Classics > J Classics

Jane Eyre: DId anybody ever see such a picture of passion!

Advantages: Relatively simple language, developed characters
Disadvantages: A long, complicated plot.

...to societal norms and expectations. Jane is condemned for her overly passionate nature, a trait seen as unwomanly and even evil. As she grows older, she grows more confident about her relationships and values; encountering Helen Burns - an ailing, overly passive and unquestioningly religious student - as well as Maria Temple - the epitome of fairness and "goodness" - at Lowood, followed by the fiery Edward Rochester and ice cold St. John Rivers results ...
...As a woman, Jane is better able to express her passion in moderation and becomes less dependent on "the love of human beings," believing in both herself and God. Upon discovering the presence of Rochester's wife, the mad Bertha Mason, Jane encounters a moral dilemma which - to the reader's pride - she deals with admirably. Jane will accept love only on her own terms, a lesson which many should learn. The Bertha Mason sub-plot was of particular interest ...

flashofalchemy 05.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Discover Jill - and Yourself

Advantages: Interesting and unique, superb writing and characters
Disadvantages: Not for you if you prefer plot to character-driven stories

...harmless, but then John sees Jill one day, when browsing in an Oxford bookshop, and things take a more troublesome turn. Jill could be viewed as a coming-of-age story, a fragment of time in the early years of the war just before classes were supposedly shattered and working-class people found it easier to succeed, but it is much more than that: it is about getting to know oneself, who you truly are. John constantly tries to deny his background, ...
...Self-discovery is deeply enmeshed in Jill and this especially applies to writing - John struggles to encapsulate the personality he has created, but can never quite get the wording right. When he is struck by a flash of genius, someone interrupts him and he forgets it. He doesn't fit in with either Warner or Whitbread, who is disgusted by 'social climbers' who try to better themselves, but instead of finding people who he does fit in with, John bounces ...

DoubleFantasy11 08.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Jill - Philip Larkin

Thou Shalt Orgasm

Advantages: Extremely erotic, but you might get some meaning out of it
Disadvantages: Extremely erotic (yes, again), very violent, disgusting for some

Juliette (1797-1801) by Marquis de Sade This book is extreme, pornographic and violent, and as one of the evil characters in Les Liaisons Dangereuses puts it: "it's not my fault." Were you offended by the title of this review? First, this was not meant as a sacrilege: I try to respect the sensibility of the readers as much as I can, but when I thought of the title I just couldn't resist the temptation; I felt when I was reading the book that Sade ...
...which was written earlier, Justine. Juliette is a young orphan girl whose father went bankrupt before he died (other surprises take place later) and she chooses to work in prostitution in order to earn her living. The book is called Juliette OR Vice Amply Rewarded, and so it belongs to the series of novels that appeared after Samuel Richardson's Pamela who led a virtuous life and was rewarded. We read the book knowing what is going to happen at the ...

sottovoce82 12.11.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Juliette - Marquis de sade

a classic master piece

Advantages: strong storylinr and characterization
Disadvantages: none

...in book shops or libraries. Jude the obscure is one such classic that I simply adore. Its story line and characterization is really strong. It was begun as amegazine serial by Thomas Hardy in late 19th century. Thomas hardy was turning at that point from the conventional romantic story to romantic with a tragic end to it. We cant say that Jude was a tragic hero with hamartia no we cant. He was no great man that was the first point that made me love ...
...that she is inlove with Jude and marrying Philostone was a bad idea. Sue and Jude decided to live together without marriage and Sue left Philostone. This made them a social outcast and everyone started rebuking them for their doing. Sue didnt want any sexual relationship so they slept separately for some time but then Jude convinced her in sleeping with him. This led to the birth of their illigetimate children. Then an other child came from australia ...

sandy.imy 02.02.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

Don't Scoot On By

Advantages: Very desriptive and emotional writing
Disadvantages: Some of his character names

...is his second novel. Scooter Reilly is a young child in 1960s New York, inheriting his unfortunate name from the former Yankees player Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto. It's a time of historical change for the country and a major change in the Bronx where Scooter and his family live. It's a time of great change for Scooter himself, as when he is four his grandfather has a nasty accident that costs him an eye. Soon after, his father and grandfather become estranged ...
...steals from Scooter first his baseball playing dreams and then, after another nasty accident, his ability to walk properly. As if his name wasn't enough to cope with, Scooter's life never seems to take the easy path. He finally finds someone who can love him, but first his mother and then her brother comes between them. He is frequently in fights, some of which he wins, but mostly not. His only solace is the grandfather he is forbidden to visit, ...

Soho_Black 03.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Scooter - Mick Foley