Jane Eyre was orphaned and left in the care of her uncle and his wife as an infant. When her uncle died, life change dramatically for Jane as her aunt resented her existence and ultimately sent her away to boarding school when she was ten years old. This is her story, how she grew to want more from her life than the narrow confines available to her during the Victorian era and her rise from her circumstances.
I started this story many years ago, was interrupted and couldn’t get back to it. My book club selected it for discussion and I took the opportunity to get it on audio. I’d heard so much about Mr. Rochester and Jane, all fragmented, I wasn’t certain if this was supposed to be an epic romance or something else. I’m choosing the “something else” as it’s difficult for me to think of their relationship in those terms but it definitely was an epic and complicated relationship.
What I loved about Jane was her pragmatism and thirst for something more. Her coping skills were borne from her years of separation from family and anyone who cared about her well being. While I didn’t always agree with her decisions, I loved her reasoning. She wasn’t a complicated woman but she was a woman of substance, having her own sense of a moral code that guided her life and a strong sense of self. I didn’t always like Edward Rochester but by the end, I felt I understood him better and knew that he truly cared for Jane, more unselfishly than I first believed. It’s my understanding that Brontë infused elements of her own life into this story, probably some real and other parts aspirational. The result is a compelling story that kept me engaged and I enjoyed it.
Regarding the audiobook…I’m glad I chose this format but I was unhappy with the narrator. She sounded much too old for the character and I was highly underwhelmed by her performance. I just chose the wrong edition. I highly recommend the one narrated by Thandie Newton, which is absolutely outstanding and I downloaded it for the last part of the book. She made me want to start all over again. I’ve included that sample below as I don’t recommend the one narrated by Wanda McCaddon. There are many other audio editions out there and you should sample them before final selection.
There’s a reason this book is considered a classic and I’m thrilled I read it. So should you.
Book Info
- First Published Release Date: October 16, 1847
- Narrator: Wanda McCaddon
- Audio Length: 18 hours
- Publisher: Tantor Audio
(The one I wish I’d listened to…)
Blue Mood Café 
Fab review! I remember enjoying a simplified version of this years and years ago and I almost bought an audiobook of it recently. I wasn’t too sure though because it’s quite long isn’t? Too bad your audiobook narrator wasn’t right for you, but at least it didn’t ruin the story for you.
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Thanks, Nicki💜 I refused to let the narrator ruin it but it was 18 hard hours! However, I just may listen to it again now that I have the Thandie Newton narration. She’s that good!
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Wow sounds fantastic!
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See! I wasn’t exaggerating.
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One of my favorite books of all time! So glad you got a chance to go back to it!
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Oh, I’m so glad you loved this, too, Amy💜
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Fab review! I’ve been meaning to read this classic for so long now… Although I might just have to try the audiobook version as it worked for me with Wuthering Heights.
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Thanks, Yvo💜 Audio is so helpful with the classics as the narrator often helps with that old English language. They make it more understandable in the storytelling. Even this poor performance did that.
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This is a favourite of mine, I have read it a few times since I first had to read it at secondary school. I don’t like it then, but re-read it in my early 20’s and then loved it!
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Thats great to know, Yvonne💜 That’s the thing with classics…they often don’t work when we’re made to read them as teens and we have a better appreciation when reading as adults. It’s my goal to work through even more.
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I read quite a few classics about 5 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them. When I had tried them in my early 20’s I couldn’t get on with them. Age does sometimes have benefits 😁
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This is one of my all time fav classics, Jonetta and yes, I can image it’s extremely important who narrates the audio version, given the age of Jane. And after listening to the sample, dang, I have to listen to more Thandie Newton. Wow!
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Oh, I was hoping this was one of your favorites, Alexandra!! Now you understand why I want to listen to it all over again…with Thandie at the reins😍
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Oh, I hear you, she has a great voice, as well as tone. And just that sample had me wanting more.
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You got on better with Jane Eyre than I did. I thought it was well written, but not really my kind of book. I’m glad you enjoyed it and as you say, there is a reason, it has become a classic (although as I mentioned in a recent post, it ranks highly on ‘most 1-star ratings’ list on Goodreads 😉 )
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I can completely understand that as I feel the same way about Wuthering Heights. Everyone seems to love it and I was bored silly. But then, I was sixteen😏
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This is such a special review, Jonetta. I read this book in high school and LOVED it and I’ve been meaning to do a re-read now when I know I can appreciate it even more. Such a good book!
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Thank you, Jennifer💜 I’m so impressed that you appreciated this story as a teen! Imagine how it will be when you reread it now😍
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Really nice review! I only read Jane Eyre for the first time a few years ago, and loved it, but feel like I should read it again at some point. Thanks for the recommendation on the audiobook — I’ll take your advice!
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Thanks, Lisa💜 Wonderful that you loved it, too! Enjoy your reread…on audio😏
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This is one of the few classics I’ve enjoyed! ‘While I didn’t always agree with her decisions, I loved her reasoning’ you’ve nailed it! Brilliant review! I’m just sad the narrator was not a good match! x
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Thank you, Meggy💜 I’m just grateful that I could hear the essence of the story despite that bad performance.
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