skip to main content

Reader's Paradise

For Jane Eyre Fans

12 years ago

Jane Eyre will always be a comfort book to me - I think I have watched every film version of it as well.

When I was at the library last week, I picked up one of their pamphlets which is called "Books to Talk About 2013" and described as Titles for Book Discussion Groups. .

One of the books listed is called The Flight of Gemma Hardy:
"by Margot Livesay, Fate has not been kind to Gemma Hardy. Orphaned at ten, neglected by a cruel aunt, send to a boarding school to be a servant and student, Gemmas seems destined for a life of hardship and loneliness. Intelligent and determined, she overcomes each challenge, growing stronger and more certain of her path. She accepts a position as an au pair on the remote Orkney Island. But Gemma's biggest trial is about to begin. And engaging modern retelling of the classic Jane Eyre."

I am not expecting this book to be anywhere as good as the original but am thinking of borrowing it and reading it as a reread. I need something light and predictable is fine, in my present reading mood. Just thought I'd pass the title on to all of you Jane fans.

This post was edited by janalyn on Fri, Jan 17, 14 at 0:10

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

sheriz6
12 years ago
I had seen this title recently and wondered about it, as Jane Eyre was a favorite of mine, too. Janalyn, if you do read it, please let us know what you think -- I have too many books in the TBR pile to even think about adding an unknown to it. However, if it came recommended .... that might be a different story.
rosefolly
12 years ago
I read it, and did not especially enjoy it. Partly it was the failure to live up to the original, but also the heroine makes a questionable moral decision that disturbed me. I understood it, sort of, but I didn't really like her after that.

Rosefolly
Related Discussions
Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli
Q
Comments (2)
I've not read the books, didn't even know this upcoming show was based on a book, but was looking forward to watching since I really liked Angie Harman in the short lived series Women's Murder Club. Why do all the good shows get lost in something that has nothing to do with how good they are? Sorry back on topic, you may want to check out hulu.com after the show starts. They have many TV shows you can watch online for free with very little commercial interruption.
...See More
For Jane Austen Fans
Q
Comments (56)
Predictable--but when you have to wait 98 episodes (as well as many pages in the book), it is--oh, so satisfying--isn't it! Well done--but I'm still wondering if we will hear more about Lydia's future. Will she run off with the creep--which the novel would seem to require--or do we get a NEW LYDIA, the upcoming modern woman striking out on her own? (Which is the one change I would make--but then I was never fond of whatshisface!) Kate
...See More
Reading Jane Eyre again after 30+ years
Q
Comments (43)
Rosefolly, I really agree with you on the assessments of the two men. Rochester is clearly the romantic and the passionate one. Rivers doesn't even have the passion on the pulpit. Jane comments on his sermans. Rochester is not blameless; he has his flaws. On one level he is a Byronic hero; on the other level he is desperately trying to salvage a small portion of happiness in this life. While it is understandable, it is certainly not morally right. He tells Jane, after the thwarted wedding attempt, that he should have come to her and told her the whole story. I would argue that he knew better. When he plays the gypsy, he tells her that he sees in her brow that she could and would live without happiness if self-respect required it. He knew her very well, indeed! Rivers, on the other hand, was cold. He demanded the "right" thing from her insisting that God wanted her to marry him. And he knew he had will to bend hers. He was working on it when Jane hears the voice in the night. Rivers is probably more reprehensible because his Christian beliefs were aligned with the Puritans, which left no room for happiness, love, passion, fun, etc. Just cold dedication. Jane knew she would die under such strong willed restrictions.
...See More
Jane or anyone else who has a Psychopsis
Q
Comments (9)
Bea, I lost most of mine after moving to Florida. We were living in various places before we bought our house. I moved with approximately 30 of my orchids from NY. We spent 6 months on Siesta Key and it had a small backyard. They seemed to handle the change in climate as I put them under a tree and were mostly shaded, plus it was the end of September. Because it was a Key, the winds were almost constant. I think that was the trick. When we left there after 6 months, we spent 3 months on another Key. This was a small condo but had a small outside terrace. I put them out there with my other orchids. It was also windy. They survived but did not flower. When we found our house, it has a big yard but is inland, not near the water. They went downhill within a month. I repotted them all in small wood chips, perlite and NO sphag! They made it through the winter but when the rains came, they went downhill quickly. They developed fungal problems, root rot. I moved them all inside to the AC but by then they did not recover. I'm not sure Florida is the right climate for them. I would try them inside during the Spring and Summer, move them outside when the temps drop and the rains stop. I do miss them and have been tempted to try again, but I'm afraid to. Please let me know how you make out. You have cooler temps than I do, maybe better air circulation and they might do fine. Fingers crossed! Jane
...See More
janalyn
Original Author
12 years ago
I shall sum this one up in one word.

