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Unearthly Things
Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre retold against the backdrop of San Francisco's most fabulous—and dangerous—elites.
After losing her parents in a tragic accident, surfer girl Janie Mason trades the sunny beaches of Hawaii for the cold fog of San Francisco and new guardians—the Rochesters—she’s never even met. Janie feels hopelessly out of place in their world of Napa weekends, fancy cotillions, and chauffeurs. The only person she can relate to is Daniel, a fellow surfer. Meeting him makes Janie feel like things might be looking up.
Still, something isn’t right in the Rochester mansion. There are noises—screams—coming from the attic that everyone else claims they can’t hear. Then John, the black sheep of the family, returns after getting kicked out of yet another boarding school. Soon Janie finds herself torn between devil-may-care John and fiercely loyal Daniel. Just when she thinks her life can’t get any more complicated, she learns the truth about why the Rochesters took her in. They want something from Janie, and she’s about to see just how far they’ll go to get it.
After losing her parents in a tragic accident, surfer girl Janie Mason trades the sunny beaches of Hawaii for the cold fog of San Francisco and new guardians—the Rochesters—she’s never even met. Janie feels hopelessly out of place in their world of Napa weekends, fancy cotillions, and chauffeurs. The only person she can relate to is Daniel, a fellow surfer. Meeting him makes Janie feel like things might be looking up.
Still, something isn’t right in the Rochester mansion. There are noises—screams—coming from the attic that everyone else claims they can’t hear. Then John, the black sheep of the family, returns after getting kicked out of yet another boarding school. Soon Janie finds herself torn between devil-may-care John and fiercely loyal Daniel. Just when she thinks her life can’t get any more complicated, she learns the truth about why the Rochesters took her in. They want something from Janie, and she’s about to see just how far they’ll go to get it.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2017
10 people are currently reading
1719 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Gagnon
36 books717 followersMichelle Gagnon is a former modern dancer, bartender, dog walker, model, personal trainer, and Russian supper club performer. Her bestselling adult thrillers THE TUNNELS, BONEYARD, THE GATEKEEPER, and KIDNAP & RANSOM have been published in North America, France, Denmark, Spain, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Australia. BONEYARD was a finalist for a 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.
The first book in her Young Adult PERSEFONE trilogy, DON'T TURN AROUND, was selected as one of the best books of 2012 by the American Library Association, Entertainment Weekly Magazine, and Kirkus. It was nominated for an ITW Thriller award, and was a Junior Library Guild and Indienext pick. Along with DON'T LOOK NOW and DON'T LET GO, the entire series received multiple starred reviews and state library awards.
UNEARTHLY THINGS is a modernized, deconstructed version of Jane Eyre set in the world of San Francisco high society. (SoHo Teen, 2017)
Her latest adult novel, KILLING ME, is a neo-noir thriller about unlikely heroines who hunt serial killers.
Michelle lives in Los Angeles, where she is currently attaining a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology.
Follow her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MichelleGagno...
or Twitter: @Michelle_Gagnon
The first book in her Young Adult PERSEFONE trilogy, DON'T TURN AROUND, was selected as one of the best books of 2012 by the American Library Association, Entertainment Weekly Magazine, and Kirkus. It was nominated for an ITW Thriller award, and was a Junior Library Guild and Indienext pick. Along with DON'T LOOK NOW and DON'T LET GO, the entire series received multiple starred reviews and state library awards.
UNEARTHLY THINGS is a modernized, deconstructed version of Jane Eyre set in the world of San Francisco high society. (SoHo Teen, 2017)
Her latest adult novel, KILLING ME, is a neo-noir thriller about unlikely heroines who hunt serial killers.
Michelle lives in Los Angeles, where she is currently attaining a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology.
Follow her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MichelleGagno...
or Twitter: @Michelle_Gagnon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
January 6, 2021
CW:
Well this is not a retelling of Jane Eyre.
I prefer to call stories that draw inspiration from other stories but make quite significant plot or character changes, reimaginings. To me that's a more appropriate term as they are taking a story and putting their own spin on it. The author has taken a handful of elements from Jane Eyre and created her own unique story. The first part was actually okay with some creepy modern gothic features. Then a plot twist occurs which is similar to another classic piece of gothic literature which I will keep as a hidden spoiler because it will give away too much. After this plot point however, there is a section where I was actually groaning because it was so implausible. Thankfully the story becomes engaging again, and I felt like it had a reasonably strong ending. I didn't particularly like the main character or the love triangle, but the story intrigued me enough to keep me reading.
Well this is not a retelling of Jane Eyre.
I prefer to call stories that draw inspiration from other stories but make quite significant plot or character changes, reimaginings. To me that's a more appropriate term as they are taking a story and putting their own spin on it. The author has taken a handful of elements from Jane Eyre and created her own unique story. The first part was actually okay with some creepy modern gothic features. Then a plot twist occurs which is similar to another classic piece of gothic literature which I will keep as a hidden spoiler because it will give away too much. After this plot point however, there is a section where I was actually groaning because it was so implausible. Thankfully the story becomes engaging again, and I felt like it had a reasonably strong ending. I didn't particularly like the main character or the love triangle, but the story intrigued me enough to keep me reading.
April 16, 2017
Release Date: April 11, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Retelling (with a hint of paranormal)
I really liked this book! It's a retelling of Jane Eyre (which is pretty cool) with a hint of paranormal. Admittedly, I haven't read Jane Eyre (i'll go hide in the corner now) but if it's anything like this then I may dive into the classic and check it out. With that, this is a suspenseful and addicting read. I read it fairly quickly even though I have been extremely busy, and didn't want to put it down even when I had to. The plot will hook you the minute you start it. The story-line is very engrossing as well. It's about a teenager named Janie who is forced to live with the Rochester's following her parent's death. And it this isn't hard enough, some sinister things are going on within the house she lives in that question Janie's sanity. Sounds good, right? Well, it is!
Normally, this isn't the type of book I read. I tend to stay away from retelling's because they are (normally) nothing like the original. Also, I don't find many that are good enough to hold my attention for long. This certainly changed after I read this novel though. At first, I picked up the book based on the cover (it's really cool) and then when I read the blurb I thought to myself "okay, this could be really interesting", and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. I hope the author continues with these retelling's because I will devour them every time based on reading this one!
This Book Would Be Perfect For
+ Fans of Young Adult Fiction (mystery and paranormal)
+ Fans of retelling's (and maybe even modern fairy tales)
+ Fans of the authors work
Genre: Young Adult Retelling (with a hint of paranormal)
I really liked this book! It's a retelling of Jane Eyre (which is pretty cool) with a hint of paranormal. Admittedly, I haven't read Jane Eyre (i'll go hide in the corner now) but if it's anything like this then I may dive into the classic and check it out. With that, this is a suspenseful and addicting read. I read it fairly quickly even though I have been extremely busy, and didn't want to put it down even when I had to. The plot will hook you the minute you start it. The story-line is very engrossing as well. It's about a teenager named Janie who is forced to live with the Rochester's following her parent's death. And it this isn't hard enough, some sinister things are going on within the house she lives in that question Janie's sanity. Sounds good, right? Well, it is!
Normally, this isn't the type of book I read. I tend to stay away from retelling's because they are (normally) nothing like the original. Also, I don't find many that are good enough to hold my attention for long. This certainly changed after I read this novel though. At first, I picked up the book based on the cover (it's really cool) and then when I read the blurb I thought to myself "okay, this could be really interesting", and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. I hope the author continues with these retelling's because I will devour them every time based on reading this one!
This Book Would Be Perfect For
+ Fans of Young Adult Fiction (mystery and paranormal)
+ Fans of retelling's (and maybe even modern fairy tales)
+ Fans of the authors work
January 21, 2021
❐ Overall Rating 4 | Narration 4½
❐ Narrated by Michi Barall
❐ Listening Length: 9H 50M
❐ Jane Eyre Retelling or Reimagining
❐ YA Paranormal/Horror
❐ Ghosts
I was surprised actually by how much I liked this. I really enjoyed the creep factor with the ghostly mystery, the fish-out-of-water feel, and the low-key romance. The blurb makes it sound like it has a love triangle...but I don’t think it’s like that.
I’ve never read Jane Eyre...I know, I know...but classics aren’t really my thing. So I can’t really say how much this is like that. Although, upon finishing this I was curious about Jane Eyre and I looked it up on here to see what it was about. From the blurb and reading reviews, I learned that this only resembles that minimally...and I think that’s a good thing because I’m not sure that I would like Jane Eyre, the book that is...and clearly reading it isn’t necessary to enjoy this, it may have been why I liked it, even.
(cawpile score = 7.46)
❐ Narrated by Michi Barall
❐ Listening Length: 9H 50M
❐ Jane Eyre Retelling or Reimagining
❐ YA Paranormal/Horror
❐ Ghosts
I was surprised actually by how much I liked this. I really enjoyed the creep factor with the ghostly mystery, the fish-out-of-water feel, and the low-key romance. The blurb makes it sound like it has a love triangle...but I don’t think it’s like that.
I’ve never read Jane Eyre...I know, I know...but classics aren’t really my thing. So I can’t really say how much this is like that. Although, upon finishing this I was curious about Jane Eyre and I looked it up on here to see what it was about. From the blurb and reading reviews, I learned that this only resembles that minimally...and I think that’s a good thing because I’m not sure that I would like Jane Eyre, the book that is...and clearly reading it isn’t necessary to enjoy this, it may have been why I liked it, even.
(cawpile score = 7.46)
Read
July 9, 2019DNF about half way through
I shouldn’t have jumped from My Plain Jane (another Jane Eyre retelling) to this...
I enjoyed the writting style and some of the mystery element was fun but overall there was nothing that kept me wanting to read it.
Might pick up again if I really want to know what happens.
I shouldn’t have jumped from My Plain Jane (another Jane Eyre retelling) to this...
I enjoyed the writting style and some of the mystery element was fun but overall there was nothing that kept me wanting to read it.
Might pick up again if I really want to know what happens.
Want to read
March 9, 2016JANE EYRE WITH A SUPERNATURAL TWIST.
GIM. ME.
GIM. ME.
May 16, 2017
I've never read Jane Eyre, but I've enjoyed Michelle's other books and liked the synopsis, so I was intrigued.
I really liked Janie. She's smart and level headed and a really nice person. The rest of the characters were sort of flat and I felt like we never really got to know any of them. On one hand, it was a perfect set up to make me wonder if Janie was really crazy, but at the same time, it made it hard to root for any of them.
Plotwise, I loved the build up. There was tension and mystery and a perfect amount of creepy...and then it sort of lost all of it. It seemed as if there was a rush to tie everything up and I couldn't settle into the last third of the story.
Overall, it was a quick and mostly enjoyable read.
**Huge thanks to Soho Teen for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Janie. She's smart and level headed and a really nice person. The rest of the characters were sort of flat and I felt like we never really got to know any of them. On one hand, it was a perfect set up to make me wonder if Janie was really crazy, but at the same time, it made it hard to root for any of them.
Plotwise, I loved the build up. There was tension and mystery and a perfect amount of creepy...and then it sort of lost all of it. It seemed as if there was a rush to tie everything up and I couldn't settle into the last third of the story.
Overall, it was a quick and mostly enjoyable read.
**Huge thanks to Soho Teen for providing the arc free of charge**
April 17, 2017
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Unearthly Things is a real treat for those looking for YA horror that isn't too terrifying, yet relies a lot on thrilling concepts to tell an amazing story. For those who aren't too into horror, but every now and again are looking for a bit of a spooky tale without having to keep the lights on for weeks while sleeping, this is definitely a great book to pick up, as there's a bit of a mystery element going on in the story, too. Because of that, this book spans across several genres, and I imagine will appeal to a lot of people (especially those interested in classical literature and who would love to read a new Jane Eyre retelling.
Janie Mason has lost her parents in a tragic helicopter accident, and in the will her parents made up years ago, she is to leave her home in Hawaii and move in with her father's old best friend in San Francisco. While it is hard enough to have to leave behind her home after losing parents that she was incredibly close to, she now has to move in with a family that she doesn't know, leave her friends, and have to make a life for herself somewhere else. It might not be so bad, except that her dad's friend, Richard, is quite rich and his family seems to be snobs, including his daughter Georgina and his wife, Marion. Then there's their little boy, Nicholas, who is kind of creepy, especially with how often he tells Janie he "talks" to his dead twin sister, Eliza.
Between weird noises, screams in the attic, and the family skirting around the topic of Eliza as often as they can, Janie can't seem to get any real answers in the family, nor does she feel like she belongs.
When she meets Daniel, the two of them hit it off because of their love of surfing. Daniel listens to Janie and even helps her investigate the weird sounds she has been hearing in the attic. And then there's John, the family's other son, home from boarding school after being kicked out, and the only one in the family who seems to genuinely care about Janie. So she forms a friendship with him, as well, even though Daniel and John have had a feud going for quite some time, and Daniel hates the fact that Janie is spending time with John.
While dealing with all of these things, plus situations at the house getting weirder every day (including a random fire that breaks out only in Janie's room), Janie slowly feels like she might be losing her grip on things. The only person who seems to want to protect her is the family's maid, Alma, and why she is working so hard to ensure her safety is a mystery to Janie.
When old family secrets begin to surface, Janie finds that this family might try and keep up with appearances, but they definitely aren't who they say they are.
After you get past the absolutely beautiful cover of this book, and the synopsis that mixes plenty of elements to create a delicious sounding thriller, you get a story that wraps you up and leaves you reading until the early hours of the morning, because it's that good.
While I was in love with the story (which is fast paced and interesting as can be), for some reason I felt myself having a bit of difficulty connecting to some of the characters, including Janie in the beginning of the book. I also found myself not liking Daniel very much - he just seemed kind of "off." Their relationship was a little dull and flat even from the beginning. Even so, I believe the author did an amazing job with the story and some of the other characters - such as Nicholas, who was just incredibly creepy and added so much to the book. The whole Rochester family had so many secrets that they were hiding, and I loved how sinister they all seemed.
