For all of you who cannot stand Jane Eyre, I have a rather unpleasant announcement to make, because during my blogging break I fell in love with the book. Which means, my posts will be heavily Jane Eyre related in the upcoming days. You see, I know some people dislike multiple posts on one book, but I cannot help myself. There is so much I’d love to touch upon and to fit it all together into one post is quite impossible.
Two weeks ago, I watched the 2006 adaptation of Jane Eyre [it is the only adaptation I can stand, that I love, really. And believe me, in my madness I have tried most of the others. The 1996 one is the worst, maybe? It has an overly nervous Jane Eyre and a Mr Rochester that is clearly mis-cast: he is nice, too fucking nice. The 2006 version isn't perfect and I know there are some out there who hate it. But it works very well, for me]. I then watched it again. (I told you I was obsessive). I then picked up the book to reread it. I know this might be completely wrong in the eyes of some, re-watching an adaptation before rereading the book, but let us not get into that right now. I picked up the book to reread it, and I was not sure what to expect. I always declare that I loved Jane Eyre when I read it years ago, I must have been 17 or so. Would I still love it now? Would I find Mr. Rochester a creep and think the relationship a horror instead of a great love story? A while ago, I came across a post by Carolyn from A Few of My Favourite Books [who is by the way, one of my new favourite bloggers. So much so that I felt hesitant to share the link with you. Why? Maybe because I want to keep her from realising that there are so many more intelligent bloggers than me out there?] in which she said that she could not like Rochester as she once did. It made me pause. I had long had the plan to reread Jane Eyre, what if I felt like her? While reading, I felt some of her doubts, but it did not stop me from loving the book. I will get into that in another post.
Anyway, I loved the book. Absolutely loved it. It is so intense? I finished it within 28 hours. And then I felt a little hopeless. What to do? Where to turn next? I became obsessed. I am like that, sometimes, with some stories/movies/books. The last time I felt this strongly about anything was 8 years ago [when I stopped to think about it, I could not believe it has been 8 years already], when I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice. Ask my parents, or my sister, they will still sigh over how many times I watched that 1995 adaptation of the novel, how many times I read the actual book. And so when re-watching the Jane Eyre adaptation for the third time [I know, I know] did not satisfy me enough, I went and picked up the book again. Right away. And maybe loved it even more.
So, I think we might safely conclude that I have become obsessed.
And that oh, I do not fit into the stereotype of Jane Austen fans hating anything written by a Brontë, or the other way around.
Dear obsessed Jane Austen fan.
Do not worry, it will pass. In the mean time, I would love to read another wonderful post like this, it’s brilliant!
http://leeswammes.wordpress.com Leeswammes (Judith)
I meant of course, Jane Eyre fan! Aahhh.
This post is music to my ears (or should that be eyes?), Iris. Jane Eyre is my favourite book and I LOVE Charlotte Bronte – although I conform to the stereotype I’m afraid as I don’t like Jane Austen.
Have you read Villette yet? It’s stunning!
Jane Eyre is one of my favourite classics too. There’s just something so dark and meaty about the tale and the characters, especially Jane. By the way, have you read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken? I read it as a child but it’s very dark and gothic and I am always reminded of it whenever I read Jane Eyre.
You’ve just convinced me to give Jane Eyre another try… didn’t like it much when I read it years ago, and have never seen a film adaptation. Or, maybe I should wait to read all your Jane Eyre posts before coming to that decision?
I didn’t realise there was a feud between Bronte lovers and Austen fans, but I loved Jane Eyre and hated Wuthering Heights, so perhaps there is some truth in it
Write away! I think a few posts on one book is fine.
I’m one of those who didn’t like the adaptation. I found it left too much out of her childhood, and I loved the fortune teller event in the book and that got changed. Pride And Prejudice ’95 however, I absolutely love.
I’d say it’s a worthy obsession!
I love how in your enthusiasm you are still precise enough to note that you finished in 28 hours – what a very specific number!
How come you don’t like the 2006 version? Toby Stephens is the new Colin Firth
Oh, I misread it, sorry. You don’t like the other one. That clears that up!
I am a bit weary of the Brontes after reading Wuthering Heights earlier in the year. I know I should try this one and if you say it is good then I will believe you.
