Top Ten Tuesday | Ten Books Every Lover of Jane Eyre Should Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

In nine days time, on the 21st April, it's Charlotte Brontë's 200th birthday. It seemed wrong not to celebrate the birthday of one of the world's most famous authors, so today I have ten recommendations for any fans of her most famous work, Jane Eyre!

If you haven't read Jane Eyre and/or are completely unfamiliar with the story, I'd recommend you stop reading now - I don't want to spoil anything for you if it's a novel you still want to read!

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde: It's practically in the title! Fforde's Thursday Next series takes place in a world in which our literary characters are very real, and when Jane Eyre disappears it's up to Thursday Next to find her.

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë: Anne Brontë's often forgotten in favour of her sisters, which is a real shame considering she may actually be the most feminist of the three. One of the reasons she may be lesser known is that Charlotte decided not to reprint The Tenant of Wildfell Hall after Anne's death, so I think it's only fair she gets a mention here! Like Jane Eyre, Agnes Grey is based on the sisters' time as governesses, though Agnes Grey may be a more realistic portrayal of the job...

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: If you enjoyed Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy Daphne du Maurier's. Mrs. de Winter is not quite as fiery as Jane, but I've always found quite a few similarities between Jane Eyre and Rebecca, and often wondered if du Maurier was inspired by Jane Eyre at all when she was writing her most famous novel. It's also just a fantastic book, so you should read it whether you're a Jane Eyre fan or not!

How To Be a Heroine by Samantha Ellis: Samantha Ellis's memoir is all about her relationship with her favourite literary heroines, and the book actually sprang from a conversation between herself and her best friend in which they were discussing whether it was better to be like Jane Eyre or Cathy Earnshaw. If you're new to non-fiction this is a brilliant starting point - it's a great memoir.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton: Yet another book you should read whether you're a fan of Jane Eyre or not because it's just that good, but this is another story that gave me some Jane Eyre vibes when I read it. The Miniaturist felt like a coming-of-age novel to me in much the same way that Jane Eyre does. Read it for yourself and see if you agree!

Lirael by Garth Nix: Plot-wise Lirael is nothing like Jane Eyre, but character-wise? There's something about Lirael that reminds me of a fantastical Jane Eyre; her sad childhood, her intelligence, her quiet strength. Jane, I believe, has influenced many a heroine.

Blue Stockings by Jessica Swale: Set in the late 19th century, Blue Stockings is a play that tells the story of four women who attend Girton College, Cambridge: the first college in Britain to admit women. There's no doubt in my mind that Jane would have attended university if she'd had the chance to.

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys: This modern classic is a prequel to Jane Eyre which tells the story of Bertha Mason: the madwoman in the attic.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters: I think Sarah Waters is a brilliant storyteller, and Fingersmith is one of the twistiest, turniest novels I've ever read. As shocking to read as Jane Eyre was upon its initial publication, it also includes a love story that crosses class boundaries and is a wonderful place to start if you've yet to read any Sarah Waters.

Jane, the Fox & Me by Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault: This graphic novel tells the story of Hélène who's being bullied at school because of her weight. The only thing that makes her feel better is reading Jane Eyre. This is a beautiful graphic novel, and one that, sadly, I imagine a lot of girls can relate to. It's not the best graphic novel I've ever read, but it's still pretty darn good.

What did you talk about this week?

Top Ten Tuesday | My Bookish Resolutions

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

Happy New Year! This week's theme is 'Top Ten Resolutions We Have For 2016 (can be bookish, personal resolutions, "I resolve to finally read these 10 books, series I resolve to finish in 2016, etc.)', so today I thought I'd talk about some of my bookish resolutions for 2016.

I would like... To read more books than I buy: It's inevitable when you're a book lover, and particularly when you're a book blogger/vlogger, that you're going to buy a lot of books. If you see everyone talking about a book then you want it, and even if you don't... well, I don't need much persuading to buy a book! In 2015, though, I literally ran out of room, and though I read a lot of books (and in reality I'm pretty sure I did read more books than I bought) I'd like to try and work my way through more of the books on my TBR. Even though I'll still be getting my hands on shiny new releases...

