Sarah Moss, renowned author and literary critic, has confessed that her affection for Jane Eyre far surpasses that of Wuthering Heights. This preference may come as a surprise, given the two classic novels' status in English literature.
Moss attributes this disparity to her childhood reading experiences. At seven years old, she devoured Arthur Ransome's Swallowdale, a book that instilled in her a sense of adventure and support from authority figures when needed. Later, as a teenager, she found solace in the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose landscapes and blend of domesticity and adventure captivated her.
However, it was not until Moss read Christina Sharpe's Ordinary Notes that her perspective shifted significantly. This book altered her understanding of the world around her, much like other influential works have changed her mind throughout her life.
Moss also acknowledges that storytelling was a significant part of her early life. She would often entertain her friends with ghost stories, and it wasn't until she began writing herself that she realized the power of literature.
In recent years, Moss has rediscovered Barbara Pym, an author whose works initially unsettled her due to their portrayal of middle-aged English women with inner lives. This reevaluation has led Moss to appreciate Pym's brilliance as a novelist and challenge her initial biases.
When it comes to revisiting classic novels, Moss finds value in rereading authors like Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and George Eliot. She also cherishes books that focus on art, such as Bill Reid's essays on art. Furthermore, cookbooks from Meera Sodha and Anna Jones bring her joy, as do knitting books by Felix Ford and Kate Davies.
One novel, however, remains an exception to Moss's affection for classic literature: Wuthering Heights. Despite admiring its narrative structure, she finds the eroticized abuse inherent in the text difficult to reconcile with her current understanding of the novel's themes. This distinction sets it apart from her beloved Jane Eyre.
Moss attributes this disparity to her childhood reading experiences. At seven years old, she devoured Arthur Ransome's Swallowdale, a book that instilled in her a sense of adventure and support from authority figures when needed. Later, as a teenager, she found solace in the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose landscapes and blend of domesticity and adventure captivated her.
However, it was not until Moss read Christina Sharpe's Ordinary Notes that her perspective shifted significantly. This book altered her understanding of the world around her, much like other influential works have changed her mind throughout her life.
Moss also acknowledges that storytelling was a significant part of her early life. She would often entertain her friends with ghost stories, and it wasn't until she began writing herself that she realized the power of literature.
In recent years, Moss has rediscovered Barbara Pym, an author whose works initially unsettled her due to their portrayal of middle-aged English women with inner lives. This reevaluation has led Moss to appreciate Pym's brilliance as a novelist and challenge her initial biases.
When it comes to revisiting classic novels, Moss finds value in rereading authors like Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and George Eliot. She also cherishes books that focus on art, such as Bill Reid's essays on art. Furthermore, cookbooks from Meera Sodha and Anna Jones bring her joy, as do knitting books by Felix Ford and Kate Davies.
One novel, however, remains an exception to Moss's affection for classic literature: Wuthering Heights. Despite admiring its narrative structure, she finds the eroticized abuse inherent in the text difficult to reconcile with her current understanding of the novel's themes. This distinction sets it apart from her beloved Jane Eyre.
i mean its classic n all, but janey eyre 4eva 
moss makes sense tho, her childhood faves sound like a solid foundation 4 a love of storytelling & adventure. swallowdale & the little house on prairie series r iconic! 
& honestly, who needs that much angst w/ wuthering heights? 
janey eyre's got romance n empowerment, not just toxic obsession 
! I love how Moss attributes her love for classic lit to her childhood reads tho 
- Arthur Ransome's Swallowdale and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series are def faves of mine too! 
I think it's really cool that Sarah Moss is open about her reading experiences and how they've shaped her tastes over time. It's like, our childhood books can have a lasting impact on us, you know? 
And it's awesome that she finds value in books that focus on art and creativity - that's definitely not always getting the attention it deserves.
What I love most about Sarah Moss is that she's not afraid to revisit her childhood favorites and reevaluate them with a fresh perspective. I mean, who doesn't love a good ghost story? 
And it's awesome that she found inspiration in authors like Barbara Pym and Meera Sodha – women who rock! 
. And I'm glad she rediscovered Barbara Pym - who doesn't love a good novel about inner lives? 
. Her love for Jane Eyre over Wuthering Heights got me thinking - what about all those other classics we loved growing up? Like, Austen and Brontë, they're still fabulous, but maybe not as much as some newer books I've devoured lately 
What about all those other classics she's supposed to know inside out? Anyway, I guess her childhood faves do make sense - Swallowdale is like the OG adventure novel and Little House on the Prairie is basically the epitome of comfort reading. But what really gets me is that Wuthering Heights is just... toxic 
I mean, who wants to read about a love story with abuse as its foundation? Not me, that's for sure. Give me Jane Eyre any day - at least she fought back 
. It's interesting that she mentions Swallowdale, though - who knew Arthur Ransome's book had such a lasting impact on her life? 
The way Jane stands up against Mr. Rochester's controlling behavior is really empowering, you know? 
As a reader, it's interesting to see how authors' perspectives evolve over time, and how they reevaluate their favorite books as they grow older. It just goes to show that literature can be complex and multifaceted, and we shouldn't feel like we have to stick with our initial opinions... or should I say, our "initial feels"? 