“Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys (Dominica)

Review

Most readers enjoyed the book, liking the language and the descriptions of place. They found that although it was a short novel (120 pages), there was a lot of depth to it, especially in its historical and political context. They found Antoinette’s personal story very sad and were able to empathise with her. Some readers felt that they would have enjoyed it more if they had read “Jane Eyre” first; whereas others felt that it stood well on its own. They liked some of the secondary characters, such as Christophine, who they felt brought the story alive to the senses. Some readers felt that a second or third reading would add even more to its enjoyment. Overall, the book averaged a 7.8 out of 10.

Synopsis

Jean Rhys’s literary masterpiece, “Wide Sargasso Sea”, was inspired by Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre”, and is set in the lush, beguiling landscape of Jamaica in the 1830s. Born into an oppressive, colonialist society, Creole heiress Antoinette Cosway is coaxed into a marriage by her stepfather with a young Englishman… Read more

Nicola’s Book Club reading list

Season 8 – “Love & Passion in World Literature” (Sep 2008 – Jan 2009)

“A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers” by Xiaolu Guo (China)
“Ali and Nino” by Kurban Said (Azerbaijan)
“Tracks” by Louise Erdrich (U.S.)
“The Bad Girl” by Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru) *
“Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys (Dominica) 

* The book club favourite
In italics, Nicola’s Coup de Cœur