Question for the book lovers on my list

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

What book would you recommend for someone who enjoyed "Jane Eyre" and Daphne DuMaurier's "Rebecca"?

The reason I'm asking...my partner Doris is *not* a bibliophile but she did like the above two books a lot, so I'm trying to think of another book to get her.

She's reading "Wuthering Heights" now, but isn't getting into it much. (Ironically, I also disliked "Wuthering Heights" though I liked "Jane Eyre" a lot).

Comments

[taraljc.livejournal.com]

Has she read _I Capture the Castle_? Not gothic, but a very solid coming-of-age story. Also, erm... does she like Jane Austen? P&P is usually a hit with most everybody, but there's not so much crazy women in the attics and moors and such...

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Oooh, great suggestions! Thanks!

[selve.livejournal.com]

If she liked Jane Eyre she might like its fanfic-y prequel, Wide Sargasso Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_Sargasso_Sea), by Jean Rhys. It's told from the point of view of Bertha Mason, Mr. Rochester's supposedly "mad" first wife. Never read it myself, so I can't comment on whether or not it's any good.

Also, try poking around at LibraryThing.com.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

I heard Sargasso is good but I never read it either. Thanks for the rec!

[invisibleshrew.livejournal.com]

Seconding what they said. The Wide Sargasso Sea is a brilliant re-imagining of Jane Eyre (and, y'know, deals with the stuff I find really problematic about the source text, just like transformative fic).

Maybe Persuasion? It is my all-time favourite Jane Austen (pushing hard to be my all-time favourite novel, ever) - more muted and nuanced than P&P.

And I'm so with the two of you in not getting on with Wuthering Heights.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

And I'm so with the two of you in not getting on with Wuthering Heights.

I just don't get the appeal of that one at all. I've always been a voracious reader, but I remember how much I hated slugging through it in Lit class

[yubsie]

Heh, I was ALSO about to recommend Wide Sargasso Sea. We read it in my English class right after Jane Eyre and everyone really loved it except for one girl who was rather, umm, anti-feminist.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Sargasso does seem to be the top pick here! I think I'll have to get it for her.

[lvs2read.livejournal.com]

Jumping in with the dislike of Wuthering Heights. I even read it on my own a 2nd time thinking it couldn't be that bad. I was wrong. It was.

Definitely recommend Pride & Prejudice. And, if she's visual as well, the Colin Firth BBC production is fantastic. And much of the dialog is word for word from the book. *g*

For pure fun, and really not in the same line, except that it has to with Jane Eyre, is The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. Kind of a fantasy/scifi thing with alternate universes and the ability to dwell in a novel's setting. Might give it a try yourself first to see what you think.

I'm wracking my brains trying to remember some of those old, great classics. It's been too long since I've read any. *sigh* Dickens' Great Expectations maybe?

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

I knew that you'd have an answer to this one! :)

Jumping in with the dislike of Wuthering Heights. I even read it on my own a 2nd time thinking it couldn't be that bad. I was wrong. It was.

I just don't get why it's considered a classic or anything.

Sounds like Doris might like Pride and Prejudice. I'll probably get her that or Sargasso.

[lvs2read.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'm so predictable. *g*

Well, I don't get why The Great Gatsby is, either. No accounting for tastes, I guess. *eg*

P&P, otoh, is a classic for very good reason. *g* Hope she enjoys it. And I'm going to have to give Sargasso a try my own self.