Tea and Tales with Cate and Allison discussion

This is where we'll be live discussing Jane Steele. Tonight, May 11th 2016 at 6pm PST.

Hey guys! Exciting news!! The author, Lyndsay Faye just let me know she will be available for questions as we discuss tonight!

Whaaaaa! That's amazing! I'll be flitting in and out but happy to be here for a little bit!

Hey everyone! Allison here. :) I can't wait to discuss Jane Steele with you all!

Like last time, when you hop on, please post your name and a few thoughts about the book.

I'm Allison (duh!), and I enjoyed this book! It was a fun, slightly macabre take on Jane Eyre, and I had a great time reading it!

Oh hiii it's Chandra. I liked this a lot. Never read Jane eyre but didn't feel like I missed anything because of it. Reminded me a little of Dexter :).

Hi All! I'm Stacey. Ready to get my chat on :)

Hi Chandra! Hi Stacey! Glad you both could join us tonight!

I'm Catie!

And this was one of my favorite reads last month! I loved how the book was inspired by Jane Eyre, one of my favorite novels and yet, Faye took her own unique twist with her novel. I thought the content was quite original, which I really loved.

Chandra, I saw your review of this book and thought it was so insightful! So glad to hear you enjoyed it, even though you haven't read JE. Do you plan to now that you've read this book?

Hey Stacey!! I know you really enjoyed this book too! Can't wait to hear your thoughts. :)

Oops didn't give thoughts. I liked it, but having just read Jane Eyre for the first time right before, I didn't like it nearly as much as JE. It was ridiculous in parts which made me laugh. And, I thought it was a fun spin on the original. Cate and I talked about the fact that we liked it being a period piece and not current.

Catie wrote: "Hey guys! Exciting news!! The author, Lyndsay Faye just let me know she will be available for questions as we discuss tonight!"

Seriously? Wow!

Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "Oops didn't give thoughts. I liked it, but having just read Jane Eyre for the first time right before, I didn't like it nearly as much as JE. It was ridiculous in parts which made me laugh. And, I ..."

It definitely was so ridiculous in parts - I think that gave the book so much charm!

Yes! For some reason, before reading this, I heard that the book was modern. I was so glad to see it was a period piece.

Also, were you under the impression that it was a re-telling of Jane Eyre? I was. So I was glad to see it was actually an original work. I thought that was so much better than being a re-telling.

Catie, to be honest, I doubt it. Which is horrible, I know!

Would be interesting to do it backwards though. I have to say that I love macabre so this was just my speed. It did change how I originally viewed Jane Eyre though. Not sure what I thought JE was about prior to this book but it's changed now!

Chandra wrote: "Oh hiii it's Chandra. I liked this a lot. Never read Jane eyre but didn't feel like I missed anything because of it. Reminded me a little of Dexter :)."

It totally reminded me of Dexter, too! Especially since Jane's murders have a reason (i.e. they're not just out of the blue).

Allison, haha exactly!!

I thought it was a retelling and was confused for a bit .. Especially since I didn't read JE but the references made sense and I understood that a few chapters in.

Catie wrote: "Yes! For some reason, before reading this, I heard that the book was modern. I was so glad to see it was a period piece.

Also, were you under the impression that it was a re-telling of Jane Eyre?..."

I totally went in to Jane Steele thinking it was a retelling. Kind of like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (which I actually haven't read). But I like that the book references JE a lot and pulls a lot of inspiration from it while remaining an original work. I agree that it was so much better than a retelling. I think it would have had to be modern if it was a retelling, and I loved the 19th century setting!

Yes! I felt the same way! I have no idea where the idea that it was a modern retelling came from. But I know quite a few people I've talked to were under the same impression that it was a retelling with Jane as a serial killer, etc.

Since we are talking about the murders my first question I wanted to discuss is:

Jane is convinced from the day she kills her cousin that she is irredeemably evil. Do you agree with her that she "murdered" her cousin? Why or why not? Do you think Jane’s later murders would have occurred if she had never caused Edwin’s death?

