Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte REVIEW

Rollover, Kanye!
I highly recommend the Penguin Classics edition of the novel, curated by Stevie Davis: the endnotes are excellent (if occasionally spoiler-y), and the broader critical apparatus is enlightening. The edition I hold in the video is the Clothbound Classics one, but the paperback is much cheaper.
US readers, buy the paperback Penguin Classics on IndieBound (yep I'm an affiliate):
www.indiebound...
UK & other European readers, buy it on Blackwell's (also an affiliate):
blackwells.co....
Here is a link to the video with additional commentary I mention in this one:
• Additional Commentary ...
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[@scotth.2944]

congrats of the phd my brother. much love to you

[@jacieeverdell7239]

Great review, I appreciate your perspectives and insights into this wonderful novel. I just recently discovered Jane Eyre, listened to the audiobook, consumed 1/4 of the english movie/miniseries adaptations (there are 17), and then got a physical copy of the book to re-read and make annotations in. I believe that everyone gets something different out of it. For example: Jane's need to be useful and helpful for someone deserving of it (without compromising her own morals or beliefs) resonates deeply with me. Mr. Rochester is definitely not deserving of the gift she wants to share with him and needs to grow and even be MORE humbled in order for them to be on even ground. He is manipulative and emotionally abusive, and while his upbringing and life explains that side of him it does not excuse it. Those are my main thoughts on this novel, I am just sad I didn't discover it until I was 41.

[@ashurbanipalcousin]

Congrats, Doctor! Thanks for continually providing profound and entertaining book reviews. You’re a diamond in the rough here on KZbin.

[@JuanReads]

Jane Eyre is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve ever read. I’m not particularly into 19th century English literature or even the Brontës, but I love Jane Eyre. Congratulations on getting your PhD!

[@authorgreene]

What I was really drawn to in Jane Eyre were the descriptions of how Rochester saw the world. His attention to beauty and nature drew me to him; even as I understood him to be a rapscallion, I could not help but wish to see the world as he did.

[@nancyhey1012]

I saw Mr Rochester as an example of how Charlotte Brontë saw certain men who were kind of dark and brooding as having a certain allure to women, like women saw that type as being a “diamond in the rough “ that they could shape into something better.

[@theosyamuda1917]

I like the way you review literature, not to shallow, not to complex, just right in the middle.

[@kimberlyw2591]

Love Jane Eyre :) one of the books that got me hooked on classic literature.

[@JWP452]

I read Jane Eyre a few years ago. I'll never forget what Helen Burns said to Jane as she lay dying of consumption in Jane's arms. Helen thanked God for sparing her the misery of what would have been the rest of her life. Yikes!

[@TheJudgeandtheJury]

Always enjoyed your reviews. Keep up the good work!

[@ThatReadingGuy28]

I read Jane Eyre last year and I absolutely loved it! One of the things that stuck out to me the most was Rochester’s relationship with Jane before she runs away verses when she goes and seeks him out again. Beforehand he’s arrogant and moody, and tries to intimidate her, relishing the fact that it doesn’t work. After, he’s quite timid and despondent, and the way his weak will leans on her for strength made me shed some tears. Also the overarching contrast between Rochester and St. John fascinated me. Both had their share of flaws, but it in the end St. John hid his cold heart under a veil of religiosity while Rochester was ready to admit his weaknesses directly. The way St. John used “God’s will” to get his own gain really upset me, and I was glad when Jane saw through it in the end. Overall one of my favourites, I’ll definitely reread this book in the near future.

[@bookhunterrr3973]

Love your color-coded bookshelf! Congrats on your PhD! :)

[@nozecone]

I thought I was the only one who noticed that - it really is a delightful quirk for a Ph.D. in English to have his books arranged by colour ... !

[@92ninersboy]

"Jane Eyre" is a great, great novel and this is probably the best, quick review I've seen of it (without spoilers). It's difficult to fathom anyone who is a serious reader dismissing descriptions as being boring. Not only are well written descriptions of aesthetic value (something modern readers sometimes seem to be blind to - because of ADD?) but they often reflect mental states and the inner dynamics of a scene. Great 19th century novelists, like Bronte, Flaubert or Tolstoy were masters of the musicality of language, how it communicates to us emotionally. Can one imagine removing all the beautiful descriptions from "Madame Bovary"? The relationship between Jane and Rochester is quite complex, even archetypal (see Carl Jung's analysis of it). So glad you got around to reading this classic and then were able to pass your impressions along in such an articulate and entertaining way.

