Jane Eyre — a bookish review

Jane Eyre — a bookish review  

| a SUPER LONG bookish review |

Hello, Sweet Friend! 

In today’s post I’m sharing my book review on Jane Eyre! I really had a hate-love journey with this book—it was crazy. I had a lot of mixed emotions and feels but I ended up really loving this book and I think it's going to be a favorite! 

I do warn you beforehand that this is a VERY LONG review with MULTIPLE sections including some spoilers especially near the end of the review (or middle-ish). I do put up spoiler warnings so hopefully you won’t get spoiled but I can’t promise you anything. If you know me, then you know I like to be thorough and that it can be hard for me to not spoil things about books! XD So…you’ve been warned. 

THE BOOK REVIEW 

“I felt the might and strength of God.” 

— Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre 

Rating: ★★★★★

Cleanness: ★★★* 

I don’t know how to review this book. I don’t have words. This book is a monster, is so beautiful, and is just incredible. I felt all the emotions while reading this book. Charlotte Brontë is a masterful writer. This is also some of the best character descriptions and showing of emotions that I have ever read. Everything Jane felt I felt and she feels so real. Her struggles were so real and raw and I felt so connected to her the entire time. 

I want to write a good book review but I’m struggling in figuring out how I should review this. I feel like I could go in depth on every character and my thoughts and feelings towards them but that would make this review ever so long (its already going to be long XD). Alrighty then, let's attempt to write a review. 

Story Time: 

Since I know this is going to be a log review, why not make it longer? I’m probably only going to review this once so, let’s make this fun! 

So, the first time I heard about Jane Eyre was from my great aunts. One of them gave it to me as a present when I was about eight or nine years old. To an eight or nine year old, Jane Eyre was a HUGE book that sounded boring and had no pictures or illustrations or anything to make it look appealing. At that age I loved reading Nancy Drew, Magic Tree House, Percy Jackson, and fairytales. Jane Eyre was too big of a book for me. Not to mention the story premise! My great aunts told me how it was the life story of this girl named Jane and all the horrible things she went through but how she overcame it and then the romance was amazing. Again, none of this appealed to little me. 

Years passed and I forgot all about Jane Eyre. 

Then came 2022. I was looking through books at a little homeschool supply store and my eye caught on that of Jane Eyre. I remembered how years before I was given it as a gift and I wondered about what the story was. So I bought the book and had it sitting on my bookshelf for a few months. Come January, Jane Eyre was the book I picked up. Then in March I finished (I wasn't all that good at staying consistent in reading this book but I’m happy to be done and a bit sad too because it was really good). 

So that is the story behind my reading Jane Eyre! Now on to the actual review because I got quite a bit distracted. 

Writing:

I have to talk about the writing because the writing was so beautiful. Oftentimes when I read classics it takes me a while to get into the flow of reading and it can be a while before I feel transported. This was not the case with Jane Eyre. The way it is written is so aesthetic and descript without overdoing descriptions which is quite an accomplishment. Everything was so lovely and moody but was perfectly Jane. 

Which brings me to my next point which is the character voice. It was so clear that this was Jane’s story. Everything about it brought you into Jane’s head and what she thought and felt. What she felt, so did I. It didn’t feel like an author was writing this story, it felt like Jane was showing us her story. 

I also loved how the scenery was brought into this story. Jane is an artist so she sees scenery and describes it all in full but it feels right because that is who she is. I love how there were moments where she was so happy even during a massive thunderstorm or it was a sunny beautiful day and she was miserable. Sometimes in writing I see authors use scenery to show characters emotions, this isn't bad but I loved seeing scenery not used, maybe not in the traditional way (I don’t know if that made sense but that was something I really liked.  

Now, onto the characters!!! 

Jane Eyre: 

I love Jane so much! She is such an amazing protagonist. I love seeing her grow up and just seeing who she is as a character and the maturity she goes through. She feels things so deeply and she has had such an awful childhood but there is still a goodness and an innocence about her. She doesn’t know much of the world at the beginning of the story. She has been so mistreated and neglected but even through that she holds on to her stubbornness and her strengths and goodness. 

There were so many moments my heart broke for Jane. The way she walked through depression and sorrow but still remained herself and pushed on and never gave up was so inspiring. I cried at least twice in the book. I really felt for Jane and I was rooting for her the whole way. 

