Thursday, October 16, 2008

I Knew You Were Going to Pick Jane Eyre

I read Jane Eyre in high school and absolutely hated it. I proceeded to write a scatching review of it for my English class, not knowing that it was my English teacher's absolute, most favorite book in the entire world.

She gave me a big, fat "F" on my paper. True, I didn't do a very good job of backing up my opinion with anything from the text (I was still just a baby freshman); I just wrote that I didn't like the story and that I thought it was dumb and a bunch of senseless garbage. She wrote me a note saying that my paper showed how ignorant and close-minded I was as a reader and that I needed to keep my opinions to myself unless I could back them up with relevant information.

I guess we'll see how I like it this time through...

Thanks for sticking with us while we figured out what's going on around here!

2 comments:

Shimmy Mom said...

I'll admit that I didn't vote for that one. But only because I already owned one of the other choices. I was excited to use it being chosen as an excuse for buying another book though.
Now reading what you've said about it, I am much intrigued and can't wait to get it here and start reading it. I bracing myself for anything.
*hugs*

Anonymous said...

I understand not appreciating a "classic". I've read Pride and Prejudice 3 times and have never cared for it. I'm looking forward to all of your comments in a couple of weeks, hoping you'll help me grow a bit.

I'm pretty sure I was the deciding Jane Eyre vote. I had voted for the Training Ground but noticed that gave us a 3-way tie. I waited til there was only 1 hour left in the voting and changed my vote to Jane Eyre because I do own the book and, as this is a tight month for my family, I thought it would be a "cheap" read. (I know books can be checked out at the library but I like to underline and make notes to myself in the margins.)

I first read Jane Eyre as a teen. I remember the language was at first difficult for me. I was proud of myself for having read what I considered at the time to be a difficult book. (Now I just wonder at what kind of pitiful education I had!) I also was very encouraged by the moral strength of this very vunerable female character. She was very, very encouraging to me when I was a high school senior/college freshman being tempted to set aside everything I considered right and good. The second time I read this book I was in my late 20's and had a different impression. Now I'm in my mid-40s. I'm curious to see what I'll think this time around.

Sharon in KY