So after almost a year and a half, I realized how important it is to continue my book blog. I have read so many books since my last posting, and I am scared that I won't always remember what the books have been about. Starting today, with Jane Eyre, I am going to keep up with my blog. Since I am not writing this for class anymore, my entries will not be perfected, but they will be how I really feel. I may write about certain parts of the books, so if I ruin anything for you, I am so very sorry!!
Now, back to Jane Eyre, AKA one of the BEST books I have ever read. I know I usually say that I love the books I read, but this book was special. When I started the book, I had no idea what it was about. All I knew was that it was a classic, and almost everyone has read it. Meaning I had to read it as well. Now I can cross it off my list :). Charlotte Bronte (sister to Emily Bronte), wrote this novel in such an amazing way! She was able to give the reader insight to what almost every character thought, while still keeping the novel in third person. I found this way of writing to be exquisite. The reader was able to really get to know each character, and fall in love with them.
I read Jane Eyre after I had read Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights was written by Emily Bronte, and was a gothic novel. Before reading Jane Eyre, I did not think it was going to be gothic at all. Then I began to read the introduction. The person who wrote the introduction to my copy said that both Bronte sisters enjoyed reading gothic literacy. I then began to think maybe this would be gothic. Well, just like the narrator tricked me, Charlotte Bronte tricked me as well! There were a few scenes where it seemed as if the book was gothic. One scene hinted that there was a ghost in a bedroom, and another scene hinted that a vampire might live in the house. When I read the hint about the vampire, I almost gave up on the book. As much as I loved it, I was nervous it was about to get very tacky, very fast! But I continued on (thankfully), and found out what this "vampire" was. Lesson for readers: If you start a book, make sure you finish it. You never know what is going to end up happening in it (unless you can't get through the first page).
Now on to Jane, the heroine of this novel. The novel starts with Jane being nine/ten years old. As she gets older and learns about love and life, the reader gets older and learns as well. Jane's character can also become very frustrated. Jane was sent to an all girls boarding school when she was ten years old. This is where she learned about how women are supposed to behave and act. It was also a very religous school. This means, as Jane got older, she did not understand love between a man and a woman. When a man was hitting on her, or showed interest in her, Jane did not notice. Instead, she found it interesting that he showed such an interest in her, and she eventually fell in love with this man. Yes, this book is another love story (a very romantic one as well).
Like our lives, Jane and her lover end up breaking up because of a huge secret he was hiding. Isn't that just like men? Always hiding something and lying to women!! When Jane finds out this secret, she does not know what to do with herself. She is beyond embarrassed, and does not want to stay where she is. This starts Jane's new life of finding who she really is, and her families history.
The best way to outline the book, is to say it is like a play with five acts. Jane lives with five different groups in the book, and each place teaches her about life. The book starts with Jane living with her Aunt nad cousins. This is a tough time for Jane, and she learns about fear and hiding from people. After this, Jane moves to her boarding school. Jane continues to learn about fear and sees how cruel people could be. Jane also learns about friendship and death. As Jane gets older, she realizes that she wants to "broaden her horizon". She finds a job being a governess. This phase of her life teachers her about love, and speaking aloud, and expressing herself. When her love admits to his dirty secret, Jane moves on and learns about her family, and surviving on her own. The last place Jane lives is with her husband. Jane is happiest at this time, and she realizes that it is the simple things in life that makes her happy.
We can all see ourselves in these different steps in Jane's life. We have all been scared, might not want to say what is on our minds, but we get older and learn how important it is to voice our opinions. I think what really got to me was the fact that this book was written over 100 years ago, yet I was able to relate to Jane. The most important thing when reading is having connections with the books. I was very connected with this book. I wanted to learn about every single minute of Jane's life. I wanted the book to never end.
I was a little upset with the ending. I had just read 600 pages about Jane's life, and Charlotte summed up the rest of her life in one chapter. I felt like I had been gypped information. Even though I was upset with the end, I would read another Charlotte Bronte book in a heart book. I loved this book so much, I would hope the rest of her books are just as great.
I will admit one thing, as long as you promise not to laugh at me: there was a part of the book where Jane reminded me of Gabrielle from Desperate Housewives. The boy problems Jane has made me think of a few episodes of Desperate. I know that this may make me sound like an airhead, but I wanted to be honest. I really hope you all read Jane Eyre and love it as much as I did. Unfortunately I rented the book from my library, so I do not have a copy at the moment. I am planning on buying the book as soon as possible and hopefully read it again, and again, and again!!!
Now, back to Jane Eyre, AKA one of the BEST books I have ever read. I know I usually say that I love the books I read, but this book was special. When I started the book, I had no idea what it was about. All I knew was that it was a classic, and almost everyone has read it. Meaning I had to read it as well. Now I can cross it off my list :). Charlotte Bronte (sister to Emily Bronte), wrote this novel in such an amazing way! She was able to give the reader insight to what almost every character thought, while still keeping the novel in third person. I found this way of writing to be exquisite. The reader was able to really get to know each character, and fall in love with them.
I read Jane Eyre after I had read Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights was written by Emily Bronte, and was a gothic novel. Before reading Jane Eyre, I did not think it was going to be gothic at all. Then I began to read the introduction. The person who wrote the introduction to my copy said that both Bronte sisters enjoyed reading gothic literacy. I then began to think maybe this would be gothic. Well, just like the narrator tricked me, Charlotte Bronte tricked me as well! There were a few scenes where it seemed as if the book was gothic. One scene hinted that there was a ghost in a bedroom, and another scene hinted that a vampire might live in the house. When I read the hint about the vampire, I almost gave up on the book. As much as I loved it, I was nervous it was about to get very tacky, very fast! But I continued on (thankfully), and found out what this "vampire" was. Lesson for readers: If you start a book, make sure you finish it. You never know what is going to end up happening in it (unless you can't get through the first page).
Now on to Jane, the heroine of this novel. The novel starts with Jane being nine/ten years old. As she gets older and learns about love and life, the reader gets older and learns as well. Jane's character can also become very frustrated. Jane was sent to an all girls boarding school when she was ten years old. This is where she learned about how women are supposed to behave and act. It was also a very religous school. This means, as Jane got older, she did not understand love between a man and a woman. When a man was hitting on her, or showed interest in her, Jane did not notice. Instead, she found it interesting that he showed such an interest in her, and she eventually fell in love with this man. Yes, this book is another love story (a very romantic one as well).
Like our lives, Jane and her lover end up breaking up because of a huge secret he was hiding. Isn't that just like men? Always hiding something and lying to women!! When Jane finds out this secret, she does not know what to do with herself. She is beyond embarrassed, and does not want to stay where she is. This starts Jane's new life of finding who she really is, and her families history.
The best way to outline the book, is to say it is like a play with five acts. Jane lives with five different groups in the book, and each place teaches her about life. The book starts with Jane living with her Aunt nad cousins. This is a tough time for Jane, and she learns about fear and hiding from people. After this, Jane moves to her boarding school. Jane continues to learn about fear and sees how cruel people could be. Jane also learns about friendship and death. As Jane gets older, she realizes that she wants to "broaden her horizon". She finds a job being a governess. This phase of her life teachers her about love, and speaking aloud, and expressing herself. When her love admits to his dirty secret, Jane moves on and learns about her family, and surviving on her own. The last place Jane lives is with her husband. Jane is happiest at this time, and she realizes that it is the simple things in life that makes her happy.
We can all see ourselves in these different steps in Jane's life. We have all been scared, might not want to say what is on our minds, but we get older and learn how important it is to voice our opinions. I think what really got to me was the fact that this book was written over 100 years ago, yet I was able to relate to Jane. The most important thing when reading is having connections with the books. I was very connected with this book. I wanted to learn about every single minute of Jane's life. I wanted the book to never end.
I was a little upset with the ending. I had just read 600 pages about Jane's life, and Charlotte summed up the rest of her life in one chapter. I felt like I had been gypped information. Even though I was upset with the end, I would read another Charlotte Bronte book in a heart book. I loved this book so much, I would hope the rest of her books are just as great.
I will admit one thing, as long as you promise not to laugh at me: there was a part of the book where Jane reminded me of Gabrielle from Desperate Housewives. The boy problems Jane has made me think of a few episodes of Desperate. I know that this may make me sound like an airhead, but I wanted to be honest. I really hope you all read Jane Eyre and love it as much as I did. Unfortunately I rented the book from my library, so I do not have a copy at the moment. I am planning on buying the book as soon as possible and hopefully read it again, and again, and again!!!
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