'This was the year I’d finally read Jane Eyre and it was a great distraction'

The Review Geek recommends '10 Unofficial Book Sequels and Prequels of Beloved Stories' and one of them is

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

 (Unofficial prequel to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë)

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is an unofficial prequel to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. The novel explores the backstory of Bertha Mason, the so-called madwoman in the attic in Jane Eyre. Set in Jamaica during the early 19th century, the book delves into the complex relationship between Antoinette Cosway (who later becomes Bertha Mason) and Mr. Rochester.

It offers a different perspective on the events leading up to Bertha’s confinement in the attic, shedding light on her upbringing, her Creole heritage, and the effects of colonisation and racism. Rhys masterfully captures the raw emotions and explores themes of identity, oppression, and madness. Wide Sargasso Sea is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that challenges the reader’s preconceptions while complementing the original narrative of Jane Eyre. (Kennie M)

MovieJawn shares one of its contributors' 'Top 15 Discoveries of 2023' and we were pleasantly surprised to see

Jane Eyre (dir Susanna White, 2006)

I know this is a miniseries, but I so rarely write about television. This adaptation feels cinematic enough (I would rewatch this in a theater in a heartbeat, provided there was an intermission) to be worthy of inclusion. Jane Eyre has been adapted numerous times, and I would not claim to be an expert on Charlotte Brontë’s novel or previous screen versions. But this version reflects my memory of the novel in tone and love for its characters. Jane Eyre is a complicated story psychologically, but White and screenwriter Sandy Welch trust Brontë enough to attempt bringing all of the novel’s nuances to bear rather than trying to reinterpret them. Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens are exceptional leads and are able to use their chemistry together to underline the character dynamics at play. This version of Jane Eyre is a perfect example of showing that sometimes classics stand the test of time simply by being great. (Ryan Silberstein)

A contributor to The Guardian tells about a Christmas that changed her: when she spilled scalding hot water on her lap.

I didn’t need to be told not to sit down – it was agony. I attempted a kind of sideways lie to watch TV and a kneeling position with a pillow. I had decided this was the year I’d finally read Jane Eyre and it was a great distraction. But really, I came to accept that all my heart desires at Christmas is the ability to sit on my bottom.

I have never bought a takeaway tea since. I wrote to the coffee shop chain at the service station and told them what had happened. They sent me a £5 voucher as an apology – which I could only spend in Clacket Lane services. Reader: I did not use it. (Jenny Stevens)