I liked it. I do like classic literature, with its dense uptight prose and flowery descriptions, and this doesn't disappoint.

Unlike Jane Eyre, the main character of this story is a bit more dynamic. Lucy Snowe, while similarly an orphan who is plain but quite sharp in intellect, is more emotional than Jane, though still very aloof compared to the other characters in the book. It's been something like 15 years since I read Jane Eyre but it remember it being difficult to connect with Jane, not so with Lucy. Lucy is witty and puts others in their place; has a keen understanding of others' personalities; is ambitious, to an extent. It's interesting to ponder how little she features in her own story; the main character is just in the background so much, especially in the beginning of the book. It takes a long time to get to know Lucy, despite it being her book!

That being said this is a a Charlotte Bronte book and the action is somewhat plodding. You don't get to the central drama of the book until well over halfway in. There's little foreshadowing of what will come later. I do so love when a story connects back with itself, gaps get filled in, answers were looking you in the face all along, but this book doesn't do that. It kind of meanders.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I enjoyed reading it. I was at turns cheering for Lucy, exasperated by her, angry for her. I found it worthwhile, but it won't be for everyone.

Oh, and there is a LOT of French in this book! Without context clues or translation! I can understand a little bit of French but many conversations were unintelligible to me. Including what sounded like some witty insults etc. I don't know if there's an annotated version- that would have been nice. I was way too lazy to ever hunt down translation of the French bits, which undoubtedly exists somewhere. But if it was alongside the text, I would have liked to understand them.