We ventured out on Friday to view the latest version of Jane Eyre (limited release, sorry mom). While the acting and cinematography was sublime, fitting a 500 page novel into two hours does make for some missed suspense and character building. But I assure you if you’re a fan of period films, you won’t be disappointed.

I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know much about the story until a couple years ago when I stumbled upon the Masterpiece Theatre version at the library. I added it to the pile thinking it would be a fun Jane Austen type piece. I casually started watching it but quickly got caught up in the suspenseful elements and couldn’t stop. I’m pretty sure I watched all 3 1/2 hours of it in one sitting. Now I’m starting to get caught up in the actual novel but I’m sure it will take more than 3 1/2 hours to finish (isn’t that how it should go, you watch the movie and then read the book?).

If you haven’t already seen either take on the book, I will warn you it’s much more gothic than Jane Austen but the dialogue is witty, the story highly romantic and it will leave you very much intrigued.

images: cover design by Megan Wilson, cover illustration by Petra Borner – available to purchase here, photo by Candice Austen, Jane Eyre hardcover