The appeal of old books

I had an argument with a friend yesterday about why I like Jane Austen. I think he was goading me because I had admitted my excitement about getting home in time to watch the new Masterpiece Theatre's Jane Eyre. Because he has no use for books of that nature he was curious why I did. (Did I say "think he was goading me"? I should have been more definite.) Later I asked my roommate how you explain why you find a story compelling. She didn't respond, because she didn't want to be a proxy in my argument.

I was disappointed when I got home and realized I missed the first installment of Jane Eyre. For some reason I thought the mini started last night. I have never read any of the Brontë Sisters; somehow they eluded my reading lists growing up. I decided to watch the conclusion anyway, partially because I was primed for a period piece and partially because I had read that Toby Stephens' Rochester was supposed to be definitive.

I was able to pick up on the main themes, and while I wish I could have seen it entirely to see Jane and Rochester fall for each other, I enjoyed it. There are some extremely silly bits to that story, though. If I had read it at 16, I'm sure I would have swooned at all the appropriate places. I think, though, that soap operas must owe a certain debt to Jane Eyre. As does Daphne du Maurier in Rebecca. While the stories aren't the same, in both the lovers are set free by fire.

I think my friend was teasing me because he thought I read Jane Austen and the like for the romances. While I do enjoy the Mr. Darcys and Captain Wentworths therein, its the heroines they love that keep me returning to my old favorites. I reread the classics to find mirrors to pieces of my soul or to find ways to improve myself by learning from their mistakes and triumphs.

Cross-posted.

Comments

[Jennifer]

I agree! It's the women... seeing the inner-strength at a time when they were thought to have none... or just seeing how far we've come.

[daveminnj]

have you read
the wide sargasso sea- by jean rhys?
it is a retelling of rochester's
first marriage- from the point of view of the madwoman in the attic.
i think it's as great as jane eyre.
(but avoid the movie version)

[grasshopper]

In my opinion, Jane Austen is one of those classic writers whose prose is so fluid and subtle, you hardly noticed you're reading. Her stories may be old-fashioned but sentence for sentence her writing still flows as fresh and clear as if she were writing now.
Another classic master whose writing moves seamlessly and as far as pace, dialogue, structure, (though the story travels well, too)sounds very current is Flaubert, in "Madam Bovary." And there all that survives not only time but translation!

[amy]

I love Jane Austen, but haven't read any Bronte since college. I did see a very funny spoof of Wuthering Heights the other evening as I was watching Flying Circus - it was all done in Semaphore. hee!

I do have all these books, and since I'm on hiatus from the library (apparently when you've had abdominal surgery, they don't want you in lifting 45 lb book crates), I'm trying to read books I actually own - and Austen & Bronte might be my next choices.

[Adorable Girlfriend]

I am familiar with Rhys and agree that an Austen lover might enjoy the read.