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John Eyre: A Tale of Darkness and Shadow
From USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews comes a supernatural Victorian gothic retelling of Charlotte Brontë's timeless classic.
Yorkshire, 1843. When disgraced former schoolmaster John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as tutor to two peculiar young boys, he enters a world unlike any he’s ever known. Darkness abounds, punctuated by odd bumps in the night, strange creatures on the moor, and a sinister silver mist that never seems to dissipate. And at the center of it all, John’s new employer—a widow as alluring as she is mysterious.
Sixteen months earlier, heiress Bertha Mason embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Marriage wasn’t on her itinerary, but on meeting the enigmatic Edward Rochester, she’s powerless to resist his preternatural charm. In letters and journal entries, she records the story of their rapidly-disintegrating life together, and of her gradual realization that Mr. Rochester isn’t quite the man he appears to be. In fact, he may not be a man at all.
From a cliff-top fortress on the Black Sea coast to an isolated estate in rural England, John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?
Yorkshire, 1843. When disgraced former schoolmaster John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as tutor to two peculiar young boys, he enters a world unlike any he’s ever known. Darkness abounds, punctuated by odd bumps in the night, strange creatures on the moor, and a sinister silver mist that never seems to dissipate. And at the center of it all, John’s new employer—a widow as alluring as she is mysterious.
Sixteen months earlier, heiress Bertha Mason embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Marriage wasn’t on her itinerary, but on meeting the enigmatic Edward Rochester, she’s powerless to resist his preternatural charm. In letters and journal entries, she records the story of their rapidly-disintegrating life together, and of her gradual realization that Mr. Rochester isn’t quite the man he appears to be. In fact, he may not be a man at all.
From a cliff-top fortress on the Black Sea coast to an isolated estate in rural England, John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2021
121 people are currently reading
2357 people want to read
About the author
Mimi Matthews
23 books4,361 followersUSA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning historical romance, including Rules for Ruin, a Kirkus, NYPL, NPR, Library Journal, BookPage, and Marie Claire Best Book of 2025; The Siren of Sussex, a 2023 RUSA Reading List shortlist pick for Best Romance; Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion and a 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award nominee. Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, BookPage, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine.
In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, a miniature poodle, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
**I only rate the books I love.**
In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, a miniature poodle, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
**I only rate the books I love.**
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April 21, 2021John Eyre is my dual timeline, partially epistolary, partially gender-flipped supernatural Victorian gothic retelling of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and one other classic novel that I can't reveal without spoiling the story. Because it's so unlike my other novels, I thought it might be a good idea to post part of my end-of-book Author's Note here in advance. I warn you, there are spoilers!
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Author's Note
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Author's Note
December 6, 2020
I read a super early unpublished copy of this and I can tell you it is one of the most moving, suspenseful, innovative and remarkable retellings of a classic in the history of, well, ever.
If you are a Mimi Matthews fan, be prepared to stretch your conceptions of her literary prowess. Here, she surprises us, challenges us and proves (yet again) that she can lend her talented pen to anything. The elasticity of her gifted and natural ability wields itself into gothic, gender-swapped terrain and every page is sheer rapture as she moulds popular source material into a spell-binding creation so wholly her own.
If you are a Mimi Matthews fan, be prepared to stretch your conceptions of her literary prowess. Here, she surprises us, challenges us and proves (yet again) that she can lend her talented pen to anything. The elasticity of her gifted and natural ability wields itself into gothic, gender-swapped terrain and every page is sheer rapture as she moulds popular source material into a spell-binding creation so wholly her own.
June 29, 2022
In this retelling of Jane Eyre, Jane is of course replaced by John, a schoolmaster hired to tutor two young wards of Mrs Bertha Rochester at Thornfield Hall. When John first sees the two little boys who are to be his pupils, they are gaunt and mute, and have clearly survived a terrifying experience. John is humble and unassuming, but a good and kindly man who the two boys come to trust and love. Mrs Rochester is the star and driving force of the novel. Extracts from her earlier letters and diaries while on her travels in Europe interspersed with John’s experiences at Thornfield, show her to be an inquisitive and adventure loving young woman at the outset. However, once she meets and is wooed into marrying Edward Rochester, a dark shadow falls over her as she falls more and more under his control.
This is a terrific retelling of the classic tale; deliciously creepy, dark and gothic with a paranormal element. It has everything a Victorian gothic tale should have – swirling fogs, dark, savage dogs appearing out of nowhere, laughter and strange noises in the night, and a strong, mysterious woman who is constantly away from home. So good!
This is a terrific retelling of the classic tale; deliciously creepy, dark and gothic with a paranormal element. It has everything a Victorian gothic tale should have – swirling fogs, dark, savage dogs appearing out of nowhere, laughter and strange noises in the night, and a strong, mysterious woman who is constantly away from home. So good!
July 25, 2021
Reasonably priced and very competently written by one of my favorite historical romance authors, this gender-flipped Jane Eyre should have appealed to me more than it did. Matthews does a good job of integrating two well-known Victorian classics into one gothic romance/horror story, but, unfortunately, I found the romance bland and uninspired, probably because her character John Eyre is even less interesting than Bronte's original Jane Eyre was.
Let's face it. My view of this book starts out from a personal bias about one of the original classics. The heroine of Bronte's JANE EYRE, along with Jane Austen's heroine Fanny of MANSFIELD PARK, have long been two of my least favorite female protagonists. Insipid and mostly spineless (perhaps Jane a bit less so than Fanny) and boring to boot, IMO. But that's just me, probably.
However, when you take colorless Jane and just turn her into an even more colorless John, it doesn't bode well for my enjoyment. So the Jane Eyre portion of this book did not thrill me. Mrs. Rochester even turned out to be just as self-centered and aloof as Bronte's Mr. Rochester. What can I say? If you're going to write a take on a classic, maybe improve on it a bit, rather than just doing a gender flip.
The saving grace of this book, for me, was our attic-bound Mr. Rochester. His back story, based on another Victorian classic, was more interesting and was integrated nicely into the Bronte classic. If Matthews could have done as good a job of playing around with the gender-flipped Jane Eyre part, I would have given this four stars.
As it is, I found the character John Eyre to be too beta and too lacking in personality to be interesting or compelling. The romance between him and Mrs. Rochester was not convincing and it lacked any spark or passion. (Not talking about sex. Matthews doesn't do sex scenes. I'm talking about getting that romantic attraction and the feelings down on paper in their interactions. They weren't there.)
Let's face it. My view of this book starts out from a personal bias about one of the original classics. The heroine of Bronte's JANE EYRE, along with Jane Austen's heroine Fanny of MANSFIELD PARK, have long been two of my least favorite female protagonists. Insipid and mostly spineless (perhaps Jane a bit less so than Fanny) and boring to boot, IMO. But that's just me, probably.
However, when you take colorless Jane and just turn her into an even more colorless John, it doesn't bode well for my enjoyment. So the Jane Eyre portion of this book did not thrill me. Mrs. Rochester even turned out to be just as self-centered and aloof as Bronte's Mr. Rochester. What can I say? If you're going to write a take on a classic, maybe improve on it a bit, rather than just doing a gender flip.
The saving grace of this book, for me, was our attic-bound Mr. Rochester. His back story, based on another Victorian classic, was more interesting and was integrated nicely into the Bronte classic. If Matthews could have done as good a job of playing around with the gender-flipped Jane Eyre part, I would have given this four stars.
