Charlotte is my favorite of the Brontes, in large part for the exquisitely complex and compelling heroines of Vilette and Jane Eyre (I have not read Shirley yet), so it is with respect and slight disappointment that I report that this first attempt is a HOT MESS (as many are!).

The 2 stars aren't for the meandering plot or the one-dimensional characters lacking any kind of arc or development, because in that case my love for her prose would probably have still granted it a 3. The biggest issue with the text is the titular Professor. I read that he was later reworked as the professor character in Vilette, whom I also did not care for, and her certainly exaggerates all of the worst qualities of that character: he is pompous, arrogant, patriarchal. This professor is also completely devoid of empathy, whines ceaselessly, is completely lacking in wit or humor (reasons why I can't help but like the problematic Mr. Rochester) and is convinced that every female character in the narrative is passionately in love with him even though it was unfathomable to me why given how poorly he treats women. Throw in the ickiness of Sting in "Don't Stand So Close To Me" in his descriptions and behavior towards his teenage students to top off the disaster.

As if that weren't all enough, there is a completely unnecessary and barely relevant "dog gets rabies and the professor shoots him" storyline crammed into the last 3 pages! Charlotte, what were you thinking?