A Classic Love Story

#16 - Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
Finished 4/14/07
Rating: 5/5
Total Pages: 868 (.pdf file)
Reason for Reading: 18th/19th Century Novel
REVIEW: I am thoroughly delighted that I’ve finally read this book. I actually thought I had read it before as a teenager, but within a very few chapters, I realized that the story was all new to me. And what a pleasure it was….to come to such a beautifully wrought story at this stage of life. I very much identified with the character of Jane, and her search for love and happiness. The language throughout was stunning and evocative, Bronte’s choice of words magically perfect. I couldn’t help but think it would be an amazing book to read aloud with someone special. Who couldn’t be enchanted with the classic love story of Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester? I dare you to read this novel and not love it!

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What a wonderfully delicious read.....It's one of those very few books that you could close at the end, then re-open immediately and start all over again at page 1. Jane's story resonated through my brain and my heart in a way that I could never have expected, and I suspect in large part it was due to Bronte's choice of Jane as the narrator and her skillful presentation of Jane's thoughts and feelings. I experienced page after page of Jane's musings, expectations of life, struggles with decision-making, and dreamy imaginings as though they were my own. I could practically copy and paste some of them into a diary and call them mine!

It's next to impossible to choose a favourite quote. Better I should just recommend you read the thing yourself, as the entire book would constitute a favourite quote for me, right from beginning to end. These lines though, simple as they are and thoroughly dated to another place and time, sent a deep current of emotion through my soul:

“Never had he called me more frequently to his presence; never been kinder to me when there – and, alas! never had I loved him so well.” [p. 470/pdf]