I chose this novel because I'd never read anything by the third Bronte sister. Having read it, I'm now convinced that it was published and is still around simply because it was written by a Bronte. It's an awful book. The plot, what there is of it, is extremely contrived. At one point, the action takes place in a letter written into a diary written into a letter. The entire book is that all-encompassing letter — 500 pages written to a person who is soon arriving for an extended visit with the letter writer. Would you write 500 pages to somebody who was arriving at your house in a few days for a stay of several weeks?

And the writing ... I'll just give you an example:

She knows it is impossible that I should forget her; and she is right to wish me not to remember her too well. I should not desire her to regret me too deeplly; but I can scarcely imagine she will make herself very unhappy about me, because I know I am not worthy of it, except in my appreciation of her.

The characters are all inconsistent, one moment strong and determined, the next weak and weepy. There are pages and pages of details about secondary characters who have no bearing on the story.

It's so bad that it's often hilarious, which is why I rated it a 5 and not a 3.