Jane Eyre

  Closer to 9th Grade...

Sincerelyornot, 6/24/2011

This is one of those books that everyone tells their kid to read because it's a classic, but all too often, they can't say why.

The case for classic status:
The book's theme of doing what is right (exemplified by the main character alone) is strong, central, and portrayed with subtlety. Secondly, Bronte's writing is good and strongly typical of the time period. She was one of the early inventors of the gothic genre. It helps that Charolette Bronte and her sister are famous literary figures with a juicy backstory. Finally, the book ends in a dramatically memorable way.

Why I think it goes on the reading list AFTER eighth grade:
To start with, that dramatic ending is supposed to prove a point about the book' theme, a point that was completely lost on me as a 6th grader. And the cruelties suffered by various characters are the stuff of nightmares, only marginally worth wading through to grasp the philosophical points.

If you're going to try and read through the classics, this one of the best gothic novels of all time. Overall, its a book worth reading, just not too early on that recommended list.