EDIT - 22/04/2015:- The following review was written in paroxysms of adoration which I no longer feel hence a star is being ducked. Now that I have read Wide Sargasso Sea and re-read Wuthering Heights, Rochester and Jane's attraction as characte...
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Dolors
oh my...I love to see those flashing 5 stars. Waiting for that review, Samadrita (no pressure meant, just sweet anticipation!)
3 years ago
Samadrita
Dolors, your enthusiasm for this book is the primary reason why I tried to write a review. Obviously I haven't been able to do justice to it, but oh well I tried. I see you have given Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South(which has been on my tbr pile forever) 5 stars as well. Will pick it up soon as well. :)
3 years ago
Dolors
Ravishing Samadrita, was lingering on here just to see if you posted your review (how sick is that??) I laughed out loud seeing your book recommendation. Certainly misogynists would find a great deal to munch and ruminate in JE. Your review is full of genius: You are so much a part of women who are alive at present and so much a part of women yet to be born. so refined, so just, so fragile yet so iron-solid contains a subtle indictment of blind religious zealotry and upholds the value of man over God criticizes a prejudiced Victorian society and exposes the hollowness of the lives of its affluent but ignorant gentry I could go on, but that would mean copy pasting your whole review. Brava, Samadrita. You should read the other Brontë sisters now. Anne and Emily have surprises in store for you. That's a promise. :))
DolorsSamadrita wrote: "Dolors, your enthusiasm for this book is the primary reason why I tried to write a review. Obviously I haven't been able to do justice to it, but oh well I tried. I see you have given Elizabeth Gas..."
Ha! I was writing my over-excited comment and missed yours. You did justice to the book with that review, Samadrita. I'm sure Charlotte would have shed more than a tear reading it! :)) Oh, Gaskell's is great as well. I envy you for having this brand new, still undiscovered gems to read *sigh*
3 years ago
Shilpa
Beautiful review Samadrita.. I would love to read this book.
Garima
Is this some sort of 'beautiful' conspiracy? First Shruti and now you? There goes my money and here comes my book (yes! I didn't have the copy). Excellent review!
3 years ago
Rakhi Dalal
Wonderful review,Samadrita! You have very impressively expressed your thoughts about the work!! Well done! Good to see those 5 stars :)
3 years ago
SamadritaDolors wrote: "Ravishing Samadrita, was lingering on here just to see if you posted your review (how sick is that??) I laughed out loud seeing your book recommendation. Certainly misogynists would find a great de..."
Dolors, thank you for being such a wonderful GR friend. You always say what comes right from your heart. I am glad you liked the review. I tried to make it sound as less impersonal as possible. Because this is one of those books which become a part of you once you have read them. :) I have read Emily Bronte but I barely remember anything about Wuthering Heights anymore. I just remember it being very heart-achingly tragic. I hope to get to Anne Bronte soon.
3 years ago
SamadritaAlex wrote: "Just to be clear - you liked it?"
Of course not. Are you kidding me? I have a habit of rating books I absolutely hate, 5 stars.
@Shilpa:- Do read it. Jane Eyre deserves to be read by one and all.
@Shruti:-Thank you much. I am glad to have read this along with you. :)
@Garima:- I am glad both our reviews have convinced you to spend money buying this. :) This is one of those books you cherish forever and read again and again till the day you die. And thank you!
@Rakhi:- Thank you as always. :)
3 years ago
Jill
I'm reading this soon, so I am SO glad to see you enjoyed it this much! I really like this sentence of your review: "Jane, you are not only the essence of womanhood at its best but the finest specimen of humanity."
Often I see reviewers label a character as feminist if she's "kickass." In my opinion, a true feminist character should not be solely defined by her femininity but rather show herself to be an excellent human being.
3 years ago
SamadritaJill wrote: "Often I see reviewers label a character as feminist if she's "kickass." In my opinion, a true feminist character should not be solely defined by her femininity but rather show herself to be an excellent human being."
Aha I knew someone was going to bring this up! And of course who better than you, Jill?
I have used the word 'feminism' and 'feminist' quite a number of times in this review fearing that somebody was going to call me out on it. Many people associate the word 'feminist' with the derogatory meaning 'man-hater' which is absolutely incorrect.
This is what I believe what the term 'feminism' truly means - "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."
I am happy I was able to convey the way Jane appeared in my eyes. She is not just a great woman but the best human being there possibly can be.
3 years ago
Alex
I'm not quite sure I agree entirely with either of your definitions of feminism but I do agree that Jane Eyre is probably one of the defining moment for women's literature and one of the most important feminist texts. And I'm going to be re-reading it shorty. Yay.
Don't neglect watching some of the wonderful adaptations by the way Samadrita. The Fukunaga movie that came out a couple of years ago was really beautiful.
3 years ago
Shilpa
Just ordered it online :) Hope to have a good time :)Thanks for a wonderful review.
3 years ago
SamadritaAlex wrote: "I'm not quite sure I agree entirely with either of your definitions of feminism but I do agree that Jane Eyre is probably one of the defining moment for women's literature and one of the most impor..."
Well I don't think that Rebecca West's one-sentence description concludes the discussion on feminism. It is sort of a starting point. But yes there won't be an end to it if we start.
Yay I was actually going to watch an onscreen adaptation but couldn't decide on one. Also, I think a movie will end too soon for my likes. Is there any good series adaptation you will recommend?
3 years ago
Alex
I saw the 2006 BBC adaptation with Toby Stephens as Rochester. He was excellent and Ruth Wilson a good Jane Eyre... but sometimes ina daptations more detail isn't necessarily better and it felt a bit off overall.
If the movie has a fault it's that you're well aware that there's so much material missing from the book, but it does a fine job of creating character and drama with its gorgeous cinematography and great acting.
3 years ago
Pulkit
You should also read Villette by Charlotte Bronte. Though the story is a little uninteresting, the protagonist - Lucy Snowe - is very well etched, intellectually gifted and a terribly nice human being. Her character along with the beautiful narration definitely make it worth reading.
3 years ago
JillSamadrita wrote: "This is what I believe what the term 'feminism' truly means - 'Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.'"
Whenever I start talking to people about feminism who are, for whatever reason, reluctant to label themselves as feminists, I use that same quotation! It's a perfect starting point.
3 years ago
I see you have given Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South(which has been on my tbr pile forever) 5 stars as well. Will pick it up soon as well. :)
3 years ago
I laughed out loud seeing your book recommendation. Certainly misogynists would find a great deal to munch and ruminate in JE.
Your review is full of genius:
You are so much a part of women who are alive at present and so much a part of women yet to be born.
so refined, so just, so fragile yet so iron-solid
contains a subtle indictment of blind religious zealotry and upholds the value of man over God
criticizes a prejudiced Victorian society and exposes the hollowness of the lives of its affluent but ignorant gentry
I could go on, but that would mean copy pasting your whole review.
Brava, Samadrita.
You should read the other Brontë sisters now. Anne and Emily have surprises in store for you. That's a promise. :))
3 years ago
3 years ago
I see you have given Elizabeth Gas..."
Ha! I was writing my over-excited comment and missed yours. You did justice to the book with that review, Samadrita. I'm sure Charlotte would have shed more than a tear reading it! :))
Oh, Gaskell's is great as well. I envy you for having this brand new, still undiscovered gems to read *sigh*
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
I laughed out loud seeing your book recommendation. Certainly misogynists would find a great de..."
Dolors, thank you for being such a wonderful GR friend. You always say what comes right from your heart. I am glad you liked the review. I tried to make it sound as less impersonal as possible. Because this is one of those books which become a part of you once you have read them. :)
I have read Emily Bronte but I barely remember anything about Wuthering Heights anymore. I just remember it being very heart-achingly tragic. I hope to get to Anne Bronte soon.
3 years ago
Of course not. Are you kidding me? I have a habit of rating books I absolutely hate, 5 stars.
3 years ago
@Shilpa:- Do read it. Jane Eyre deserves to be read by one and all.
@Shruti:-Thank you much. I am glad to have read this along with you. :)
@Garima:- I am glad both our reviews have convinced you to spend money buying this. :) This is one of those books you cherish forever and read again and again till the day you die. And thank you!
@Rakhi:- Thank you as always. :)
3 years ago
Often I see reviewers label a character as feminist if she's "kickass." In my opinion, a true feminist character should not be solely defined by her femininity but rather show herself to be an excellent human being.
3 years ago
Aha I knew someone was going to bring this up! And of course who better than you, Jill?
I have used the word 'feminism' and 'feminist' quite a number of times in this review fearing that somebody was going to call me out on it. Many people associate the word 'feminist' with the derogatory meaning 'man-hater' which is absolutely incorrect.
This is what I believe what the term 'feminism' truly means - "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."
I am happy I was able to convey the way Jane appeared in my eyes. She is not just a great woman but the best human being there possibly can be.
3 years ago
Don't neglect watching some of the wonderful adaptations by the way Samadrita. The Fukunaga movie that came out a couple of years ago was really beautiful.
3 years ago
3 years ago
Well I don't think that Rebecca West's one-sentence description concludes the discussion on feminism. It is sort of a starting point. But yes there won't be an end to it if we start.
Yay I was actually going to watch an onscreen adaptation but couldn't decide on one. Also, I think a movie will end too soon for my likes. Is there any good series adaptation you will recommend?
3 years ago
If the movie has a fault it's that you're well aware that there's so much material missing from the book, but it does a fine job of creating character and drama with its gorgeous cinematography and great acting.
3 years ago
3 years ago
Whenever I start talking to people about feminism who are, for whatever reason, reluctant to label themselves as feminists, I use that same quotation! It's a perfect starting point.
3 years ago