As it is, I found the character John Eyre to be too beta and too lacking in personality to be interesting or compelling. The romance between him and Mrs. Rochester was not convincing and it lacked any spark or passion. (Not talking about sex. Matthews doesn't do sex scenes. I'm talking about getting that romantic attraction and the feelings down on paper in their interactions. They weren't there.)
May 27, 2021
This is a difficult book to review for a couple of reasons, not least is that it relies on plot surprises best left to the reading experience. I did enjoy the supernatural atmosphere of the story, and for the most part, dueling time lines worked well here too.
What didn't work for me may not be an issue for other readers. The book is a retelling of two classic British Victorian novels, and when I say "retelling," I do mean almost verbatim retelling rather than interpretation. The fact that the cast of characters are gender swapped is not nearly as interesting or original as I had hoped and may actually have been a significant impediment to my enjoyment. I know the literary fiction too well and scenes that I've read many times are simply restated here with casts of characters having a gender change. To say it felt redundant is understating the surprising frustration I felt as I tried unsuccessfully to block out the original books. I liken this experience to having once seen a live performance of Coreolanus right after the Iraq War began. It was set in the desert with all the actors wearing combat fatigues. But simply dressing up Renaissance characters in modern dress didn't add as much to the play as one would think. Ultimately, I couldn't get out of my own head while reading Matthews's new book because I kept mentally placing each scene in Jane Eyre alongside the same scene in John Eyre, except Jane is now John, etc. It kind of went that way for the whole book and proved to be a challenging and even somewhat unhappy read for me. My advice is to avoid the origin texts and go into this fresh if at all possible because then I do think the book could be quite entertaining.
What didn't work for me may not be an issue for other readers. The book is a retelling of two classic British Victorian novels, and when I say "retelling," I do mean almost verbatim retelling rather than interpretation. The fact that the cast of characters are gender swapped is not nearly as interesting or original as I had hoped and may actually have been a significant impediment to my enjoyment. I know the literary fiction too well and scenes that I've read many times are simply restated here with casts of characters having a gender change. To say it felt redundant is understating the surprising frustration I felt as I tried unsuccessfully to block out the original books. I liken this experience to having once seen a live performance of Coreolanus right after the Iraq War began. It was set in the desert with all the actors wearing combat fatigues. But simply dressing up Renaissance characters in modern dress didn't add as much to the play as one would think. Ultimately, I couldn't get out of my own head while reading Matthews's new book because I kept mentally placing each scene in Jane Eyre alongside the same scene in John Eyre, except Jane is now John, etc. It kind of went that way for the whole book and proved to be a challenging and even somewhat unhappy read for me. My advice is to avoid the origin texts and go into this fresh if at all possible because then I do think the book could be quite entertaining.
June 30, 2021
Warning: Once you start this Jane Eyre remix, you won't want to stop. Oh my goodness, I loved this so much. Dripping with moody atmosphere, John Eyre pulls the reader along with just the right amount of tension until the very end. The novel is named for John, but Bertha is the real star of the story, and watching her grow and develop is a fascinating delight. With John Eyre, Mimi Matthews proves she has an impressive range. She delivered a solid gothic retelling just as expertly as she has penned Victorian and Regency romances. Well done, Mimi! Encore!
August 17, 2021
Ooh, such good creepy gothic atmosphere, nice slow build told in two timelines. It opens with John Eyre on his way to his new job as a tutor at Thornfield. The alternative timeline is a couple of years earlier and is mostly letters from Bertha to her friend, Blanche Ingram and later entries in her diary. I’m glad I didn’t read other reviews before reading this as it would definitely spoil the experience. A wonderful retelling!
June 22, 2021
Mimi Mathews latest John Eyre is an absolutely fascinating and absorbing read. Combining two famous classical works into an evocative tale of menace and evil with an additional feature of woman empowerment was enough to send me to raptures.
The title of course gives away the 1st classic. A Jane Eyre retelling with changes in the gender of the main characters, John Eyre brings forth that same brooding atmosphere in the original that made it one of the most renowned published works for gothic romance. Thornfield Hall has never felt more frightening, the author’s mastery with words providing a dark and bleak environment with the ever-present mists surrounding the village adding a layer of an enigma.
The story which progresses thru John, who is appointed as a tutor to the wards of Mrs. Rochester is at times mellowed and subtle. We are so conditioned to reading about guys so superior that John’s character always at a subservient position made it tough for me to connect with him. He is by no means a weak character, but Bertha Rochester somehow towers over him in her forceful personality and her mere intimidating presence. I loved how Ms. Mathews has used Bertha’s letters and journals to show the change of her character from a naïve rosy-hued debutante ready to conquer the world to slowly seeing the depravity hidden behind masks and without any qualms rising above her fear and growing in strength to do what is necessary for her survival. When we encounter Bertha thru John’s eyes, she has become so hard and cynical that we lose sight of the vulnerability and loneliness that is hidden behind her brusque manner.
It is not just Thornfield Hall but Mimi Mathews creates Nosht-Vulk in Senniskali village in Bulgaria as even more terrifying and Bertha’s experiences send a chill down the reader’s spine as she realizes the dreadful pit that she is trapped in! The secondary characters are all delightful especially the butler Mr. Fairfax and the children.
The author in her notes refers to the raging debate of recreating a classic but I have always loved reading them in however recreated versions they have been published, and both books in John Eyre are favorites of all those who love gothic romance and horror so this surely appealed to me.
5 alluring stars!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Perfectly Proper Press, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
The title of course gives away the 1st classic. A Jane Eyre retelling with changes in the gender of the main characters, John Eyre brings forth that same brooding atmosphere in the original that made it one of the most renowned published works for gothic romance. Thornfield Hall has never felt more frightening, the author’s mastery with words providing a dark and bleak environment with the ever-present mists surrounding the village adding a layer of an enigma.
The story which progresses thru John, who is appointed as a tutor to the wards of Mrs. Rochester is at times mellowed and subtle. We are so conditioned to reading about guys so superior that John’s character always at a subservient position made it tough for me to connect with him. He is by no means a weak character, but Bertha Rochester somehow towers over him in her forceful personality and her mere intimidating presence. I loved how Ms. Mathews has used Bertha’s letters and journals to show the change of her character from a naïve rosy-hued debutante ready to conquer the world to slowly seeing the depravity hidden behind masks and without any qualms rising above her fear and growing in strength to do what is necessary for her survival. When we encounter Bertha thru John’s eyes, she has become so hard and cynical that we lose sight of the vulnerability and loneliness that is hidden behind her brusque manner.
It is not just Thornfield Hall but Mimi Mathews creates Nosht-Vulk in Senniskali village in Bulgaria as even more terrifying and Bertha’s experiences send a chill down the reader’s spine as she realizes the dreadful pit that she is trapped in! The secondary characters are all delightful especially the butler Mr. Fairfax and the children.
The author in her notes refers to the raging debate of recreating a classic but I have always loved reading them in however recreated versions they have been published, and both books in John Eyre are favorites of all those who love gothic romance and horror so this surely appealed to me.
5 alluring stars!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Perfectly Proper Press, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
August 8, 2021
5 STARS
Ok... just... wow! I loved this! Gothic/Horror, Classic Literature/Historical Romance, Mystery/Thriller, this one had it all. Now it doesn't hurt that I was already in love with MM writing skills, or that Jane Eyre happens to be one of my favorite classics, but I almost feel like these preexisting suppositions only raise the bar on my expectations for the book. It may also be that I was not expecting this level of preternatural drama. But honestly, I thought she hit it out of the park with this one.
