My literary love

The last few years, I have fallen in love all over again. Only this time it was with a genre. To be honest, I have never read Jane Austin or Bronte until several years ago when I introduced myself to the Victorian era. And from the moment I met Jane Eyre, my love for Victorian novels was ignited.

Perhaps it is the romantic in me, or the feminine, though I am sure probably both, that I should fall so madly in love with a bold and outspoken heroine as Jane Eyre. The story of her strength and defiance spoke to me far before she even laid eyes on Mr. Rochester. In any case, I am captivated with the genre and its strong heroines.

That’s also when I found a brilliant writer under the name of Jennifer Donnelly who wrote an exquisite young adult novel titled, A Northern Light. Hard to pinpoint an exact genre, it has hints of mystery, romance, and historical fiction bound into one. Though, it is ultimately a coming of age story written with charmingly sophisticated prose and vivid characterization. It’s a book for people who love words and who love to follow in the journey of a strong young heroine who discovers with the reader, the unrestrained beauty of life. Donnelly is a gifted writer and it is a book that I recommend to most everyone who asks, what is your favorite novel? It is therefore also not surprising that I also adore her adult novels, including The Tea Rose and the Winter Rose (Though I honestly would categorize A Northern Light as a very worthy adult novel). Both featuring unabashedly spirited heroines.

And so following in a similar vein, I finished in one sitting, another terrific, though not quite as worthy as A Northern Light, very enjoyable young adult novel called The Secret Countess by Iva Ibottson. It is an engrossing read and I found myself certain that half way through, Ibottson had Jane Eyre in mind when she wrote it. And mere pages from the end, there it was, a small reference to Bronte’s classic. My breath sighed an “I-knew-it”. The most simple description of the book, though it by no means does it justice, is that it’s a fairy talesque story with hints of Cinderella meets Eyre in a turn of the 20th century yarn. A recommended selection for those cold weekends when a dose of good writing and fable go hand in hand.