I cannot tell you how many times I just wanted to hug her, or yell at her to run from Mr. Rochester, or cry with her, and everything. 

She makes mistakes, she gets into bad relationships, she gets taken advantage of because of her goodness but she gets back up. She is very quick to love and forgive. She has a big heart. I could go on and on and I will continue talking about her but in order to do that we need to talk about two characters. 

Helen Burns:

Sweet sweet child. I adore Helen Burns. She showed Jane such kindness and I feel like was such an inspiration and building block for Jane’s own faith in God. Helen had such strong faith and belief in God. The way she talked about God would bring me to tears. So much of what she said in the book I underlined and highlighted because it is so beautiful and encouraging. I felt like my own faith was strengthening reading about Helen. She was such a light and a friend to Jane when she had no one. I just love her to pieces and she is one of my favorite characters. 

Mr. Rochester: part I (Yes, Mr. Rochester gets multiple parts in this review XD)

We can’t talk about this book without talking about Mr. Rochester. Literally when I said that I was starting this book multiple people on Goodreads and Instagram said how much they loved Mr. Rochester. And…I admit, dear reader, that I hated him. *hides from readers* Now, before you completely freak out (because I know he is a favorite)  I said hated as in past tense. I don’t currently hate him and I’m going to explain my intrigued-to-like-to-hate-to-hate-to-love story I personally had with him. (That sounds really funny). 

So everyone told me how much they liked him so I was expecting big things (basically I was thinking this was going to be a Mr. Darcy). I also had accidentally found out Mr. Rochester’s awful secret before reading this book because I was looking at different articles in Sparknotes so that wasn’t a surprise for me and actually not really why I don't like him (though that was a factor). 

So we meet him and he is interesting but…before she even starts liking him I had a huge problem with him. What is it you may ask? If you read my Nutcracker review from earlier this year then you might be able to guess. Ready for the answer? THE AGE GAP!!! The age gap instantly made me not like or want Jane and him to be together. Jane is eighteen when they meet and Mr. Rochester is in his forties. There is about a twenty year difference between them and I just couldn’t. Not to mention, it was brought up MULTIPLE TIMES that he is old enough to be Jane’s father by Jane and other characters. So I had a big problem with that. 

But he did show himself to have character, be Jane’s equal, be kind and good. I love the nicknames he has for her (except for Janet. I just—that one annoyed me but that's fine XD) and they have such cute banter! Oh my stars! I love their banter! 

Then…Miss Ingram happened. *makes weird face* (This will begin having all the spoilers from here on out so continue at your own risk (but I will try not to be too spoiler-ie but there are spoilers)). That whole situation *shakes head* was just awful. It made me despise Mr. Rochester, honestly. Like…those were such red flags. To emotionally manipulate someone (Jane) like that and lie was so wrong. It's just wrong. If you want to know someone’s feelings towards you, ask them! Don’t manipulate them to try and get an answer out of them. 

I will say the first proposal was sweet. I loved that Jane held her ground and knew her worth. I think that whole moment is very famous and quotable.  

Then Mr. Rochester’s big awful secret came out and I was yelling for Jane to run. I just wanted her to run for him because I had no care at all for him after Miss Ingram. 

But now comes my real reason for not liking Mr. Rochester and how it was resolved. Y’all, this is just me ranting about Mr. Rochester at this point. This is actually kinda funny but it makes sense because it was a journey for me. 

Faith: 

So, I was thinking this through and trying to figure out when he changed in my mind and why I didn’t like him for so long when others liked him. Then I figured it out.

Faith is so important to me. God is so important to me. 

Jane had a strong faith in God before Mr. Rochester. But as soon as he came into her life that changed. All mentions of God disappeared and all Jane could ever think of was Rochester. To me, that felt really unhealthy. Rochester became this obsession to Jane and vice versa. It was all passion and feelings and that caused so many red flags for me. Through this time of reading, it felt like Jane became my friend. I felt the same reaction I would have if any of my friends wanted to be with a non-believer and they were talking them away from God. I do admit that I rejoiced when Jane ran away. I rejoiced because she was free and because the first person she turned to for help was God. She started praying earnestly and daily, God was with her and looked after her—sending her to Moor house and to the Rivers (all who I love). I could go on in how much I like (and still like—I didn’t know that could be a controversial book topic but I think it is) St John but I want to focus on the main plot. I will say that I loved that St. John wanted to be a missionary and I do agree that he is not at all right for Jane—but I still think there is good in him and that he has a calling on his life though it wasn’t for him to give that calling to another. 

