Delilah

LOL! I've read so much I have trouble finding what I do like! I hate science fiction too. I like historical mysteries I guess with some romance thrown in. But what use is that to you! The Bible start with the New Testament. I'm going to start one called "In the Woods" by Tana French; you might want to check it out. I can tell you that I liked the new Sherlock Holmes book called "The House of Silk" by Anthony Horowitz."

You should be given a medal for finishing Udolpho! I read half and had to give it up! I like Gothic fiction and have tried to read the early texts. Recently I tried Bungay Castle by Elizabeth Bonhote but couldn't get past the wimpy female characters! I thought "The Castle of Otranto" was quite good. Now I'm giving "The Monk" a try.

Hi Millhouse. I always wanted to be a writer but the task seems so daunting to me. I prefer to just read a good book.

LOL it was Cathy's fault she betrayed her own heart.

Yes that is what is wonderful about Jane, how real she is. Very passionate and honest! But I liked Rochester too. I felt sorry for him and I loved his wit! The conversations between Jane and Rochester are what makes the novel! As to Wuthering Heights equally passionate and haunting! It is just different from Jane Eyre but no less a great read.

Amusing thread! I can't think of one specifically now but there are so many books that I pick up in the library that I start and leave because its boring! Now that someone mentioned Carol Higgins Clark, I'd have to second that one.

I love classics! But admittedly not all classics are good or just not my style. My favorite authors are the Brontes and then Jane Austen. Two authors who are considered great writers I still can't like for example George Eliot and Charles Dickens. I also thought I would like Anne Radcliffe because I love Gothic fiction but I am still halfway through "The Mysteries of Udolpho" and I don't know when I will return to it.

I downloaded "The Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. I never heard of Tuppence and Tommy. I was only acquainted with Miss Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot. This was a light, humourous read.4/5. Next, I read "Candide" by Voltaire. Excellent book 5/5!

I just finished Candide and it is more philopsophical than I previous satire I read called in Spanish "El Lazarillo de Tormes." This extra aspect to it made it feel much more relevant as the central theme was that everything works out for the best. The author seems to reject this notion however his position is not quite clear. Maybe it can be said that his position is more in between optimism and pesimism. Hard to tell at the end and I won't spoil the end for others. But totally a worthwhile read! 5/5!

Despised

I just read "The Doll and other stories" by Daphne du Maurier. I would recommend this one. Oddly, "The Doll" didn't impress me that much. I liked "Frustration" and "The Weekend" which talked about love gone awry. In fact many of them are about love gone wrong.

1. Which story was your favorite and why? I think Puss-in-Boots stands out the most for me. I enjoyed the bawdy tone in which it was written. 2. Who was your favorite character and why? I think Mr. Lyon however I don't think her rewriting added anything to the original. The Beast is a very sympathetic character you can't help liking. 3. Was there a particular part that you enjoyed or disliked more than the rest? I loved her prose though she seemed overly fixated on the sexual part. She was kind of like Freud. 4. Was this the first book you've read in this genre, or by this author? Has it encouraged you to read more? Yes I would like to read more retellings of classic fairy tales. And yes I would definitely read more of her books. 5. Were there any parts or ideas you stuggled with? Sometimes I was confused as to the nature of the beast. There was one story in particular where this happened but I can't remember which one! I didn't know if it was a werewolf or vampire! 6. How did you find the experience of reading a collection of short stories? Were you able to engage with the characters in the same way? I usually don't read short stories but I liked this one and the one I read prior to that, "The Doll and other stories" by Daphne du Maurier. 7. Overall, did you find it an enjoyable experience? Yes I did. Very much.

Dickens is one Victorian author I try to like but his novels are just so long. I tried "Bleak House" but couldn't finish it.

Girl too!

Thanks for your replies. "Jane" follows the original Jane Eyre much too closely but what can I say Nico Rathburn, rockstar as Mr. Rochester is almost every woman's fantasy. I would like to read earlier Gothic fiction. I enjoyed "The Castle of Otranto" very much. I would like to read "Melmoth the Wanderer" and others in a similar vein but sometimes the language of early novels can be tedious and off-putting. I did try to read Dickens' "Bleak House" but I just couldn't get into his slow-paced narrative. I love to read classics but I just never being able to get into a Dickens novel. I have also tried George Eliot but don't like her prose. I think sometimes the BBC dramas of certain novels are better than the book. I liked Gaskell's "North and South" and I downloaded "Mary Barton" to my Kindle but stopped reading it. Gaskell takes a long time to build up an interesting story.

I've never done this before but here goes. I read these: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin- I was disappointed with this one. I don't usually read Young Adult novels but it sounded interesting and there were so many good reviews on Good Reads. I reread Anne Bronte's Agnes Grey. I liked it better this time around. I am a teacher so I can totally relate! I guess kids in all different time periods can be little brats! I read North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I saw the BBC miniseries and I loved it. The book was good although a tad to long for my liking. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James. Rummaging through Amazon.com I found this one. Previously I hadn't been too keen on James but this one was OK. I have been forever trying to read Gothic fiction. But I couldn't get through "The Mysteries of Udolpho" by Anne Radcliffe. She just has way to much detail for me. Currently reading a YA novel called "Jane" by April Lindner. I can't say I like it because it follows Jane Eyre much too closely. But pretty much anything connected to that wonderful book I will read!

How refreshing to know. It always had seemed to me that British men are more intellectual than American men. How I would love to visit Haworth. I went to London last year but Haworth was just so far away and me being a tourist, London was hard enough for me. Next time when I visit a foreign country I would like to do an escorted tour. I get lost so many times in London. But I can't find any tour that goes to Haworth.

Wow. So guys what did you like about these novels? Jane Eyre I liked, I think because of the dialogue between Rochester and Jane. I think some novels nowadays focus too much on description and less on character development. Wuthering Heights appealed to me because of the idea of a love stronger than death. Both novels are very passionate!

Lol well there's one!

I've just never run into a guy who does like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. One guy told me that the scene between Jane and Rochester where he begs her to stay is depressing,lol! If only I could find a guy who does...

My favorite character was also Caroline. I never suspected Dr. Sheppard. It was an enjoyable read because Ms. Christie had a sense of humour. My favorite line was when Caroline told one of the characters that she shouldn't worry about the cruel things she said to her boyfriend because they are so conceited they wouldn't believe it anyway! That made me laugh aloud. I can't help thinking it is true! I would recommend the book. It's short and entertaining. I not really a fan of whodunits, they lack character development however I did enjoy this one.

Welcome to the forum!

Amy Winehouse Back to Black Limited Edition double CD!

Just saw the lastest Jane Eyre with Michael Fassbender. I didn't like either him as Rochester nor did I care for Mia W. as Jane.

My top three are: 1) Jane Eyre-Charlotte Bronte 2) Villette-Charlotte Bronte 3) Wuthering Heights-Emily Bronte