Hi Krystal, Another suggestion is Lynn Reid Banks’, The Dark Quartet. I bought the book at Haworth Parsonage and read it on the plane all the way from Heathrow to Melbourne. I was a mess as I cried all the way home.

Ladies, please read Villette! I live in a rural Australian town and travel 90km to work and 90km back home every day. To make this journey more enjoyable I listen to audio books. The choice of book is driven by the very wish you both express, whuch is, “I must read that book one day.” Recently I have turned to a selection of classics, including Jane Austen and the Bröntes. Villette is incredible, so absorbing, the characters so carefully drawn. Lucy Snowe is the narrator at the centre of this book. Lucy is a steady, stoic, reflective and sensitive being. She is conscious of her social boundaries, she is intelligent, articulate and possesses a practical mind and common sense. She does not see herself as deserving good things from life, she seems to be more of an observer of life and particularly of others’ lives. Bronte allows us into Lucy’s inner world so we can see the outside as Lucy sees it. Villette, a European town becomes the setting for events to unfold, unsettling at times as Lucy’s mental health and wellbeing is challenged through perhaps an inner struggle with her demons. it is a wonderful book and the writing is extraordinary. So many times I have had to stop the cd and relisten to a passage that has incredible importance fior me. I will definitely buy the physical book and read it.

Thank you so much for sharing that story, Sree! I would love to visit Jane Austen’s house one day. Wow, it’s so amazing that she was able to write so much in such an uncomfortable workspace. Love what you wrote, “We need nothing other than passion to create stories that must be told.” So true!

I enjoyed this piece very much. I have always wondered and marveled at these women writers of the early 19th century! They had such rudimentary writing equipment! But the passion must have been bottomless! I once visited Jane Austen’s house in Steventon, Hampshire where Austen wrote “Sense and Sensibility.” There was a tiny round table and a very uncomfortable , straight-backed chair on which Austen sat day after day and wrote her novel. No computer; no back space; no delete button. We need nothing other than passion to create stories that must be told. At any cost. Thank you for writing about Bronte.

Hi, Margie! Thank you so much for reading and for your kind comment. 🙂 Love hearing that Jane Eyre is one of your favorites too. It’s such a timeless novel.

Hi, Kate! 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting. Happy to hear you found the post inspiring. All the best as you keep putting your writing out there!

Thank you for your comment, Kristina! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, you definitely need to read Jane Eyre. 🙂 Looking forward to hearing what you think of it. And thank you for being part of the group!