Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Completion Date: 03.17.2010
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 456

Most Memorable Quote: "We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us: and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence." -- p. 326.

Pretty neat quote, eh? I thought this a beautiful description of God and how powerful and wonderful He is. The context of this quote is when Jane is worried about Mr. Rochester and she realizes that God wouldn't let a creature He created suffer.

Jane Eyre was an excellent book. It took me about a million and a half years to read, but the story was top notch. Though disguised as a regular classic romantic novel, the book is not only about love but really about overcoming adversity and trials, about God and religion, about independence and forgiveness. It's a very compelling story and there is plenty to take away from it.

Jane Eyre, raised an orphan in an abusive family, was not supposed to succeed in life. When sent to Lowood school she makes friends and role-models, but also suffers humiliation and malnutrition and loses her best friend to illness. She eventually ends up teaching at that school and heading to Thornfield Manor to be a governess to live a simple life. There she tutors Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward.

When Mr. Rochester and Jane meet, Jane is certain Rochester doesn't think much of her. Later she is surprised to find out that he was quite taken from the very beginning. Of course they fall in love, but Bronte made it far more complicated than that. This novel was actually very intriguing at points; it wasn't the usual predictable classic, but it threw in some really shocking plot changes. Events occurred that caused Jane to run away and be taken in by St. John Rivers.

After a while of feeling discontented without Rochester, though happy that she has a family with St. John and his two sisters, Jane goes back to find Rochester to make sure that he's doing alright. There she finds tragedy and worry. I wondered how on earth they could resolve the story in the amount of time that they did and it was difficult to get through the last 100 pages or so, but it was totally worth it -- the book was resolved in a satisfying way for me.

It was just such an interesting book. I love the style of writing and Bronte made a very compelling story for me to read. I suggest this book to anyone who cares anything about their own well being. ;) READ IT.

Sorry about the crappiness of the review. It's like, 2 AM.

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