Catie wrote: "Yes! For some reason, before reading this, I heard that the book was modern. I was so glad to see it was a period piece.

Also, were you under the impression that it was a re-telling of Jane Eyre?..."

I was an wasn't glad that it was original. I loved JE so much that I would have loved MORE of it, but it was fun to have such a silly murderess- boy can you imagine if Jane had offed a few people? Oh Auntie dear...

I think her cousin was an accident but I think she wasn't as appalled as she would've been had she not had a tendency towards the dark side (for lack of better words right now). I think it definitely played a role in her later murders but at the same time I think she would've found a reason one way or the other. She has the inner inclination.

Catie wrote: "Since we are talking about the murders my first question I wanted to discuss is:

Jane is convinced from the day she kills her cousin that she is irredeemably evil. Do you agree with her that she "..."

I don't think she was evil, but I wasn't sure her perv of a cousin necessarily deserved death. The creepy wife beater didn't break my heart though

Catie wrote: "Since we are talking about the murders my first question I wanted to discuss is:

Jane is convinced from the day she kills her cousin that she is irredeemably evil. Do you agree with her that she "..."

Great question, Cate!

I think this is difficult to judge in part because Jane is operating from a 19th century British understanding of murder while we're operating from a 20th century American understanding. Edwin's murder definitely borders on accidental or maybe even self-defense, so I don't view it as a straightforward murder.

While I don't think that Jane is irredeemably evil, I do think that there is something about her that enjoys the macabre and sort of "shameful" part of life (i.e. sex, the gallows confessions, swearing, etc.). So I think she'd probably still kill people if she hadn't caused Edwin's death at the beginning.

Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "Catie wrote: "Since we are talking about the murders my first question I wanted to discuss is:

Jane is convinced from the day she kills her cousin that she is irredeemably evil. Do you agree with ..."

Especially since he had killed two of his own unborn children- on purpose.

Chandra wrote: "I think her cousin was an accident but I think she wasn't as appalled as she would've been had she not had a tendency towards the dark side (for lack of better words right now). I think it definite..."

I agree! The fact that she wasn't appalled when she killed Edwin is pretty telling.

bookloversnest wrote: "Catie wrote: "Since we are talking about the murders my first question I wanted to discuss is:

Jane is convinced from the day she kills her cousin that she is irredeemably evil. Do you agree with ..."

She certainly learned to rely on murder didn't she. There wasn't a whole lot of problem solving. She just put up with behavior for a certain amount of time and then decided, well that's enough of this

Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "bookloversnest wrote: "Catie wrote: "Since we are talking about the murders my first question I wanted to discuss is:

Jane is convinced from the day she kills her cousin that she is irredeemably e..."

Haha, so true! Murder seemed to be her answer for everything! This isn't working, so he/she's got to go!

bookloversnest wrote: "Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "bookloversnest wrote: "Catie wrote: "Since we are talking about the murders my first question I wanted to discuss is:

Jane is convinced from the day she kills..."

Ha! It was her only problem solving strategy. lol

What parts of Jane Steele's personality did you think were like JE and which were different?

Hahah. I can understand the inclination! Haha. Just kidding.

Chandra wrote: "Hahah. I can understand the inclination! Haha. Just kidding."


hahahaha! I'm not gonna lie- there are people in my 49 years I wouldn't have minded if they "accidentally" fell down into a ravine..

LOL! You guys are too funny!

I definitely did think it was quite humorous how easily Jane was able to murder in the book. But, she clearly saw a real threat with each of the men she did kill. Did you find her peril with each realistic or unrealistic? And do you think her vulnerability rang true or seemed too melodramatic?

Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "What parts of Jane Steele's personality did you think were like JE and which were different?"

I think JS and JE are very similar and very different. Both have a sort of quiet confidence, which I think is critical to who they are. They know who they are and what they want, but they don't have to be loud and pushy about it.

JS is obviously much more willing to flout societal normals than JE is. I mean, JE runs away a the suggestion that she become Rochester's mistress. JS isn't as ruffled by things like this.