I would like... To read more non-fiction: This won't be hard as I really fell in love with non-fiction in 2015, and discovered I love it! As such I've bought quite a few non-fiction books, and I'd like to get to them in 2016. In particular, I'd like to read Jen Campbell's The Bookshop Book, Alison Weir's Mary Boleyn and Kate Bernheimer's Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: Women Writers Explore Their Favorite Fairy Tales.

I would like... To finish more series: This is something I completely failed at in 2015 (though I did finish The Lunar Chronicles!), so whether I've already started them or I started them in 2016, I'd like to finish more series than I finished in 2015.

I would like... To read more classics: This was something I managed in 2015, but there are still lots of classics I have yet to read. Luckily for me I'm taking part in The Classics Club's Women's Classic Literature Event, so I'm hoping to read plenty! I'd particularly like to read Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South.

I would like... To write a book!: I'm a bad writer I let insecurity and downright laziness get in the way of my creativity, and though I say it every year I want 2016 to be the year I break through that wall and write a damn book. I also just want to generally write more, because though 2015 was a fantastic reading year it wasn't a great writing year.

I would like... To join or start a book club: There are plenty of online book clubs, and I'm sure a lot of them are brilliant, but I love 'real life' book clubs. I'm hoping a friend of mine in Swansea will restart the book club she started last year because I really enjoyed it - if not, I may try starting my own!

I would like... To have a bookish clearout: I have a lot of books. Some of them I've read and didn't like, some of them I've read and enjoyed but probably wouldn't ever read again, and some of them I haven't read and probably never will. I want to be brutally honest and send those books off to better homes, leaving myself with the books I really want to own - and a little more space!

I would like... To buy from more independent bookshops: Speaking of buying books, I know for a fact that I own so many because online shopping is my downfall. In 2016 I'd like to support more independent bookshops, especially as I bought a stunning book from Rossiter Books, one of my favourite independent bookshops, in Monmouth, which is a beautiful little shop.

Anna Maxwell Martin as Elizabeth Darcy (née Bennet) and Matthew Rhys as Fitzwilliam Darcy in Death Comes to Pemberley

I would like... To visit more literary places: I'm pretty lucky in that so many famous authors are British, and as I'm also British I have quite easy access to a lot of literary places. Despite that, though, I haven't been to as many as I'd like. I've been to Stratford and I've been to Bath - I've been to Haworth, home of the Brontës, a couple of times, too - but in 2016 I'd like to visit more literary places, whether they're places where authors lived or places where adaptations have been filmed. One of my friends is a butler at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, which has been used as Pemberley twice; one in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and again in the 2013 adaptation of Death Comes to Pemberley. I'll definitely be going there this year!

I would like... To find a new bookish job: If you've been following my blog for a little while, you'll know that last year I worked at the independent publishing house, Seren Books. Sadly my position was a temporary position for a year, so I need a new job! I actually started a new temporary position yesterday at the University of Wales Press, an academic publishing house, but I'd like to find a position that doesn't have an end date to give myself a little more stability. I'm hoping to secure a job as an Editorial Assistant somewhere!

What are your resolutions?

16 Books I Want to Read in 2016

There are some books I'm always talking about wanting to read, and yet I never get to them. I don't know if it's because they fall to the wayside of newer releases or I'm hesitant to pick them up after waiting so long to read them in the first place, or perhaps a mix of the two, but in 2016 there are some books I'm determined to get to.

These are two classic feminist texts I'm ashamed to say I haven't read yet, and two books Mallory @ The Local Muse is always recommending to me. Now I'm taking part in The Women's Classic Literature Event I have even more reason to read them, and I want to get to them soon. I haven't read any Sylvia Plath yet, so The Bell Jar is a must, and so far the only Margaret Atwood book I've read is The Penelopiad; I'd really like to read Alias Grace, too, but I have to cross The Handmaid's Tale off my TBR!

