Book Review: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

by Vanessa
(Los Angeles, CA)

One of my favorite book club choices is Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. The book tells the story of the first Mrs. Rochester from the book Jane Eyre.

Bronte fans will recall Mr. Rochester married a woman from a Caribbean country and brought her back to England. She later went mad and was kept hidden away in the attic.

If your memories of the Bronte book are somewhere back in middle school, don't worry.

This story, set on the Caribbean island, stands on its own. It's very dramatic and has some of the appeal of a historical romance.

There are a number of things that make it an excellent choice for a book group. There is depth to the characters and their relationships. There is the theme of various ways the Europeans relate to the people on the island.

There is a lot to think about in Wide Sargasso Sea which is what makes it a rich source of discussions for a book group.

Note from Megan, Editor of The Book Club Guide

Wow Vanessa, thanks for bringing this book to our attention!

I absolutely love the book Jane Eyre, which is still a classic book club favorite. And, I've always wondered about the story of the wife in the attic. What a great premise for a book.

One neat idea for a book club would be to read both Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. Then in the book club discussion members could talk about how reading Rhys' book changed their perceptions of Jane Eyre.