Comments on 'Villette'

This classic novel was enjoyed by the whole group.

'Charlotte Bronte writes very well about loneliness no more so than when she is describing the long summer holiday when she had to stay in the school with just one other student.'
'There are only a few characters in the book and these lead fairly dull and monotonous lives but the overall result is an enjoyable read'
'I enjoyed the book but for me a little more historical detail would have been interesting'
'It is surprising how bigoted Lucy is. She critices many religions and did not particularly like the Belgian people.'
'I found the ending unsatisfactory. We are left unsure as to what happened to the Professor.'
'When Lucy is persuaded to act in the school play she does it well. Her performance and appearance lead the reader into believing she could become a more outgoing and colourful character.'
'The legend of the ghostly nun which plays a small part of the story reflects the influence of the Gothic on novels written at the time.'
'Although the ending was not a happy one you were left feeling that the Professor's generosity to Lucy had enabled her to lead the kind of life she craved.'

Further Reading

The Professor by Charlotte Bronte

Recommended Reading

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver