The best classical romance I have ever read.

I find that I much prefer Charlotte Brontë's writing style over Emily Brontë's writing style (though I know I shouldn't compare and group the two of them and eradicate their individuality as writers). When reading Emily's Wuthering Heights, for example, whilst I enjoyed the characters and the general plot of the story, the narrative felt much too extensive and unnecessarily drawn out for me, and I often found myself not paying attention out of lack of interest. On the other hand, with Charlotte's Jane Eyre, the length and complexity were respondent and cooperative with the actual material - every page in the novel felt crucial to the story.

Character-wise, Jane is being added to my very short list of not just tolerable, but enjoyable, protagonists (right between Moll Flanders and Katniss Everdeen!). Not only is she independent and relies on her own authority, but she, especially at the very end, has some sort of claim over Rochester's autonomy as well as her own. Mr Rochester, as insufferable as he is, is a fascinating character, and I don't feel bored of him like I might have done with other male characters who fit into that Victorian-lover mould.

I don't re-read classics often, but this is one that I definitely would consider reading again!