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| image from Barnes & Noble.com |
One of my favorite literary genres is Victorian Gothic. I love the gloom, the brooding, and the mystery. It just seems to be the perfect reading for this time of year. Cuddle up with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea and a deliciously spooky book. I think one of the first classic novels that I read on my own time (and not for school) was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It is considered a Gothic novel and it remains one of my favorite books to date.
I recently finished reading Grange House by Sarah Blake. It is a modern Gothic novel set in the late 1800’s and written in Victorian prose, giving it an authentic feel. It’s a wonderfully brooding story about a house and the ghosts and stories that inhabit it (the cover of the book says it all). It immediately reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier – tragedy at a grand house by the water and a mysterious past for the heroine to piece together. It also goes without saying that it reminded me very much of Jane Eyre. In fact, the characters in Grange House like to read Jane Eyre themselves.
As soon as I finished reading Grange House, I wanted to read Jane Eyre again. Luckily, I had the most recent movie of Jane Eyre from Netflix just waiting to be watched. It is a sensational adaptation and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought Mia Wasikowska was perfect as Jane. Very plain-looking in some shots, but becoming more beautiful as she fell in love with Mr. Rochester. The look and feel of the movie was very atmospheric, with low lighting and a beautiful musical score. Most people watch slasher-type horror movies the weekend before Halloween. Me, I watched a Gothic Horror movie. Both the movie and Grange House inspired me and I’ve found myself delving into the book again (and it’s free for download on Kindle!).
If you need to find me in the next few days, I’ll be curled up somewhere with a blanket and my Kindle……
