"B" is for Bronte, the Bronte sisters, of course. I had the opportunity, nay, I had the pleasure, of listening to the audio edition of "The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte" by Syrie James and I have to say, I didn't want it to end. I didn't want it to end, and yet I had a non-stop listening marathon that weekend (my house was very, very clean-I listened and cleaned). Go!- read this book, or better yet, listen to it on Audible.
"The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte" is a historical fiction novel. I have only, so far, read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights and I knew very little about the Bronte sisters, until reading this book. The 3 sisters' history, personalities and works are very intriguing - I will now have to read their other works.
I don't want to give away too much, so I'll just introduce the book as written from Charlotte Bronte's view, begun on the day she is given a very surprised proposal by her father's curate. In shock about this sudden happening, she goes back in time, detailing her childhood, family life and struggles as a female trying to make her way in Victorian England -very much a man's world. The story goes into how and where she found the inspiration for Jane Eyre, how much of it was taken from experience, and her search for independence and love. It was really well written, I would put it on the top of my favorites list and 5 stars out of 5 stars. The audio version was really superbly done and is a treat to listen to.
I loved Jane Eyre upon my first reading of it, and re-visiting it decades later, strengthened my love of it. Wuthering Heights -was not so much a delight for me, I had the inward feeling of having my teeth set on edge while reading it. I haven't braved a second reading, decades later, but it is indeed, on my list. I do wonder what the older Jenn with think of it and if she will dislike it as much as the girl-Jenn did.
The above photo is of my block-print illustrated set of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights...I fall hard for lovely books...for reals.
*this post is part of the A to Z challenge I am doing for April. Click the button on the sidebar to find more bloggers in the challenge.