Are the moors godforsaken backwoods?

Kera Unlimited reviews a book called Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan. It looks as if the book has a Brontë side to it.

And she can work up some powerful scenes. Initially, Mudbound seems as though it might be something like Emily Bronte on the Bayou - an illicit passion in a godforsaken backwoods. But the novel begins with a bleak burial in a violent storm and continues with different characters taking over the story as it heads toward the inevitable lynch mob. It's really kind of William Faulkner Lite -Faulkner without the gothic poetry or the dense stream-of-consciousness. (Jerome Weeks)

A couple of blogs also bring to our attention two new Brontëites. Novel Journey interviews author Rita Gerlach.

What are a few of your favorite books (not written by you) and why are they favorites?
Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and all of Jane Austen. The reasons? Great storytelling, strong heroes and virtuous leading ladies. I love the writing style, especially the incredible dialogue that goes on between the characters.

And Lori Devoti interviews writer Ann Voss Peterson.

Q.) Any new projects on the horizon? What would you like to try next?
A.V.P.) The story I’m writing now is one that I’ve always wanted to do…a gothic. You know, an old house, a dark, tortured hero, a heroine afraid for her life, even a hint of ghosts. As a fan of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, I’ve always wanted to write a bit of a tribute to that tradition, and I’ve finally found the story to do it.

The Observer reviews the debut album of Los Campesinos, which includes the lyrics 'don't read Jane Eyre'.

Der Schreibwarenladen reviews in German a new edition of a German audiobook of Jane Eyre, read by Sophie Rois. It should be remembered that Sophie Rois received an award for her outstanding reading.

And we have found it interesting to read on Meta-Emotion a brief review of Jenna Starborn, a futuristic, sci-fi version of Jane Eyre, by Sharon Shin.

The Financial Times has a couple of articles on West Yorkshire and Leeds, which mention the Brontës in passing and might be of interest to Brontëites interested in knowing more about the area.

Finally, an alert from Oak Park, IL, at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Library:

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
7:30 p.m. Maze Branch
How did Rochester's wife end up in that locked attic room? What really happened before Jane Eyre arrived on the scene?

Categories: Alert, Audio-Radio, Books, Brontëites, Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, Wuthering Heights