Play Book Tag discussion

Rating 3.0* (upgraded from 2.5* because I kept thinking about the book, which to me is one of the signs if a good book)

Oy - the melodrama! I really wanted to love - or at least like - this classic gothic romance. I love Jane Austen's works, and even with Jane's novels it took me a while to appreciate the wit and artful use of language and satire. But this was no Pride and Prejudice :-(.

So I kept reading - and listening to the audiobook, but the overdramatization of the littlest things kind of got to me. It had its moments of truly beautiful writing, but wasn't enough for me.

This has always been a 4 star read for me, but I have only ever read it in print. It is completely different than Pride and Prejudice in every way (that's a 5 star book for me, but the only Austen that is a 5 star book for me). The melodramatic parts are why it will never go beyond 5 stars. But the bullying and school days things were quite realistic.

Austen and tbe Brontes are such different style of writers, you really can't compare or read one and expect the same reading experience. You can love both. I happen to like Jane Eyre, have read it 3 different time, first time at around 20. I would probably rank it a 4 star. The plot and writing are very much inspired by the gothic novels so prevalent at the time, elevating and experimenting with that style. Although Austen takes on the gothic novel in Northanger Abbey, my least favorite Austen by miles, her works are satires and comedies of manners.

My favorite Bronte is Villette by Anne. I loathe Emily's Wuthering Heights. As for Austen, Persuasion is my pick for best, rest (except for the previously mentioned Northanger Abbey) hover below in equal ranking.

Theresa wrote: "Austen and tbe Brontes are such different style of writers, you really can't compare or read one and expect the same reading experience. You can love both. I happen to like Jane Eyre, have read it ..."

Sorry, Teresa, Villette was also by Charlotte.

Anne wrote Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Gray.

Jgrace wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Austen and tbe Brontes are such different style of writers, you really can't compare or read one and expect the same reading experience. You can love both. I happen to like Jane Eyr..."

That's right! Of course! Really should have read back over it after moving things around before posting!

I think I should clarify that I never expected Charlotte Bronte's wrting to be similar to Jane Austen's. The comparison was in how I approached both authors' novels the first time. With both - and with other classic authors' works from the 19th century or early 20th - I struggle with the difference in language. I keep reading until it becomes more natural and I find something to appreciate in the story or in the writing style. It doesn't mean that I will appreciate and like the same things in different author's works. Sorry that wasn't clearer in my review.

I do think that there were multiple beautifully written passages in Jane Eyre. But maybe I'm not one for gothic novels. The melodrama just wasn't my thing. I'm not fond of drama for the sake of drama.

If it helps, I really liked the ending :-)

My favourite Bronte novel, due to its controversial nature and what she was trying to show at that class level, is Anne's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, although I also like Agnes Grey, which is an eye opening novel on what it was actually like to be a governess. That said, I would not call myself an avid fan of the Brontes' novels. I didn't love Villette, for example, and couldn't make it very far in Shirley. I disliked Wuthering Heights at the very age I was most likely to like it and when I was very much into gothic novels (I only wish my mother had had some of those 18th century ones in the house, but we had a joke of a library and most of what I read I found in our house--I mainly bought scifi, Mary Stewart and a romantic thriller writer because I could find them at the bus station and somewhere else I would find myself (I took the bus if I wanted to go into the city when I was young (started at 12 when I had braces--no orthodontists where I lived!) because it went right on the ferry and took me downtown and was affordable).

Jane Eyre was one I never really liked either.

You are making me so sad. I think I need to take my copy of Jane of the shelf and spend some time with her so she won't feel even more rejected by the world. 😢

Jgrace wrote: "You are making me so sad. I think I need to take my copy of Jane of the shelf and spend some time with her so she won't feel even more rejected by the world. 😢"

I like it!