Member Review
Review by
Yesha S, Reviewer
John Eyre was intriguing and interesting gothic reimagining of Jane Eyre and Dracula that revolved around school master John Eyre, his employer Bertha Rochester and her secrets, and darkness that lurked around Thornfield Hall. The story was about light after dark, good vs evil, will and determination, betrayal, love, friendship, greed, women empowerment, endurance, and trust.
Writing was beautiful, lyrical and descriptive and engaging. It was written in dual timeline- present 1843-44, third person narrative from John’s perspective and past was Sixteen months earlier 1842-43 in first person narrative from Bertha’s POV in letters and journal format. I haven’t read both original books so reimagining worked well for me as I couldn’t compare it and that made it enjoyable.
Plot was dark and suspenseful. It started with John Eyre taking job at remote Thornfield Hall as a tutor of two boys after the tragic loss of his former employers’ wife. On arriving Thornfield, he realised much was kept from him in his employment letter- Boys were ward of Mrs Bertha Rochester his mostly absent employer, there was no background of kids, they were mute, didn’t exactly understood English and looked like living corpse. There was constant unease ever since he arrived Thornfield, chilling scraping, hissing and whispering at night, odd screaming, and there was ever present unnatural silvery mist around Thornfield. He felt there was much to the kids and also to his employer.
It was interesting to read why there was mysterious mist around Thornfield, what happened during Bertha’s travel, what was Mr Rochester and happened to him, how Bertha found her wards, how she escaped and return back to Thornfield, how John would uncover all secrets of Thornfield and of Bertha, would his feelings for Bertha change once he knew the truth, would he leave his job like his previous employment or would support Bertha.
John was likable from the beginning. He was man of words and thoughts, his position as tutor and orphan childhood made his position as subordinate very clear in his mind and he didn’t wish to cross it, to make his life complex and troubled, he wasn’t man of violence and never considered himself a hero. He felt his nature of being in his limits caused tragic loss of his former employer’s wife who wanted to be more than friends with him. The guilt and regret of it weighing on shoulder ever since. But at Thornfield he slowly found home, he started to care for Stephen and Peter (Bertha’s wards), and he brought lot of change in them by applying many different methods. His work with these boys showed how wise, smart, sensible he was. I didn’t like him jumping to assumptions for being opinionated towards Bertha but that looked reasonable from his view point as he didn’t know anything about her until revealed and yet I enjoyed how slowly his view changed and started to fall for Bertha. I admired him for how he reacted and what he decided on Bertha’s revelation.
Bertha was hard to read from John’s perspective but her narration through her intermittent letter and journal revealed her character and I understood her more. It showed what she might have gone through and what she endured to be strong, hard, formidable, emotionless and blunt from lively, loving and vulnerable young lady she was before her marriage. I admired her for her forward thought, for not settling when she was told but taking time to explore the world and settle down when she was ready. But what was more admirable was her sheer will and determination to survive and live, to escape the darkness of her marriage and how she took revelation of her husband’s true self. Her stay with her husband revealed how much she endured and to what length she went to keep herself, her fortune, and her wards safe. It was so sad that she couldn’t confide in anyone, not even to John until she was forced. She was true hero of the story.
Setting of Thornfield and Nosht-Vulk in Senniskali village, Bulgaria was best part of the book. It kept the sense of anxiety alive throughout the story. Its descriptions were vivid and truly gothic. It felt like character itself. Another aspect I enjoyed was the time period. Elaborate description of dressing, places, society, beliefs and Christianity took me back to Victorian era and it was easy to imagine what life people might have and how they lived, position of women in world of men, how less their opinion mattered, and importance given to religion and superstition.
This wasn’t exactly romance. The main focus was suspense and paranormal aspect. Romance was something additional to it. Both Bertha and John had differences in the beginning. John being opinionated, not knowing Bertha well and what happened to her while Bertha kept her distance, intimidating side up, not trusting with her secret. But as story progressed their conversations grew and they formed friendship and feelings that they couldn’t deny. It made me frustrated and impatient waiting for Bertha to reveal the truth but when it was done it tested their relationship.
That revelation came in climax. John’s reaction was realistic and this part showed how patient, observant and rational he was. I loved him for not running away right after it and was ready to hear what Bertha had to say. It kept me on the edge and curious to see what John would do after that and how they would get rid of the darkness that surrounded their life and Thornfield. I have to say I was surprised with events that followed. End was hopeful and happily ever after.
Why 4 stars-
My only issue was slow pace. It felt like suspense kept building and building until I was impatient and just wanted to flip pages faster to reach to the revelation that came at around 70% or later than that.
Overall, John Eyre was interesting, suspenseful, and atmospheric gothic historical fiction and reimagining of Jane Eyre and Dracula.
