Agnes Grey (edition 2003)

Many similarities to her sister Charlotte's Villette, though not so powerful. Agnes is more reliable a narrator -- occasionally coy, but transparently so -- though somehow (or perhaps 'therefore') I didn't find her quite as engaging. She's steadfast and determined, but mostly in a very quiet manner, so without the Villette-style revelations that "Oh by the way, I lied about X" there's little real spark. But she is likeable and admirable, and the story a sweet one of what makes a good education and a happy marriage. ( )

Anne Bronte is one of the Bronte sisters, all of whom wrote novels. This book is based on Anne's own experiences as a governess. If the details are true to life then she had some horrible brats as students and I do feel sorry for her. However, feeling sorry doesn't mean that I thought the book was good. I don't think Anne had the skill that her older sister, Charlotte, did for writing about characters that made one care what happened to them. Even the eponymous character didn't engage me. I wanted her to, at least once, stand up for herself but she consistently backed down. In one of the most horrible scenes she prevented a cruel boy from torturing a little bird by killing the bird herself. Surely there was some other way to resolve this problem.

I could tell almost from the minute the young curate, Edward Weston, was introduced that Agnes would fall in love with him and, somehow, they would marry. Even when both Grey and Weston each leave the place where they met and Agnes was not able to learn where he had gone I knew that somehow they would reconnect. If that's a spoiler I apologize but, as I said, it seemed pretty obvious from the outset.

Not my favourite classic by any stretch of the imagination. Give me George Eliot or Elizabeth Gaskell any day. ( )

Wow.....I cannot believe how long it took me to finish this book, although the book is certainly not entirely to blame......my life was a much larger factor....however, had i been 'gripped' more by what i was reading, it would not have taken me nearly 2 months (!) to get through it. But then again, one does not read Bronte sister books for adventure and heart-pounding excitement, so i have no one to blame but myself. With that all said, i did enjoy some aspects of the book. It always fascinates me to learn that self-centered rude entitled behavior is not some recent quality in society that we are all so quick to point to as some terrible decline feature of today's world, but has been with us a very long time. This also shows clearly the value that faith can have in offering up a path through which we can maneuver through difficult times. A little sappy, a somewhat predictable ending, but no regrets. ( )

This was a Librovox recording that was ok. I thought that the voice of Agnes was a bit whiny. This matched the first half of the book which was Agnes's narrative about the awful students in her care. I sympathized with her a bit and thought that not only the students but parents were absolutely awful and disrespectful. It is interesting how little preparation a governess had for taking care of the young people she spent all day teaching and guiding. Going into a family with predefined behavior and disfunction had to be incredibly difficult. I am sure that very little was ever discussed prior to starting a placement in terms of managing difficult situations a governess was most likely going to experience.

A governess was both a necessity and an evil. She was needed but not included as a member of the family. The ultimate decision-making was also in the hands of the parents, something that I am sure many youth took advantage of on a day to day basis.

The second half of the book was more bright as some of the characters received their just desserts and Agnes found her path and voice. I was happy with the ending and must confess that I do enjoy things being wrapped up neatly.

Looking forward to more of the Bronte sisters. ( )

A very simple and heart- warming story based on the author's own experience as a governess. Anne Bronte does very well to engage the reader into a personal account of Agnes and the two positions she held to assist her own family's income. The challenges she faces dealing with over-indulged and disrespectful children would make any woman grateful that there are more choices for employment in the modern world. I adore the Bronte sisters and enjoyed this quick read. ( )