Jane Eyre (A Dusty Old Books Review)

Jane Eyre is a novel by Charlotte Bronte that traces the life journey of a woman (Jane) from the time she is a young girl living in the house of her aunt to the end of her life. Jane Eyre is not a book for everyone. It is extremely introspective and is not plot or action driven by any means. This is the story of a person, her emotional and spiritual journey, and how she grows through interactions with other people. It is written beautifully, with layered motifs and symbols, and very interesting for the political and social implications for the time it was written in. It also still has a strong message of social equality that makes the book more pertinent to life. However the book may be a bit too slow or too introspective for some people, as well as seem outdated or pointless. In general, I found it quite enjoyable, but it may not be the right read for many teens today. If you're looking for a glimpse inside someone else's head, this is the read for you.

Mistress Fu

Ariel by Sylvia Plath (A Dusty Old Book Review)

This is one of the most haunting and disturbing pieces of literature I have yet come across. Plath writes beautifully, with strong, vivid imagery that sticks in your mind. She pulls from her attempted suicide, World War II, troubled families and the darker side of nature for her metaphors and images, and together they create something terrifying yet still intensely meaningful. It reads quite easily, although it does have considerable depth in the allusions and structure of the poems. The crowning piece is probably Lady Lazarus, Plath's anthem of a suicidal woman. Strong while still being extremely vulnerable, the poem pulls together the themes that drive Plath's life.
Overall, a book that should be read by everyone, although not all at one time. When taken all together, the poems can be overwhelming, but when spread out they form a beautiful piece.


Mistress Fu

Paradise Lost by John Milton (A Dusty Old Book Review)

Summary: The story of creation, Lucifer's rebellion, humanity's fall and their hope for redemption.

John Milton is a literary genius. The level of detail, the description, the mathematical precision of the verses is mind-blowing. Although the plotline is somewhat overdone (see The Bible), Milton approaches his theodicy with a passion and a depth that many people overlook. Milton explains God's need for evil in the world through his beautiful poetry, however he is rather sexist, and goes somewhat over the top with his descriptions of God. Book III is my personal favorite, in that the whole book is composed of God, Jesus and the angels sitting around in heaven talking about how amazing God is-how merciful he is for forgiving humanity (which he hasn't done yet) and how just he is for not forgiving Satan (which he also has not done yet). Also, he turns the entire fall into a sex metaphor, placing the blame for all of humanity's problems on Eve's sexuality.

Generally very well written, and a wonderful read for anyone looking for a challenge, but if you are not overwhelmingly religious or a bit sexist, certain pieces might be somewhat bothersome.

-Mistress Foo