Rating: 
Summary: Glad to finally read a couple of these books
Review: After many years of placing "Jane Eyre" at the top of my "favorite stories of all time" list, I was glad when my husband gave me this book so I could read some of Bronte's other novels.What I found was that I liked "Villette" even more than "Jane Eyre" - and, although it was arduous at first, I found "Shirley" was better yet. "Jane Eyre", for anyone who hasn't read it, is a wonderful gothic romance, moralistic and spiritual, a very good read and fascinating tale. "Villette" is more mature. The author explores a deeper sort of love - not based on mere physical attraction or infatuation, but based on deep, abiding friendship and respect. This story, too, has its lessons. The character development in "Villette" was more complete than in any other novel I've ever read. I became fascinated by the unattractive little professor, and by other characters as well. Unfortunately, there is a lot of French in this story, and what appeared to be the most pivotal moments were written in French... dialogue that I really wanted to understand was just lost on me. That was truly unfortunate. I'll have to find someone to translate for me sometime. "Shirley" is the best of all. The beginning is arduous. I had to use my dictionary throughout, but the beginning is particular difficult. Shall I say.. boring, even. I found that, once I forced myself through the beginning, I was very much rewarded. This story is a gem. The female heroines - Shirley and Caroline - were wonderful to get to know. Shirley is not the sort of female I would have thought Bronte had had occasion to know, so this was enlightening for me. Truly an eye-opening look at 19th century feminism! And incorporated into these wonderful romance stories. "The Professor" was a bit more dry than the others, although it was fun to read a romance story strictly from the male viewpoint. For a first novel, this was really incredibly well written. As for "Wuthering Heights", it's been a number of years since I've read the story, so I won't attempt a review here. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes "Wuthering Heights" or "Jane Eyre". All these stories are wonderfully written, with complex characters and interesting plots. The work of true genius.
Rating:
Summary: Villette is awesome!
Review: As much as I love Jane Eyre, I must say that Villette surpasses it for emotion and intellectual impact. It's the same reason I prefer this that I prefer Jane Austen's Persuasion to her Sense & Sensibility -- it's written for the more mature audience.
Rating: 
Summary: better than jane eyre
Review: i prefer this book to jane eyre as it was emotionaly moving and breathtaking. I mostly enjoyed the way that she was obvoisly tring to portray some message about her lifestyle at the time and some unknown message about her time in Brussels
Rating:
Summary: My opinion
Review: I thought it was a good book
Rating:
Summary: Jane Eyre is a classic.
Review: Jane Eyre is probably one of the best books I have ever read. Jane is a small, slight child who has a miserable childhood. She goes through many scenarios that would have brought down any normal teen. As she grows older, she takes a job working as a governess to a small French girl in a huge mansion owned by the mysterious Mr. Rochester. As the novel unfolds, it tells a captivating story of the relationship between the employee and the employer. Several times the book had brought me to tears. This is a wonderful literary classic that all romance lovers should read.
Rating:
Summary: Jane Eyre is the best
Review: Jane Eyre is the best book I ever read and will always be
Rating:
Summary: Where is Anne?
Review: The novels are wonderful, I just don't understand the editor of this edition. What was the reason for dropping the youngest Brontë sister? She is underrated enough, there's no need to emphasize it even more.
Rating:
Summary: Where is Anne?
Review: The novels are wonderful, I just don't understand the editor of this edition. What was the reason for dropping the youngest Brontë sister? She is underrated enough, there's no need to emphasize it even more.
Rating:
Summary: The Other Sister
Review: This book provides a wonderful compilation of five great Victorian novels. While Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are well-known classics, many people are not aware of Charlotte's three other novels : Shirley, Vilette and the Professor. Shirley is my absolute favorite with its brilliantly satiric dialogue. As far as the Brontes go, Shirley is as close to being humorous as one can get. The reason I give this book four stars is because it is missing a key component: Anne Bronte. Although her talent is equivalent to that of her sisters, Anne Bronte has been unfairly marginalized as a writer. The addition of Anne's two novels Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall would truly encapsulate the essence of the close-knit Bronte sisters.
Rating:
Summary: What to look for
Review: This novel was written as a looking glass into the life of one Jane Eyre. Welcome to her thoughts, her advice, and descriptions of her beliefs. But before you venture off, keep on the look-out for the contrast that exist in her thoughts compared to your own. By finding contrast you will observe some of the similiarities in her thinking to your own. "listen, then, JaneEyre, to you sentence: to-morrow, place the glass before you, and draw in chalk your own picture, faith-fully, without softening one defect; omit no harsh line, smooth away no displeasing irregularity, write under it, "Portrait of a Governess, Disconnected, poor, and plain." In the novel you come to understand Jane as a strong person with even stronger beliefs that she lives by. You now get a feeling of the contrast of her life. By re-reading the line notice the way she judges and punishes herself for what she finds fualty in her life. An entire novel is created around these constraints and contradiction. You may come to understand a small portion of yourself through Jane's contrasting life.
| 