The horror in Unearthly Things was a compliment to the overall theme of the book, instead of taking center stage and making this a book that lacks other elements, too. Sometimes you read a horror novel and it's full of scary things happening over and over, mostly for the sake of being shock value, but that isn't the case here. The moments of horror that are found in the book actually have a point that is relevant to the story.
The drama between Georgina and Janie offers some excitement to the book, as well. At first, it's typical teenage girl drama, and then it becomes malicious later in the book. It fits the overall ominous feelings that I had while reading, and it was well done and added something to the story.
This is a really interesting book to pick up, whether or not you've actually read Jane Eyre. It's fun, a bit scary, and completely un-put-downable. It's a perfect treat for those times when you're looking for a book that has a little bit of everything.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Unearthly Things is a real treat for those looking for YA horror that isn't too terrifying, yet relies a lot on thrilling concepts to tell an amazing story. For those who aren't too into horror, but every now and again are looking for a bit of a spooky tale without having to keep the lights on for weeks while sleeping, this is definitely a great book to pick up, as there's a bit of a mystery element going on in the story, too. Because of that, this book spans across several genres, and I imagine will appeal to a lot of people (especially those interested in classical literature and who would love to read a new Jane Eyre retelling.
Janie Mason has lost her parents in a tragic helicopter accident, and in the will her parents made up years ago, she is to leave her home in Hawaii and move in with her father's old best friend in San Francisco. While it is hard enough to have to leave behind her home after losing parents that she was incredibly close to, she now has to move in with a family that she doesn't know, leave her friends, and have to make a life for herself somewhere else. It might not be so bad, except that her dad's friend, Richard, is quite rich and his family seems to be snobs, including his daughter Georgina and his wife, Marion. Then there's their little boy, Nicholas, who is kind of creepy, especially with how often he tells Janie he "talks" to his dead twin sister, Eliza.
Between weird noises, screams in the attic, and the family skirting around the topic of Eliza as often as they can, Janie can't seem to get any real answers in the family, nor does she feel like she belongs.
When she meets Daniel, the two of them hit it off because of their love of surfing. Daniel listens to Janie and even helps her investigate the weird sounds she has been hearing in the attic. And then there's John, the family's other son, home from boarding school after being kicked out, and the only one in the family who seems to genuinely care about Janie. So she forms a friendship with him, as well, even though Daniel and John have had a feud going for quite some time, and Daniel hates the fact that Janie is spending time with John.
While dealing with all of these things, plus situations at the house getting weirder every day (including a random fire that breaks out only in Janie's room), Janie slowly feels like she might be losing her grip on things. The only person who seems to want to protect her is the family's maid, Alma, and why she is working so hard to ensure her safety is a mystery to Janie.
When old family secrets begin to surface, Janie finds that this family might try and keep up with appearances, but they definitely aren't who they say they are.
After you get past the absolutely beautiful cover of this book, and the synopsis that mixes plenty of elements to create a delicious sounding thriller, you get a story that wraps you up and leaves you reading until the early hours of the morning, because it's that good.
While I was in love with the story (which is fast paced and interesting as can be), for some reason I felt myself having a bit of difficulty connecting to some of the characters, including Janie in the beginning of the book. I also found myself not liking Daniel very much - he just seemed kind of "off." Their relationship was a little dull and flat even from the beginning. Even so, I believe the author did an amazing job with the story and some of the other characters - such as Nicholas, who was just incredibly creepy and added so much to the book. The whole Rochester family had so many secrets that they were hiding, and I loved how sinister they all seemed.
The horror in Unearthly Things was a compliment to the overall theme of the book, instead of taking center stage and making this a book that lacks other elements, too. Sometimes you read a horror novel and it's full of scary things happening over and over, mostly for the sake of being shock value, but that isn't the case here. The moments of horror that are found in the book actually have a point that is relevant to the story.
The drama between Georgina and Janie offers some excitement to the book, as well. At first, it's typical teenage girl drama, and then it becomes malicious later in the book. It fits the overall ominous feelings that I had while reading, and it was well done and added something to the story.
This is a really interesting book to pick up, whether or not you've actually read Jane Eyre. It's fun, a bit scary, and completely un-put-downable. It's a perfect treat for those times when you're looking for a book that has a little bit of everything.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
March 27, 2017
Janie Mason, a Hawaiian surfer girl, was living the perfect life with her parents, but all that comes crashing down after her parents' untimely death. She comes to find out that her parents' will has stated that her legal guardians would be the Rochester family who live in San Francisco. Janie has never met this family and they didn't even show up to her parents funeral. So how close could her parents possibly be to them? What were her parents thinking? Upon her arrival to the Rochester's sprawling estate, Janie meets their housekeeper, who barely speaks to her and isn't even greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Rochester themselves. However, Janie does meet Nicholas, the youngest son, who does actually talk to her, but is super strange. He keeps referring to his twin sister, who Janie comes to find out is actually dead. Once Janie does meet Mr. and Mrs. Rochester, she isn't impressed by Marian Rochester, who is the ultimate mean girl/Real Housewife, and Richard Rochester seems to genuinely care as he was best friends with Janie's dad, but something is off about him. To complicate matters further, they have a daughter who is around Janie's age and she pretty much despises Janie and the fact that she has come to live with them. Combine all of this with the fact that Janie is hearing strange things at night in the part of the attic above her room and the realization that she hasn't surfed in so long makes for a depressing time. Michelle Gagnon's Unearthly Things is an edge-of-your-seat suspenseful retelling of Jane Eyre. It definitely had my heart pumping.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
April 16, 2022
5/5 STARS
Okay Goodreads, you fooled me. I was so hesitant going into this book because of the reviews but wow was I pleasantly surprised.
Unearthly Things by Michelle Gagnon is a fresh retelling of Jane Eyre with all the expected elements of mystery and a haunting energy, both literally and figuratively.
Janie Mason is thrown from the life she's known when her parents tragically die. She's whisked from the beautiful beaches of Hawaii to a new socially elite world in San Francisco with the Rochesters. Soon, she meets Daniel– a boy who can relate to her love of surfing and can hopefully bring her an ounce of joy in her new life. However, soon Janie starts to experience some disturbing happenings in the Rochester mansion. She hears noises in the attic that no one else claims to hear. Not only that, but she might even catch herself in a love triangle with the handsome John Rochester and the sporty Daniel. Janie will learn the truth about why the Rochesters actually took her in, and it wasn't by the grace of their hearts. How far will they go to get what they want from her?
This had me on the edge of my seat the entire read. It was haunting, twisty, and a refreshingly new take on a classic.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves YA thrillers, mysteries, or retellings.
"We struggle mightily against the challenges life throws at us: the unexpected tragedies, the cruelties we inflict on each other, the pain and suffering. Some of us rise above it; others are swept away by the tide. And the only way to learn how strong we are is by facing those hardships.”
