Reading the 20th Century discussion
This topic is about
Jean Rhys
Favourite Authors
>
Jean Rhys
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Roman Clodia
(new)
Jul 11, 2026 12:34PM
Mod
reply
|
flag
Mod
Daryl wrote: Not sure if we have a Jean Rhys thread, I tried to search but can’t find it so I’m writing here but I read Wide Sargasso Sea a while ago and I still CANNOT get it out of my head. The writing was so hypnotic, I felt like I was in a trance/in a dream and was transported to the hot island (reminded me of my home country so maybe thats why i grew an attachment to the world😄). This is one of those books that I feel so overwhelmed with because there is so much to say. For those who read her other books, do they give the same feeling? Are there other authors you would recommend that I can get the same vibe as Wide Sargasso Sea?
I’m surprised with the goodreads rating of this book. At first I thought maybe because it’s attached to Jane Eyre and people calling it fanfiction, however most of the 3 stars mentions about the cruelty and tragedy which I understand, its not a happy book (I was uncomfortable with the constant n-words) but I think those themes are essential to the story? Would love to hear anyone’s thoughts on this.
Roman Clodia replied:
I've set up a Jean Rhys thread here, Daryl: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Personally, I'm a huge fan, and she's one of my favourite authors. And yes, I love Wide Sargasso Sea and think It's a fascinating reception of Jane Eyre that exposes all the colonial and empire assumptions of that book.
Rhys's other books are set in 1930s Paris and London, and while they're wonderful, they're somewhat different from WSS. What they share is what has been termed 'the Rhys woman' - whatever her age, she is vulnerable, brittle, often in some kind of transactional relationship, but a survivor despite everything she's suffered.
Reading the 20th Century
Books mentioned in this topic
Voyage in the Dark (other topics)Authors mentioned in this topic
Jean Rhys (other topics)Jean Rhys (other topics)