When Jane got away from Rochester she turned to God and I felt like the entire book became more peaceful and breathable and joyful which made me fly through the pages till the end. 

‘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 omnipresence, His omnipresence…I felt the might and strength of God…I turned my prayer to thanksgiving: the Source of Life was also the Saviour of spirits. Mr. Rochester was safe: he was God’s, and by God would he be guarded.’

So you see, dear reader, I rejoiced! 

Mr. Rochester: part II (all spoilers so be warned) 

So up to this point, I still despised Rochester. But then…after a series of events (failed proposals and a sort of vision from God) Jane goes back to Thornfield Hall. There she finds the house burned down and utterly devoid of life. Jane makes inquiries and finds that her beloved Rochester (or Edward as he is now called) has suffered grave injuries including an amputated hand, a missing eye, and the last one blind. She goes in an instant to find him. 

At a new secluded home she finds Rochester and they have a really sweet meeting, including cute banter. 

I did feel pity for him but you see it wasn’t until the end of the last chapter (before the conclusion) that I liked him and even found I loved his character. Why, you may wonder? It’s because of faith. 

In the last three pages of the last chapter (before the conclusion) we find out that in the time Jane was away, Rochester worked on his heart issues with God. He became a believer. Not only that but a strong and greatful believer even in his misfortune. In these last pages he thanked and praised God! He gave God all the glory and praise and it melted my heart. His strong faith and complete change of heart is what made me love his character and see why Jane and he were good for each other. They both changed and matured through this book and became closer to God and learned to love each other and not just be passionate about each other. Rochester learned to be passionate about God. 

Crying: 

The two parts that made me cry were about strong faith. Seeing Helen’s strong faith in God till the very end broke my heart and strengthened my faith. Then on the last page seeing Rochester fully praise and embrace God was just too wonderful not to get emotional over. 

‘Now, I thank God! I know it to be otherwise. Yes, I thank God!’ 

He put me off his knee, rose, and reverently lifting his hat from his brow, and bending his sightless eyes to the earth, he stood in mute devotion. Only the last words of worship were audible—

‘I thank my Maker, that in the midst of judgment, He has remembered mercy. I humbly entreat my Redeemer to give me strength to lead and henceforth a purer life than I have done hitherto!’ 

This is why I now love Mr. Rochester and can see why so many people like him. I only saw who he was before God and watched him slowly bring Jane away. But in the end it was Jane’s leaving and the accident that brought him to a place where he needed God. God provided for both of them and brought them to each other in the right timing. I think it is so beautiful and this is now one of my favorite favorite books! 

Some Favorite Quotes (yes, there are a LOT of quotes but this is a long and good book so it makes sense. This probably isn't even all of them, but they are a few YOU DON’T HAVE TO READ THIS PART. It’s more for me, anyways.) :

‘I believe God is good…God is my father; God is my friend; I love Him; I believe He loves me.’ 

‘Then my sole relief was to walk along the corridor of the third story, backwards and forwards, safe in the silence of the spot, and allow my mind’s eye to dwell on whatever bright visions rose before it—and, certainly, they were many and glowing; to let my ears be heaved by the expanded movement, which, while it swelled it in trouble, expanded it with life; and best of all, to open my inward ear to a tale that was never ended—a tale my imagination created, and narrated continuously; quickened with all of incident, life, fire, feeling, that I desired and had not in my actual existence.’ [What it means to me being a writer] 

‘I have told you, reader, that I had leant to love Mr Rochester; I could not unlove him now.” 

‘Strong wind, earthquake-shock, and fire may pass by: but I shall follow the guiding of that still small voice.’ 

‘…fairy as you are.” 

‘I have as much soul as you—and full of as much heart!’ 

‘I am no bird: and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you.’ 

‘Reader, I forgave him at the moment and on the spot.’ 

‘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 words wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence.’

‘I felt the might and strength of God.’ [my favorite quote] 

‘God directed me to a correct choice; I thank His providence for the guidance!’ 

‘All I see has made me thankful.’

‘I know from experience. God has given us, in a measure, the power to make our own fate.’

‘I considered; my life was so wretched, it must be changed, or I must die.’ [I felt this one.] 