Now, if you know the story of Jane Eyre, you're going to know where this story is heading. But the journey was so compelling that it didn't matter. In fact... you are anticipating the end... pulling it toward you the whole time just to calm your own nerves about what poor Bertha was going through. And then there were the names... all names somehow taken from the original novel and worked into the story. The marriage of the two was so cleverly done. Brilliant.
I hope she writes more books like this. I was already waiting for her new releases, and now, I'll be anticipating them even that much more. MM has yet to disappoint me.
“Do you think any of this has been easy? That I’ve been blessed with a surfeit of choices—for the boys, or for myself?
By God, sir, you don’t know what it is to navigate such a treacherous sea as I have done.” She looked at Thornfield, casting such a glare over the place as John had never seen.
“My instincts have served me well thus far. Had I not heeded them, I wouldn’t be standing as I am now.”
Ok... just... wow! I loved this! Gothic/Horror, Classic Literature/Historical Romance, Mystery/Thriller, this one had it all. Now it doesn't hurt that I was already in love with MM writing skills, or that Jane Eyre happens to be one of my favorite classics, but I almost feel like these preexisting suppositions only raise the bar on my expectations for the book. It may also be that I was not expecting this level of preternatural drama. But honestly, I thought she hit it out of the park with this one.
Now, if you know the story of Jane Eyre, you're going to know where this story is heading. But the journey was so compelling that it didn't matter. In fact... you are anticipating the end... pulling it toward you the whole time just to calm your own nerves about what poor Bertha was going through. And then there were the names... all names somehow taken from the original novel and worked into the story. The marriage of the two was so cleverly done. Brilliant.
I hope she writes more books like this. I was already waiting for her new releases, and now, I'll be anticipating them even that much more. MM has yet to disappoint me.
July 14, 2021
Reader, I went into this book blind. No blurb, no captions, and a mere glance at the cover. This is because I spotted the title and the author and it was all over. I needed a gender swapped Jane Eyre-Dracula mash up to quench my insatiable curiosity and wonder over such a combo. Some authors might have difficulty pulling off such a feat, but I didn’t have a doubt in the world that John Eyre would dazzle.
John Eyre arrives at his new place of employment on a cold, rainy, and foggy night. He barely catches a glimpse of the new Yorkshire countryside or Thornfield Hall. His mind is weighed down by the past and his head aches dreadfully. He craves the laudanum that has been his memories and pain. But, it is not long before natural curiosity for his odd little mute charges, his absent employer, and his new surroundings rouse him. Thornfield Hall might be remote, creak with odd noises and the Yorkshire environs bleak, but John Eyre starts to settle in and feel a modicum of peace. Then Mrs. Rochester arrives.
Mrs. Rochester is changeable and direct, capable and very much in charge, but he senses there is great mystery from this well-traveled world-weary woman, too. She challenges him and his notions of women and the world he has barely experienced in his humble circumstances, but his very stolidity and sureness appear to be a challenge to her as well and they slowly become friends. That is until a man of her status and well-known is there so why should she want John? Nonetheless, he stands pat when events transpire that Mrs. Rochester requires his unquestionable and discreet trust. And, he gives it, but in the end, his love and trust are challenged and he is faced with the irrational and incredible.
Jane Eyre is a tale that could be described as gothic though mild, but John Eyre pulls out all the stops and plunges wholly into the realm of gothic lit. From the atmospheric descriptions, the raised hair thrilling moments, and the very present Dracula scenes and characters. Though be at ease those who don’t do horror. This one stays in the mild to moderate range depending on your sensibilities and balances more toward the Jane Eyre story than Dracula.
The book is actually divided into two time threads- the present with John doing the narration and the past in epistolary form from Bertha’s perspective. Yes, Bertha Mason Rochester is the heroine in the role of the original Mr. Rochester to complete the gender swap. The surrounding characters are also part of the swap and some scenes and situations from both original classics are left out or combined to make the story work better. That said, each of the two classics are clearly and beautifully represented in the story.
John had most of the lime light, but I felt Bertha was the central figure much of the time. John is retiring in personality in many ways though he has a backbone and a mind so that he stands up to, but just as often supports Bertha Rochester. This is good because she has been through a lot and just needs someone on her side- to believe her in the end. Bertha is intelligent, independent, and dominant in a time when that was not attractive in a woman, but she is also adventurous and is willing to buck society and go it alone. John Eyre is the first person to quietly accept her for her true self and back her up when all reason tells him that he should run. Their scenes particularly near the end were electrifying together.
All in all, this was captivating. I didn’t want to put the book down and stayed up late to finish. I was sorely tempted to click back to the beginning go it again right away. Those who enjoy classic retellings, gothic lit, and the fun of gender swaps should add this to their reading list.
I rec'd an eARC of the book through Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.
John Eyre arrives at his new place of employment on a cold, rainy, and foggy night. He barely catches a glimpse of the new Yorkshire countryside or Thornfield Hall. His mind is weighed down by the past and his head aches dreadfully. He craves the laudanum that has been his memories and pain. But, it is not long before natural curiosity for his odd little mute charges, his absent employer, and his new surroundings rouse him. Thornfield Hall might be remote, creak with odd noises and the Yorkshire environs bleak, but John Eyre starts to settle in and feel a modicum of peace. Then Mrs. Rochester arrives.
Mrs. Rochester is changeable and direct, capable and very much in charge, but he senses there is great mystery from this well-traveled world-weary woman, too. She challenges him and his notions of women and the world he has barely experienced in his humble circumstances, but his very stolidity and sureness appear to be a challenge to her as well and they slowly become friends. That is until a man of her status and well-known is there so why should she want John? Nonetheless, he stands pat when events transpire that Mrs. Rochester requires his unquestionable and discreet trust. And, he gives it, but in the end, his love and trust are challenged and he is faced with the irrational and incredible.
Jane Eyre is a tale that could be described as gothic though mild, but John Eyre pulls out all the stops and plunges wholly into the realm of gothic lit. From the atmospheric descriptions, the raised hair thrilling moments, and the very present Dracula scenes and characters. Though be at ease those who don’t do horror. This one stays in the mild to moderate range depending on your sensibilities and balances more toward the Jane Eyre story than Dracula.
The book is actually divided into two time threads- the present with John doing the narration and the past in epistolary form from Bertha’s perspective. Yes, Bertha Mason Rochester is the heroine in the role of the original Mr. Rochester to complete the gender swap. The surrounding characters are also part of the swap and some scenes and situations from both original classics are left out or combined to make the story work better. That said, each of the two classics are clearly and beautifully represented in the story.
John had most of the lime light, but I felt Bertha was the central figure much of the time. John is retiring in personality in many ways though he has a backbone and a mind so that he stands up to, but just as often supports Bertha Rochester. This is good because she has been through a lot and just needs someone on her side- to believe her in the end. Bertha is intelligent, independent, and dominant in a time when that was not attractive in a woman, but she is also adventurous and is willing to buck society and go it alone. John Eyre is the first person to quietly accept her for her true self and back her up when all reason tells him that he should run. Their scenes particularly near the end were electrifying together.
All in all, this was captivating. I didn’t want to put the book down and stayed up late to finish. I was sorely tempted to click back to the beginning go it again right away. Those who enjoy classic retellings, gothic lit, and the fun of gender swaps should add this to their reading list.
I rec'd an eARC of the book through Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2021
It’s no secret that Jane Eyre is my all-time favorite book, so naturally when I saw a twist on the retelling, I jumped at the chance to read it. In Mimi Matthew’s John Eyre, pretty much everything Bronte laid out is turned on its head.
There is no plain governess but a nondescript tutor instead. Mrs. Rochester rules the house with Mr. Fairfax carrying out her bidding. Then there is the addition of two young boys who appear to be more dead than alive. And, as expected, there is something (or someone) in the attic with Mr. Poole. Who is it? Or more like what is it?
Aha! You’ll have to read this clever tale to find out. Great read.
There is no plain governess but a nondescript tutor instead. Mrs. Rochester rules the house with Mr. Fairfax carrying out her bidding. Then there is the addition of two young boys who appear to be more dead than alive. And, as expected, there is something (or someone) in the attic with Mr. Poole. Who is it? Or more like what is it?
Aha! You’ll have to read this clever tale to find out. Great read.
July 3, 2021
So clever! Combining two literary classics and flipping the genders was just so brilliant. I particularly enjoyed the atmospheric creepiness and the author's reverence to the Gothic romance genre. Matthews proves that she can craft an intriguing and enchanting tale in any genre. I recommend this to the readers of her historical romances and those new to her who love well-written, supernatural fiction.
July 3, 2021
Mimi Matthews books are my happy place and this was just that. This gothic-like retelling of Jane Eyre was such a delight and creatively written. It was so good. It held a supernatural element that felt spooky. I enjoyed the strong, fearless heroine and the honorable hero. MM writes the best historical romances. She always delivers a wonderful tale of life, romance and HEA.
Even though I know the classic story well I eagerly threw myself into this because I couldn’t wait to see how John and Bertha would get through this. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Thanks Perfectly Proper Press via Netgalley.
Even though I know the classic story well I eagerly threw myself into this because I couldn’t wait to see how John and Bertha would get through this. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Thanks Perfectly Proper Press via Netgalley.
July 29, 2021
Gothic reimagining!
Impressive Gothic novel combining aspects of Bram Stocker’s Dracula and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, with an arresting twist. Mimi Matthews has nailed it. 1843, John Eyre, a tutor has lost his job and his traditional belief in God, through the unchristian attitudes of the community he’s lived in. He takes up the role of tutor to a pair of boys, wards to the mysterious and alluring Mrs Rochester (when she finally arrives). Things just don’t feel right. The boys are unusual, they appear to be mute, some might even say haunted—in what ways remains to be seen. Strange happening surround Thornfield Hall near Millport, off from the Yorkshire Coast. Things definitely go bump in the night. Evil is abroad, although recognising that is muted. I was riveted, caught up the drama. There are signs of unrest on the way to the Hall. Too many coincidencal happenings not to be alarmed. John might not have been giving them much credence but I was!
It took me a while to understand what was going on. The various letters between two female friends were a puzzle, until I sorted the order out. All paving the way for what was to come!
Nicely crafted, Matthews has rendered a wonderful read! I particularly enjoyed her notes at the end talking about the novels on which she based this story. Fascinating!
A Victory Editing ARC via NetGalley
Impressive Gothic novel combining aspects of Bram Stocker’s Dracula and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, with an arresting twist. Mimi Matthews has nailed it. 1843, John Eyre, a tutor has lost his job and his traditional belief in God, through the unchristian attitudes of the community he’s lived in. He takes up the role of tutor to a pair of boys, wards to the mysterious and alluring Mrs Rochester (when she finally arrives). Things just don’t feel right. The boys are unusual, they appear to be mute, some might even say haunted—in what ways remains to be seen. Strange happening surround Thornfield Hall near Millport, off from the Yorkshire Coast. Things definitely go bump in the night. Evil is abroad, although recognising that is muted. I was riveted, caught up the drama. There are signs of unrest on the way to the Hall. Too many coincidencal happenings not to be alarmed. John might not have been giving them much credence but I was!
It took me a while to understand what was going on. The various letters between two female friends were a puzzle, until I sorted the order out. All paving the way for what was to come!
Nicely crafted, Matthews has rendered a wonderful read! I particularly enjoyed her notes at the end talking about the novels on which she based this story. Fascinating!
A Victory Editing ARC via NetGalley
May 16, 2021
That was a Gothic Romance:} I love Jane Eyre, like Love. Was I a little worried one of my favorite authors was going to retell this story, not even a little. I knew it would be good. It really was. I enjoyed every second of this book. The dark mystery, the unknown and known of this story being retold, yet remade. John was awesome and Bertha was a Rockstar. So loved how this all came together. So many elements that just made this work so well. Mimi is a great story teller and she is good at making you care about the characters!
This has some frightening scenes, I would say for older teens and adults.
This has some frightening scenes, I would say for older teens and adults.
October 1, 2022
Wonderfully written and an absolute pleasure to read. Mimi Matthews has taken the world of Jane Eyre and vamped it up with shadows, evil and vampires.
January 13, 2023
4 stars
An inspiring piece of retelling, John Eyre grabbed my attention just from the title alone—a gender-swapped re-imagination of Jane Eyre. Mimi Matthews' writing maintains much of the old-school gothic lyricism, but there is one additional stroke of creative genius that elevates the novel beyond its one-note elevator pitch. If the book sounds even remotely interesting to you, I would recommend steer away from reading too many reviews, in order to keep a pivotal reveal a surprise.
The one minor drawback I can think of regarding John Eyre, is its faithfulness to the source material. Beyond the gender switch, and sections of new materials, the bulk of the plot is almost a direct one-to-one recreation; depending on one's familiarity with Charlotte Brontë's classic, this new version might not offer enough fresh perspective as a standalone novel—perhaps more of an elevated fanfic.
It is like watching a handsomely made Masterpiece Theatre production, but with a twist. While tonally John Eyre still preserves the style of a past era (it's up to one's preference whether this is a turn-off or not—I actually found it worked out quite well as an audiobook), its core concept is a very modern 'remix' with undeniable appeal, and seems so obvious in hindsight, I'm surprised it hasn't been done prior.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
An inspiring piece of retelling, John Eyre grabbed my attention just from the title alone—a gender-swapped re-imagination of Jane Eyre. Mimi Matthews' writing maintains much of the old-school gothic lyricism, but there is one additional stroke of creative genius that elevates the novel beyond its one-note elevator pitch. If the book sounds even remotely interesting to you, I would recommend steer away from reading too many reviews, in order to keep a pivotal reveal a surprise.
The one minor drawback I can think of regarding John Eyre, is its faithfulness to the source material. Beyond the gender switch, and sections of new materials, the bulk of the plot is almost a direct one-to-one recreation; depending on one's familiarity with Charlotte Brontë's classic, this new version might not offer enough fresh perspective as a standalone novel—perhaps more of an elevated fanfic.
