Book Boyfriend #???: Mr. Rochester


Yet, another book review. Forgive me, but I've been reading quite a lot these past three weeks and I've been loving it. A few weeks back, I posted about Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" that you can head on over here. A few days after that I purchased Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" and Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre". They're all very popular in the literature world, so I thought I'd give them a go since I loved P&P so much. Sadly, Sense and Sensibility wasn't as great as P&P. I liked it but didn't love it. So instead of doing a post about that, I'll do Jane Eyre instead.

This was my first time reading Charlotte Brontë's book and all I can say is that, she did not disappoint. Her writing is so heart-wrenchingly beautiful and the way she wrote about the places that Jane encountered in her life was so vivid, that I felt like I was there with her. I don't mind that at all! You know a book's good when you literally block out the world and transport yourself to the year the book was depicted in. In this case, it was the 1800's. To be able to visualize yourself three centuries ago is SO COOL. I could actually see what the skies were like and the scents that surrounded Jane too. Okay that sounds quite creepy, but hey, it's a part of my imagination! Don't judge me for that, please. :P

The story is from Jane's POV. The book starts to when she was 9 years old up until she's in her late twenties or so. Basically, the book is of her autobiography. Brontë originally gave the title of this book as "Jane Eyre: An Autobiography" but changed it instead to just Jane Eyre. Obviously, Jane here is the main character, and what I can say about her? She's very headstrong and I just loved that about her. As you may all know, back in the days, women wasn't taken too seriously for their thoughts, so to be able to see Jane make her own decisions and be independent without a male companion by her side is really inspiring. Feminism is a major theme in this book, and Brontë depicted it in the book so well. I loved that Jane was able to decide what she wanted to do with her life and get stronger out of the obstacles that she went through. Very inspiring, especially for a 17-year old like myself.

Now onto, the ever so famous, Mr. Rochester. In the book he was described as someone that didn't look physically look handsome. Although I haven't watched the 2011 movie starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender, how could you call him unhandsome when Fassbender is Mr. Rochester?! What I'm saying is, it was impossible for me to imagine Mr. Rochester as someone who looked unhandsome, because whilst I was reading I was picturing Fassbender as him.

Anyways, I really loved Mr. Rochester, even with his dominating attitude towards Jane. Then again, all men were like that back in the days, right? Let me just say that, Jane and Mr. Rochester's encounter was a very cute but predictable one. I don't want to give anything away, but you'll get why I love him so much if you've read the book before. Unlike Mr. Darcy, Mr. Rochester is more playful and less serious (although he does have the tendency to brood over something for hours to end) and dare I say, a little bit more romantic than Darcy. Don't worry, I still love Mr. Darcy! Always will. Mr. Rochester is a mysterious character with tons of layers to unravel, and although at one part of the book I totally loathed him, all was well when the book ended. So don't ya worry!

The other characters were all together lovely. Some I loved, some I didn't. But my favorite one out of them all is Little Adèle! To be honest, half the time she was mentioned in the book, I have no idea what she's saying cause she speaks in French. She was such a sweet, sweet little girl and I just love her to bits.

P.s, nothing better than having some snack by your side when you're having a reading sesh, am I right?! 

All in all, this was a great book and one that I could read over and over again just for the sake of seeing (well reading) Mr. Rochester again in my mind. A very empowering book specifically for women but can also work out for male species too. I was pretty intimidated by it at first because it was 400 pages long and I don't know if I had the span of attention to read it for so long. But when you enjoy, time flies like the wind, so I finished it in a span of a week or so.

OVERALL RATING: ✮✮✮✮.5/5

Here are my favorite quotes from the book:


  • "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will."
  • "I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself."
  • "I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience."
  • "I had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate my soul the germs of love there detected; and now, at the first renewed view of him, they spontaneously revived, great and strong! He made me love him without looking at me."
  • "Even for me, life had its gleams of sunshine."
  • "Women are supposed to be calm generally; but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do, they suffer from too rigid a restraint, to absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex."
  • "I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had the courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek the real knowledge of life amidst its perils." 
  • "To prolong doubt was to prolong hope."
  • "Remorse is the poison of life."
  • "I will do my best: it is a pity that doing one's best does not always answer."

