Girl-porn writer found under bus

Let's start with two Brontëites, shall we? Author Edna O'Brien is one according to The Irish Times.

She cited Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel Jane Eyre , James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist , Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms , the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam and the great Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov as her greatest influences. (Ronan McGreevy)

And also writer Nancy Madore judging by one of the books she says she would take to a desert island in an article on Desert Island Keepers.

2. JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte. This is another book I came across in my youth, and I have read it at least once every decade or so since then (yikes, it really makes you sound old when you start subdividing your life in ten year increments). Well, anyway, Jane Eyre needs no introduction or description; I would be surprised if I could find anyone who isn't acquainted with her. I love the book because it appeals to the pious (although perhaps latent) goodness in me. The character of Jane Eyre is what I aspire to be. Perhaps aspire is too strong a word, since it implies that I'm actually working towards being like that, which it would appear I am not. Or, if I am, you might say I'm not making much headway in my efforts. But oh, how I would love to be like her! Every time I say or do something I regret I think of Jane Eyre. This book is such a comforting read for me, because when I feel bad, it can make me feel better to simply spend time in the company of goodness. Jane Eyre keeps her cool and perseveres through many hardships, and her very character is an inspiration for me. And as for romance and erotica, the story of Jane Eyre is profoundly romantic in my opinion. Her enduring feelings for Mr. Rochester make many of our modern day "relationships" look like one night stands. It appeals to my sense of romantic love to imagine that love could really last forever (even though in reality I know that's a crock of ---- ).

According to The Daily Reveille, 'Twilight is cleverly disguised porn for women'. We honestly don't know about that - though we hardly think so - but this we know a little about:

Girl porn has existed for years in the various forms, from the clever and sophisticated Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte novels to the less tactful bodice-rippers by garden-variety romance novelists. Both kinds have had their share of success, though neither has claimed the limelight the way “Twilight” has. (Linnie Leavines)

Of course we should have imagined that after years of claiming that, say, Jane Eyre was a mere romantic (instead of Romantic) novel this should be the next 'logical' step. Jane Eyre, Shirley and Villette, all full of religious quotations, full of social and women's issues, all considered classics, all read in schools and universities all around the world are nothing but 'clever and sophisticated girl porn'. Uh-huh, that's why so many teenagers find them utterly boring.

The other plainly stupid thing to do is to state that neither Charlotte Brontë or Jane Austen have 'claimed the limelight the way Twilight has' because, you know, the fact that an author's novels are read about two centuries after their first publications is not enough. It's called the 'test of time' and we'd say both authors have passed it with flying colours. Whether Stephenie Meyer does too remains to be seen.

On a different note, the case of the 'NCAA rules violation by the University of Alabama' that we reported a few days ago continues with its unexpected Brontë mentions as seen in the Tuscaloosa News:

“In short, it is a case about a semester’s use of Norton Anthologies, “Wuthering Heights”, math answer keys and other materials of an academic nature.”
— University of Alabama response to NCAA allegations of major violations
If only it was as easy as throwing Emily Bronte under the bus. [...]
In terms of Alabama’s response, I will say this: I was joking about Emily Bronte going under the bus, but it wasn’t far off. Alabama laid the brunt of the blame on “a gap” in a system that let bad things happen. Individual responsibility was doled out with an eyedropper: the hourly employees and student workers at the University Supply Store, the Supply Store supervisor and Jon Dever, the assistant athletic director for academic affairs, took the brunt of it. (Cecil Hurt)

We find Wuthering Heights on several blogs: Mixed Media Martyr, Watty's World and Professional Writing Blog. Dievas liv och äventyr posts in Swedish about Agnes Grey. Leeds Daily Photo has uploaded a picture of the Brontë Family Plaque in Haworth Church. And Gimme More Books! has finished Villette.

Incidentally, if you like Villette, there are a couple of eBay auctions that may be of interest, both of first American editions of Villette: one with a starting bid of $750 and another selling for $3,500.

Categories: Brontëites, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, Villette, Weirdo