It is like watching a handsomely made Masterpiece Theatre production, but with a twist. While tonally John Eyre still preserves the style of a past era (it's up to one's preference whether this is a turn-off or not—I actually found it worked out quite well as an audiobook), its core concept is a very modern 'remix' with undeniable appeal, and seems so obvious in hindsight, I'm surprised it hasn't been done prior.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
July 19, 2021
Readers will delight with John Eyre‘s gothic Victorian drama, gender-swapped roles tangled with romance, and prominent thread of light. It vacillates between mystery and riveting thriller while the tentative connection forming between Mr. Eyre and Mrs. Rochester solidifies into a formidable and complimentary partnership. The brilliant telling of this tale is further proof of Matthews’ mind for story: dissecting and letting classics influence the characters and framework yet telling a unique story all its own.
The epistolary elements of Bertha Rochester’s journal interspersed with the “present” story are a smart choice that lends her personal perspective and greater emotion to the story. John Eyre is a compassionate character, too, whose own backstory prepares him to be the ally Bertha needs. Their romance is as tumultuous as Brontë’s couple with a few twists on the classic that make me root for their happiness even more. Bertha is a strong heroine, and this story is more her own than John’s even as the title bears his name.
The supernatural and gothic influences of this retelling are vastly different from Matthews’ previous books — and bravely so. The tone of this novel is more foreboding and chilling at times, but these affects only heighten the drama and stakes for the characters of John and Bertha as they grapple with the threat of evil and the hope of light. In particular, I am impressed with the way Brontë’s Rochester’s more mercurial nature is exposed in this telling through both Mr. Rochester and Bertha — Mr. Rochester’s with more sinister tones and Bertha’s through her passionate determination. This novel will have appeal to new readers who appreciate its source books and, hopefully, draw readers to look into Matthews’ backlist of romances.
I had the privilege of reading this novel in one of its early drafts as a beta reader. I happily reread the final version, and was riveted all over again (and ecstatic about the epilogue!). Many thanks to Mimi for the shoutout in the acknowledgements! It made me smile!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
The epistolary elements of Bertha Rochester’s journal interspersed with the “present” story are a smart choice that lends her personal perspective and greater emotion to the story. John Eyre is a compassionate character, too, whose own backstory prepares him to be the ally Bertha needs. Their romance is as tumultuous as Brontë’s couple with a few twists on the classic that make me root for their happiness even more. Bertha is a strong heroine, and this story is more her own than John’s even as the title bears his name.
The supernatural and gothic influences of this retelling are vastly different from Matthews’ previous books — and bravely so. The tone of this novel is more foreboding and chilling at times, but these affects only heighten the drama and stakes for the characters of John and Bertha as they grapple with the threat of evil and the hope of light. In particular, I am impressed with the way Brontë’s Rochester’s more mercurial nature is exposed in this telling through both Mr. Rochester and Bertha — Mr. Rochester’s with more sinister tones and Bertha’s through her passionate determination. This novel will have appeal to new readers who appreciate its source books and, hopefully, draw readers to look into Matthews’ backlist of romances.
I had the privilege of reading this novel in one of its early drafts as a beta reader. I happily reread the final version, and was riveted all over again (and ecstatic about the epilogue!). Many thanks to Mimi for the shoutout in the acknowledgements! It made me smile!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
July 19, 2021
Okay, this book floored me. I thought I knew going into it what to expect (a gender-bend variation on Jane Eyre) but the farther along I got, the more I realized there was much more going on...it was deliciously eerie (even downright creepy in spots). This is a "must shirk all responsibilities and finish in one sitting" read. I always know to expect a captivating read from Mimi Matthews, but this one was thrilling, as well. Love love love!
August 7, 2021
Quite simply ... fabulous.
July 21, 2021
'Yorkshire, 1843. When disgraced former schoolmaster John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as tutor to two peculiar young boys, he enters a world unlike any he’s ever known. Darkness abounds, punctuated by odd bumps in the night, strange creatures on the moor, and a sinister silver mist that never seems to dissipate. And at the center of it all, John’s new employer—a widow as alluring as she is mysterious.
Sixteen months earlier, heiress Bertha Mason embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Marriage wasn’t on her itinerary, but on meeting the enigmatic Edward Rochester, she’s powerless to resist his preternatural charm. In letters and journal entries, she records the story of their rapidly-disintegrating life together, and of her gradual realization that Mr. Rochester isn’t quite the man he appears to be. In fact, he may not be a man at all.
From a cliff-top fortress on the Black Sea coast to an isolated estate in rural England, John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?'
_____________________________
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
John Eyre by Mimi Matthews is a gender-flipped, supernatural gothic retelling of two classic novels.
This one is a bit tough to review without giving some important plot points away, so I will be intentionally vague, but as is clear from the title, one of the two books that this story draws from is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.
I love essentially all books with a supernatural element to them and Mimi Matthews is one of my favorite authors, so I knew going in that I would enjoy the book. But as this is so different from her others, I was curious to see how she would twist these classic novels to blend them together and put her own spin on them. The creepy vibes were great and my favorite element of the story.
What prevented me from giving this book a higher rating was how closely it followed the storyline of one of the books it was based on. It followed very closely and so it hindered the suspense aspect of the plot. I felt that I knew what was coming. As retellings go, it was very well written and enjoyable though, I just wish there had been a greater element of surprise so that it could feed the feeling of suspense, rather than detract from it.
John Eyre is very different from Matthews' previous books and was a fun blend of two classics. I would love to see more gothic style romances by her in the future.
_____
I would like to thank Perfectly Proper Press and NetGalley for sharing an eARC of John Eyre with me. This is my honest review.
Sixteen months earlier, heiress Bertha Mason embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Marriage wasn’t on her itinerary, but on meeting the enigmatic Edward Rochester, she’s powerless to resist his preternatural charm. In letters and journal entries, she records the story of their rapidly-disintegrating life together, and of her gradual realization that Mr. Rochester isn’t quite the man he appears to be. In fact, he may not be a man at all.
From a cliff-top fortress on the Black Sea coast to an isolated estate in rural England, John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?'
_____________________________
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
John Eyre by Mimi Matthews is a gender-flipped, supernatural gothic retelling of two classic novels.
This one is a bit tough to review without giving some important plot points away, so I will be intentionally vague, but as is clear from the title, one of the two books that this story draws from is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.
I love essentially all books with a supernatural element to them and Mimi Matthews is one of my favorite authors, so I knew going in that I would enjoy the book. But as this is so different from her others, I was curious to see how she would twist these classic novels to blend them together and put her own spin on them. The creepy vibes were great and my favorite element of the story.
What prevented me from giving this book a higher rating was how closely it followed the storyline of one of the books it was based on. It followed very closely and so it hindered the suspense aspect of the plot. I felt that I knew what was coming. As retellings go, it was very well written and enjoyable though, I just wish there had been a greater element of surprise so that it could feed the feeling of suspense, rather than detract from it.
John Eyre is very different from Matthews' previous books and was a fun blend of two classics. I would love to see more gothic style romances by her in the future.
_____
I would like to thank Perfectly Proper Press and NetGalley for sharing an eARC of John Eyre with me. This is my honest review.
June 13, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARc of this novel.*
This was a pretty direct gender-swapping of Jane Eyre to John Eyre. It also had some elements of another classic novel twisted throughout, which I will keep to myself, so it can be a surprise for you. It was an intruiging story and I maybe would have been more into it if not for 2 reasons.
1. This was even less of a romance than the original Jane Eyre. I barely felt a connection between Bertha and John. So I'm not sure why this was shelved as a romance on netgalley. I kept waiting around for the sparks and I didn't feel them.
2. Based on the authors note on the end, I know the answer to this one, but there were SO MANY letters and journal entries. Now that I know which other Classic this is drawing from, I understand that, because that also happens in that book, but it made it hard to connect with John, when we were spending half of the book in Bertha's letters. I would have preferred if it was just from her POV then.
All in all, my dislikes come down to preference for this one. If you don't need a romance to be the main focus of your read, but you like to see a classic redone as a gender-swapped version... you may like this a lot. I did like that some of the parts that were omitted from the original were the boring bits but this book still managed to drag and then there was not enough of a payoff for me, because it was so like the original that I knew how it was all going to lay out as soon as the twist is revealed.
This just didn't vibe for me but I can appreciate the attempt.
This was a pretty direct gender-swapping of Jane Eyre to John Eyre. It also had some elements of another classic novel twisted throughout, which I will keep to myself, so it can be a surprise for you. It was an intruiging story and I maybe would have been more into it if not for 2 reasons.
1. This was even less of a romance than the original Jane Eyre. I barely felt a connection between Bertha and John. So I'm not sure why this was shelved as a romance on netgalley. I kept waiting around for the sparks and I didn't feel them.
2. Based on the authors note on the end, I know the answer to this one, but there were SO MANY letters and journal entries. Now that I know which other Classic this is drawing from, I understand that, because that also happens in that book, but it made it hard to connect with John, when we were spending half of the book in Bertha's letters. I would have preferred if it was just from her POV then.
All in all, my dislikes come down to preference for this one. If you don't need a romance to be the main focus of your read, but you like to see a classic redone as a gender-swapped version... you may like this a lot. I did like that some of the parts that were omitted from the original were the boring bits but this book still managed to drag and then there was not enough of a payoff for me, because it was so like the original that I knew how it was all going to lay out as soon as the twist is revealed.
This just didn't vibe for me but I can appreciate the attempt.
September 3, 2021
When I found out that Mimi Matthews was writing a gender-swapped retelling of Jane Eyre, I couldn’t resist getting my hands on a copy. Good I did because this turned out to be excellent.
As expected by the title, ‘Jane' is now John, a likeable character, but the hero of the story is in reality Bertha, an amazing Bertha that overshadows everything and everyone with her vitality, intelligence and fortitude. It felt like a vindication :O) Rochester is present but takes on a different mantle too (or does he - I wonder if Matthews feels like a lot of us about him).
The author also adds elements of another 19th century classic, using Bronte’s text as clever entry points. It works ever so well, not overpowering the story in any way, but instead enriching it (in my opinion). The resulting atmosphere is deliciously gothic, eerie and mysterious.
In all, I loved it, and am ever so tempted to re-read both Victorian novels :O)
As expected by the title, ‘Jane' is now John, a likeable character, but the hero of the story is in reality Bertha, an amazing Bertha that overshadows everything and everyone with her vitality, intelligence and fortitude. It felt like a vindication :O) Rochester is present but takes on a different mantle too (or does he - I wonder if Matthews feels like a lot of us about him).
The author also adds elements of another 19th century classic, using Bronte’s text as clever entry points. It works ever so well, not overpowering the story in any way, but instead enriching it (in my opinion). The resulting atmosphere is deliciously gothic, eerie and mysterious.
In all, I loved it, and am ever so tempted to re-read both Victorian novels :O)
May 12, 2021
10 stars!
What do you get when you cross Jane Eyre with Dracula? The epitome of Gothic romance, so exquisitely done, I read it in one sitting.
I read the first few chapters when the author shared them on her blog, and I knew it would be amazing. Not only it is a retelling of Jane Eyre and Dracula, but it's also gender reversed and full of mysteries. In every chapter there's a question begging for an answer that won't come until the next chapter, but the clues keep you keep reading, hoping to know the resolution and yarning to slow down the reading at the same time. Everything I love about Jane Eyre is in the story, but the mysteries bring it to the next level.
John is looking for a new beginning after his last position didn't end well. When he meets the boys, he immediately starts taking care of them and makes changes, even disobeying his employer, Mrs. Rochester. When she returns from her travels, she's not happy with those changes and he fears he might lose his job.
Bertha is an imposing woman, whose mistake was falling for a man and not seeing him for who he really was right away. As she and John spend more time together, they establish a kind of friendship, uneven as it is due to their positions.
The setting is deliciously Gothic, especially the one that comes from Bertha's letters. And Thornfield Hall is even more mysterious than Charlotte Bronte's.
This is the book-to-movie adaptation I'd like to see, with the kind of cast that will ignite the chemistry on screen as it flames on the page. Who would be the perfect cast for John Eyre and Bertha Rochester? I'll have to think about this.
I can't recommend this enough.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
What do you get when you cross Jane Eyre with Dracula? The epitome of Gothic romance, so exquisitely done, I read it in one sitting.
I read the first few chapters when the author shared them on her blog, and I knew it would be amazing. Not only it is a retelling of Jane Eyre and Dracula, but it's also gender reversed and full of mysteries. In every chapter there's a question begging for an answer that won't come until the next chapter, but the clues keep you keep reading, hoping to know the resolution and yarning to slow down the reading at the same time. Everything I love about Jane Eyre is in the story, but the mysteries bring it to the next level.
John is looking for a new beginning after his last position didn't end well. When he meets the boys, he immediately starts taking care of them and makes changes, even disobeying his employer, Mrs. Rochester. When she returns from her travels, she's not happy with those changes and he fears he might lose his job.
Bertha is an imposing woman, whose mistake was falling for a man and not seeing him for who he really was right away. As she and John spend more time together, they establish a kind of friendship, uneven as it is due to their positions.
The setting is deliciously Gothic, especially the one that comes from Bertha's letters. And Thornfield Hall is even more mysterious than Charlotte Bronte's.
This is the book-to-movie adaptation I'd like to see, with the kind of cast that will ignite the chemistry on screen as it flames on the page. Who would be the perfect cast for John Eyre and Bertha Rochester? I'll have to think about this.
I can't recommend this enough.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
July 21, 2021
Lauded for her historical romance, the delectably chilling John Eyre confirms Mimi Matthews’ literary skill crosses genre boundaries with ease. Evocative prose ensures spine-tingling chills, gasp-worthy plot twists abound, and the characters are nothing short of divine!
Fierce, independent, and stalwart, Bertha Rochester is a force to be reckoned with, a heroine whose self-possession and vulnerability make her worthy of the name. John is circumspect and steady, the perfect foil to Bertha’s dark vibrancy and comes into his own in unexpected ways.
Matthews clearly cherishes the classic novels from which she has drawn from, handling them with respect while making the story her own.
Creepy, vivid, gothic, and captivating, beware stepping into John Eyre‘s pages as you will take a journey your heart and mind won’t soon forget!
Fierce, independent, and stalwart, Bertha Rochester is a force to be reckoned with, a heroine whose self-possession and vulnerability make her worthy of the name. John is circumspect and steady, the perfect foil to Bertha’s dark vibrancy and comes into his own in unexpected ways.
Matthews clearly cherishes the classic novels from which she has drawn from, handling them with respect while making the story her own.
Creepy, vivid, gothic, and captivating, beware stepping into John Eyre‘s pages as you will take a journey your heart and mind won’t soon forget!