Okay Goodreads, you fooled me. I was so hesitant going into this book because of the reviews but wow was I pleasantly surprised.
Unearthly Things by Michelle Gagnon is a fresh retelling of Jane Eyre with all the expected elements of mystery and a haunting energy, both literally and figuratively.
Janie Mason is thrown from the life she's known when her parents tragically die. She's whisked from the beautiful beaches of Hawaii to a new socially elite world in San Francisco with the Rochesters. Soon, she meets Daniel– a boy who can relate to her love of surfing and can hopefully bring her an ounce of joy in her new life. However, soon Janie starts to experience some disturbing happenings in the Rochester mansion. She hears noises in the attic that no one else claims to hear. Not only that, but she might even catch herself in a love triangle with the handsome John Rochester and the sporty Daniel. Janie will learn the truth about why the Rochesters actually took her in, and it wasn't by the grace of their hearts. How far will they go to get what they want from her?
This had me on the edge of my seat the entire read. It was haunting, twisty, and a refreshingly new take on a classic.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves YA thrillers, mysteries, or retellings.
"We struggle mightily against the challenges life throws at us: the unexpected tragedies, the cruelties we inflict on each other, the pain and suffering. Some of us rise above it; others are swept away by the tide. And the only way to learn how strong we are is by facing those hardships.”
October 7, 2020
Unearthly Things is a contemporary YA retelling of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, complete with a haunted mansion, a love quadrangle, and horrifying family secrets.
I enjoyed this story, though it was a little bit darker than I would normally read. I don’t generally like creepy stuff, but I was excited to read it after I discovered that it was based off of one of my favorite classics, Jane Eyre. Also, I can’t say I liked most of the characters. Many of them were jerks, and I don’t appreciate that the teens were (occasionally) drinking.
As for the plot, It was pretty good, with many unexpected twists and turns in the story, reminiscent of the original. As satisfying as it was plot-wise, it didn’t keep very closely to the plot of Jane Eyre. Most of the characters kept the same names, but the character relationships as well as the order of the plot were all mixed around in a stewpot before being told in the book. It didn’t turn out badly, but very different. After all, how can a modern-day teenager keep a crazy wife in the attic? And no matter how bad boarding schools and parental guardians can get, child services would be called long before it got as bad as in Jane Eyre. So, much of the plot was different, even the ending, but it did make a satisfactory story.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher. All options are entirely my own.
I enjoyed this story, though it was a little bit darker than I would normally read. I don’t generally like creepy stuff, but I was excited to read it after I discovered that it was based off of one of my favorite classics, Jane Eyre. Also, I can’t say I liked most of the characters. Many of them were jerks, and I don’t appreciate that the teens were (occasionally) drinking.
As for the plot, It was pretty good, with many unexpected twists and turns in the story, reminiscent of the original. As satisfying as it was plot-wise, it didn’t keep very closely to the plot of Jane Eyre. Most of the characters kept the same names, but the character relationships as well as the order of the plot were all mixed around in a stewpot before being told in the book. It didn’t turn out badly, but very different. After all, how can a modern-day teenager keep a crazy wife in the attic? And no matter how bad boarding schools and parental guardians can get, child services would be called long before it got as bad as in Jane Eyre. So, much of the plot was different, even the ending, but it did make a satisfactory story.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher. All options are entirely my own.
July 27, 2016
I admit, I didn't like Jane Eyre when I first tried to read it when I was about 11. So then I didn't read it until I was about 25, when I absolutely loved it. Another thing I love: retellings of classics. So this retelling of Jane Eyre for the YA audience was right up my alley!
Janie has to move from Hawaii to San Francisco after her parents are killed in a car accident. She's never heard of this family, the Rochesters, that she's moving in with (the lawyer explained people often forget to update their will many years later when circumstances have changed.) They're insanely wealthy which makes Janie feel even more like a charity case. She's immediately shipped off to a fancy prep school along with the daughter who is her age. But things don't go well there as it's soon clear she's a mean girl. Back at the house, the little brother, Nicholas, keeps telling Janie things his twin sister, who died last year, is telling him to do. Creepy. And then there are the noises coming from the attic...
It is a thoroughly modern story with texting and smart phones and surfing and the like, but it has an eerie gothic feel totally in keeping with the original. Ms. Gagnon changes up just enough so that those familiar with the story won't know exactly how it will end. And the ending is scary! In fact, I must recommend not reading the end right before going to bed, like I did, as it's hard to sleep after!
I liked this book so much that I actually gave it away, twice, while I was reading it (luckily it is published by Soho Press, my employer, so I was always able to get another copy at work the next day.) I kept telling people about it and how great it was! Janie is a completely relatable teenager who feels real and three-dimensional. She's a little impulsive but that works. It's a zippy, fast read that will suck you in and it's certainly the first time that I wished my train on my morning commute would get stuck and be delayed. It's not out until April though, so you'll have to put it on your wish list for now.
Janie has to move from Hawaii to San Francisco after her parents are killed in a car accident. She's never heard of this family, the Rochesters, that she's moving in with (the lawyer explained people often forget to update their will many years later when circumstances have changed.) They're insanely wealthy which makes Janie feel even more like a charity case. She's immediately shipped off to a fancy prep school along with the daughter who is her age. But things don't go well there as it's soon clear she's a mean girl. Back at the house, the little brother, Nicholas, keeps telling Janie things his twin sister, who died last year, is telling him to do. Creepy. And then there are the noises coming from the attic...
It is a thoroughly modern story with texting and smart phones and surfing and the like, but it has an eerie gothic feel totally in keeping with the original. Ms. Gagnon changes up just enough so that those familiar with the story won't know exactly how it will end. And the ending is scary! In fact, I must recommend not reading the end right before going to bed, like I did, as it's hard to sleep after!
I liked this book so much that I actually gave it away, twice, while I was reading it (luckily it is published by Soho Press, my employer, so I was always able to get another copy at work the next day.) I kept telling people about it and how great it was! Janie is a completely relatable teenager who feels real and three-dimensional. She's a little impulsive but that works. It's a zippy, fast read that will suck you in and it's certainly the first time that I wished my train on my morning commute would get stuck and be delayed. It's not out until April though, so you'll have to put it on your wish list for now.
July 9, 2016
Unearthly Things (a retelling of Jane Eyre) takes the "Gothic" in Gothic novel very seriously; Unearthly Things is more of a horror story than romance. To that end, the romance in this book is the weakest part. Daniel and John are one-dimensional characters without much soul. The horror portion, however, is terrifying, suspenseful, and masterfully done. Gagnon's version of the "madwoman in the attic" is bone chilling. Unearthly Things is not a straight retelling of Jane Eyre-it deviates and blends elements of Jane's cruel childhood with her time in Rochester manor. Janie herself can't hold a candle to Jane Eyre, but the twisted plot and explosive climax are well worth your time.
February 15, 2022
A Jane Eyre reimagining that seems to change so much of the original I wondered whether it was time to reread.
