I have been reading Jane Eyre and enjoying it immensely. I’ve been reading gothic literature this past month and have been going through the classics for the first time. I didn’t read these in school or when I was younger, I’m just getting to them now.
I also like to read litchart as I’m going for some light analysis just so I can keep up with themes and plot points so I don’t forget anything and BOOM… HUGE SPOILER right there. “This is just like how later in the book all this stuff is revealed!” I noticed this with Frankenstein as well, but I was more forgiving since I knew more about the story already.
So okay… I stopped doing that. Now I’m going through my Penguin Classics copy of Jane Eyre and this man Steven Davies is spoiling the book in his notes. Stoppppppp.
I understand this book is old, but I’m not! This is my first time! Be gentle with me!
by bakingisscience
5 Comments
This is my reaction anytime I hear “spoiler warning for thing even though it’s so-and-so years old.” Okay? I heard of it yesterday. Or “anyone who wants to read it will have already.” This I just don’t get. How many consume every single thing they’re interested in as soon as they learn about it? Lots of people, myself included, do a lot of mood reading. Are backlogs and TBRs and To Watch lists fictitious to these people?
Not sure what lit chart is, some sort of website, I imagine – but it sounds like you’re actively seeking out spoilers.
Plus, introductions to historic novels are well known for spoilers, best avoided
Also, I find it strange you would seek out analysis of the text and then be surprised when it’s spoilt for you. That’s on you.
Maybe when something is years, decades, even millennia old you shouldn’t expect every discussion of it to be spoiler free for your convenience?!?!
If you don’t want to have a plot spoiled, stop reading supplemental materials until you’ve finished the book. You can’t change the behavior of other people.
I’m generally interested in plot points, knowing what happens is not why I read, so I’ve never minded spoilers. I think if there’s an online discussion about a book you should assume there are spoilers in there unless specifically noted otherwise, and even that is risky because youre relying on vigilant moderation to swat down the spoiler spears being thrown at you.
This is one of my pet peeves also! New people are born every year. Just because a thing is old, everyone has to read it for the first time sometime.
Fortunately, most classics have more going on than just plot twists – one can still appreciate the experience of reading it even knowing what’s going to happen. I know Jane Eyre is one that has a suspenseful mood building up to a pretty big reveal, so I can see how that’s disappointing if you didn’t know and then your study materials spoiled it. But it’s still a great read, even knowing everything.