BABBLING BOOKS

Tigerlily

Discuss your thoughts on the book here as soon as you have finished reading it. Did you (not) enjoy it? Anything that struck you or maybe someone else can answer if you have a question? We're not really looking for in depth discussions...just tell us what you think of it!

For those who have finished it, please choose a star rating for the book based on how much you liked it. What did you think of it? Do you have any questions based on the book?

If you do have something to post that reveals plot details which could ruin others' enjoyment of the book, please use the spoiler function (details: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about12.html)

_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

nicnic · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

In the interests of reducing Mt TBR sometime before it falls on me I decided not to re-read Jane Eyre. I did love it tho - there's something very touching about all the Bronte sisters' writing. I loved Wuthering Heights as well.
_________________
Currently reading: Man in the Dark by Paul Auster

lovely treez · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:22 pm Post subject:

It's my all time favourite book and I re-read it last year for the umpteenth time before I read The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde. I hope anyone who's reading it for the first time enjoys it as much as I did.
_________________
Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise

mummymelly · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject:

Both books I voted for ended up winning this month, so that's quite exciting! I will endeavour (sp?) to read both but as I had this read to me as a child, I will give A Gathering Light a go first and then if I have time I will try to read this by the end of the month, if not will definately read it next month.
_________________
Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner

annecater · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

I would love to read this again, I bought a lovely copy of it last year. But, like Nic, I really want to dent the TBR first and have so many queuing to be read next! I may take it on holiday in May and read it in the sun!
_________________
Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

Tigerlily · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:26 am Post subject:

I'm really enjoying Jane Eyre. I'm sure I read it years ago, but don't remember it. I feel so sorry for the girls in Lowood. It's written very touchingly. There's a line at the end of chapter 7 that is particularly poignant. Genius. There is something special about the Brontes, I agree. Would love to have read Jane Eyre during its time, when it rocked the literary world

PS I'm so envious of you having a holiday to look forward to, Anne. We haven't been away since 2006

We had two weekends away in 2007, and boy do we need to get away. My trouble is I live with a workaholic!

_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Tigerlily · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:32 am Post subject:

How true is this:

'I venture to predict that Jane Eyre will be read among English novels when many whose names are now better known shall have been forgotten'

Anthony Trollope

I'd love to know which names he alluded to, to see if they have been forgotten

_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Amie · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject:

I love Jane Eyre, it's one of my favourite ever books. The descriptions of Lowood are incredible, and I love all the scenery and things in the third part of it.
_________________
Kill the tbr - currently 124
Currently reading:
War and Peace - Leo Tolsty
Wild Swans by Jung Chan
The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing

jobar · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject:

Jane Eyre is one of my favourite books of all time and I have re read it several times...it's such an inspirational read, that a woman of that time should have so much courage and fortitude.....
I guess Mr Rochester is up there with Mr Darcy as one of my all time great romantic leads.....

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject:

Blummin eck I'm at the bit where Rochester has guests over, and Jane's musings are so intense, it's amazing. I can feel the electricity coming off the page, it's so smouldering

When afterwards she's near Mr R, the tension's incredible.

I just wish I didn't know the plot. I'm sure it'd have even more of an impact on me.

It's also interesting how people judged others based on phrenology - fascinating.

I recorded the recent BBC adaptation over Christmas so will be watching it again after reading the book. I might read Wild Sargasso Sea afterwards too.
_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

blueflower · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject:

Mazzystar · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

Both this month's suggestions are on my TBR list. I am desperate to lose weight, save money and not go out as much this month. Constant reading is going to help me achieve these goals! So am looking forward to reading both choices, watch this space.
_________________
My Swap List
Currently reading: Other people's children - Joanna Trollope
Challenge books read: 5

Tigerlily · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:21 am Post subject:

I've got notes at the back of my book, Blueflower, and they're quite detailed - I found the phrenology ref there; I certainly didn't pick it up just by reading the book

It's why I'm taking so long to read the book. I've got two bookmarks on the go as well!
_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

blueflower · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject:

Two book marks - you must need your bumps reading!

My copy has pictures to help me.

It's a Readers Digest book, not condensed, but they bought out a series of quite nicely bound classics complete with illustrations years ago and I got some of them. They also included a pamphlet with details about the author etc.

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:36 am Post subject:

blueflower · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject:

Dilemma - do I look at the spoiler to find out where you are or not?

I'm up to the point where Jane has just been introduced to her new pupil and is conversing in French with her over breakfast. I think you are way beyond that.

Tigerlily · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject:

I am.

_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

blueflower · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

eightlegs · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

I knew what you meant Blueflower!

And I couldn't say whether Jane would have known much about it but I assumed it was a big issue of the day to Charlotte at one point, our equivalent of the latest medical theory, and that is why she chose to include it.

Tigerlily · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

I knew what you meant when you said I should feel my bumps

Yeah I thought it funny to think of people assuming things about one another based on the shape of their heads etc. I suppose Jane & Rochester reading facial expressions is similar to how we read one another's body language today. Maybe the pseudo-sciences were so popular and widely accepted that Charlotte didn't think twice about whether Jane would have known about it. I don't see why she wouldn't have - she might have picked it up from the Reeds, the books she read, or her elders at Lowood, but I do see your point. I wonder if it was similar to how we talk about astology? But I imagine more people believed in Physiognomy then, than we do in astology today. This novel tells us a lot about Charlotte Bronte, doesn't it? I can't help but think of her and Jane as the same person. Doesn't it mention at the beginning that Jane Eyre is an autobiography? I'm sure it does in my copy.

Interesting. I didn't know about how popular these 'sciences'were in their day before reading Jane Eyre.

_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Welcome to Babbling Books, Guest. We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay and Wish You a Merry Christmas!