This time round Janie is recently orphaned and has to move from her Hawaii home to live under the guardianship of the Rochester family, people she’s never heard of. Money is no object, and some members of the family are welcoming, but Janie doesn’t feel comfortable.
Within a short space of time, weird things start happening. Janie is convinced the home is haunted, and before we know it she discovers some unpalatable truths about the family who’ve taken her in. They’re robbing her blind and far from being destitute, Janie is wealthy beyond anyone’s imagining.
What follows quickly goes from entertaining to preposterous. With such a scenario there is no way lawyers would let it go so far. Once Mrs Rochester checks Janie in to a mental asylum under the name of her dead daughter I knew this was not going to be a book I’d fall in love with. Once Janie returns, I was reading out of a sense of curiosity - how bad could it get?
Sadly, this won’t go down in my reads as anything other than a bizarre experiment that went very very wrong.
This time round Janie is recently orphaned and has to move from her Hawaii home to live under the guardianship of the Rochester family, people she’s never heard of. Money is no object, and some members of the family are welcoming, but Janie doesn’t feel comfortable.
Within a short space of time, weird things start happening. Janie is convinced the home is haunted, and before we know it she discovers some unpalatable truths about the family who’ve taken her in. They’re robbing her blind and far from being destitute, Janie is wealthy beyond anyone’s imagining.
What follows quickly goes from entertaining to preposterous. With such a scenario there is no way lawyers would let it go so far. Once Mrs Rochester checks Janie in to a mental asylum under the name of her dead daughter I knew this was not going to be a book I’d fall in love with. Once Janie returns, I was reading out of a sense of curiosity - how bad could it get?
Sadly, this won’t go down in my reads as anything other than a bizarre experiment that went very very wrong.
May 9, 2017
I went into this book not knowing anything but was pleasantly surprised with the story. The mystery was the best and the ghost story was great. I wasn't really feeling the romance and the characters felt a little bit lacking they needed some development. I like that she's a chicken about the ghost story and tries to rationalize it for as long as possible. Slowly the mystery starts to develop and the strange occurrences and the happenings start making sense as Janie investigates. The suspense of the story is great and you can't put the book down because the story becomes intense. I really enjoyed the book and the would recommend it to anyone that likes a good mystery and ghost story. RECOMMENDED.
January 5, 2019
Nothing is ever going to beat the original (Jane Eyre is my longstanding favourite book), but I do love me a good retelling. Unearthly Things is a modern-day version with a supernatural twist. Gloomy but also not so creepy as to bother those who don't like suspense/horror/etc.
I think the first three quarters or so worked better for me than the last quarter, where a) the stakes got much more intense, and much more violent, but also b) Janie managed to squeak her way out of things like financial ruin. Not that I want financial ruin for her, of course, but I never really felt as though she was at real risk of losing everything.
But it's fun. I'd be pretty happy to read more retellings in this vein.
I think the first three quarters or so worked better for me than the last quarter, where a) the stakes got much more intense, and much more violent, but also b) Janie managed to squeak her way out of things like financial ruin. Not that I want financial ruin for her, of course, but I never really felt as though she was at real risk of losing everything.
But it's fun. I'd be pretty happy to read more retellings in this vein.
June 20, 2017
When I heard Unearthly Things was a twist on/retelling of Jane Eyre, I was so excited to read it! Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classics!
However, I was very disappointed with this book. All the murders, violence, ghosts, and lunacy made for a very disturbing and creepy story. I was able to make the connections of who/what was taken from Jane Eyre and expanded on. But the whole story was strange and pretty violent as well. Really almost everyone seemed sadistic at some point.
Yeah, I wasn't impressed. I mean, I know Jane Eyre is supposed to be gothic and creepy, but this story ruined Jane Eyre in my opinion. WAY too violent and sadistic.
However, I was very disappointed with this book. All the murders, violence, ghosts, and lunacy made for a very disturbing and creepy story. I was able to make the connections of who/what was taken from Jane Eyre and expanded on. But the whole story was strange and pretty violent as well. Really almost everyone seemed sadistic at some point.
Yeah, I wasn't impressed. I mean, I know Jane Eyre is supposed to be gothic and creepy, but this story ruined Jane Eyre in my opinion. WAY too violent and sadistic.
January 4, 2018
real rating 3.25. i wanted to rate this higher for the first 2/3 of the book but because the last 1/3 of it was such a hot mess, i couldn’t bring myself to do so. this book started out SO well but halfway through it kinda forgot that it was a suspense/paranormal book and just turned into being about teenage drama and money, then in the last couple of chapters remembered it was supposed to be paranormal.
i did enjoy it, it just got disappointing with the start being so good.
also the amount of crying that was happening in this book had me agitated, so much crying, like SO MUCH DAMN CRYING, i feel like someone cried every 15 pages
i did enjoy it, it just got disappointing with the start being so good.
also the amount of crying that was happening in this book had me agitated, so much crying, like SO MUCH DAMN CRYING, i feel like someone cried every 15 pages
July 31, 2017
Being a big fan of the source material here, I also sort of expected to have the general idea of how this story would play out.
What makes it 4 stars for me is the fact that it still surprised me in a couple ways. Yes, some of them were telegraphed a bit from the early parts of the book. But they were not things I expected from repeated readings of the source material.
Definitely a quick one to read through, and I found it enjoyable.
What makes it 4 stars for me is the fact that it still surprised me in a couple ways. Yes, some of them were telegraphed a bit from the early parts of the book. But they were not things I expected from repeated readings of the source material.
Definitely a quick one to read through, and I found it enjoyable.
July 27, 2017
Amazing story! I couldn't put it down. Haunting!!!
July 19, 2018
I received an ARC of Unearthly Things from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was expecting Jane Eyre retelling but the story is very different from the classic. Yes, we do have main heroine named Janie, we do have Mr. Rochester, and we do have mysterious attic but beyond that similarities end. Unearthly Things is a good gothic read but it lacked the romance that you would expect from a book that claims to be a retelling of Jane Eyre.
It is very atmospheric, spooky and creepy, complete with ghosts, disfigured dolls, mad inhabitants, and scary and dangerous things happening to our heroine Janie. I really liked how the mystery of Eliza was presented and solved. I also liked Janie but I was disappointed with Mr. Rochester's counterpart. Original Mr. Rochester is the ultimate Byronic hero whom I love and I was hoping Unearthly Thing's Mr. Rochester would be as interesting and as intriguing but it was not the case.
Overall Unearthly Things is an accomplished gothic strory but don't expect to fall in love with Mr. Rochester
It is very atmospheric, spooky and creepy, complete with ghosts, disfigured dolls, mad inhabitants, and scary and dangerous things happening to our heroine Janie. I really liked how the mystery of Eliza was presented and solved. I also liked Janie but I was disappointed with Mr. Rochester's counterpart. Original Mr. Rochester is the ultimate Byronic hero whom I love and I was hoping Unearthly Thing's Mr. Rochester would be as interesting and as intriguing but it was not the case.
Overall Unearthly Things is an accomplished gothic strory but don't expect to fall in love with Mr. Rochester
May 11, 2017
T H O U G H T S:
nope. this didn't work for me. with a chilling gothic aesthetic of the ghosts and the rochester's mansion, unearthly things is a contemporary retelling of jane eyre with threads of horror, romance, drama, and paranormal mystery. it felt bland and overwhelming and one-dimensional.
R A T I N G:
plot // 1
pacing // 1
language // 2
story world // 3
protagonist // 2
antagonist // 2
secondary characters // 1
nope. this didn't work for me. with a chilling gothic aesthetic of the ghosts and the rochester's mansion, unearthly things is a contemporary retelling of jane eyre with threads of horror, romance, drama, and paranormal mystery. it felt bland and overwhelming and one-dimensional.
R A T I N G:
plot // 1
pacing // 1
language // 2
story world // 3
protagonist // 2
antagonist // 2
secondary characters // 1
May 29, 2017
It supposed to be a retelling of Jane Eyre. I thought it is interesting to read this one just after reading the original Jane Eyre book.
Well, the story is not really Jane Eyre, I thought. It is just borrowing the names and some situations.
Although it was spooky sometimes, I liked the book over all. I liked it because the main forcus of the story was not romance, but more of the human drama.
I am so disappointed at the Mr. Rochester on this book. I hope I will read other retelling story which writes him better...
Well, the story is not really Jane Eyre, I thought. It is just borrowing the names and some situations.
Although it was spooky sometimes, I liked the book over all. I liked it because the main forcus of the story was not romance, but more of the human drama.
I am so disappointed at the Mr. Rochester on this book. I hope I will read other retelling story which writes him better...
April 16, 2017
Though billed as a modern spin on Jane Eyre, it seems clear to me that the author mined the source material for names and the most basic plot points and lost all of the substance of the story as a result. Deeply disappointing.
May 6, 2017
I loved this book! It was fast read and I really enjoyed it!
March 11, 2019
SO. MUCH. RAGE.
Rage review coming soon....
Rage review coming soon....
June 8, 2017
Almost every night around three in the morning, Janie is awakened by strange sounds from the attic. Sometimes it’s the sound of scratching or a child crying, but the worst sound is when there are screams. No one else seems to hear these things. Perhaps she’s actually going a little crazy?
After her parents are killed, Janie is sent to California to live with the Rochesters, who are now her legal guardians. She is yet to understand their connections to her family but those stories slowly begin to unfold.
Janie is missing the surfing, the warm sands of Hawaii and her old friends --- especially Kaila. She still longs for the comfort and love of her parents. Without question, the Rochester family has not been very welcoming. Mr. Rochester is just sort of okay, while the daughter, Georgiana, runs hot or mostly cold, and the little brother, Nicholas, has totally embraced her. He brings his bunny Bertha with him along with stories about a dead sister, Eliza, who he claims still talks to him (like that’s not totally creepy). The housekeeper, Alma, has a gruff unfriendly manner but not like the mother --- oh, the mother, she most definitely doesn’t like Janie. There’s something very odd about Marion Rochester. So now this is her new life: a family she doesn’t know, who doesn't care about her and seems to have plenty of secrets.
Things look up a little when she meets Daniel. He’s handsome, sympathetic and a friend in what seems to be a most unfriendly world. Another surprise comes when John Rochester unexpectedly shows up. John is the Rochester's oldest son, kicked out of several schools and eager to be her friend, or so she thinks. Unfortunately, there is some bad history between Johnand Daniel --- more secrets unfold.
Janie comes to realize some very important things: her life is actually being threatened, the Rochesters want something from her, and there actually is a ghost after her (after all, her furniture was mysteriously moved and there was a fire she barely escaped). She doesn’t yet understand that there are much worse things ahead.
Janie --- aka Janie Eyre Mason --- is a well-realized, modern interpretation of a young woman in deep trouble. Quotations from the original JANE EYRE appear at the beginning of each chapter, fittingly adding to the gothic atmosphere and its approaching dread. Character names also parallel those in Bronte’s novel.
Well known for her young adult mystery series, PERSEFONE, Gagnon adds the same edginess and unrelenting pace to UNEARTHLY THINGS. Without being familiar with JANE EYRE, readers will still enjoy the supernatural aspects and the gripping entanglements of this young girl’s situation.
The retelling of classic novels has become very popular in the last few years. UNEARTHLY THINGS can be added to the growing list of JANE EYRE-like books along with Catherine Lowell’s THE MADWOMAN UPSTAIRS, JANE STEELE by Lindsay Faye and THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY by Margot Livesey. Readers, I highly recommend Michelle Gagnon’s new interpretation!
Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts
After her parents are killed, Janie is sent to California to live with the Rochesters, who are now her legal guardians. She is yet to understand their connections to her family but those stories slowly begin to unfold.
Janie is missing the surfing, the warm sands of Hawaii and her old friends --- especially Kaila. She still longs for the comfort and love of her parents. Without question, the Rochester family has not been very welcoming. Mr. Rochester is just sort of okay, while the daughter, Georgiana, runs hot or mostly cold, and the little brother, Nicholas, has totally embraced her. He brings his bunny Bertha with him along with stories about a dead sister, Eliza, who he claims still talks to him (like that’s not totally creepy). The housekeeper, Alma, has a gruff unfriendly manner but not like the mother --- oh, the mother, she most definitely doesn’t like Janie. There’s something very odd about Marion Rochester. So now this is her new life: a family she doesn’t know, who doesn't care about her and seems to have plenty of secrets.
Things look up a little when she meets Daniel. He’s handsome, sympathetic and a friend in what seems to be a most unfriendly world. Another surprise comes when John Rochester unexpectedly shows up. John is the Rochester's oldest son, kicked out of several schools and eager to be her friend, or so she thinks. Unfortunately, there is some bad history between Johnand Daniel --- more secrets unfold.
Janie comes to realize some very important things: her life is actually being threatened, the Rochesters want something from her, and there actually is a ghost after her (after all, her furniture was mysteriously moved and there was a fire she barely escaped). She doesn’t yet understand that there are much worse things ahead.
Janie --- aka Janie Eyre Mason --- is a well-realized, modern interpretation of a young woman in deep trouble. Quotations from the original JANE EYRE appear at the beginning of each chapter, fittingly adding to the gothic atmosphere and its approaching dread. Character names also parallel those in Bronte’s novel.
Well known for her young adult mystery series, PERSEFONE, Gagnon adds the same edginess and unrelenting pace to UNEARTHLY THINGS. Without being familiar with JANE EYRE, readers will still enjoy the supernatural aspects and the gripping entanglements of this young girl’s situation.
The retelling of classic novels has become very popular in the last few years. UNEARTHLY THINGS can be added to the growing list of JANE EYRE-like books along with Catherine Lowell’s THE MADWOMAN UPSTAIRS, JANE STEELE by Lindsay Faye and THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY by Margot Livesey. Readers, I highly recommend Michelle Gagnon’s new interpretation!
Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts
October 4, 2016
There is nothing worse than losing someone you love. Whether you break up, they abandon you, or they may even die, you feel as if part of you always left with them. Turning every funny memory, you had of them blue, ever night darker, as you stay awake at night imagining all those conversations you had, or could have, playing across your mind. It is worse with death because in some cases you had done nothing wrong and there was no amount of reasoning to bring them back into your life.
Janie Mason lives with her two parents in their cozy Hawaii shack. Where every day Janie and her dad track sand in from the beach, talk about surfing over breakfast, as her mom kissed her dad and laid out eggs and pancakes. Her dad would show tourists the “big island” they lived on, and spend evenings with Janie on the waters. Kaila (Janie’s best friend) attend school together along with the dozens of other kids on the island, all of whom have been brought up together. Had life been perfect? No, not even close. Her parents worried about money all the time, but never batting an eye when signing Janie up for surf competitions (she usually won those). Tourist would look at her family strange as her white father and Filipino mother dancing and kissing in public (although most people on the island are from biracial families). When her father crashes the helicopter killing himself and his wife instantly, Janie was left parentless and alone. Following her parents will her lawyer, he shipped her off to San Francisco to live with the Rochester, a close family friend that her parents never mentioned and she never met. With nothing left for her on the island, Janie had no choice but to leave.
There was something strange going on at the Rochester mansion. From the empty rooms, dark corridors, the whole gothic feel to it. How dinners are formal and cold, how Nicholas (the youngest) eat his meals in the kitchen along with the maid, Almir. Marion (the mother) hates Janie on the spot, even Georgina (the daughter, one year older than Janie) does not like here. Only Richard (the father) seemed to like her, and Nicholas is happy to have someone to play with. Richard was apparently best friends with her father during boarding school and college, but lost track after he moved to Hawaii with her mother. The worst part was not only the fact she now attends a snobby rich kid school, she no longer lived in sunny Hawaii, but foggy San Francisco, but the noise that kept her up at night. Screaming. Crying. Scratching noises came from the attic each night, keeping Janie wide awake. Where the others pretend to not hear it, Janie knows she is not imagining it, or going crazy. Putting on her Nancy Drew hat, Janie is determined to find the source of the noise, and while at it discover the truths the Rochester are trying to hide.
A gothic version of Jane Eyre, is done fabulously by Michelle Gagnon, who takes this gothic horror story and adds a twist of romance, and dull it down with simple English for young adults. Janie is a strong, heroic girl determined to find the truth without letting her guard down. If only her romance skills were better! Daniel felt flat most of the time as his “secret” was not that bad, and his “concerns” for Janie also felt somewhat unreal most of the time. In the end it was Janie fault, but Daniel overreacted to even the simplest things Janie did in a negative way. John was the same way. The black sheep in the family, his motives were more confusion as ever given to his flip-flop feelings for his family. Still, he kept by Janie (well he tried) as much as he could, given some life to his 2D character. But the horror and suspense were what drove the story. A real “mad man in the attic” feel as you had no idea what was coming next. With this mismatch of a family, money to spare (or was it running out) and secrets hidden in every corner, follow detective Janie as she finds out the truth from this high society family.
Janie Mason lives with her two parents in their cozy Hawaii shack. Where every day Janie and her dad track sand in from the beach, talk about surfing over breakfast, as her mom kissed her dad and laid out eggs and pancakes. Her dad would show tourists the “big island” they lived on, and spend evenings with Janie on the waters. Kaila (Janie’s best friend) attend school together along with the dozens of other kids on the island, all of whom have been brought up together. Had life been perfect? No, not even close. Her parents worried about money all the time, but never batting an eye when signing Janie up for surf competitions (she usually won those). Tourist would look at her family strange as her white father and Filipino mother dancing and kissing in public (although most people on the island are from biracial families). When her father crashes the helicopter killing himself and his wife instantly, Janie was left parentless and alone. Following her parents will her lawyer, he shipped her off to San Francisco to live with the Rochester, a close family friend that her parents never mentioned and she never met. With nothing left for her on the island, Janie had no choice but to leave.
There was something strange going on at the Rochester mansion. From the empty rooms, dark corridors, the whole gothic feel to it. How dinners are formal and cold, how Nicholas (the youngest) eat his meals in the kitchen along with the maid, Almir. Marion (the mother) hates Janie on the spot, even Georgina (the daughter, one year older than Janie) does not like here. Only Richard (the father) seemed to like her, and Nicholas is happy to have someone to play with. Richard was apparently best friends with her father during boarding school and college, but lost track after he moved to Hawaii with her mother. The worst part was not only the fact she now attends a snobby rich kid school, she no longer lived in sunny Hawaii, but foggy San Francisco, but the noise that kept her up at night. Screaming. Crying. Scratching noises came from the attic each night, keeping Janie wide awake. Where the others pretend to not hear it, Janie knows she is not imagining it, or going crazy. Putting on her Nancy Drew hat, Janie is determined to find the source of the noise, and while at it discover the truths the Rochester are trying to hide.
A gothic version of Jane Eyre, is done fabulously by Michelle Gagnon, who takes this gothic horror story and adds a twist of romance, and dull it down with simple English for young adults. Janie is a strong, heroic girl determined to find the truth without letting her guard down. If only her romance skills were better! Daniel felt flat most of the time as his “secret” was not that bad, and his “concerns” for Janie also felt somewhat unreal most of the time. In the end it was Janie fault, but Daniel overreacted to even the simplest things Janie did in a negative way. John was the same way. The black sheep in the family, his motives were more confusion as ever given to his flip-flop feelings for his family. Still, he kept by Janie (well he tried) as much as he could, given some life to his 2D character. But the horror and suspense were what drove the story. A real “mad man in the attic” feel as you had no idea what was coming next. With this mismatch of a family, money to spare (or was it running out) and secrets hidden in every corner, follow detective Janie as she finds out the truth from this high society family.
May 9, 2018
Ms. Gagnon has given us a contemporary slant on an age-old classic of Victorian literature. However, she doesn’t simply retell Jane Eyre—she re-orders it into something completely new. The familiar characters are there but changed around and refitted into a contemporary tale of a young orphaned girl finding her way in treacherous and unfamiliar surroundings.
This novel conflates Jane’s journey—her stay with her forbidding aunt and nasty cousins Georgianna, John and Eliza; her time at Lowood School run by the tyrannical Mr. Brocklehurst; her stay at Thorndale and her subsequent discovery of her other cousins Diana, Mary and St. John—into the same milieu and time period. This gives the novel a compact feel and swifter pacing than Charlotte Brontë’s seminal work, thus making it more accessible to today’s adolescents.
The story is so original that it resonates powerfully on its own, especially in Jane’s yawing emotions. She comes off as a typical teenager, at the mercy of her fluctuating feelings. She’s so stricken with grief after her parents die that she initially fails to ask pertinent questions about the sudden shift in her life and fortunes. She makes impulsive decisions that have disastrous consequences, panics in tense circumstances and makes rash moves.
However, Janie Mason is as redoubtable a heroine as Jane Eyre was. She has to deal with dangerous, psychotic and possibly murderous guardians, an unfamiliar school, scurrilous gossip from her peers and what may be ghostly hauntings. Throughout it all, she struggles to hold on to her identity, self-worth and sanity and succeeds admirably.
There’s no expected happily-ever-after ending with a guy (she’s only 17, for goodness sakes). I rather liked that. (I always felt the romance and marriage in the original classic felt rather tacked-on and forced) Janie Mason needs to figure out life on her own and you are left in no doubt that she’ll succeed. Reader, she persevered.
This novel conflates Jane’s journey—her stay with her forbidding aunt and nasty cousins Georgianna, John and Eliza; her time at Lowood School run by the tyrannical Mr. Brocklehurst; her stay at Thorndale and her subsequent discovery of her other cousins Diana, Mary and St. John—into the same milieu and time period. This gives the novel a compact feel and swifter pacing than Charlotte Brontë’s seminal work, thus making it more accessible to today’s adolescents.
The story is so original that it resonates powerfully on its own, especially in Jane’s yawing emotions. She comes off as a typical teenager, at the mercy of her fluctuating feelings. She’s so stricken with grief after her parents die that she initially fails to ask pertinent questions about the sudden shift in her life and fortunes. She makes impulsive decisions that have disastrous consequences, panics in tense circumstances and makes rash moves.
However, Janie Mason is as redoubtable a heroine as Jane Eyre was. She has to deal with dangerous, psychotic and possibly murderous guardians, an unfamiliar school, scurrilous gossip from her peers and what may be ghostly hauntings. Throughout it all, she struggles to hold on to her identity, self-worth and sanity and succeeds admirably.
There’s no expected happily-ever-after ending with a guy (she’s only 17, for goodness sakes). I rather liked that. (I always felt the romance and marriage in the original classic felt rather tacked-on and forced) Janie Mason needs to figure out life on her own and you are left in no doubt that she’ll succeed. Reader, she persevered.
November 13, 2018
Janie Mason lost her parents in a helicopter crash in Hawaii and now has to live with people she has never met before. She feels really out of place compared to the fancy balls, private schools, and limousines. She meets a boy named Daniel, for whom she can relate to, for he is a surfer like her, and is a potential love interest... Still, something is a little off about the big mansion she has to stay is. There are screams, noises from the attic. And everyone thinks she's crazy doesn't make her situation any less complicated. Now she's stuck in a crazy love triangle between two rivals, is dealing with a ghost, and now she knows the truth as to why this family took her in in the first place, how much she's worth, and what they are going to do with her when they are done with her. Janie is about to learn just how valuable she is, and what these people are going to do to get what they want.
My Review:
So, can I just say, I stayed up till 2 AM reading this because it was SO DANG GOOD!! If you are somebody who likes mystery and suspense, this is a good book for you! I believe this book can get anyone on board, but it is especially good for people who like a good scare! In my eyes, this story was about a girl from Hawaii, dealing with the loss of her parents, while keeping herself safe from a crazy couple who are so desperate for money they would kill for it. She learns to face her fears and remember there are people who care. She never gives up (SPOILERS;stop reading now if you don't want to know!!) even when she gets put in an asylum, or finds herself facing the ghost of a little girl. For anyone who has lost someone close to them: I know how hard it is, but know that if you really love them, they will always be with you!
With this book, every page was a new and exciting clue that would lead me closer to the answer. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and was disappointed it was over when I flipped to the last page.
My Review:
So, can I just say, I stayed up till 2 AM reading this because it was SO DANG GOOD!! If you are somebody who likes mystery and suspense, this is a good book for you! I believe this book can get anyone on board, but it is especially good for people who like a good scare! In my eyes, this story was about a girl from Hawaii, dealing with the loss of her parents, while keeping herself safe from a crazy couple who are so desperate for money they would kill for it. She learns to face her fears and remember there are people who care. She never gives up (SPOILERS;stop reading now if you don't want to know!!) even when she gets put in an asylum, or finds herself facing the ghost of a little girl. For anyone who has lost someone close to them: I know how hard it is, but know that if you really love them, they will always be with you!
With this book, every page was a new and exciting clue that would lead me closer to the answer. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and was disappointed it was over when I flipped to the last page.
June 8, 2017
This was honestly such a let down. I wanted to like this, I really did. So I kept reading. It got better in the last 80ish pages and then got worse again.
My main problem with this book was that I didn't like Janie (main character). It is understandable to be upset after losing parents, but that was all she did, to the point of just whining. There was little plot, only missing mom and dad. Then there was Daniel. He came into the book in a reasonable spot, but the instalove was disappointing. There was no cute YA buildup or even real world getting to know each other build up.
The synopsis states, "Janie feels hopelessly out of place in their world of Napa weekends, fancy cotillions, and chauffeurs." There was hardly any mention of that. Janie went to maybe one event in the whole book. There was mention that the Rochesters were rich, but no writing on the actual events like I wanted. It was more like, 'Last night they went to a fancy party, I did not go. I miss you Mom.' It was boring.
The basis of the plot is set on strange things happening like screams and moving objects, but there are like 5 creepy things in the book, and they only pick up in the second half of this. In between strange moments, there are about 30 pages of boring words or Janie missing her parents. I was wanting suspense and intrigue. I didn't find that here.
Honestly, I didn't like a single character other than Nicholas and Alma. The others were all annoying or awful (some on purpose, others, not so much).
Final thoughts, I enjoyed the conclusion of the mystery, but the last 5ish pages were unsatisfying. They could have gone in a different direction or explained more about the aftermath.
Sidenote: As a dog lover, I don't think peeing on puppies is something to laugh about.
My main problem with this book was that I didn't like Janie (main character). It is understandable to be upset after losing parents, but that was all she did, to the point of just whining. There was little plot, only missing mom and dad. Then there was Daniel. He came into the book in a reasonable spot, but the instalove was disappointing. There was no cute YA buildup or even real world getting to know each other build up.
The synopsis states, "Janie feels hopelessly out of place in their world of Napa weekends, fancy cotillions, and chauffeurs." There was hardly any mention of that. Janie went to maybe one event in the whole book. There was mention that the Rochesters were rich, but no writing on the actual events like I wanted. It was more like, 'Last night they went to a fancy party, I did not go. I miss you Mom.' It was boring.
The basis of the plot is set on strange things happening like screams and moving objects, but there are like 5 creepy things in the book, and they only pick up in the second half of this. In between strange moments, there are about 30 pages of boring words or Janie missing her parents. I was wanting suspense and intrigue. I didn't find that here.
Honestly, I didn't like a single character other than Nicholas and Alma. The others were all annoying or awful (some on purpose, others, not so much).
Final thoughts, I enjoyed the conclusion of the mystery, but the last 5ish pages were unsatisfying. They could have gone in a different direction or explained more about the aftermath.
Sidenote: As a dog lover, I don't think peeing on puppies is something to laugh about.
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