Much love, Ashley xx

                                              INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / BLOGLOVIN




Comments

  1. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read Jane Austen... I really need to get into reading more! Would love to give this one a go though, it sounds incredible x

    TOUCHOFGUCCI // BLOGLOVIN

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't worry, P&P was my first book of hers and I read it a couple of years late too. You should, it's heartwrenching and painful, but such a beautiful story as well. x

      Delete
  2. Love Jane Eyre but unfortunately I dont have much time to read anymore x

    http://thelondonthing.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's such a beautiful book, isn't it?! That's alright. When you have time, it makes the whole thing a whole lot more special! x

      www.ashrealasitgets.blogspot.com

      Delete
  3. wow nice post
    http://carrieslifestyle.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awesomeness. Check out our latest blog post on how to choose colors when it comes to eyewear and makeup. Thanks for sharing and have an amazing day.

    Eye See Euphoria | http://blog.eyeseeeuphoria.com/2016/04/25/makeup-for-glasses-choosing-colors/

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so glad you enjoyed Jane Eyre, it's one of my all time favourite books, and definitely my favourite classic!

    forevabelle.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is actually a book I have yet to read. Thanks for the lovely post
    Happy Monday!
    Stefanie | Casualllyawkward | Bloglovin'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely put it in your to-read list! Happy Monday to you too. :) x

      Delete
  7. I should definitely read more books ^^ But it's difficult to read more than I have to for university -.-

    Really love your Blog, I'm happy that I've discovered it.

    xoxo

    flowery


    P.S. I follow you now. Would be great if you could also visit me :)

    http://www.beautynature.ch

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha, it's okay if you can't though! I'm not pushing you too. :) aw, thanks so much! Glad that you love my blog, means the world to me. x

      Delete
  8. P&P is my fav book! Great post.

    How to combine a trench for Spring
    lb-lc fashion blog
    Bloglovin

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've been making a list of books to read when summer arrives, and I'm definitely adding this. Also Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorites too! This was a really fun-to-read book review by the way!

    (Just started by own blog) http://juliainbluhm.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay, so happy that you found another book to add to the list! P&P has got to be in everyone's favorite list ;) thank you, Julia! x

      Delete
  10. So lovely :)

    http://sbr-fashion-fashion.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. wow!!
    https://silviaarossa.com/2016/04/24/serenity-spring-outfit-inspiration-2/

    ReplyDelete
  12. great review, thanks for sharing! still need to read Jane Eyre, love the quotes you shared here


    xx Melis
    http://fashionmews.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you xx definitely give it a read, a very empowering read.

      Delete
  13. your faltlay is so pretty!

    http://www.thequinoxfashion.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such a good post girl!

    www.julialundin.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Such a good review!! I absolutely love Jane Eyre; it is my favourite book. I'm also slightly addicted to the BBC adaptation of it. I have watched it a million times haha.

    http://fleurdelailis.blogspot.co.uk

    Laila xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks again, Laila! Very lovely of you to say! Ahhh, I should go on and watch it ASAP. I'll do it when I have time. ;)

      Delete
  16. Nice post! Great review!
    Xoxo,
    Love from www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ahh this really brings me back to some memories!! Haven't read Jane Eyre in way too long. It's actually sitting on my bookshelf and something that I should pick up again (if I had more time, wish I had more time!). I love your layout shots also!

    Stephanie ● Sartorial Diner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha, many people read this for their lit classes, but sadly my school didn't read these type of books in class. Give it a read if you have the time! :) aw thanks, Stephanie. xx

      Delete
  18. I'm going on a holiday soon and this is just the sort of thing that I'll need on the plane to keep me entertained :)

    www.thesundaymode.blogspot.com.au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :) might have to give this a read again, I love it so much!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts