Paperback: 512 pages Publisher: Avon A; Original edition (June 30, 2009)
Genre: biography fiction, romance
Rating: 5/5
FTC Disclosure: County library
Reading Challenge: All About the Brontes 2010
I absolutely loved this book! Syrie James manages to capture the Bronte sisters in a beautiful and delightful way. I learned so much about each of them and her family. We also learn where she got all her ideas from for her novels. This has opened up Jane Eyre to me and Wuthering Heights more than I ever thought possible. I have never been a big fan of Wuthering Heights, but I got some insight into Emily Bronte in this novel about her motivations for writing this. I'm now excited to reread this one for the Bronte Challenge going on now.
Charlotte Bronte's life had quite a bit of romance! I was so sad to realize that she died only nine months after marrying the love of her life.
Syrie James spins her story for us in a perfectly knit blankie and I was warm and comfy reading it! (I know, cheese factor is super high with this sentence!!!)
*Part of the All About the Brontes Challenge.
I would love to read Wuthering Heights again, it was one of my required reading in my English Class when I was in 7th grade in Hong Kong.... I was tested on it... yet I can't quite remember what it's exactly about except that it was about some kind of love and revenge dynamics... and this character Catherine...
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, so this one appears to be good as well. I've just stayed away from it because I'm not a huge fan of the Brontë sisters' novels (especially Wuthering Heights...meh).
ReplyDeleteBut I think I'd like to give this a chance. I'm open to things I might initially be indifferent to. Plus I really like the cover (although the Jane Austen cover was much prettier!).
This was one of my favorite books that I read last year! I'm glad you enjoyed it :) It made me want to read more Bronte too!
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm so glad you enjoyed this book -- I read it last year, along with The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and loved them both. Did you know Syrie James is releasing a new book sometime this year? It's called Dracula, My Love and it's from Mina's POV.
ReplyDeleteStay warm!
This looks like a good read! Right now I am making my way through Jane Eyre.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Lost Memoirs and do plan on reading this, but need to read Jane Eyre first! So glad you liked this. The Dracula one sounds interesting, too!
ReplyDeleteI tried to read Wuthering Heighs my 1st year in college, but I just couldn't get into it (probably b/c i was mandatory to read). I want to try it again and maybe I should read this one too. I loved Jane Eyre!!!
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre - Yes please.
ReplyDeleteWuthering Heights - so so.
I can appreciate WH but it will never be one of my all time favourites like JE.
I should totally read this - it might inspire me to FINALLY read Wuthering Heights. And Jane Eyre. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read this for a while just because of the subject. But your opening line sells me on it!
ReplyDeleteHmm. It might make me appreciate Wuthering Heights? I wasn't a big fan when I read it so it might be worth readinfg this book ")
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to reading this one for the challenge, it sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you liked this book as much as I did! I enjoyed reading your review and I too was surprised how much romance there was in Charlotte's life!
ReplyDeleteI received a copy of this book at BEA and I haven't had a chance to read it yet. It sounds really good, and I loved Jane Eyre when I read it in college.
ReplyDelete--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I like the sounds of the Dracula book by Syrie James. I just picked up The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte from the library today. I have a couple of books to read first and then I'm going to dive into it!
ReplyDeleteI loved Jane Eyre and find Wuthering Heights to be an interesting and complex work of vengence.
I just finished it, too. Wasn't it wonderful! I seem to be in the minority here, but I love Wuthering Heights. I read it for the first time last year, but am now listening to it on audio in preparation for teaching it later this year. To me, it's one of those books that makes you un comfortable and gets under your skin. My mother recently tried to read it, however, and hated it.
ReplyDeleteHi! I just discovered your blog, and I'm so glad you enjoyed my novel, "The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte." I fell in love with Charlotte and Mr. Nicholls while researching and writing that book. Thanks for posting your wonderful review. It's a treat to hear what my readers think. Your review made me smile so much, I hope you'll consider posting a review on Amazon!! And please do visit my website, (www.syriejames.com) leave me a message, and maybe even sign up for my newsletter (something new that I'm starting this year).
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about my next book, "Dracula, My Love" which comes out in August or Sept. (I think...?) It was really fun to write, and I promise it's VERY romantic...!
All best,
Syrie James