I'm sure most of you know by now how much I love Sarah Waters, and now I only have two of her six published novels left to read - until she releases her next book! The Night Watch is told backwards, which should be interesting to read, and as The Paying Guests is a bit of a chunker I'm looking forward to diving into it.

Somehow I still haven't read The Raven Boys, and with the final book in this series, The Raven King, coming out in 2016, I think it's about time I got to it! I also still haven't got to Station Eleven despite buying it in January, and I really need to read it as it's one of my friend Elena's favourite books.

I've read sections of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and I've seen the BBC mini series of North and South, so I'm familiar with both stories, but I want to read them both. I'm a big fan of Anne Brontë and Elizabeth Gaskell, so I can get to both of these in 2016 I'll be a happy bunny!

Among Others and The Shadow of the Wind are two of those books I'm always hearing fantastic things about, and yet despite owning both of them I still haven't read them. Both of them are books about books, so I'm very excited to cross them off my TBR!

I've heard a lot of great things about Americanah, and I'm eager to read some of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's fiction after I read We Should All Be Feminists earlier this year. I'm hoping to find a copy of Reading Lolita in Tehran under the Christmas tree, because it sounds fantastic.

The Crimson Petal and the White and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are two beasts in the historical fiction world, and though they both intimidate me they're both books I want to read. I've heard nothing but good things about The Crimson Petal and the White, and I love my historical fiction with a dash of magic. Hopefully I can get to both of these!

Similarly, No Name and The Count of Monte Cristo are both GIANT classics. I've been telling myself I'm going to read The Count of Monte Cristo for far too long, I really need to cross it off my TBR, and I only discovered No Name this year but I love Wilkie Collins and I think it sounds brilliant. These classics both deal with revenge, and I love me a good revenge story every once in a while.

So those are some of the books I'd like to read in 2016. Are there any books you're determined to cross off your TBR next year?

Top Ten Tuesday | Gimme More

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Top Ten Debut Authors Who Have Me Looking Forward To Their Sophomore Novel'. Luckily for me I recently went on a bit of a debut binge, and it's made me want to read more debuts in future - I don't think I'm particularly good at reading debuts, especially not reading debuts the year that they're published, mainly because half the time I don't realise I'm reading a debut unless it mentions it somewhere in the blurb. This year, though, I've been trying to check out more books by the same author because I find it frustrating when people ask me who my favourite authors are and I realise just how many authors I've only read one book by; I feel unable to call an author a favourite if I've only read one of their books.

Anyway, these are the ten authors whose debut novels I thoroughly enjoyed, and whose work I'll be keeping an eye out for in future - some more than others!

Hannah Kent: Hannah Kent's debut novel, Burial Rites, was the first book I read this year and it broke me. It's a beautifully written fictonalised account of the last days of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last woman to be executed in Iceland. I'm really looking forward to seeing what she writes next! Read my review of Burial Rites here.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia: You guys already know how much I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia's debut novel, Signal to Noise. She's already published two short story collections and edited plenty of others, and recently she announced she'll be releasing two more standalone novels! I believe Young Blood will be her next novel, also set in Mexico City and featuring a homeless teen and drug lord vampires (give it to me now), and she's also writing a historical fantasy novel titled Proper People. I want them both. Also you should all drop everything you're doing and read Signal to Noise right now. Check out my review here.

Anne Brontë: I don't really know if Anne Brontë counts on account of her not being a living author but, hey, this is my list. I love Agnes Grey, and though I've read bits of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for school and whatnot in the past, I've never sat down and read the whole thing from start to finish. Considering I'm taking part in The Women's Classic Literature Event, I'm planning to read it soon!

Nicola Yoon: I didn't love Everything, Everything, but I did enjoy it and I'll be keeping my eye on Nicola Yoon to see what she releases next; she's an official member of the We Need Diverse Books campaign, so she's definitely an author I want to keep on my radar! Read my review of Everything, Everything here.

Mary Shelley: Another classic lady. Frankenstein is one of my favourite classics - it's such a fantastic book - and I've been meaning to read more of Shelley's work ever since.

Andrew Davidson: I feel as though Andrew Davidson has vanished off the face of the earth. I adored his debut novel, The Gargoyle, it's a stunning book, but it was published in 2008 and since then I haven't heard of him bringing out anything else. I hope he does, though!

Laura Konrad: Laura is a friend of mine and I was very lucky to receive a review copy of her gritty, post-apocalyptic debut Lorelai, You'll Never Die, which I reviewed here. I've known Laura for a few years now, she's an online writing friend, and I've had the pleasure of seeing her blossom as a fantastic writer of sci-fi. She excels at stories in outer space and post-apocalyptic fiction, and I can't wait to see what she publishes next!

Robin Talley: My entire MA was based around the idea of the representation of minorities in history and how historical fiction can give a voice back to the people who were originally deprived of one, so I love stories like Lies We Tell Ourselves that look at history through the eyes of someone who isn't white and straight. I think Robin Talley is a fantastic voice in YA today, and her third novel, As I Descended, is one of my most anticipated releases of next year! This is kind of cheating because I've already read her second novel, What We Left Behind, but sadly I wasn't a big fan of it, so I'm hoping I enjoy As I Descended a lot more. Check out my reviews of Lies We Tell Ourselves and What We Left Behind here and here!

Becky Albertalli: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was such a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed it, and flew through it, and I'll definitely be checking out whatever Becky Albertalli releases next. Check out my review of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda here!

Jessie Burton: I finally read Jessie Burton's debut, The Miniaturist, a couple of months ago and thought it was absolutely stunning - you can check out my review here! I think her style of writing is gorgeous, and I believe she's currently working on her second novel set during the Spanish Civil War.

Who made your list this week?

Top Ten Tuesday | Books to Read if you like Jane Austen

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Ten Books To Read If You Like This Super Popular Book/Author'.

I'm not a big fan of Jane Austen, but there's no denying that one of the reasons Austen's work is so popular is because it's still relevant today. There's a reason her novels have been adapted into more modern variations such as Bridget Jones's Diary and Clueless; if you gave the settings and some of her characters a few tweaks, then all of her stories could easily be 21st century romantic comedies.

For fans of Pride and Prejudice:

Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton: Imagine if Jane Austen had written a book in which every single character was a dragon...

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South is another classic, later than Pride and Prejudice, with another central couple who at first dislike each other, and then grow to love one another. Also Richard Armitage is in the BBC miniseries and looks very dapper in his top hat.

For fans of Sense and Sensibility:

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal: To me, Shades of Milk and Honey is what would happen if someone added a little magic to Sense and Sensibility. Anne is older and plainer than her beautiful sister, but she's very talented in the magic department. Add to that a Darcy-esque love interest and you have the perfect book for any Austen fan.

Girls in Love by Jacqueline Wilson: This is an ideal book for younger readers, from around age 12 and up, by one of my favourite childhood authors. I've often seen Sense and Sensibility recommended as a great classic to read for anyone going through boy (or girl!) trouble, and Girls in Love is a good read for that, too.

For fans of Emma:

Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis: This is a middle grade novel set during the Regency period, with a little bit of magic thrown in. With a child protagonist at the centre, it's a fresh look at a period of history that's so often written about in cheesy historical romances. Kat has two older sisters and likes to concern herself with who the two of them are going to marry - she's an Emma in miniature!

