult to clearly distinguish the difference. Well, there is no doubt about Jane's level of strength and integrity. Although it is repeatedly emphasized in this novel that Jane is no beauty, her soul makes her a beautiful character. Beautiful in a much deeper sense.

There are moments when you wonder how one person can endure so much suffering. But as you embark on this journey with her, you realize that all of Jane's hardships had a purpose. It refined her into a woman who could see beneath the surface and love what others could never love or understand. It made her the woman who could love and heal Rochester.

At the same time, Rochester was made for Jane Eyre. He had searched his entire life for a woman like her and made quite a few mistakes along the way. And out of love, he was able to let her go when he desperately wanted to keep her. But she returned to him when he needed her the most.

Rochester is the hero who formed the archetype for many of my favorites: tortured, scarred, dark, enigmatic, all of those qualities. Best of all, he loves little, plain, ordinary Jane with a fundamental intensity that leaps off the pages of this book and into my heart as a reader. Despite his imperfections, I couldn't love him more.

Ah, how sentimental I sound. I can't help it. This book moved me to tears. Yet, at the same time, I smiled. I relished the conversations between Rochester and Jane. There was a heat, a passion. And yet, this book is clean enough to be read in Sunday school. That is the essence of grand romance. The journey is so well-expressed that no sex scenes are necessary. It's all there.

This novel is also inspiring. In my opinion, it's not preachy, but for a believer, one can definitely find spiritual messages within its pages. About perseverance, about not growing weary of doing good. About the profoundness of God's love. It's all there, but presented in a narrative that expertly showcases it rather than preaches it.

I feel I'm failing to write the review I truly want to write for this book. The words simply elude me. All I can say is that this book will always be a favorite of mine because of the way it touched my heart and challenged me.

I just finished this book in the early hours of the morning, and I'm left with a heavy but happy heart and a smile on my face.

I clung to those last pages like nothing else - not wanting the story to end - and this is even a reread for me.

This goes to show how much I love this book and this journey of Jane. I think what I love the most is exactly the fact that it takes you on an amazing journey, and Jane changes so radically from beginning to end. As a reader, you are rooting for her and your feelings are on their peak from the very first pages when she's being treated so cruelly.

Another thing that makes me love this book to pieces is the fact that the two main characters are not beauties - the hero and heroine are actually quite ugly, but they find each other - maybe exactly because of that. Finally, we get a story which is not about perfect princesses or handsome princes - this is about common people and that makes it SO MUCH BETTER!

I will say that the men in this story raise questions and they are quite unbelievable at times. They behave in such a way that is hard to understand for a modern reader; but I guess that was common back in the days. Nevertheless, that doesn't degrade the book for me in the least.

This was a reread for me, but I kept being surprised anyway by the story and the twists and turns. This is a MUST READ and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Beware, because you will be taken on a most wonderful and amazing journey - and good luck!

I get the feeling that Jane Eyre may have ruined future English classics for me.

I find it extremely hard to imagine other classics topping this one.

This was actually a book that I had no interest in reading initially because I had been underwhelmed by a Jane Eyre miniseries I watched several years ago.

However, so many people have urged me to read this, insisting that it’s an excellent book, and they definitely weren’t wrong.

Jane Eyre is truly cut from a different cloth from the other classic novel heroines I have come across.

She is a well-rounded woman of great substance, courageous and brave.

We follow Jane from her humble beginnings as an abused orphan, both at her Aunt Reed’s house and the boarding school she was subsequently sent to, to her life as a governess.

During this period, Jane learns, and is willing to learn, many valuable lessons.

I admired her courage and her unwavering determination, her intense desire to be free, despite having so little or being given so little, her remarkable intelligence, and her deep love for others.

The passages that highlighted her feminist leanings were truly surprising to me.

It was very timely that I read this book on International Women’s Day.

Bronte’s writing style is truly exquisite.

She has an adept handle on the language and her prose was like poetry at times.

I found it quite charming the way in which she addressed the reader (“dear Reader”) throughout the narrative.

It was also interesting to see that Bronte uses semi-colons a lot more often than I do.

I’m so glad to have my own copy of this book as I firmly believe I’ll be reading this one over and over again in the future.

\\n  EDIT - 22/04/2015:-\\n
The following review was written in a state of intense adoration that I no longer feel, thus a star is being deducted. Now that I have read Wide Sargasso Sea and re-read Wuthering Heights, Rochester and Jane's allure as characters of high moral standing has diminished in my eyes. However, until I pen a more balanced critique of this, I refrain from disowning my initial impressions.


____



What can I say about you, Jane? Words fail me when I attempt to describe you.


Jane, you are an integral part of me, just as I am of yours. You are not just a fictional character; you represent the countless women who lived in anonymity centuries before Brontë brought you to life. You are a part of the women alive today and those yet to be born. You are a collective voice, not just a single one. You are an unstoppable force that gains strength as the narrative unfolds. You embody the feminine spirit, not just an ordinary-looking, petite girl of barely twenty with lofty worldviews and ideals.


