The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte

By: Syrie James

Narrated by: Bianca Amato

Length: 16 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

From Syrie James, the best-selling author of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, comes a novel that captures the passionate heart and restless soul of Charlotte Brontë—the author who gave the world Jane Eyre while longing for a soulmate.

©2009 Syrie James (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“James makes sense of the events of Charlotte’s life, tells a story that captures the language and feel of the times, and keeps the novel moving at a fast pace … a captivating and entertaining read.” ( Feathered Quill Book Reviews)

I fell in love with the Bronte sisters.

I have read the reviews by others who had difficulties with the author's retelling of Charlotte's story because of the inaccuracies. If I were a Bronte scholar - If I were even a Victorian Literature scholar - I might feel the same and therefore deduct a star. However, this book was my introduction to the Bronte sisters. I had never read any of their works or any biographies about them. And this book made me fall in love with them. That fact alone makes me feel it is worthy of 4 stars. And because of this book I have already read Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre is up next, so 4 stars may be stingy.

Bianca Amato's voice was beautiful. I do not know whether the accent was correct, but as a modern day American it sounded right to my ear. I found her voicing of the sisters to be strong and unique, which seemed to be the right choice for their characters.

A happy surprise

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to any friend who is interested In the lives of the Brontë sisters and who likes period stories.

What did you like best about this story?

The story included sickness, tragedy, and death. It was about personal development, relationships, literature, and ambition. The story was also about love among family members and friends, as well as romantic love. I liked the portrayal of the time, the conditions, and the struggles of the period. I liked that Charlotte's character was a strong woman who thought for herself and made decisions based on her values rather than societal values. I loved the bond between the sisters. I also found it interesting that even though the story of occurred in a completely different era, the experience of falling in love has similarities when compared to the present day. The story was very engaging and kept me interested throughout.

Very engaging

It was an uneven beginning, I was very interested in the development of the female characters but struggled at first with the narration - almost giving up several times. But I am really glad I stuck with it, and Ms. Amato settled down in some of her exaggerations. I did often wonder how it would be different (better) with a different narrator, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the learning more about the life of the Brontes. I absolutely would recommend.

Biography

Well-written biography of Charlotte Bronte's. The terrible conditions of Haworth, Bronte's home town, are glossed over, but many of the main events of the author's life are recounted realistically in this easy to read book. I recommend it highly for those who wish to gain more understanding of Charlotte Bronte's personal life.

Man, what a good book

What made the experience of listening to The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed it immensely! Even if you aren't into the Bronte's books, this is good on it's own.

Beautiful

Beautifully done in every way- don't miss it! I'm only halfway through but love every minute and I know I will miss this family when it's over. Please - a word to reviewers - please try to avoid spoilers- I was just reading some of the reviews and one of them actually ruined part of the story for me, telling me certain things that were to come. I won't repeat it here since it will ruin it for the next person - but reviewers please be considerate and stop before you give things away. At this moment I can't get these things out of my head knowing what's coming since I unknowingly read this review!

I Love This Book.

DELIGHTFUL! Written well. Researched. Narrated AMAZINGLY! This book was like spending 10 years with Charlotte Bronte as a companion and interacting with her amazing sisters, her bitter brother, her taciturn father, her bestie Ellen, her Mr. Nichols and blossoming friendship with Elizabeth Gaskell. This book was emotional, bouncing between cheerful and heartbreaking at all times. But when it came time for Charlotte to endure her brother's and sisters deaths, it was painful. This poor woman suffered as much as she won. **SPOILERS** The two best parts of this book were: 1) The Bronte sisters discussing Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" after reading it. Total literary-gasm. 2) Jane's wedding night. I blushed. No it wasn't graphic, but my inner victorian lady was quite aghast. This book takes place during the sisters publishing of their books, which is nerve-wrecking and exciting all at once. All in all, this is a very good listen. The narrator is brilliant. I am now going to down load this author's "The Memiors of Jane Austen" at once.

A most compelling story

I was really caught up in this story. It is compelling and enthralling. Your heart really goes out to this tragic family! It’s inspired me to learn more about the Brontes, and I will be paying my respects next time I’m in Haworth.

My one complaint is that the accents portrayed by the narrator for the Bronte siblings are entirely wrong. I miss their Yorkshire accent and find the posh accent she affected to ring hollow.

A truly joyful experience

Would you listen to The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte again? Why?

I rarely re-listen to audiobooks, so it's doubtful, but I did truly enjoy this book.

What did you like best about this story?

I was completely unfamiliar with the life of the Brontes going into this, and the book brought the characters so much to life that I developed a real interest in them, an interest which has continued even after I've finished the book. I felt that all of the characters were people dear to me, and I was sad when the story ended. Excellent character development.

What about Bianca Amato’s performance did you like?

The narration was amazing. All of the voices were done skillfully and were distinct from one another. I would have never read this book in hard copy, and it was the voice of Amato in the sample that made me purchase it. The book exceeded my expectations, but Amato's narration enhanced the story immensely.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

All of the above. I was invested in the story and its characters.

Any additional comments?

I do not generally like Victorian-era literature or anything associated with it. Jane Austen puts me to sleep. This book was a rare purchase for me, perhaps because it was written so recently. Either way, I am reassessing my opinion of Victorian literature.

So good!!

I loved it!! Narrator was wonderful. Story was intimate and insightful. Romance was just the kind I like.