Meh

What happened to the passion? Instead of a dark brooding Rembrandt portrait of Rochester we are given a pallid watercolour of a Hugh Sinclair. Jane has turned into an insipid, untalented school girl and remains that way. Very little of the novel dealt with either of them...Remember that ball scene with the strains of Blue Danube? Now you get to waltz along to..."Dedicated to the One I Love."
And I know we have had previous forum discussions on the attractiveness of Rochester, especially since most of us fell in love with him at the age of thirteen when we first read the book. But he is a helluva lot more sexy than Hugh here.
I did enjoy the settings of Iceland (hiya Netla!) and Scotland. The early years were well developed. Just that the love story failed miserably. Gemma and Archie were a more suitable couple.

So, if this were a movie, I would say do not watch it at the theatre. Save your money and watch at home and consider it an exercise in comparison that will help you understand why you liked the original in the first place.

I grew up on those Gothic romances thanks to Jane Eyre. Victoria Holt, Daphne du Maurier, Mary Stewart among many others...

The pic is NOT Hugh Sinclair. Alas.
sheriz6
12 years ago
Janalyn & Rosefolly, thank you for the reviews, I won't waste my time.
kathy_t
12 years ago
I just have to say this: George C. Scott was my favorite Mr. Rochester of film. He made me swoon.
rouan
12 years ago
I tried to read this a few months ago and gave up after a chapter or two. It didn't catch my attention at all so it went back to the library unfinished.

Related Stories

FURNITURE New Classics: The Jane Coffee Table

By Becky Harris

Hovering low and adding strong horizontal lines, this minimalist floating slab has beautiful proportions and a distinctive presence

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: A Jane Austen-Inspired Home in a Historic Tannery

By Michaela Dodd

A Maryland couple stay true to their home’s historic roots

Create Page-Turning Design with Books

By Shawn Gauthier

17 Ways to Enjoy the Look of Books All Over the House

VALENTINE’S DAY Flow Chart: Are You a Romantic?

By Nina Montenegro

Try as you might not to wear your heart on your sleeve, your home may be giving you away

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD A Restful London Retreat With Naturalistic Plantings

This generous garden has been cleverly zoned to create a cohesive space out of a long, narrow plot

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Ample French Country Style Belies a Strict Budget in Dallas

By Sarah Greenman

European cottages inspire a Texas home brimming with family heirlooms and flea market treasures

TASTEMAKERS Take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Netflix’s ‘Grace and Frankie’

By Bryan Anthony

Set decorator Beauchamp Fontaine explains the design decisions behind the home sets featured in the new Netflix series

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Industrial Design’s Softer Side

Dark gray cabinets and stainless steel mix with warm oak accents in a bright, family-friendly London kitchen

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A 'Portlandia' Home Raises an Eyebrow

By Vanessa Brunner

Cable TV came calling for this quirky home in Oregon, and it played its spaceship part to a T

DISASTER PREP & RECOVERY Houzz Tour: Modern Farmhouse Emerges From Hurricane Sandy Devastation

By Becky Harris

A homeowner loses her cottage but gains a new energy-efficient, low-maintenance home

Sponsored

More Discussions

April Come She Will - and we keep reading

63

The Game Flowers in May

101

It’s May! What are you reading?

95

Hugo awards 2026

7

Hot Days and August Games

71