Catie wrote: "LOL! You guys are too funny!

I definitely did think it was quite humorous how easily Jane was able to murder in the book. But, she clearly saw a real threat with each of the men she did kill. Did ..."

I think what really struck me is that Jane kills people who won't be accountable for their actions to the law. So while murder may be extreme, it kind of feels like a "reasonable option." I mean, who's going to care that some poor woman is getting beaten by her husband? Or that a judge is going after a prostitute's daughter. I think Jane targets those people who think there are no consequences for their actions.

bookloversnest wrote: "Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "What parts of Jane Steele's personality did you think were like JE and which were different?"

I think JS and JE are very similar and very different. Both hhaave..."

Your phrased the fact that they both have quiet strength perfectly. I am an extrovert, and don't let anyone push me around, but for some reason, even though JS lashed out at her offenders, I think JE was stronger. Maybe because she was willing to endure? I respect women that have quiet strength and aren't overtly aggressive.

bookloversnest wrote: "Catie wrote: "LOL! You guys are too funny!

I definitely did think it was quite humorous how easily Jane was able to murder in the book. But, she clearly saw a real threat with each of the men she ..."

Amen Cate! The school dean. Good lord. I didn't shed a tear over that.. Stab and run JS, Stab and run!

I love your comment about Jane Eyre, Allison. One of the reasons I love JE so much is because she chose for herself to leave Rochester once she found out he was married. She only came back when she herself was a wealthy and independent woman. I just love how much courage that took to walk away.

And yes, I do think each of the murders JS committed were justifiable because of who and why she killed. I actually wonder if Faye purposely did this so you could relate or cheer on JS, even though she was a serial killer.

Stacey, I thought Munt was absolutely loathsome! What a horrible man and character. I did not feel bad about his death at all. He actually felt a little like a Dickens character to me.

Catie wrote: "I love your comment about Jane Eyre, Allison. One of the reasons I love JE so much is because she chose for herself to leave Rochester once she found out he was married. She only came back when she..."


And without food, clothing or shelter. Before she found her cousins she was truly destitute. That adds to my admiration for JE's strength of character

I agree, Stacey!

Catie wrote: "Stacey, I thought Munt was absolutely loathsome! What a horrible man and character. I did not feel bad about his death at He actually felt a little like a Dickens character to

/i>

Bye Bye pervy Mr. Munt. So there is a common theme- Mr. Munt and her cousin both pervs. Was anyone else? I don't think the newspaper guy was.

Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "Catie wrote: "Stacey, I thought Munt was absolutely loathsome! What a horrible man and character. I did not feel bad about his death at He actually felt a little like a Dickens character to

/i>

..."

The Judge, definitely.

Catie wrote: "LOL! You guys are too funny!

I definitely did think it was quite humorous how easily Jane was able to murder in the book. But, she clearly saw a real threat with each of the men she did kill. Did ..."

I think she felt real danger from some that she murdered- her cousin for instance, I think she just saw it accelerating and never ending. Mr. Munt, well, she knew it was death for her or her friend- not many options there, the newspaper man she was protecting who she saw as a defenseless women. Again, I think she didn't she an end to it and knew the wife would end of dead if she didn't intervene. Why are those the top murders that stick in my mind. Who were the others?

I think all of the men she killed besides Mr. Grizzlehurst were sexual predators.

Stacey (wanderlustforwords67) wrote: "Catie wrote: "LOL! You guys are too funny!

I definitely did think it was quite humorous how easily Jane was able to murder in the book. But, she clearly saw a real threat with each of the men she ..."

sorry for all the typos- and I'm actually on my laptop and not my phone grr

Catie wrote: "I think all of the men she killed besides Mr. Grizzlehurst were sexual predators."


hmmmm
we've hit upon a theme.

Stacey, she murdered five men total. The other two were the judge and then the thug who broke into Highgate House.

Lyndsay said she would be available for questions. Did any of you have specific questions for her to answer?

Theme makes sense from the residualness from her cousin.... Weiner flasher