I recommend this if you like,
Classic retelling/reimagining/fanfiction
Less romance and more focus on plot and characters
Developed characters
Gothic plot
atmospheric and vivid setting
Slow to moderate pace
Beautiful writing
Historical fiction set in Victorian era
Writing was beautiful, lyrical and descriptive and engaging. It was written in dual timeline- present 1843-44, third person narrative from John’s perspective and past was Sixteen months earlier 1842-43 in first person narrative from Bertha’s POV in letters and journal format. I haven’t read both original books so reimagining worked well for me as I couldn’t compare it and that made it enjoyable.
Plot was dark and suspenseful. It started with John Eyre taking job at remote Thornfield Hall as a tutor of two boys after the tragic loss of his former employers’ wife. On arriving Thornfield, he realised much was kept from him in his employment letter- Boys were ward of Mrs Bertha Rochester his mostly absent employer, there was no background of kids, they were mute, didn’t exactly understood English and looked like living corpse. There was constant unease ever since he arrived Thornfield, chilling scraping, hissing and whispering at night, odd screaming, and there was ever present unnatural silvery mist around Thornfield. He felt there was much to the kids and also to his employer.
It was interesting to read why there was mysterious mist around Thornfield, what happened during Bertha’s travel, what was Mr Rochester and happened to him, how Bertha found her wards, how she escaped and return back to Thornfield, how John would uncover all secrets of Thornfield and of Bertha, would his feelings for Bertha change once he knew the truth, would he leave his job like his previous employment or would support Bertha.
John was likable from the beginning. He was man of words and thoughts, his position as tutor and orphan childhood made his position as subordinate very clear in his mind and he didn’t wish to cross it, to make his life complex and troubled, he wasn’t man of violence and never considered himself a hero. He felt his nature of being in his limits caused tragic loss of his former employer’s wife who wanted to be more than friends with him. The guilt and regret of it weighing on shoulder ever since. But at Thornfield he slowly found home, he started to care for Stephen and Peter (Bertha’s wards), and he brought lot of change in them by applying many different methods. His work with these boys showed how wise, smart, sensible he was. I didn’t like him jumping to assumptions for being opinionated towards Bertha but that looked reasonable from his view point as he didn’t know anything about her until revealed and yet I enjoyed how slowly his view changed and started to fall for Bertha. I admired him for how he reacted and what he decided on Bertha’s revelation.
Bertha was hard to read from John’s perspective but her narration through her intermittent letter and journal revealed her character and I understood her more. It showed what she might have gone through and what she endured to be strong, hard, formidable, emotionless and blunt from lively, loving and vulnerable young lady she was before her marriage. I admired her for her forward thought, for not settling when she was told but taking time to explore the world and settle down when she was ready. But what was more admirable was her sheer will and determination to survive and live, to escape the darkness of her marriage and how she took revelation of her husband’s true self. Her stay with her husband revealed how much she endured and to what length she went to keep herself, her fortune, and her wards safe. It was so sad that she couldn’t confide in anyone, not even to John until she was forced. She was true hero of the story.
Setting of Thornfield and Nosht-Vulk in Senniskali village, Bulgaria was best part of the book. It kept the sense of anxiety alive throughout the story. Its descriptions were vivid and truly gothic. It felt like character itself. Another aspect I enjoyed was the time period. Elaborate description of dressing, places, society, beliefs and Christianity took me back to Victorian era and it was easy to imagine what life people might have and how they lived, position of women in world of men, how less their opinion mattered, and importance given to religion and superstition.
This wasn’t exactly romance. The main focus was suspense and paranormal aspect. Romance was something additional to it. Both Bertha and John had differences in the beginning. John being opinionated, not knowing Bertha well and what happened to her while Bertha kept her distance, intimidating side up, not trusting with her secret. But as story progressed their conversations grew and they formed friendship and feelings that they couldn’t deny. It made me frustrated and impatient waiting for Bertha to reveal the truth but when it was done it tested their relationship.
That revelation came in climax. John’s reaction was realistic and this part showed how patient, observant and rational he was. I loved him for not running away right after it and was ready to hear what Bertha had to say. It kept me on the edge and curious to see what John would do after that and how they would get rid of the darkness that surrounded their life and Thornfield. I have to say I was surprised with events that followed. End was hopeful and happily ever after.
Why 4 stars-
My only issue was slow pace. It felt like suspense kept building and building until I was impatient and just wanted to flip pages faster to reach to the revelation that came at around 70% or later than that.
Overall, John Eyre was interesting, suspenseful, and atmospheric gothic historical fiction and reimagining of Jane Eyre and Dracula.
I recommend this if you like,
Classic retelling/reimagining/fanfiction
Less romance and more focus on plot and characters
Developed characters
Gothic plot
atmospheric and vivid setting
Slow to moderate pace
Beautiful writing
Historical fiction set in Victorian era
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