Jane Eyre

I think I read this book during middle school or high school but it left a much deeper mark reading it as an adult. Jane's character is inspiring and refreshing in today's world where strong female role models are scant. I so enjoyed following Jane's journey into adulthood, and took away much from her self-reliance and integrity. This is now easily one of my favorite books, because of the wonderful characters and the eloquent writing (The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand is another of my favorite books, for the same reasons).

This book is a classic for a reason. It is still studied in schools across the world for a reason. Because it's a true work of genius. I cannot say anything about it which hasn't been said already. I just wish when kids read it for the first time, they would truly grasp how very ahead of their time Jane Eyre (and Charlotte Bronte) were. The romantic in me was just spellbound by the intensity of Rochester and Jane's love for one another. A thought that repeatedly crossed my mind was "Has anyone ever loved anybody the way Rochester loves Jane?" If you read it as a teen, go back and read it with adult eyes. I found I appreciated it in a whole new way. I cannot recommend it highly enough and would heartily give it 10 stars if I could. I am off to find the movie version now...

Despite the fact that this is a classic (or considered to be a classic) and, of course, very well written, I can't understand why someone would cherish Jane Eyre's character.

I don't want to give away the story for those that didn't read it. All I say is that there was an Anti-Semitic comment by Jane Eyre in the middle of the book that turned me down. I started to doubt Jane's moral and could not recover from that ignorant statement. I finished the book just to know how that story would end. I don't have any admiration for the character.

I read Wuthering Heights in high school and loved it, but never read any more of the Bronte sisters. Now in my 40's, I've been going back and reading many of the classics that i was too "busy" (read - Partying) to bother with. I just finished Jane Eyre last night, and was sad it ended. I'd seen the movie not long ago with Cirran Hinds and it was really good. Although, now that I've read the book, the movie doesn't do it justice, they left out much of Jane's experience at the school and at Gateshead. This is a MUST read for all classic literature lovers!!