October 7, 2023
The perfect book to read in October! It was delightfully mysterious and spooky, with all the Gothic vibes of Jane Eyre and sinister thrills of Dracula. I enjoyed the gender swap, making John the tutor and Mrs. Rochester the estate owner. Their two stories are told in a staggered timeline, with slowly-revealed details of Bertha's ordeal shedding light on the present circumstances John finds himself in. I loved how his relationship with the two boys grew and how he brought healing and light to the gloomy home. John advocates for them to Mrs. Rochester, despite her strong edicts. They soon realize that they don't need to be at odds with each other since they both are trying to protect the boys. Her unexpected arrivals and departures from Thornfield Hall brings a sense of uncertainty, and the story grows more intense as the mystery unfolds. The story reflects parts of the original story of Jane Eyre, but the author's twists and additions made it such an imaginative and creative retelling!
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Read
July 23, 2021As the title suggests, “John Eyre” is an homage to “Jane Eyre,” a novel that created a sensation as soon as it came out in 1847 and has kept readers enthralled ever since, with its mystery and danger, its hints of the supernatural, its romance and coming-of-age elements. It is a story narrated by a woman, in an age where women were not seen as fully human, and I think most of all it is that voice of the first-person narrator – at times outraged, passionate, snarky, wry, defensive, confessional – that elevates it from an entertaining story to something extraordinary.
Such a book is not easily forgotten, and we see that afterlife in novels it has inspired. Probably most famous is “Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys, which imagined how the first Mrs. Rochester might have seen things. There’s Daphne du Maurier’s spooky retelling, “Rebecca”; Sarah Shoemaker’s “Mr. Rochester,” offering us Edward’s version of events. “Re Jane” by Patricia Park imagines Jane as a modern orphan, half-Korean, whose journey of self-discovery starts in Flushing, Queens. But no author I’ve yet encountered had asked the deceptively simple question Mimi Matthews poses here in her latest novel: What if Jane were a dude?
Moreover, what if nearly everyone’s gender were flipped? In “John Eyre,” Mrs. Fairfax, the old housekeeper, has become Mr. Fairfax, the old butler. The strangely well-paid Mr. Poole fixes furniture when he’s not off somewhere in the upper reaches of the house laughing his sinister laugh. Mrs. Rochester, a mercurial yet mysteriously alluring widow, is John Eyre’s employer in his role as tutor to two little boys from parts unknown. And the dangerous lunatic imprisoned in the attic? Why, that would be Mr. Rochester.
It’s a fun thought experiment, and you feel that Matthews had fun writing it. She also – playfully, I think — takes names from the original novel and repurposes them. Helen Burns is the married lady whose love John Eyre cannot return, prompting her suicide before the action of the book opens. (Unlike in the original, we do not see his childhood.) Mrs. Rochester’s maiden name was Mason; first name, Bertha. Blanche Ingram, while still a member of the local gentry, is no longer a beautiful mean girl, but Bertha’s BFF.
Reading “John Eyre” has made me think about how central gender dynamics are to the plot of the original. It is hard to set a story in 19th-century England and make any man (any moderately educated white man, at least), however poor and orphaned, as powerless as Jane was. Even though John struggles with a laudanum problem and deep guilt over the Helen Burns thing, he’s still a man, with those fundamental advantages of manhood in the 19th century. This presents even a writer who’s just trying to have fun with a major problem. How does she solve it?
Reader, I’ll tell you, but spoilers lie ahead.
“John Eyre” does not try to recreate the narrative voice of Jane Eyre in the male lead. His sections are in close third person, written in short, choppy sentences that I think are meant to show his distance from his own feelings. But we have not lost the first-person view entirely. Entire stretches of the book are told from the perspective of Mrs. Rochester – narrating not the current action, but events of a few years earlier, poured out in letters to her dear friend back home, Blanche, as Bertha has a series of increasingly alarming experiences while living abroad.
So despite the title, this is as much Mrs. Rochester’s book as John Eyre’s. While he gets the obscure-orphan part of the source material, she gets the intimate first-personal confessional and the struggle to be an autonomous woman in a world set up for the convenience and pleasure of men.
But that’s not the only misdirection: The second thought experiment of “John Eyre” owes nothing to Charlotte Bronte and everything to Bram Stroker.
Perhaps how you feel about vampires, or at least the literature of vampires, will determine your reaction to this important aspect of “John Eyre.” What does it do to the thought experiment already underway?
“Jane Eyre,” for all its Gothic elements, is ultimately rooted in both rationality and faith. Ghosts, gytrash and other spooky things are not real, even if Jane and Rochester do communicate telepathically at one point. Jane fulminates against religious hypocrisies, yet her own conduct reflects her Christian morality. Not simply in the obvious way that she refuses to become Rochester’s mistress, but also in the radical notion that each person is of equal worth and value before God.
In the world of “Dracula,” spooky things are very much real, and can even kill you. A holy object, like a cross, might rout a vampire, who is essentially a satanic being,a sort of Antichrist , but this has more to with magic and superstition than with faith.
And John Eyre, in a sharp contrast to Jane, has no religious convictions — the trauma of Helen Burns’s death has ended such illusions for him.
Thus we start with one kind of story and find ourselves in another, in this playful yet gripping homage to both. I enjoyed how smoothly this work unfurled once underway, its creepy atmospherics, and how the unlikely pairing of elements harmonized together.
Such a book is not easily forgotten, and we see that afterlife in novels it has inspired. Probably most famous is “Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys, which imagined how the first Mrs. Rochester might have seen things. There’s Daphne du Maurier’s spooky retelling, “Rebecca”; Sarah Shoemaker’s “Mr. Rochester,” offering us Edward’s version of events. “Re Jane” by Patricia Park imagines Jane as a modern orphan, half-Korean, whose journey of self-discovery starts in Flushing, Queens. But no author I’ve yet encountered had asked the deceptively simple question Mimi Matthews poses here in her latest novel: What if Jane were a dude?
Moreover, what if nearly everyone’s gender were flipped? In “John Eyre,” Mrs. Fairfax, the old housekeeper, has become Mr. Fairfax, the old butler. The strangely well-paid Mr. Poole fixes furniture when he’s not off somewhere in the upper reaches of the house laughing his sinister laugh. Mrs. Rochester, a mercurial yet mysteriously alluring widow, is John Eyre’s employer in his role as tutor to two little boys from parts unknown. And the dangerous lunatic imprisoned in the attic? Why, that would be Mr. Rochester.
It’s a fun thought experiment, and you feel that Matthews had fun writing it. She also – playfully, I think — takes names from the original novel and repurposes them. Helen Burns is the married lady whose love John Eyre cannot return, prompting her suicide before the action of the book opens. (Unlike in the original, we do not see his childhood.) Mrs. Rochester’s maiden name was Mason; first name, Bertha. Blanche Ingram, while still a member of the local gentry, is no longer a beautiful mean girl, but Bertha’s BFF.
Reading “John Eyre” has made me think about how central gender dynamics are to the plot of the original. It is hard to set a story in 19th-century England and make any man (any moderately educated white man, at least), however poor and orphaned, as powerless as Jane was. Even though John struggles with a laudanum problem and deep guilt over the Helen Burns thing, he’s still a man, with those fundamental advantages of manhood in the 19th century. This presents even a writer who’s just trying to have fun with a major problem. How does she solve it?
Reader, I’ll tell you, but spoilers lie ahead.
“John Eyre” does not try to recreate the narrative voice of Jane Eyre in the male lead. His sections are in close third person, written in short, choppy sentences that I think are meant to show his distance from his own feelings. But we have not lost the first-person view entirely. Entire stretches of the book are told from the perspective of Mrs. Rochester – narrating not the current action, but events of a few years earlier, poured out in letters to her dear friend back home, Blanche, as Bertha has a series of increasingly alarming experiences while living abroad.
So despite the title, this is as much Mrs. Rochester’s book as John Eyre’s. While he gets the obscure-orphan part of the source material, she gets the intimate first-personal confessional and the struggle to be an autonomous woman in a world set up for the convenience and pleasure of men.
But that’s not the only misdirection: The second thought experiment of “John Eyre” owes nothing to Charlotte Bronte and everything to Bram Stroker.
Perhaps how you feel about vampires, or at least the literature of vampires, will determine your reaction to this important aspect of “John Eyre.” What does it do to the thought experiment already underway?
“Jane Eyre,” for all its Gothic elements, is ultimately rooted in both rationality and faith. Ghosts, gytrash and other spooky things are not real, even if Jane and Rochester do communicate telepathically at one point. Jane fulminates against religious hypocrisies, yet her own conduct reflects her Christian morality. Not simply in the obvious way that she refuses to become Rochester’s mistress, but also in the radical notion that each person is of equal worth and value before God.
In the world of “Dracula,” spooky things are very much real, and can even kill you. A holy object, like a cross, might rout a vampire, who is essentially a satanic being,a sort of Antichrist , but this has more to with magic and superstition than with faith.
And John Eyre, in a sharp contrast to Jane, has no religious convictions — the trauma of Helen Burns’s death has ended such illusions for him.
Thus we start with one kind of story and find ourselves in another, in this playful yet gripping homage to both. I enjoyed how smoothly this work unfurled once underway, its creepy atmospherics, and how the unlikely pairing of elements harmonized together.
July 20, 2021
'John felt as old as creation. Weary in body and soul.'
When I read a Mimi Matthews book, I am simply carried away by her words that just flow across the page so smoothly, gliding effortlessly along and completely captivated me until the book is finished.
This book, John Eyre, is quite different from her usual Victorian fare. Oh, it's Victorian, but it's dark and broodingly Gothic. Creepily good, I might add. Here, we have a twist of the Bronte story of Jane Eyre . A very good twist, might I add, too.
John Eyre arrives at Thornfield as a tutor to Mrs. Rochester's two young wards. He immediately notices something quite strange about these boys. Soon after, he meets Mrs. Rochester and following an even stranger conversation with her, he is very mystified. Nothing is as it seems about this entire odd place. I found Bertha's journal entries to be totally compelling.
'Suddenly, he felt quite tempted to laugh-or possibly, to weep. Was it madness, what was happening to him?'
Matthews builds this story so well and adds layer after layer until the reader is completely all in. Actually, this reader was all in from the very first page. As time passes in the book, we begin to unravel the mystery a bit and are totally caught up in the drama, desperately riveted to each page. Her prose, in all her books, carries the reader along like water flowing downstream. Quite a compelling read and one I am glad to add to my collection. Well done indeed!
My thanks to Perfectly Proper Press for a copy of this book via the Net Galley platform. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinion here is expressly my own.
When I read a Mimi Matthews book, I am simply carried away by her words that just flow across the page so smoothly, gliding effortlessly along and completely captivated me until the book is finished.
This book, John Eyre, is quite different from her usual Victorian fare. Oh, it's Victorian, but it's dark and broodingly Gothic. Creepily good, I might add. Here, we have a twist of the Bronte story of Jane Eyre . A very good twist, might I add, too.
John Eyre arrives at Thornfield as a tutor to Mrs. Rochester's two young wards. He immediately notices something quite strange about these boys. Soon after, he meets Mrs. Rochester and following an even stranger conversation with her, he is very mystified. Nothing is as it seems about this entire odd place. I found Bertha's journal entries to be totally compelling.
'Suddenly, he felt quite tempted to laugh-or possibly, to weep. Was it madness, what was happening to him?'
Matthews builds this story so well and adds layer after layer until the reader is completely all in. Actually, this reader was all in from the very first page. As time passes in the book, we begin to unravel the mystery a bit and are totally caught up in the drama, desperately riveted to each page. Her prose, in all her books, carries the reader along like water flowing downstream. Quite a compelling read and one I am glad to add to my collection. Well done indeed!
My thanks to Perfectly Proper Press for a copy of this book via the Net Galley platform. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinion here is expressly my own.
July 12, 2021
John Eyre is a super-fun gender-swapped Jane Eyre + Dracula mashup, taken very seriously. By that we mean this isn't just some word-for-word retelling of Jane Eyre, nor is it Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but rather a well-constructed, period-perfect novel... that happens to feature Mr. Rochester as a vampire who is chained in the attic to prevent his preying on the good people of Yorkshire.
Perhaps the best part of the book is Bertha Rochester (nee Mason)'s character. She manages to escape from an actual vampire (instead of the emotional vampire of the original Jane Eyre's Mr. Rochester), conceal the identity of a prisoner in her attic, and get her wards' young and handsome tutor to fall in love with her, all without losing an iota of the original Rochester's mercurial temper and contrary dialogue. A true pleasure to read!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Perhaps the best part of the book is Bertha Rochester (nee Mason)'s character. She manages to escape from an actual vampire (instead of the emotional vampire of the original Jane Eyre's Mr. Rochester), conceal the identity of a prisoner in her attic, and get her wards' young and handsome tutor to fall in love with her, all without losing an iota of the original Rochester's mercurial temper and contrary dialogue. A true pleasure to read!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
July 15, 2021
***4.5 stars***
It has been a long time since I have read a gothic novel. I had forgotten how much I love the genre.
John Eyre is a retelling of two classic novels that have been combined to create a new and refreshing story. I was caught up in the feeling of danger around every corner. The landscape is covered in a mist that is abnormal. Two children who reside in the home are mute because of the horrors they have experienced. Strange sounds are heard in the night and a face appears in the mirror.
John is the tutor of two children that are in the care of Mrs. Rochester. He cares for the boys and endeavors to teach them, a situation that is hard due to the fact that the boys do not speak. John is patient and loving to the boys and tries new and unique ways to reach them. His employer is a widow and carries secrets with her.
The best word I can use to describe the book is unique. Mimi Matthews has proven that she is a multi-faceted author. The book flows beautifully. The book is told through letters, journal entries, and what the characters are currently experiencing. She kept me in suspense as I continued on the journey with the characters.
The book contains suspense, non-graphic violence, and a few stolen kisses.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
It has been a long time since I have read a gothic novel. I had forgotten how much I love the genre.
John Eyre is a retelling of two classic novels that have been combined to create a new and refreshing story. I was caught up in the feeling of danger around every corner. The landscape is covered in a mist that is abnormal. Two children who reside in the home are mute because of the horrors they have experienced. Strange sounds are heard in the night and a face appears in the mirror.
John is the tutor of two children that are in the care of Mrs. Rochester. He cares for the boys and endeavors to teach them, a situation that is hard due to the fact that the boys do not speak. John is patient and loving to the boys and tries new and unique ways to reach them. His employer is a widow and carries secrets with her.
The best word I can use to describe the book is unique. Mimi Matthews has proven that she is a multi-faceted author. The book flows beautifully. The book is told through letters, journal entries, and what the characters are currently experiencing. She kept me in suspense as I continued on the journey with the characters.
The book contains suspense, non-graphic violence, and a few stolen kisses.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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