I think "Jane Eyre" is my favorite book of all time. I first read it when I was about 12 years old, and I've re-read it every few years since then. I find something new, some new level of appreciation, every time.

When I first read it as a child, I empathized with Jane's horrible childhood, her cruel treatment by her Aunt, the awful boarding school she was forced to attend. I also simply enjoyed the romance of her relationship with Mr. Rochester and the gothic creepiness of Thornfield Hall. Later on, as I grew older and more mature, I came to appreciate the complexity of the characters; the parallels between Jane and Bertha Mason; the untraditional anti-heroism of Mr. Rochester, with his surliness and his passion; and the paradox of Jane's status -- she is Rochester's moral superior and his social inferior, until the end of the book, when Rochester is cleansed by fire and they become equals.

This book is an intellectually stimulating, enthralling read, with a wildly romantic storyline, and it is a book I know I will cherish forever.

I just bought a nice little hardback copy from the sale table at Barnes and Noble, marred only by the fact that the price sticker left a residue behind on the cover. (Argh! Why can't they make stickers that will actually come off when you want them to!) I plan to release it into the wild soon!

Released on Monday, April 19, 2004 at Five Points Eye Care Clinic in Athens, Georgia USA.

I released the book this morning in the waiting room at the Five Points Eye Care clinic at around 10:00 am.