Rachel: Umm, well, what struck me most when reading Jane Eyre was uh, how the book was so ahead of its time.
Teacher: If you’re talking about feminism, I think you’re right.
Rachel: Yeah, well, feminism, yes, but also the robots.
Okay. Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system. I’d promise it won’t happen again but… I can’t.
So, this month Kerry from Entomology of a Bookworm is hosting Septemb-Eyre, in which the internet will devote itself to my favorite book of all time, Jane Eyre. (Side note: Did you know that Jane Eyre was my favorite book of all time? Did I, like, ever tell you that? Or, like, did I ever make you read my Jane Eyre scarf? Because that’s some awesome stuff right there.)
In all seriousness, when Kerry proposed hosting a read-along of Jane Eyre, I had an uncomfortable realization: despite the fact that I regularly proclaim that it’s my favorite book (oh, and it is), it’s been years since I read Jane Eyre. This spring I read Villette, along with Beth from Too Fond and Amal from The Misfortune of Knowing, and had a grand time. And the whole time I was reading Villette, I kept thinking to myself, “I really need to re-read Jane Eyre. I must get around to that.” Then I realized that Penguin Drop Caps’ “B” choice was Bronte, and since I’m in love with Penguin Drop Caps, and with Charlotte Bronte, and since my only other copy of Jane Eyre is in a hefty one-volume collection of all of Charlotte’s works, with Emily’s Wuthering Heights thrown in for good measure, I obviously bought the new, flame-orange edition. Because, flames.
It’s possible that I might be getting a teensy bit off track in this post. Sorry ’bout that. Anyway, as far as introductions go:
Me: I’m Jaclyn. I live in Buffalo, New York, as of this past weekend. Most of my books are still in boxes, but I made sure to specially label the one with my new copy of Jane Eyre inside so I could get right down to the business of neglecting unpacking and reading instead. If you’re popping over here from the Septemb-Eyre linkup and don’t know me, here’s a brief synopsis: I’m 31, married, mom to a one-year-old, addicted to books in general and English literature in particular, Anglophile, travel fiend, tea-holic, hiker and Sabres hockey malcontent/fan.
The Readalong: Kerry dreamed up Septemb-Eyre to provide an excuse for readers everywhere to neglect their housework. (Right, Kerry? That’s why we’re doing this?) Okay, joking aside, this is the introductory post to a fun and frolicsome month of reading Jane Eyre and then discussing it with like-minded nerds. The schedule is as follows: on September 9th we’ll post about Chapters I-XI; on September 16th, Chapters XII-XXI; on September 23rd, Chapters XXII-XXIX; and on September 30th, Chapters XXX-End. My daughter might get in on the action too with a Peanut’s Picks post at some point during the month.
Why I’m Reading: Why not? Okay, for reals, I have loved Jane Eyre since I first read it, back in high school, and it’s been way too long since my last re-read. I was probably going to re-read this anyway, soon, and I had so much fun with the Villette readalong that I jumped at the chance to examine Jane Eyre through another virtual book club. That’s really it – no big revelations here. I love this book, and I just want to read it again.
Are you participating in Septemb-Eyre? Do you love Jane Eyre too?
covered in flour 
Ha! I know all too well the perils of books in moving boxes. Most of my books are in storage right now, including ALL THREE copies of Jane Eyre, so I got to go pick out a pretty new copy! I opted for the Penguin Deluxe Classics Edition, though I’m wondering if I should have gone for the clothbound classic…
And yes, this readalong is definitely so that we can all collectively avoid housework in favor of reading! Because we have DEADLINES, people. 🙂
I’ve never read Jane Eyre (despite owning three, no, now four copies), and actually know very little about it, so this should be innnnnnteresting.
I got the linky working on today’s post so don’t forget to link up!
The Penguin Deluxe Classics editions are gorgeous! Good choice! 🙂
Nice to know that everyone is on board with avoiding housework. The best kind of housework is avoided housework, in my humble opinion. I’ll have to do some just to get to my copy of the book, unfortunately. It’s buried somewhere and my husband thinks that things like “finding the coffeemaker” are more important than unpacking my books. PRIORITIES! Anyway, I’m heading over to the link-up now – just put the baby down for a nap, so I’m freeeeeeee!
Someone needs to get his priorities in order. While coffee is important, books are more so!
Hallo, Hallo Jaclyn!! 🙂
I’m one of the Septemb-Eyre girls making her rounds to all the lovely blogs of whom we each are showcasing our love for Eyre!! 🙂 Okay, I am back! I started to compose this, but I had received a bit of good cheer and I momentarily went away to celebrate it! 🙂 Now then, as you might have noticed I am following your blog, because as I mentioned on my blog’s Intro to Septemb-Eyre post, how could I not follow you!?
Do I love Jane Eyre!? YES, a thousand times, YES!! You’ll have to find out why/how over on my blog, but YES she exclaims ever so merrily!! 🙂 🙂 Okay, I best pop off now, I have a one more blog to visit right now, before sinking into my letter-writing! Cheerio!
Hi Jorie, thanks for stopping by! I’m loving this read-along and so glad that there are so many of us – how fun! Will definitely cruise on over to your blog to see what it is you love so much about Jane – since we have that love in common for sure. 🙂
Hi Jaclyn, so cool that Jane Eyre is your favorite book! I’m looking forward to hearing what you think of it now, after such a long interval. And I like you and Kerry’s views on housework and the priority of books over coffee 😉
Especially because I don’t drink coffee! Heh. Now books over tea… I’m not sure. I do need my tea. 🙂
I just finished the last chapter for the week and so far, I am loving JE more than ever. Bronte’s writing just pulls you right into her world. Amazing.
Unfortunately, all I really know about Jane Eyre is from Rachel. I’m looking forward to the robots. (Side note: I don’t have cable and thus had a fantastic time while in the US for two weeks this summer watching endless episodes of Friends.)
I look forward to getting to know you better, we seem to have quite a few things in common (except for hockey, I know, I’m a bad Canadian.)
I haven’t been the greatest hockey fan lately. Last year I barely watched my Sabres play at all. Now, in my defense, they were terrible, AND I was right in the midst of sleepless newborn nights. I’m looking forward to watching more this season, now that I can keep my eyes open again, and they’d better step it up. Heh.
Hockey aside, welcome! I love your blog name. Books and tea are two of my necessities for living. Now that I’ve finally got my computer hooked up, I’m going to head over and read your thoughts about Jane and others. 🙂
And I have to re-watch that episode of Friends now. 😉
It’s one of my favorite episodes! 🙂
Congratulations on your move, and thanks for the mention! The Villette read-along was a lot of fun. I love Jane Eyre. I re-read it last February around the time I read Margot Livesey’s The Flight of Gemma Hardy, which I thought was more of a rip-off of Bronte’s classic than an homage to it. I reviewed it on Feb 6th on my blog, and I’m curious to know whether other Jane Eyre fans would like that book more than I did. Anyway, I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say about Jane Eyre. I might even join the read-along, but it’s going to depend on how September goes. Life is way too busy right now (in other news, my kiddos started Kindergarten today!).
I read Livesey’s The Flight of Gemma Hardy too! The parts that were written to reflect Jane Eyre didn’t work for me as well, and there was an age difference that seemed weird when the book was set in 1960s versus the early 1800s. That being said, I loved her descriptions and also the parts where Livesey deviated more from Jane Eyre (especially in Iceland).
I had a similar reaction! The age difference was creepy, and I didn’t think Mr. Sinclair’s “secret” was a big deal. I liked the part in Iceland, but it didn’t make up for the book’s faults.
I didn’t read GEMMA HARDY, mainly because of several reviews I read (including yours) that were underwhelmed. I have so many books on my “read this ASAP!” list that I don’t have the inclination to waste time on books that my trusted blogger friends didn’t care for… and I really appreciated the warning off from you and others, because I probably would have read it. I’m not a great audience for that type of book, anyway, because I tend to get extremely frustrated with and/or disappointed in “spinoffs” of my favorite books, and I never learn. I keep reading Jane Austen fan fic, and I keep hating it. (Except for SENSE AND SENSIBILITY AND SEA MONSTERS, which was original and wacky enough for my enjoyment.) Can’t see myself picking up GEMMA, although I do have a copy of WIDE SARGASSO SEA set aside for after I finish with Jane… but since WIDE SARGASSO SEA is a classic in its own right, I don’t consider it “fan fic.”
Yeah, Gemma Hardy probably isn’t worth your time! I wonder if I was too hard on it because it’s a retelling of a beloved book (it’s NEVER going to be as good as the original!). It also annoys me when a modern author rips off the plot and the characters of an older work and gets royalties for it. Writing depends on borrowing, but this is more than just a little borrowing, and part of me thinks I shouldn’t have paid more money for it than for Jane Eyre (which is free as an ebook!).
Yeah – I think I’ll stick to my decision and give that one a miss.
Haha! You sound like me! “I really should reread Jane Eyre…I’ll get around to it one of these days.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said that the past couple years!
It’s one of those situations where you know you love the book, and you know a re-read would be fabulous, so you put it off, right? At least it is for me. I always know Jane is there if I want her, so I read other things. But I need to come back to her more often, because eleven chapters in I’m remembering all the things about this book that I just love, love, love.
I know what you mean, it seems like this book is calling to me to re-read it again! I’m glad you are such a fan, and I’m looking forward to reading all your posts on it, since I’m sure I’ll agree with everything. And actually now I feel like I need to re-read Villette! A reader’s work is never done.
You’re so right that a reader’s work is never done! Especially when you hanker to re-read all your favorites. Ahhhhh… but that’s one of the things I love about reading. There are so many good books out there that, no matter what, I’ll never. run. out. It’s such a comfort!
Hi Jaclyn! Congrats on the move. I hope you are settling in nicely. And you were smart to label the box Jane Eyre was in. I probably wouldn’t have thought that far ahead and ended up with stacks of books all over my new place. Which has to be a valid way to decorate, right?
Hi Madeleine! Thanks, and thanks for stopping by! I’m still feeling buried under boxes, and it’s been almost a week. Sigh. By the time I get unpacked, it will be time to move again (we’re renting for a year so we can check out neighborhoods in the area before we buy something).
I was pretty smug about labeling the box with Jane in it, but… I haven’t actually found the box yet! Our movers sort of put things everywhere and most of my stuff is still eluding me. (Including my teapot… grrrrr. There’s only so long I can go without brewing my loose tea in the morning. I’m running low on tea bags.) But fortunately I did manage to unearth an 1887 copy of JE that my grandmother gave me. Was never planning to read it (it’s quite fragile) but desperate times call for desperate measures, and books are meant to be read. As soon as I find my *new* copy, the historic one is going back in its safe spot, though!
Hello, I’m doing the Jane Eyre read-along as well…just wanted to say that I love the Friends reference! I forgot about that episode haha 😉
Hi there, and welcome! And thanks. 🙂 There will be more Friends references coming, mark my words. I never did know when to stop!
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