[@nahyanameen1992]

This is the book that made me love reading! I read it when I was young, I was a naughty child many times locked in dark rooms for my blasphemy~ luckily I read it when I was young so I had no idea how it permeated the world culture

[@Signsoflife-rc4uq]

Wow dude I'm a huge fan of your channel and I just started Jane Eyre a week ago!

[@SS-ph1ll]

I haven't read Jane Eyre yet and very excited to get to it. But I completely relate to the fact that some of the greatest books when you read them, it feels like your already know the story, since they have been so highly influential in movies and books in their coming times.

[@milfredcummings717]

Wow! One of the first books I've read! Classic! I don't remember S***, I'll have to read it again. Congratulations on your PhD!

[@mahukamal4617]

Aw dude I loved this video. I have been watching your channel for years now and just now hearing that you got your PhD made me so happy! It almost felt like getting good news from an old friend. Congrats and I look forward to watching your content for years to come :)

[@TheBookchemist]

Thank you :D!!

[@mahukamal4617]

@@TheBookchemist I decided to read Jane Eyre after watching your video. Started it a week or two ago and just finished reading it today. It was truly not what I was expecting and you really did a fantastic job covering it in your video. So glad I read it. I greatly appreciate your views on lit and looking forward to more videos!

[@Maren617]

I had the great good fortune of knowing nothing about the plot in advance, so everything was a real shock and I read the whole thing with bated breath. I wish people didn't always spoil classics, it changes the reading experience to something the author didn't intend. In terms of the relationship: I never saw it as somehow excusing abuse, but as two trauma-damaged, prickly, difficult adults slowly finding their way to each other while having to grow a lot.

[@moodyonroody5313]

Just finished Jane Eyre - have ordered Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea - thx for this review.

[@tonybennett4159]

Jane Eyre is one of those rare books that reads itself. By that I mean that through Bronte's language and narrative mastery, the material reality of the page and the lettering disappeared, and I was just experiencing it. In that sense it is, indeed very cinematic.

[@EliotmGunn]

excellent work!! It’s refreshing to see you’re branching out of your dissertation material/focus. Congratulations on graduating, I just finished up a masters myself. 🙏🏼 I’m looking forward to reading your dissertation when it is released to the public! Is it written in English by chance? Did you do the 2 year campus restriction?

[@TheBookchemist]

It is indeed written in English and will eventually become available via the University of Reading's library - as for restrictions on that, the truth is I have no idea :P

[@alext7621]

Now that you've read Jane Eyre, you pretty much have to read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. Rhys does something that I think is incredibly admirable: she gives a voice and a life to a character who, in Jane Eyre, is presented as barely more than a beast. Personally, I think Wide Sargasso Sea should be required reading.

[@TheBookchemist]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zme3oKiMr9SAd5I :D

[@ankitabasu9533]

Hey, very interesting review bookchemist I enjoyed it thoroughly. I would love to see a video, sort of a discussion on the Bronte sisters all three them. I have a special place for Anne Bronte, I think she is grossly underrated. Have you read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall ??? If not you can give it a shot. Then may be you can sort of post a video discussing their (i mean the Bronte sisters) writing style, their women characters, their themes you get the deal. I would love something like that

[@TheBookchemist]

It sounds like a very fun idea :) I never read any Anne Bronte - in fact, I only read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, and I read WH so long ago it's high time for a reread ;)!

[@machtrebel]

“Are you sure this is the woman you saw in the post office?” - Joe Friday “Absolutely. Who could forget such a monstrous visage? She has the sloping brow and cranial bumpage of the career criminal.” - C.M. Burns “Uh, sir, phrenology was dismissed as quackery a hundred-sixty years ago.” - Mr. Smithers “Of course you’d say that, you have the brainpan of stage coach tilter.” - C.M. Burns

[@suchitrasukumar]

Absolutely love your videos!

[@AuburnAfterglow]

Wonderful review + additional video :) Charlotte is one of my favourite writers, I just really get on with her writing style and imagination. I remember actually being able to relate to Jane Eyre in some ways, which definitely also made me feel more connected to the book. Having said all this, to me Villette is definitely my favourite book of Charlotte's (one of my top books EVER!) and I do wish it wasn't overshadowed by Jane Eyre... :) I'm really curious what you'll say about Wide Sargasso Sea because personally I found it very underwhelming (finally read it last year), but I feel alone in this haha.

[@TheBookchemist]

I definitely liked Wide Sargasso Sea, but let's put it this way: it's no Jane Eyre.

[@sonitagovan]

Congratulations on achieving your doctorate🎊... Jane Eyre has from high school been my least favourite classic so I have never reread it as an adult. I hated Mr Rochester and always felt that Jane as a heroine deserved a better man. I am going to try and read it again....perhaps my view of it will have changed.

[@sundus928]

What I like about Jane is that she didn't let other people make her doubtful of her faith. Even after such horrible treatment by the so-called relegious people, she still held on to her faith. And because of her faith, she left Rochester AND St.John. Rochester wanted her to be his mistress and St. John wanted her to be a "Slave of God" (basically his slave because of his twisted perception of Religion)

[@nozecone]

Why no diaeresis over the "e"? (Yes, as a matter of fact I did just learn that term, and, yes, you are correct, I was just looking for a excuse to use it ... !).

[@eldrisb421]

Hey Dr.Bookchemist, I have been following you for some time and have I was always curious about your thesis paper. Is there any way to read it? I've always been interested in escapism and I would like to see what you wrote about that topic.

[@TheBookchemist]

It's deposited in the library of the University of Reading and I think it should become accessible from there in due course. An excerpt from it was published in article form in Modern Fiction Studies, here: muse.jhu.edu/article/734318 Thank you for your interest, I really appreciate it :)

[@chhinamagotra8980]

Hey, Jane Eyre is my all time favourite. I think you would enjoy Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys as well which is a response to Jane Eyre. It explores the character of Bertha Mason from an anti colonial perspective!

[@TheBookchemist]

I read it immediately after JE ;) it was great!

[@pennyloafer3358]

I'd love you to compare Villette v. Effi Briest.

[@themetalhead92g]

Vell, doctor that was indeed entertaining!

[@vanishing_girl]

I loved it and I think it's a masterful novel, genius work of art, etc. However, Villette is better in just about every way.

[@milfredcummings717]

Shirley?

[@Signsoflife-rc4uq]

@The_Bookchemist: I find it difficult to read lately without constantly being tempted to check my email. Do you have any advice about how to concentrate in the face of so many distractions like our phones and the internet?

[@ashurbanipalcousin]

Set a timer for like an hour where you can’t look at anything except your book.

[@JohnSpawn1]

@@ashurbanipalcousin What if your phone is your dictionary and search engine?

[@TheBookchemist]

It sounds drastic but removing the temptation is the only thing that really works, I think. (Whether you do that by turning off the wi-fi on your phone, or keeping it in a different room/switched off, is up to you). Good luck with your readings!

[@jasondavidvalenciamarin4415]

Congrats on your Phd!!!

[@jakobjohnson984]

Congrats on your PhD!!!!!

[@Sandy-i9p4f]

You need to read Villette, if you haven't already. It is Charlotte Brontë's magnum opus in my opinion and an even greater novel than Jane Eyre.

[@willlexie]

I clicked LIKE as soon as I heard you use the correct pronunciation of Brontë like bron-tee, not bron-té.

[@ravenswood118]

Everyone thinks Mr. Rochester is abusive except for me, to me he just seems rough around the edges, but I am willing to concede that perhaps it is just my skewed perception due to the crazy a-hole men I grew up with!

[@daniellecruz2917]

Wuthering heights next

[@nithssh]

You always tell about discussing the book in the comments, but a lot of the viewers won't have read the book already and so only a small fragment of the viewers are able to comment on the book. Could you post on your goodreads / twitter about what is going to be the next review so that we too can read it or is that too much like a book club / impossible logistically due to you reading multiple book simultaneously or reviewing them at arbitrary order.

[@TheBookchemist]

The main problem there is that I sometimes only really decide to read a book a short time in advance, and that I often read them but don't review them - so that I'd feel like I'm creating hype (!!) for something that might not appear at all! People who are subscribed to my Patreon page do get to know what reviews I'll be posting in advance though ;)

[@katarinabee1018]

Приятный обзор)

[@Kyle-ys3cv]

You misunderstand physiognomy. You can, of course, on average, gain a better understanding of someone by their typical expressions/the impressions of those impressions. Many facial features also correlate with testosterone/lack thereof.