Mundie Moms

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Book Review - Jane Slayre

By Charlotte Bronte and Sherri Browning Erwin
Published by Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Released April 19, 2010
Source: from Simon & Schuster
4 Stars- funny and quirky

“ READER, I BURIED HIM . ”

A timeless tale of love, devotion . . . and the undead.

Jane Slayre, our plucky demon-slaying heroine, a courageous orphan who spurns the detestable vampyre kin who raised her, sets out on the advice of her ghostly uncle to hone her skills as the fearless slayer she’s meant to be. When she takes a job as a governess at a country estate, she falls head-over-heels for her new master, Mr. Rochester, only to discover he’s hiding a violent werewolf in the attic—in the form of his first wife. Can a menagerie of bloodthirsty, flesh-eating, savage creatures-of-the-night keep a swashbuckling nineteenth-century lady from the gentleman she intends to marry? Vampyres, zombies, and werewolves transform Charlotte Brontë’s unforgettable masterpiece into an eerie paranormal adventure that will delight and terrify.--Book Cover

Jane Eyre rests in my top 5 all time literary favorites. Part of my fascination is Jane's resolve to face the world on her own terms, to refuse to be defined by others but to define herself against all obstacles. It is this strength of character that Sherri Browning Erwin builds upon as she morphs our beloved Romantic governess into a vampyre/zombie slaying heroine. I had feared a cartwheel-flipping, pinafore-wearing Buffy. But, gladly, the plot and characters within the story change very little. The natural monsters of the story, such as the horrid Reeds, are naturally monsters. Scenes continue as designed by Charlotte Bronte, with the addition of the subtle sailing of a stake to poof things that hide in the shadows, threatening those cared for by Jane. I still cried as Rochester begged her to stay; I ran with her to find him at the end. None of the romance was lost. Perhaps the tendency of the original story towards the Gothic lent itself to the occasional glimpse of things that go bump in the night, or shred your wedding veil. The addition of a paranormal storyline did not feel stretched or superfluous.

The cover art immediately captures interest with its contrast between an innocent girl and a bloodied stake. It is a contrast that allows Jane to fly under the notice of the supernatural. I also think it will also create an image which makes this classic story appealing to more modern teen readers. None of the original story's themes or language is lost. The characters are all included. The only change is the shift from metaphorical monster to literal monster. The book comes with book club questions at the end. A good read for those who have and haven't read the original.

To find out more about Jane Slayre or buy the book, please visit Simon & Schuster's site here

You can enter to win Jane Slayre here Freebie Friday

1 comment:

  1. Great review. I love Jane Eyre and wondered how the adaptation would hold up. Glad that the romance wasn't lost.

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