I first read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys in university, right after reading Jane Eyre for the first time and I remember loving it. It provides an interesting backstory for the first Mrs. Rochester, as well as fleshing out the socio-political issues of that time. However, upon rereading this book, I’m stuck by how unrelentingly hopeless it is. Any reader of Jane Eyre will know that this story is bound to end badly, but despite the lush setting and beautiful writing there isn’t so much as a glimmer of hope in this book. Nevertheless, I still think this novel should be required reading for all Jane Eyre fans.To read other reviews of this book, visit these blogs:
Blog a Penguin Classic • book-a-holic • Musings • Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover • Rose City Reader • Semicolon
(First posted on LibraryThing on February 13, 2008)
Thanks for your comment on my blog about this book - I appreciate the link to your review!
ReplyDeleteHeather, I hope my review hasn't put you off reading this book. I really think it's worth reading, just not when you're already feeling a bit down!
ReplyDelete