15 Reasons to Love "Shirley" by Charlotte Bronte

[@LuminousLibro]

Who is your favorite character from the Bronte's books?

[@SandrineDamfino]

I love Shirley, one of my favourite Brontë books ❤ Robert & Caroline are one of my favourite literary couples, and Shirley is an amazing character. The only thing I dislike is the love story between Shirley and Louis, it's odd and creepy (in my opinion), for me it's out of key with Shirley's personality. Other than that, the book is such a wonderful read ! A beautiful love story, great side characters,the interesting social commentary, the beautiful friendship between Caroline and Shirley, the wonderful descriptions of nature... such an underrated book !

[@viviennehayes2856]

Thanks. I love your positive personality. I have just started reading this book and I am finding it difficult to get 'into' it, so this review was very helpful.

[@simranjeetkaur3642]

Well that was a really insightful video... Keep up the good work.. One of the best reviews of the novel I could find so far !

[@Candycekampie]

Oh. My. Goodness! I loved this video! My daughter and I just finished Shirley and loved it! For all the reasons in this video.

[@carolm.ferreira3699]

😊 I'm reading this book!! I'm more excited now!! Thanks!💖

[@BookZealots]

So far, I think this is my favorite video by you. While describing Shirley, you described us all. =) Thank you for sharing that part of the buildup for some characters can be tedious, but is important. How interestings that Charlotte decided not to do that for Mrs. Pryor. Wow, you make this book seem amazing. 👍 I'll have to add it to my 2021 tbr.

[@joaninhacm13]

Just finished Shirley. Loved it, took my time reading its details. I love Charlotte's rich characters and the way she talks about love (here and Jane Eyre so far...), not just as a fancy but as a deep understanding of complementary personalities. Thanks!

[@LuminousLibro]

Me too! Love the complex personalities in this book!

[@philomena3529]

Amazing review. I love your vocabulary, your diction and your enthusiasm. I'll definitely be looking out for other reviews by you. Hadn't ever heard of this book before happening upon your site, but now it's at the top of my list of books to read. Best wishes for 2025 from Wexford Ireland

[@beyourowncatalyst]

just bought this book yesterday together with good wives!!

[@rujahpoetess9166]

Finished Agnes Grey and took thia one to read next 😊 and searched ur video about it...

[@elizabethbrink3761]

Great review! You summed it up so well. It's such a complex, rewarding novel. I loved both Caroline and Shirley. They're so different, and I love how they care for each other. Interesting to have three main characters (Robert, Caroline, Louis) who are all so self contained and interior. The scenes with Martin were so funny. I agree that the Yorkes are quite a family (the mom is especially...odd?). I would love to have had more about Mr. Hall and his sister Margaret too (a whole other novel even!). Their story would be worth the telling, I think.

[@LuminousLibro]

I could do a whole separate video about the friendship between Caroline and Shirley!

[@izabelbrekilien9658]

Oh my, what a passionate video ! It makes me salivate at the idea that I'll soon be re-reading Shirley :) My favourite character by the Brontës is Jane Eyre and will probably remain so - I discovered her in my early teenage years (years ago ? *cough* decades ago, last century) and I will always love her. But I'm enjoying my current Brontë project of reading, re-reading and watching everything I can about them :)

[@LuminousLibro]

Jane is my favorite Bronte character too! Shirley and Caroline are wonderful, but there's something about Jane that warms my heart. Thanks for watching!

[@user-yz8wr8vb7f]

Wow, what an impressively insightful review ! I think one can also make the case that Caroline is patterned after Anne Bronte. If I recall from Elizabeth Gaskell's biography of Charlotte, she started writing "Shirley" shortly after Anne's death, as the best way to cope with her grief. As to my favorite Bronte character, I would have to say it is Mr. Rochester--he did the right thing in taking care of his wife Bertha, when it would have been so much easier to put her into an institution. Plus he tried to save her life during the fire, which more than redeemed himself in the end.

[@LuminousLibro]

I agree that Mr. Rochester redeems himself in the end. He is humbled and Jane can meet him on equal footing at the end. I have not read anywhere that Caroline's personality is patterned after Anne, but I can definitely see the resemblance.

[@Narnian78]

Hard Times by Charles Dickens explores the problems of an overly industrial society, e.g., Coketown. I remember reading the book in college and seeing the drama on PBS, which was made in the 1970’s. It’s kind of a dark novel but one of Dickens’ best. I bought the drama on DVD and enjoy rewatching it occasionally. The book is well worth reading if you like Dickens and his times. Perhaps Dickens and the Bronte sisters might be dark optimists. I only read Wuthering Heights in high school, but I didn’t care too much for much the romance of it, but of course I was only a teenager back then. :)

[@mammam4827]

Bronte sisters were vry talented nd Titans of literature.Emily bronte's wuthering heights nd Charlotte 's Jane Eyre, Shirley nd soul's experience are my favs. Her vellete was considered the best book by Oscar Wilde.

[@jaredvaughan1665]

North and South talks alot more about the relationship between workers and owners.

[@beyourowncatalyst]

can i request a video about good wives by louisa? thanks!

[@muskmadness1]

What a coincidence, I finished reading Shirley yesterday 😄

[@jfogarty92]

Great review! I recently finished Shirley but I didn't love it. I liked it, and I thought the characters were so well formed but I had a hard time staying engaged. I think I prefer Emily's work more so far.

[@muhlenstedt]

Great narrative with great characters.My favorite is Shirley and your review is excellent!thank you

[@katrinaKJB1611]

Robert and Louis Moore were some of the most interesting characters I've read about in quite some time. They are now up their with my love for Mr. Rochester. I'm the furthest thing from a feminist, so Louis didn't urk me haha

[@katrinaKJB1611]

Martin Yorke cracked me up too 😂

[@carollomax9524]

Yes I loved your review! I don’t agree about Louis tho… Shirley loves him deeply and she needs him to be able to master her. But then I’m not a feminist. Well done I will subscribe.

[@staffanlindstrom576]

It should also be said that Shirley is clumsily written and much of dialogue absurd, for example the end of Chapter XVII.