Book Review | Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

I have a long list of classics I feel obligated to read at some point before I die. Jane Eyre was at the very top of that list. I have felt shame for so long for never having read this book. My mom had an old, used copy of Jane Eyre sitting on our bookshelves from her high school days. As I've been cooped up at home, I decided it was finally time to cross it off of my list of classics. Of course I was familiar with the story since I had seen the movie before and have read many commentaries on the story. But I still felt like it was important for me to actually read the original material to fully form my thoughts on this important work of British literature, and I really enjoyed it a lot!

The first half of this book was a solid 5 stars. I was so invested, and the writing and characterization done by Charlotte Brontë was masterful. I absolutely loved the coming-of-age aspects of this story. Jane goes through such a journey of maturity and growth during the first half of this book, and it was so moving. The themes of faith that were interwoven as well during the coming-of-age also left me with a lot to think about. I came close to tears at certain scenes that happened early on in the story. The beautiful writing and poignant themes carry on throughout the whole book, and Jane's character remains strong and inspiring, which I loved. However, I did lose some steam for this book during the second half when the romance plot line began. 

I love swoon-worthy classic romance stories, and I knew that Mr. Rochester, the love interest in Jane Eyre, is rated highly on the list of favorite regency romance men. But I personally found him to be incredibly creepy. Besides the large age gap between them, I felt like there wasn't a whole lot of build up to their relationship for their attraction for each other to be believable for me. I know that this book is not intended to be a romance at heart, which is why this part of the book didn't bother me too much. The romance did work to build up to some of the most interesting and unexpected parts of the plot, and I was able to appreciate it for its purpose as a plot device.

There are so many different layers to this book that make it stand out on a shelf of classics. It's a coming-of-age, a dark romance, and a mystery all rolled into one. I completely understand why there is so much hype surrounding this book and why is has remained such a beloved classic for several hundred years after it was published. There are so many lines and scenes that will stick with me for a long time, and I am still amazed by the beautiful yet accessible writing style Charlotte Brontë was able to maintain. This is definitely a book that anyone would be able to pick up and understand, even if you don't have much experience with classics. It's a great starter classic to read

What I loved most about my reading experience with Jane Eyre was how it rekindled my burning love for classics. It reminded me why classics are so important and applicable. Again, this is a book I will be thinking about for a long time. Its themes, imagery, and characters have engrained themselves in me, and I am so excited to hopefully pick up more from the Brontë sisters and other Victorian authors very soon.

Rating: ★★★★

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will."-- Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre