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I got this book with a rather hopefull heart; I generally love new twists on old tales. And plus, it was less than ten dollars for more than 300 pages, which is really rare now-a-days. However, I was sadly dissappointed by this book. I love Jane Eyre. I just love it! It's just such a rich, complex, beautiful tale, about so many more issues than just love. But I feel like this modern take just drained it of all its unique, interesting aspects and left it only a shell of a story, just another yucky modern romances about two people randomnly falling in love.

First, I feel like Linder didn't give us the full sweeping picture about what made Jane the way she was. Let's be honest, no one really likes reading the first chunk of Jane Eyre; it's not that pleasant and so on. But it gives us a deep connection with Jane, a deep sympathy, and a natural knowledge of her progress and how her experiences made her who she was. Linder gives us flashes, but they really only show us a few miserable memories and don't show how they strenghtened her, made her good, and taught her both what love did and did not act like, what wisdom was and wasn't. And because her experiences were more of bad memories than vital learning experiences, we have no idea where Jane's goodness came from when she IS good in Jane. Her past just doesn't make sense with who she is now. We just don't GET Jane in this version of Jane.

Secondly, we don't get a really good picture of the Rochester-character in this story. I guess in a weird way, Linder wasn't consistent in his, well, inconsitency. I just didn't feel drawn to him, so deeply interested in his strange character, so desperate for their happy ending in this book. I wasn't captivated by their conversations; I didn't feel the connection between them.

Also, I'm a relatively young reader and generally really enjoy all ages of fiction, but I was really disappointed that this story involved sex, not only because of my age and convictions but also because it wrecked the innocence of tale, the strong character and self-control that makes the ending so beautiful and satisfying in the original Jane Eyre. Where is the role model? Where is the Jane who inspires us to be better people? It seems her character (arguably the pivotal point of the book) was sold to people-please modern readers. All I can say is, what on earth? I was already not really feeling the deep connection of love between them (it seemed more like they just decided "hey, let's try being in love!" than actually truly loving the other person without even intending too, like in Bronte's.) Them going to far just pushed the story over the deep end. The beauty of love was not there; the importance of Jane's character was not there; it felt like just an animal-attraction, the effects of chemicals, not the life-changing heart rendering love Jane Eyre captures so well.

Ultimately, I got the feeling that this was just another tale about an obsesively dependent relationship between a bad boy and his newest phase. However, there are a few things I will congratulate this book for. Linder did actually better than Bronte, I think, in her portrayal of the governess/nanny aspect, especially in her development of the pupil, maddie (Adele in J.E.). She makes the girl so appealing to read about, and uses her to give us a better picture of (Rochester)Rathburn's real character. And second, I will say that she made it suspenseful/interesting enough to make one want to keep reading. And thirdly, I was proud of Linder's creativity in connecting/modernizing all the aspects of the old Jane Eyre. I can't think of any aspect/scene of the story she left out.

Putting aside the watery characters and the gray, drab atmosphere, Linder just didn't seem to capture the unique, fascinating, utter depth of story you find in Bronte's Jane Eyre. It was an all right story for now-a-days, maybe not one that makes you want to leap for joy and never put it down, but an all right one, maybe worth reading if you are in need/flexible about books. But if you have read Jane Eyre and you really get it, and are a true fan, this book is not one you'll want to read, unless you enjoy being indignant and unsatisfied.
I can't help sighing heavily right now. I had high hopes that this was going to be a spectacular book. :(