‘A missionary I resolve to be.’

‘Reserved people often really need frank discussion of their sentiments and griefs more than the expansive.’ 

‘I soon forgot storm in music.’

‘I had nobody; and now three relations—or two, if you don’t choose to be counted—are born into my world full-grown. I say again, I am glad!’ 

‘…my way is now clear; I thank God for it!’ 

‘I mounted to my chamber; locked myself in; fell on my knees; and p[rayed in my way—a different way to St John’s, but effective in its own fashion. I seemed to penetrate very near a Mighty Spirit; and my soul rushed out in gratitude at his feet. I rose from the thanksgiving—took a resolve—and lay down, unscared, enlightened—eager but for the daylight.’ 

‘It was all his own courage, and a body may say, his kindness, in a way, ma’am: he wouldn’t leave the house till everyone else was out before him.’ 

‘My living darling!’

‘And you will stay with me?’

‘For I see you are being metamorphosed into a lion, or something of that sort.’

‘Fo with him I was at perfect ease, because I knew I suited him.’ 

‘Am I hideous, Jane?’

‘Very, sir; you always were, you know.’ 

‘You mocking changeling—fairy-born and human-bred!’ [this one made me laugh XD] 

‘My skylark!’

‘All the sunshine I can feel is in her presence.’

‘Do you know, Jane, I have your little pearl necklace at this moment fastened round my bronze scrag under my cravat? I have worn it since the day I lost my only treasure, as a memento of her.’ 

‘My heart swells with gratitude to the beneficent God of this earth.’

‘I began to see and acknowledge the hand of God in my doom. I began to experience remorse, repentance, the wish for reconcilement to my Maker. I began sometimes to pray: very belief prayers they were, but very sincere.’ 

‘I kept these things then, and pondered them in my heart.’ 

*Cleanness: this is a pretty clean book but I will have a clean guide with sections that go into detail. 

—Violence: There is some violence including said injuries I talked about above in the review but in more description. There is an attack and multiple attempted murders and burnings. There is also a descriptive suicide near the end of the book. 

—Some frightening/intense scenes including the burning of Thornfield Hall with injuries and the suicide all in that part. Jane has nightmares including an encounter with a ghost like women—the secret. Jane was mistreated multiple times including being locked in a room that was very frightening to her and being publicly humiliated by a school master. There are also really sad tragic deaths spread throughout the book. 

—Romance: Talk of how a character could be the father of a child born out of wedlock and talk of their time together (though nothing very descript). Talk of a man’s mistresses and the time he had with them. Mr. Rochester and Jane have passionate kisses and feelings towards each other that become very present in their thoughts. Talk of a possible relationship and marriage between cousins (okay in that time but still weird). 

—Other: There is also a fair amount of lying, manipulation, and *possible* emotional abuse and manipulation. Alcohol consumption and smoking. 

—Language: There is no actual really “bad” language in this book but there are some insults, mean nicknames, and outbursts of passion that could be considered cursing but not anything bad in today’s standards (or mine that I’d be wary of). 

…

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BEHOLD PEACE Update: 

The first Bible study in BEHOLD PEACE  is on Esther! A Study Update, is an update on our Esther Study (Chosen, Favored, & Planned by God), and is now published and ready to read!  

I’m so excited to be starting this Bible study with you! I hope you check it out! Make sure to come back to BEHOLD PEACE this Monday because we will be reading and discussing Esther chapter 8!!! 

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• 1 year blogiversary!   

• Annie May On The Train (a short story)

• Broken Ballerina: Celebrating Writing My 4th Novel     

• January 2023 Book Reviews  

• My Favorite Books 2022  

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Discussion Time

Thank you so much for reading this very very long book review! Thank you so much for reading this! I hope you were able to possibly find a new book to read. 

I want to hear from you! Meet me in the comments and tell me what you thought of today’s post? Have you read Jane Eyre? Do you want to? If you did read Jane Eyre, what are your views on Mr. Rochester? Anything good you’ve read lately? Is there a topic you want me to cover? I would love to chat and pray for you! 

If you have any questions or want to talk (or have a prayer request), make sure to comment down below! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to stay in the know because I post new content here every week. ALSO, If you want to hear more about my writing and what I’m reading, make sure you are subscribed because I am doing special updates for BLOG SUBSCRIBERS ONLY! 

XOXO Moriyah 🤎