Wow, you are obsessed. hehe. I’ve only read the book once and was not a fan at all. Haven’t seen any of the adaptations either. I hope you’ll still talk to me
Also love Jane Eyre and while I have missed the differences between like fans and Austen fans, I have gotten into a few heated conversations of Jane Eyre versus Wuthering Heights. The former being preferable of course.
Well I look forward to all you have to say!! I promised myself I’d read it this year and got a copy for Christmas last year… (hmm, I’m cutting it close..) Technically, I “read” this in high school but really I didn’t and I don’t remember it anyway, so I’m looking forward to reading it soon!
I’m so excited for multiple Jane Eyre posts! This book is on my list for next year and I can’t wait, especially after this post, to read it (will be technically a re-read but I just can’t remember enough about it so I must read it again).
I get obsessed with things like this too. My last big one was Frida Kahlo and I couldn’t get enough about her in every form of media and I wanted it all at once. The craziness passed, but I still get stirred up again when she is mentioned…so not gone entirely.
I didn’t know there was an Austen/Bronte stereotype! My favourite Bronte is Anne, but I do want to give Villette a go (I’m not the biggest fan of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights).
Yay Jane! I love the book and that 2006 movie is the best one. I’m reading Villette at the moment.
I’m a big Jane Eyre fan too, so I’m definitely looking forward to your Jane-heavy posts. I’ve only seen the 1984 and 2006 adaptations of the book and the 1984 version is my favourite.
Sigh. I need to read this book again soon. I can’t believe you read the whole thing in 28 hours!
Chat away about Jane Eyre!!
This is one of my favorite novels. I too fell in love with it; I bought a copy a few days ago.
So happy you loved it!!
I’m a big fan of Jane Eyre and I love Austen as well. The 2006 miniseries adaptation is certainly the best, and I’ve seen five overall adaptations (I might have a little obsession too). The usual flaw with the other adaptations is that I usually hated the performances of the actresses playing Jane. Ruth Wilson is spot-on.
I like that the adaptation takes a few liberties, extrapolating a few themes. To Charlie above, I too love the fortune-teller scene in the book (fantastic dialogue!), but I think that would be remarkably hard to carry off successfully on-screen. It risks looking silly, as most viewers would be able to guess the true identity of the gypsy from the start.
ooooh I love getting obsessed with a book it’s the best thing in the world!!!!
I always say this is my favorite book, but I definitely need to reread it.
I love JANE EYRE, so you’ll get no argument from me. I am also a Jane Austen fan who doesn’t dislike Bronte. I didn’t know I was supposed to.
Glad you liked this one! I haven’t read it in a few years but I definitely enjoyed it.
Now I’m even more excited to read Jane Eyre! I have–gasp!–never read it. I must remedy the situation! I look forward to your future JE posts.
I just posted about rereading yesterday. I’m not a rereader, but a group I’m in is reading one of my very favorite novels this month. It’s hard for me to read it again, in case the magic isn’t there anymore! It’s good to hear your rereading experience with JE was positive.
Write on! I’ll never get tired of hearing people gush over Jane Eyre. It’s quite possibly my favorite book. It’s not perfect, but I did like the 1997 film pretty well (Ciarin Hinds in an excellent Rochester). But I refused to see that 1996 one in protest of the casting of William Hurt as Rochester. I’m sorry, just… no. I haven’t yet seen the 2006 version, although I know a lot of people like it. Nothing beats the book, though. I also liked Villette but it’s been years since I read it and I don’t remember it well.
And I defy all the stereotypes because I also like Wuthering Heights–but in a completely different way from the way I like Jane Eyre, and not nearly so much. And I liked Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne. And I also love Jane Austen.
I too am a diehard Austen fan who also likes Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights (though I think Anne is my favorite of the Brontes). It’s actually been several years since I’ve read JE, though — and I’m not sure I’ve seen any of the adaptations! Wait, I might have seen the old Orson Welles one….
Anyway, I look forward to reading your upcoming posts!
Also, if you’re looking for more JE-related things to try, I am hearing good things about the YA novel Jane by April Lindner. The book’s tag line is “What if Jane Eyre fell in love with a rock star?” and it is apparently a modernization of the original novel. I own the book but haven’t read it yet — it looks intriguing, though!
I don’t fit the Jane Austen fan stereotype, either, and also loved Jane Eyre. I do think Rochester is a creep, though.
