Sunday, July 6, 2008

Jane Eyre (Modern Library Classics) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë


My review


rating: 5 of 5 stars
Being that this is my favorite book, and that my re-reading of it for the first time in 8 years has cemented that fact, I don't really have much to say about the book itself, other than that everyone should read it, ESPECIALLY if you were forced to read it high school. Rediscover as an adult the wit, integrity, wisdom and passion of Charlotte Bronte and her indomitable narrator Jane. I found myself constantly in dialogue with Jane as I read, and wrote most of what I was thinking in the margins. Sometimes my enthusiasm for her guts and aplomb caused cheerful expletives like "&*#% Yeah, JANE!!!" to appear. Needless to say, the author and narrator have a lot to teach the reader about the struggle between desire and survival, integrity and passion.

I will say however, that my affection for Modern Library Classics has been dwindled by this edition of Jane Eyre. The endnotes were scanty and failed to translate the French dialogue that Bronte always insists on including. (Yes, I know, why haven't I learned French yet?!) So, though I hate to say it, I would recomend reading this in a Penguin Classics edition.

Regardless though, you'll be surprised what a quick compelling read it is, and when you're tempted to put the book down because the story is getting too painful- keep reading- pain is good for you sometimes.



View all my reviews.

1 comment:

Maryann said...

Hi KJ, I'm a friend of Jamie Spiro's, and I wanted to let you know that this post made me start reading Jane Eyre for the first time and I'm loving it. So thanks!