Jane Eyre

I drive a lot for work, sometimes logging as much as eight solid hours a (work) week in my car. I have written on my other blog about how questionable my driving can be when I am jamming to music I love, so I decided to seek out a book on CD for my listening pleasure on those frequent out of town trips. I was scanning titles at the library and came across Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, a book I absolutely loved and have wanted to reread for ages, but never actually have. I figured it was the perfect way to "reread" it.

And I wasn't wrong. It was delightful to listen to the British actress read the novel and I was captivated much more than I think I may have been if I had picked up the book. I know how my mood can interfere with my enjoyment of even the most wonderful book, which of course Jane Eyre is. If you think about the historical and social context in which the book was written, you realize what a radical book it must have seemed. It is the story of Jane, a young woman who strives for more than she is told she can or will get in life. Her passion and drive are inspiring and I couldn't help but love this character. It's not exactly a page-turner as the nineteenth century pacing is so different than what we're used to today, but I still found myself loving it enough to look forward to uninterrupted time in the car. It made several arduous trips bearable as I was grateful to have Jane as a companion, narrating her story to me. I had remembered little about the book besides that I loved it and I must say my love for it grew with this second 'reading.'