Yay! I love the Brontes and JE is one of my all time favourites. I have also read a few Bronte related books, The Taste of Sorrow by Jude Morgan, The Brontes by Juliet Barker and two biographical novels by Lynne Reid Banks, The Dark Quartet and Path to the Silent Country. You must visit Haworth if you haven’t already, it’s like stepping back in time… I think you’re well and truly hooked now, Iris!
I love this book too, it’s so dark and sinister. I can understand why many people say they couldn’t fall for Mr Rochester but I know that I would be totally drawn in by him!
First: what kind of person cannot stand Jane Eyre?!??! I absolutely love it, it’s my all-time favourite book. I just got a beautiful old orange Penguin paperback from Freecycle and literally bombarbed my perplexed friends with emails of joy and delight about my new book/baby.
Second: have you read Wide Sargasso Sea, it’s by Jean Rhys… I am not usually one for sequels or prequels or spinoffs but it’s a wonderful book. I’ve never read anything else by Charlotte Bronte, though… i’d love to, but have somehow just never gotten to it….same old story!
My first instinct was to ask, “Haters? There are Jane Eyre haters?!”. But of course, that would be silly
I don’t fit the stereotype either, as I enjoy both Austen and the Brontës. But I do love Jane Eyre more than anything I’ve read by Austen so far.
You should come visit me and we should go to the Brontë parsonage together! I was in York this past weekend and I was thinking I really must go at some point in 2011. It’s not far from me at all!
Ah! Welcome to the madness that is Jane Eyre-mania! This was the first classic I read and I’m still so in love with it. What characters! What dialogue! What atmosphere!
This is such a fun post. I love hearing people gush about their favorite novels. It makes me little heart so happy.
Like I said on my blog, I haven’t read Jane Eyre yet, and I was going to save it for near the end of my project and this makes me want to grab it and dive in. I may cave in.
And I like multiple posts about books. Its how I do my own reviewing and I love it.
Who can hate Jane Eyre? Love the book and I am an Austen fan too. Have you read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys? If not, you might like it. It tells the story of Bertha before she became the mad woman in the attic.
Just finished posting the new trailer for the brand new movie version of JANE EYRE being released soon. Comes as a total surprise to me. The trailer looks awfully good!
Oh Iris, what a sweet comment about my blog! I highly doubt I will stop liking yours (and you) though. I’m so glad you’re enjoying Jane Eyre, it’s wonderful to be so pulled into a book! I can’t say I’ve ever reread a book like that just after finishing it, but I do remember when the 2005 Pride & Prejudice movie came out, I had to see it in the theatres over 10 times…
I absolutely adore Jane Eyre and am looking forward to posts! I want to reread the book next year, and I love the 2006 adaptation the best too!
I’m a huge Jane Eyre fan and have been meaning to re-read it for awhile. I think it’s going to have to happen next year. You’ve reminded me how much I adore it.
I like the 2006 adaptation a lot too. As you say it’s not perfect, but it’s the closest I’ve seen to doing Jane Eyre right. By my standards.
I completely sympathize with the Jane Eyre hangover! I get that every time I read it. It’s so great that nothing I read right after it ever feels like it’s living up to it. What I usually do when I’m coming off reading Jane Eyre is, I read Rebecca. It’s got a lot of similarities but isn’t quite as good, so it helps ease me down.
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I read Jane Eyre at 13 and thought Rochester far too old for Jane (he was 30, or something). I read it a few years ago and LOVED it. Such a powerful book. Looking forward to reading your posts on it.
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Dear Reader, I too am going through a TOTAL Jane Eyre obsession. I read the book for the first time when I was in 5th grade, that was it, I was a goner. Over the years I’ve watched a few of the film and BBC adaptations here and there, but recently I needed classic comfort food in the evenings while we renovate our house in Brooklyn which I am managing during the day. What to do to unwind? I went through a Pride and Prejudice whirl last year, so what the heck, I ordered Jane Eyre with Orsen Wells and a way TOO mousy Joan Fontaine was it? That was in December. Then I ordered every other version Netflix offered till I hit the 2006 version. I am now STUCK, like a skipping record! What is left after Toby and Ruth’s passionate renditions? If my husband knew I was doing this instead of picking out toilet fixtures I’d be in deep trouble!!! Anyway, am enjoying every stolen moment of rewatching it on Ytube! Think I’d better order it!!!
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