Jane Eyre

We have enjoyed the comments posted about The Actor & The Housewife by Shannon Hale. Feel free to continue making comments, but it is time to get going on another of Grandma's favorites.....or at least it used to be. The following are her comments on it this time around:

"I am enjoying reading Jane Eyre (by Charlotte Bronte) again, but I think I liked it more when I first read it. Now I am getting more critical and find it hard to stick with for long periods of time. I put it down and read something more frivolous or relaxing, then take it up again. It was first published in 1847 and is so different from the very modern novel we just finished. We do see life differently now in many ways, but I am impressed with the lasting values expressed in Jane Eyre. Integrity and goodness remain the same in time. There is much to admire in Jane's character. She is a little fighter."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I've almost got my "Christmas" put away, and begin to feel that a return to routine isn't far off. I have mixed feelings about that, as I will miss the holidays, but need routine. I'm sure most of you can relate on some level.

SO.....I'm ready now to get back into "Reading With Grandma" and hope you are too! I haven't asked Grandma about it, but I think I will suggest to her that we read Jane Eyre in January and February, commenting on it the first part of March. If she has different ideas I'll edit this post to reflect that.

We're looking forward NOW to your comments on The Actor and The Housewife.

When Julie explained in an earlier post why she suggested The Actor and The Housewife she also quoted Shannon Hale as saying: I hope that readers want to talk about it. I have a lovely dream of groups of readers, women especially, sitting around and talking, heatedly sometimes, questioning the actions of the characters, debating some of the questions raised, what the characters did or didn't do, and the way I chose to tell the story. I hope there are lots of questions, debates, and listening too. And I hope that activity is fun.

We can't all be together in Grandma's living room to discuss this book, but I'm sure that if we could we would have a lively discussion.  So post your comments accordingly, not limiting yourself to one comment only.

Grandma's Comments:  I enjoyed reading this book but have mixed feelings about it.  It seemed too busy – too many things happening that weren't real to me.  I did like the ending and will enjoy reading more books by Shannon Hale. 

Aunt Louise's Comments: I think Shannon Hale is a good contemporary writer. But some of her humor–and there was a lot of it in the book–was over my head, making me feel a bit out of touch. But that's okay. What I really struggled with was their relationship, and wondered if it was even possible for me to have that kind of a "best friend" other than my eternal companion. And if I did–even if it was another woman–I wouldn't be on the phone with them daily, etc., etc., etc. It's not my style. But I liked the ending!  Maybe I should say I was relieved by the ending, and felt that any other ending would have been a compromise. For me, the very best part of the book, and the only thing I underlined, was the way she felt about "The Kiss". I don't have the book any more, it's either with Adrienne or Grandma. If I think of it, I'll include the direct quote later on. It was great!