JANE EYRE

The A-Z continues with favorite books and stories and their first and last lines.

E is for:

JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre is a classic and in my top ten list of books. I discovered this novel on a book list for my high school English class. After reading a few chapters, I nearly gave up reading it, then it grabbed me, and I couldn’t put the book down.  

Just about that time, Missouri had a horrible snowstorm that knocked out our electricity for nearly two weeks (as I remember). Also, the roads were steeped in blowing snow. I desperately wanted to continue reading my book, so I propped it open and read by candlelight. Unfortunately, my dad told me that reading by candlelight would hurt my eyes and asked me to stop. Instead, he read an apocalypse story he'd written to my brother, sister and I.

First line: “There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

End line of the last chapter:  We entered the wood, and wended homeward.” 

End line of conclusion chapter:  “ ‘My Master,’ he says, ‘has forewarned me. Daily he announces more distinctly,--“Surely, I come quickly;” and hourly I more eagerly respond,--“Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus!



Comments

Nick Wilford said…
Oh! For a minute, I thought you were posting the first and last lines of your dad's story. The first line would definitely fit the situation. Hope he didn't freak you out too much with his apocalypse story!

I've never read Jane Eyre, but I'm familiar with the story through TV adaptations. I know there will be so much more to the book, though.
I heard a lot about reading in dim light, too. :) And I do have *horrible* eyesight, but I'm going to blame genetics instead of reading in dim light, ha!

Love Jane Eyre. One of my favorites. Anything with a gothic element and I'm hooked.
Pat Hatt said…
Haven't read in dim light in a while. My eyes must thank me haha heard of this one of course but never read it.
cleemckenzie said…
The language tends to put up a distance for a while, but then I get beyond that and start to relish the "sound" of books she wrote. What a wonderful glimpse into that period.
JoJo said…
This is another classic I've never read.
If reading by candlelight hurts your eyes, what was your father reading by?
I admit I've never read it.
Naqvee said…
And I can feel how it feels when people discuss such classics and we "SEE EYE TO EYE" and say, "Haven't read that"
People hate me at times..

Naqvee said…
Jane Eyre is gothic,romantic and captivating! I read it when I discovered the treasure of classics in my dad's book shelves (mini English literature library).
True, Candlelight hurts the eyes, I have experienced it.

Love Naqvee
S. L. Hennessy said…
It's one of my favorite books of all time, I must admit. Jane is such a phenomenal character!

Good luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com
Hi Teresa - I've never read Jane Eyre, though seen numerous tv programmes of it - I should pick up a copy or read it on Kindle - especially now you've told me .. I need to keep going and I'll get hooked.

I bet your Dad made his story up .. but mostly using story lines and escapades he'd got into as a kid, or as a young man ..

I'd hate to read by candlelight - thankfully my eyes are good. cheers HIlary
Arlee Bird said…
This is a book that I should have read and may have even read in college but forgotten. I'm pretty sure I have a copy somewhere around my house. It is a classic of English literature.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
A Faraway View
My mother, too, got onto me for reading in dim light. If nothing else, it gives you a headache! I made my heroine, Alice Wentworth, speak like Jane Eyre ... and being in the modern age, she sounds, if nothing else ... distinctive! :-)
Anonymous said…
I read the book and loved. But I want to read it again. :)
Unknown said…
Sigh! Jane Eyre. One of my absolute favorites. I preferred Wuthering Heights, but Jane Eyre holds a close second!
Karen Mortensen said…
Wow. How neat it is that you read by candlelight. What a great story. Great lines.
I've heard that isn't true about reading by candlelight though many people claim it. Might cause headaches though. Jane Eyre isn't one of my favorites but it is engaging.
It sounds as if that was a line straight out of the parent's manual. I heard it too. And loved Jane Eyre - though I haven't read it in a very long time. Revisit required I think.
Carol Kilgore said…
How cool your dad was a writer, too! I remember reading Jane Eyre, too. It was hard to get into.
Jay Noel said…
I was the same way...it was tough to latch onto at first, but it does hook you eventually
Jay Noel said…
I was the same way...it was tough to latch onto at first, but it does hook you eventually
Anonymous said…
Oh, how I love Jane Eyre. I am enjoying your series, Teresa. We like many of the same books.

Laura

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