The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Hello everyone and welcome to our autumn read of the classic novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I am setting up these threads somewhat early but please feel free to contribute background information in the other thread or just indulge in some pre-read chat before we start.

I am proposing to read Jane Eyre over 7 weeks at 60-70 pages/week, depending on your edition. Discussions will begin on the FIRST day of the week, and of course the threads remain open indefinitely so if you fall behind or come late to the read, it is never to late to post your comments. Do remember only to discuss the novel up to the point we have read and avoid spoilers for those reading for the first time.

Oct 1-7: Chapters 1-8
Oct 8-14: Ch 9-14
Oct 15-21: Ch 15-19
Oct 22-28: Ch 20-24
Oct 29-Nov 4: Ch 25-28
Nov 5-11: Ch 29-33
Nov 12-18: Ch 34-38

I am away from home so using chapters from an e-book, and realize that we move from Volume I-Volume II between ch 21 and 22 (I believe) so if the chapters are renumbered in some editions then I will add that new format in late September.

I am looking forward to rereading this classic with many of you. Please let us know if you are planning to join the read, if this will be your first time reading Jane Eyre or a reread (or a multiple reread) and if you have read other Brontë novels.

I'll give it a go! I remember reading it at school and have re-read it a couple of times since then. It will be interesting to read it in company.
The only other Brontë I've read is Wuthering Heights, though I've always meant to read some others.

I’ll probably stick to the gothic read, The Heroine, Or, Adventures of a Fair Romance Reader. The last time I read Jane Eyre, it read like pulp fiction to me. Bracing for incoming fire from its fans!

I'm hesitating ... I've read Jane Eyre once, a long time ago, and was decidedly underwhelmed. Maybe because I knew it was supposed to be a masterpiece? I knew close to nothing about Victorian literature at the time.

Perhaps my perspective is different now, what with having read up a little on Dickens, Gaskell, Trollope, Eliot, etc.. The only other book of Charlotte Brontë I know is Shirley, and I was underwhelmed by that one, too. The best of the Brontë sisters I've found so far is The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

So ... still not decided.

one of my favourites i hope to participate

I'm looking forward to this. I listened to the audiobook a few years ago, but I'd like to read it again more carefully "with my eyes."

I'm excited to take part. I read Jane Eyre as a girl on a long car journey and was so engrossed I forgot to be travel sick! It will be interesting to see what my perspective is four decades later.