Jane Eyre

[Boleyn]

OK who is going to watch it at 9pm?

Really think the actress playing Jane is outstanding, and Rochester is beginning to grow on me.

me too Edam. But can't say I recognised any of it tonight. Do you know the actual hall whree it's filmed? DH and I went for a night's camping next to North Lees Hall, whihc, iirc, is the inspiration for Rochester's gaffe.

just had a look on the website - it's Haddon Hall

Am enjoying but don't think it's doing the book as much justice as it could have done - just not dark enough. Not convinced by Mason - didn't seem threatening enough, atmosphere of foreboding just not really there for me. The Timothy Dalton version is still streaks ahead for me so far. Dh not read the book and I'm having to fill in a bit as we go. Like the actress playing Jane. Will be watching til the end as I love this book - way out to get a new copy tomorrow, not sure where my one from school days has gone to.

Twiga I love the book too, it's such a powerful story and so ahead of its time.

I've seen both of the episodes tonight, its been ages since I read the book but I quite like this adaptation. Jane seems to come alive round Rochester and become all chippy and flirty instead of just looking morose, there is something odd about her mouth though. I am less convinced by Toby Stephens than I was by Timothy Dalton- he is a bit prettyboy to me.

Rochester too pretty and not brooding enough but fanciable all the same. Agree re Mason too and Jane being a bit too dull - enjoying it all the same. Like Grace Pool and would like to slap Blanche with a big library folio.

Oh bugger, I completely forgot it was on last night - does anyone know when it is repeated?

Yup, I spotted Haddon Hall in the first episode - do I get a prize? Lovely place and has a major love story attached to it in real life.

Thought the first Jane/Rochester meeting when the horse rears up could have been Winnat's Pass - very spooky place.

North Lees is indeed inspiration for Thornfield - former Vicar of Hathersage who wrote a pamphlet on Jane Eyre said north = anagram of Thorn and Lees = old word for field. (My best friend from school lived in Hathersage so I spent a lot of time there as a teenager.)

I think Jane is very well-cast, doing her best to be plain and self-contained but obviously in love with Rochester.

I'm going to have to reread the book ! She seems way more worldly and playful (like over the money) and he more of a tease than I'd ever noticed.

Ah, but Jane doesn't accept Rochester when he's rich and powerful. She turns away from him when she realises what his wealth is built upon. And then refuses the apparently moral but actually selfish St John too - she refuses to sacrifice herself for any man. She only accepts Rochester when he is humbled, when he is no longer a respected figure in society (is he still rich at the end of the book? Can't remember). She doesn't pay, he does. He has to lose everything before he wins the girl.

But she doesn't turn away from Rochester b/c he has to lose everything first.

Reread the chapter after she finds out he is still married.

He tells her about all his mistresses, after he's told her about how his 'love' for them petered out.

She has a VERY decisive moment in which she realises that if she accepts being his mistress, the same thing will happen to her.

And she's better than that.

'But Jane, you have no friends, no one in the world but him. Who will care for you?'

I care for myself, she says inwardly.

That's why she walks.

She also writes that she left Rochester on principle, and St John on moral grounds - b/c she knows his idea of marriage is a mockery of marriage.

She returned to him to find out what became of him.

Honestly that's the reason she gives.

St. John was pressing her for marriage, to which she almost agrees.

She tells him, however, that she must see what has happened to a 'friend', which he knows to be Rochester, b/c she's not been able to hear any news of him in any other fashion.

As he is going away himself to Cambridge to bid farewell to his friends, he tells her to take the time to think.

Then, as he is leaving her, she hears Rochester call out her name, and takes off to see what's happened.

Like most of us, Jane hadn't really thought through what Rochester's reactions might be to her return, indeed, she believes mostly that he will no longer be in the country.

I love this book but I have some problems with it. The passage where he wants to take her to the moon and eat cheese is just sickly and her hearing him calling at her the end is almost too romantic for me...I find it a guilty pleasure.

Well, the writer was hoping to sell it, so I honestly think she threw in some of those spicier bits.

But given the place and time in which it was written, it is light years ahead of its time.

I'm really enjoying this Jane Eyre - love the style, just as I loved the same for Bleak House.

Rochester growing on me but still feel he should have a darker edge, almost scarier. This Roch has too much of a twinkle in his eye. My Own Private Rochester has a little more Heathcliffe in him!

This Jane is great despite odd mouth - saw her on GMTV today all glammed up but with that same self-possession that is so right for Jane.

I'm really enjoying this Jane Eyre - love the style, just as I loved the same for Bleak House.

Rochester growing on me but still feel he should have a darker edge, almost scarier. This Roch has too much of a twinkle in his eye. My Own Private Rochester has a little more Heathcliffe in him!

This Jane is great despite odd mouth - saw her on GMTV today all glammed up but with that same self-possession that is so right for Jane.

Look - here she is in rl.

The actress who plays Jane was on CBeebies this morning reading a story - glammed up with lots of make-up ( not keen on the lipstick with her unusual mouth though!)