Jane Eyre - Book Review

I finally did it! I finally read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I've had it on my shelf for a long time, and I started it a few years ago, and loved it from the very first page. The length, I think, is what kept me from reading it all the way through. I wanted to savor the experience, and I didn't want to feel rushed when I read it, so I waited until this year to do so. This year, my reading goal is much less intense, and I was able to really enjoy reading this as slowly as I wanted.

Jane Eyre is the story of an orphan girl who is put up in her aunt's house, where she's happy to read books or stare out of windows daydreaming. I really identified with her sensitive, introverted nature, and I could see a lot of myself in Jane. She is tormented by her cousins and disliked by her aunt, but her luck changes when she finally moves out and goes to a religious boarding school.

This story has so much packed into it: Friendship, loss, identity, independence, love, grief, and sacrifice. The pacing is well-done, and there is always something interesting going on in Jane's life. The language is beautiful, although sometimes frustrating. Jane often goes on about descriptions of parties, people, and settings, and they are all lovely, except when there are bigger things going on and she won't address them.

Honestly, though, that just built up the suspension for when twists were revealed, and it kept the plot interesting. I really enjoyed everything about this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves classic literature. At school, Jane Eyre was never on our reading lists, but I'm glad that I read it as an adult. I think anyone identifying as an introvert or HSP will really be able to relate to Jane and her life.