I bought my copy of Jane Eyre two years ago. I've been hearing about this book from other book enthusiasts, always
with intruiging remarks and opinions. Some movies (i.e. Definitely, Maybe) have also featured this book written by the cousin of a more popular author, Emily Bronte. So I thought, why not get myself a copy, dive in and see for myself what the fuss is about?
18 months later, I still haven't finished reading the book.
Don't get me wrong. Ms.
Charlotte Bronte succeeded in catching my interest within the few first lines of her first paragraph. However, as I read on, I realized my eyes were sometimes glazing over, my mind was wandering and most of the time, after reading a few sentences, I realized I didn't understand a single thing so I had to frequently retrace. The way the sentences were constructed was sometimes utterly too intricate to understand. Then I'd put the book down and tell myself that I'll read more later. When "later" came, I'd tell myself that I'd read more tomorrow. When "tomorrow" came, I'd promise to read more after breakfast ... or after lunch ... or maybe after dinner. That's how it went until I found myself leaving bookstores almost every month with other interesting books tucked under my arm. And so
Jane Eyre was left to gather dust on my bookshelf.
One dreary, gray day a few weeks ago, I realized that I've ran out of new books to read. I panicked! This was the first time in years that a new book was not waiting for me to be devoured! I rummaged though my drawers and cabinets until I was eye to eye with Jane Eyre once more. I must admit, I wasn't really too enthusiastic to start reading. I've gone through the first few pages a dozen times and they were starting to get dull.
But being the ardent booklover that I am -- and anxious of being unable to sanely survive a single day without a book in hand -- I urged myself to read on.
A month later, I found myself turning the last page of the book, a smile playing across my lips. Finally, I did it! I read Jane Eyre!
So how did I do it? Simple. All it took for me was a steady resolve, an innate curiousness and interest in books of all sorts and a lack of other books to read on that fateful day.
Thus, if you find yourself in the same predicament as I once was, trust me: just read on! Charlotte Bronte is such a skillful writer that she will have, not just your interest, but also your imagination, your hours and your days once she has played her entrancing magic on you. It'll take time, reader, but trust that she will be able to do so as you let yourself be immersed in Jane Eyre's world.
This is the enthralling tale of an extraordinary woman who has braved the odds and dealt with life's difficulties on her own, ultimately to be rewarded with the sweetest and most coveted gifts of all: love, contentment and sheer bliss, at last in the arms of the man she most loved. How I envied her destiny as I sat reflecting on her story! How I admired her persistence and courage! How pleased I was that the stars converged to reward this most amiable of beings!
Next up: Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights!