Cody’s Comments (group member since Jun 24, 2017)

Cody’s comments from the Free Birds Read Along group.

So what did you think?

31-34

21-30

11-20

Discussion area for 1-10

What did you like?

Zara wrote: "Is anyone else struggling with this book? I'm having an impossible time getting into it and starting to feel like maybe I'm missing the point of the story? Anyone have suggestions or ideas, I'm all..."

I pushed through and finished but it was really boring for the first 2/3 ish of the book. The last 1/3 or so is just ok. Nothing spectacular or unexpected happens. I'm so disappointed by this book. Everybody raves about how good it is. You're not the only person who has said they are struggling to get into it. Not only that but I didn't like the characters at all, the reactions to certain events were off. I probably would have DNF'd it if not for this group and so many other people telling me it's their favorite book or to push on because it gets better. I ended up giving it 2.5⭐ 😔.

Hello Free Birds!
The book that we read for the second half of the read-along is Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

General feelings/questions/issues

Mariah I have a feeling it's going to be Rebecca

Ruth wrote: "Just wanted to let y'all know that I won't be able to finish participating in the read along. Something came up this week and I also found out that I'm working a camp next week, but I will finish J..."
Aww that's ok

Michelle wrote: "what will our next read be?"

I'll announce the winner on the 15th

I also completely forgot to write a wrap up on my feelings when I finished. ops 😁

@Noemi I really like the BBC miniseries of it. I dislike the newest version. I think it's boring.

Zara wrote: "The scene in 20 where she's waiting with Mason is wonderful for a lot of reasons (showing how quick and intelligent her questions are, her own resolute will in the face of terror, the gothic settin..."
Actually my thoughts in this scene was WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL THERE GET OUT NOW! She was way too calm. People being burned in their beds and getting stabbed and bitten. NOPE! I would have been out of there. That was one of my major issues with this book (even though I have it 5 stars) is that she was a little too level headed and accepted things too easily. She was basically given no explanations and she was like "ok".

Zara wrote: "Chapter 19 - the scene with the Gypsy woman. Can anyone explain the significance of this scene for Jane? As many times as I've read this book, the point of it has baffled me every single time."

I think that this is the scene where her feelings for Rochester is spoken aloud for the first time. He tells her how she feels or rather asks her about her feelings and kind of forces her to come face to face with them. This part of the book in my opinion shows more about Rochester than Jane. It's shows how Bronte has given him the traditional female stereotypes of scheming and jealousy. The playing of games to see what someone really feels without being direct. Let's face it Rochester is a huge drama queen lol. And it gave us our first hint that he may have a bit of supernatural powers. He basically puts her in a trance just by talking to her and reads her mind and heart.

Zara wrote: "Cody - no, you are NOT the only one. I always struggle to not quickly skim his parts because his austerity and severe self-denial are intensely hard to accept. Of course I understand that Bronte is..."
He is so pushy and self righteous. I keep screaming "no means no" in my head as I read this section. This portion of the book is definitely my least favorite and I'll admit that I didn't read it with as much attention as I do the rest of the book. Plus the whole cousin thing is just...yuck. No matter how many classics I read I just can't get used to this cousin love business.

"Am I hideous, Jane?" "very sir, you always were, you know". Hahaaaaa oh Jane 😂

Am I the only one who doesn't like St. John?

"Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? " (P.475)