#12 Mr Rochester — The Original Gaslighter
Jane, it’s okay, we all fall for it sometimes.
I have now transitioned from my “unhinged woman” era to my “thriller era”. Finding a full, well rounded thriller that doesn't have a predictable plot twist and has an ending that actually makes sense is much harder than it sounds.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4/5
“I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.”
This took me time to finish, my God, it was a beast of a book. I needed to take rest breaks and read other tings because even though I enjoyed it immensely it was very slow paced. It’s a very detailed account of Jane’s life from childhood to young adulthood, and the trials and tribulations she endured.
One thing that may be a hot take is I didn’t like Mr Rochester. There are obviously modernities that need to be suspended in order to read a book written in the 19th Century with regards to women's rights, underage marriages and school corporal punishment but no matter how much I tried to put myself in the time Bronte was writing I couldn't like Mr Rochester.
Slight spoiler alert — I understand the predicament he was in with his first wife but he fully gaslit Jane into thinking he couldn't tell her about it and though lying was a better idea?!
It’s hard not to love Jane though — you essentially see her grow into a young woman and come into her own and it was very endearing. I don’t think I have to sell you on reading Jane Eyre — it’s a classic for a reason but I would urge you to rethink Mr Rochester as a suitable husband.
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty 5/5
“Time went by so fast these days. There was some sort of malfunctioning going on with how fast Earth was spinning. Decades went by as quick as years once did.”
Another 5 star read that snuck up on me.
Nine people gather at a retreat for some rest and relaxation, trying to run from each of their problems. I enjoy stories that focus on ensemble characters and backtracks to tell how they each arrived at a certain point. Each character was very well written and I was intrigued to know more; the owner of the retreat has her own ulterior motive that don’t see coming and after getting to know the characters the suspense of each of their reactions is a good pay off.
There is a little bit of suspending disbelief — as in most horror/thriller genres to allow the characters to be in certain situations but I didn’t mind as it was wrapped up effectively. It’s not the most unique of a story (gives very much “I Care a Lot) but it is gripping and intense and just fun to read.
Verity by Colleen Hoover 4.75/5
“It’s what you do when you’ve experienced the worst of the worst. You seek out people like you…people worse off than you…and you use them to make yourself feel better about the terrible things that have happened to you.”
I was very hesitant to read this because I’m aware of Coleen’s reputation as a romance novelist which is not my genre. I thought this would be along the same lines so I stayed away even with numerous recommendations but there was one too many that pushed me over the edge, describing it as a thriller, so I bit the bullet. And I’m so glad I did.
The story follows an author, Lowen, who has been recruited to finish a famous book series as the original author has been made… incapacitated. She is asked by the author’s husband to write in their family home when she stumbles on a manuscript the author didn’t intend anyone to find and it is crazy from there.
The twists and turns are mind-blowing but still believable in the context of the story. I know I’m usually not a fan of a cliffhanger at the end of the book but this one worked — I love being lulled into a false sense of security then having the rug ripped from underneath me.
Sorry to any Mr Rochester stans out there . I’m stoked I have another classic under my belt but will be taking a break before I read anymore. Anyway, I cant think about reading nothing else as the new TAYLOR JENKINS READ BOOK IS OUT.
