Ivanka's advice to Jane

Bookpage reviews Sarah Shoemaker's novel Mr Rochester.

There are few romantic heroes in classic literature more confusing or less sympathetic than Jane Eyre’s Mr. Rochester. In her debut novel, Sarah Shoemaker has set about unmasking this brooding hero. Fully immersing readers in the language and culture of the 19th century, Mr. Rochester is a coming-of-age journey that follows the lonely and motherless Edward Rochester from bleak Thornfield Hall to sunny and humid Jamaica, through a childhood that feels torn from a Dickens novel and into the murky waters of adulthood.
Mr. Rochester differs from popular Jane Eyre retellings, such as Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea, in that Shoemaker, a retired librarian, succeeds in painting a sympathetic portrait of the man. Edward is revealed to be deeply emotional and achingly lonely. His soul desire in life is a companion—be it lover or friend—and his repeated inability to find one is what drives him to become the man readers know and (sometimes) love. The strength of the novel lies in Shoemaker’s acute attention to detail and historical accuracy, particularly in her treatment of Jamaica, where slavery is king and everything young Edward thought he knew has been turned upside down.
Mr. Rochester is beautifully paced and compelling as it delivers a sweeping narrative and a new perspective to one of literature’s most famous love stories. Many questions and confusions from the original story—such as Bertha’s backstory, why Edward hides his feelings and why he finally decides to propose—have been answered. Though the novel will appeal most to fans of Jane Eyre, Shoemaker has recreated the spirit of the original, which will help those unfamiliar with the text enjoy this retelling. (Hope Racine)

Kids' Book Review interviews author Sophie Masson.

6. What book character would you be, and why? As a fairytale-devouring child, I identified with Beauty in Beauty and the Beast, because she was quietly brave and had adventures and helped her family - and found love. As a romantic teenager, I identified with Jane Eyre, for similar reasons. Now I think many of the heroines in my books are, at heart, rather like Beauty and Jane, so I must still be identifying with that kind of character. (Penny)

The Washington Post does a wonderful job of imagining the advice Ivanka Trump would give to famous literary characters now that she has written 'a book with her tips for success'.

“Jane Eyre”: Instead of becoming dependent on a man to support her, Jane should have tried modeling. I found that to be very lucrative, personally. (Alexandra Petri)

The Midsommer Norton, Radstock and District Journal reports the opening of a new telephone library:

Earlier that day the newly-repainted red telephone box, presented to the town many years ago, was inaugurated as a telephone library! Cllr Myers personally donated a series of Shakespeare plays and a copy of Jane Eyre. The French presented Midsomer Norton with a framed picture to hang in the Town Hall. (Leah Smith)

Politiken (Denmark) describes the Liverpool meeting room of the organisation The Reader.

Et lettere kedeligt mødelokale med et stort bord i midten. På reolerne står litterære koryfæer sorteret i sæt af 10-15 eksemplarer: William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Emily Brontë, John Keats og lord Byron. Ingen selvhjælpsbøger i sigte. Folk kommer dryssende, hilser og begynder selv at lave te. På væggen er den irskfødte forfatter Samuel Beckett citeret: »Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better«. (Mikkel Thulstrup Nielsen) (Translation)

The day has come when we have to speak about singer Harry Styles (a former member of boyband One Direction). Several sites are discussing the music video for his first solo single Sign of The Times. News (Australia) describes it as follows:

In the cinematic clip, the former One Direction star strides around wild British moors in a broody fashion — a la Heathcliff — before impressively managing to both walk on water and fly. (Bronte Coy)

People links to a tweet that described it similarly. Elle's description is rather more awkward:

Harry Styles released the video for his first solo single, "Sign of the Times," today. The pared-back, melancholic visuals see the One Directioner moodily striding the moors like Jane Eyre, or Aragorn. (Estelle Tang)

International Examiner reviews Patricia Park's Re Jane. The Brontë Parsonage Museum shares the poems generated by Winston and his Random Poetry Generating Bicycle, which make for a rather interesting read.