Jane, you are not only the epitome of womanhood at its finest but also the most exquisite specimen of humanity - refined, just, fragile yet as solid as iron. Full of scorn yet humble. Elegant even in the face of utter distress.


Jane, you effortlessly transcend the boundaries of an era and remain relevant even today. I don't claim that reading Jane Eyre (if you haven't read it yet) will cure misogyny. I don't believe in utopian ideas like chauvinistic men suddenly changing their delusional views on women and treating them with respect after reading a book. But it may come close to achieving that goal. Then again, I don't expect a well-read man or woman (surprisingly, women can also be misogynists) to be a misogynist in the first place.


Charlotte Brontë has赋予 this immortal literary character such a voice, such dignity, such sharp intellect, and such conviction that no one can remain untouched after reading this. Once you get to know courageous, passionate, outspoken, energetic, intelligent, principled, and respectable Jane, you are bound to remember her forever. Rather, Jane will make sure you don't forget.


If you are a woman of integrity, you may see a part of yourself reflected in her sarcastic comebacks, her sense of humor, her feelings of rage, her unapologetic frankness, and her cold refusal to bow to the wishes of those more powerful in terms of wealth or social status.


Before the term 'feminism' even existed, Charlotte Brontë was busy creating an enduring symbol of feminine power that will withstand the test of time with remarkable ease and continue to influence society and literature.


Sure, Jane Eyre has a romance at its core - a memorable one at that. And it also contains a Gothic mystery. But these are not its only highlights. Jane Eyre is a feminist doctrine disguised as a novel. It highlights the injustices of class divisions, subtly indicts blind religious zealotry, upholds the value of man over God, exposes the perversities of self-important religious men, and criticizes a prejudiced Victorian society, revealing the hollowness of the lives of its affluent but ignorant gentry.


And to think Charlotte Brontë wrote this in the middle of the 19th century. The last time I was so deeply affected by a classic was about 10 years ago, when I first read A Tale of Two Cities. This is the kind of book whose greatness cannot be measured by awarding it stars or even by reviewing it. It is not just one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time but also a crucial part of the reason why we read, why we prefer to avoid the company of others and seek precious hours of solitude with fiction or literature instead.


Dear Ms Brontë, I may be late to the party, but I have arrived. And I cannot thank you enough for bringing me, for bringing 'us' to life with your powerful words. The world and I are forever in your debt.

Oh thank you so very much!


P.S.:- This review noticeably excludes Edward Fairfax Rochester, but that is not due to any shortcoming on his part. Rochester is undoubtedly one of the most realistic and engaging literary romantic interests ever created. But I wanted this to be about Jane and only her. Because if Brontë's intention was to give equal importance to Jane and Rochester, she would have named this 'Jane and Edward' or something similar.

The kind of novel that has the power to make one believe in love (once again) - or at the very least, it kindles a desire to hold on tightly to that beautiful illusion.

Likely, this is my absolute favourite read for the year 2020.

For the time being, I am simply basking in the warmth and swooning over the enchanting story.

I feel inebriated by its charm, completely speechless.

I know it's out of fashion
And a trifle uncool
But I can't help it
I'm a romantic fool

(Illustration by Louisa Albani)

\\"Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you!” This novel is like a magical potion that transports you to a world where love conquers all. It weaves a tale that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you believe in the power of true love. The characters come alive on the pages, their emotions palpable and relatable. You find yourself invested in their story, rooting for them to find happiness. It's a journey that leaves you with a sense of wonder and a longing for more.

I bought this book today and I'm extremely excited! It's not just an ordinary book. To my great surprise, it has illustrations. Oh my god! They are so beautiful and vivid that they bring the story to life. I can't help but fall in love with this book immediately. Every page turn is like a new adventure, and the illustrations enhance the overall reading experience. I can't wait to dive into the story and explore the wonderful world created by the author. This book is definitely a treasure, and I'm looking forward to spending many hours with it, getting lost in its pages and enjoying every moment.

There are two aspects of Jane Eyre that have remained deeply ingrained in my memory over the years.

The first is the author's use of a pseudonym to get her work published. Charlotte Brontë chose the male pseudonym Currer Bell. Her first novel, The Professor, was never published during her lifetime, and the themes of her second novel made it clear that it would be even less likely to be published under a female name. So, she presented the novel from a male perspective of a female mind.

The second is the vivid social commentary by the intelligent and independent protagonist. The book explores controversial scenarios of the time, such as the treatment of women, orphans, the poor, and illegitimate children in society. It also criticizes the Church as an institution and its lack of impact in creating social harmony. For example, the descriptions of Lowood.

However, above all the social stigma, the question of a woman's choice takes center stage. The right to not be judged for her actions when choosing to love or not love, and to be able to confront the world without being questioned of her intentions. This is where the book truly struck a chord with me as a reader. The fact that Jane refuses to compromise and makes her own choices at will earns my respect.

I also enjoyed the horror elements in the book, such as the gothic structure of Thornfield, its ghosts, lacklustre parties, and shadowy recesses.

Overall, I can safely say that I loved the experience of reading this classic. It has definitely introduced me to one of my favorite female protagonists of all time.