For fans of Mansfield Park:

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë: I've talked about Anne Brontë before and how much I love her. She wrote two novels during her lifetime: Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall outsold Wuthering Heights upon its publication and was incredibly successful, but after she passed away Charlotte Brontë decided not to republish it, and Anne has been the lesser known of the three sisters ever since. Not cool, Charlotte, not cool. Many critics have said that, had she lived longer, Anne Brontë could be as well known to us now as Jane Austen is. While Charlotte and Emily seemed to enjoy writing about the Gothic - though not all of Charlotte's work is like Jane Eyre - Anne was much more interested in society, and particularly in how society treated women. Agnes Grey is a short, subtle and beautiful little novel about the titular character who becomes a governess to support her destitute family, and the struggles she faces. It would be a disservice to both sisters to try and compare Agnes Grey to Jane Eyre because they're entirely different, and both excellent. I particularly love Agnes' relationship with her student, Rosalie, who enjoys making men fall in love with her just so she can reject them. Seriously, give it a read.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison: Obviously The Goblin Emperor and Mansfield Park are very different novels, but, as I said when I did the Jane Austen Book Tag, both of them have a rags to riches storyline at their heart. More importantly, both of these books feature protagonists who feel like outcasts, and who feel like outcasts in the very place they should feel at home. Both protagonists grow and find their own feet, but they don't sacrifice their naturally kind natures to do it.

For fans of Northanger Abbey:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: Here we have two Caths, both of whom are far more interested in fictional characters than what's going on in the world around them. This is the ideal contemporary read for a Northanger Abbey fan!

For fans of Persuasion:

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund: This is a sci-fi retelling of Persuasion. Basically, it's Jane Austen in spaaaaaace!

The King's General by Daphne du Maurier: This is one of du Maurier's lesser known novels. Set during the English Civil War, it tells the story of Honor Harris who is wooed by the proud and reckless Richard Grenville. The two of them part ways after an accident leaves eighteen year old Honor crippled, but reunite years later after Richard has risen up in Charles I's army. This is an ideal read for people who like stories about lovers getting second chances, like Persuasion.

Which books made your list?

The Cinderella Book Tag!

I saw Mel @ The Daily Prophecy do this tag and I just had to join in because it's adorable!

Evil Stepsisters

A book with a character you hate

Heathcliff is literally the worst. He's a fantastic character, but a terrible human being.

Prince Charming

A book with a gentleman

Atticus Finch: the original DILF.

Look at that dapper bastard

Cinderella

A character that is graceful, kind and defiant

I really like Agnes. She's often accused of not having enough gumption, but it's nice to see a heroine with a quiet kind of strength. When her family is destitute she becomes a governess, despite both her parents and her sister doubting her capability, and she sticks with the job even when it's tough. If you haven't read Agnes Grey I recommend checking it out, particularly if you're a fan of subtler classics like Persuasion.

Fairy Godmother

A character who always has someone looking out for them

If it wasn't for Samwise Gamgee - the ultimate hero - Frodo would have died as soon as he stepped foot out of The Shire. Thank God Frodo has Sam.

Helpful Creatures

Something that makes you happy when you're sad

It's not a book, I know, but I absolutely love The Mummy. Next to Beauty and the Beast it's my favourite film, and it always makes me smile. I could watch this movie over and over and never get bored, and it's never failed to cheer me up!

Ashes

A book you didn't care for

I really, really, really didn't like Legend. June and Day were basically the same person with different genitalia, and Marie Lu spent way too much time explaining what everyone was wearing. It just wasn't for me.

Pumpkin

A character with a transformation

We all always knew that Neville was a hero, but Neville's transformation was one in which he realised what he was capable of doing himself. He went from the little boy who was terrified of his Potions Professor to the young man who slays horcruxes in a cardigan because he's Neville Longbottom.

Impossible

A book with an ending you didn't see coming

Just Breathe

Something that inspires you to be courageous

Something else that isn't a book, but is based on a book! I love the music from the Little Women musical, and this song in particular has always filled me with gumption.

Happily Ever After

A book with a perfect ending

Everything about Signal to Noise is perfect, and I desperately want more people to read it because it's so good.

I tag:

Natalie @ Orchestrating a Sea Change

Mallory @ The Local Muse

Deanna @ Deanna Writes

Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows

Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight