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What I'm Reading: 'Agnes Grey' by Anne Bronte

September 22, 2014 Natalie Morath
agnesgrey.jpg

Anne Bronte is the least famous of the three literary sisters, and I would never claim that she has written anything that comes close to Jane Eyre. But that said, if Jane Eyre is your cup of tea, then Anne Bronte should be on your radar, because it is more of the same. Agnes Grey shares not only its family of authorship, but also its plot following the sober and austere trials of a poor governess. I will admit, Agnes can become tiresome. She insists on being a governess to help her family, even though they consistently remind her that it isn't necessary, so I had many moments of eye-rolling at her trials.  She's a bit preachy too, as so many heroines of her era are wont to be, but she isn't able to strike that important Jane Austen heroine balance of wit and morality. I prefer heroines who intend to do the right thing, and sometimes fail, but Agnes just keeps doing the right thing, over and over, and funnily enough, to her own detriment. I have a strong feeling she's going to marry a vicar in the end, but we'll see.

Also, yes, I've used that photo before. I recommended the Bronte sisters back in August and now I"m taking my own advice and I didn't feel the need to take a new photo of the same old book.

In What I'm Reading Tags Anne Bronte, Agnes Grey, Lena Dunham
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#ReadWomen2014: The Bronte Sisters

August 14, 2014 Natalie Morath
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Everyone has probably already read Jane Eyre and/or Wuthering Heights. If you haven't yet, I don't know what to do with you (Marie!). Even if you have, I recommend going back and giving them another go-round; both novels will likely read very differently to you now than they did in high school, when most people first encounter the Bronte ladies. I used to think Wuthering Heights was romantic, but now I find it to be utterly crazy, in a good way. There is a completely ridiculous BBC adaptation on Netflix starring Tom Hardy that deserves your time and attention. He cuddles with Kathy's skeleton at one point, which I most certainly had forgotten from the text.

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In #ReadWomen2014 Tags Charlotte Bronte, Anne Bronte, Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Agnes Grey
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