Eyre Buds
By Piper Cleaveland
Eyre BudsApr 24, 2023
Goodbye, Jane
As two wonderful years come to an end, Piper and Lillian reflect on what we've learned from Jane Eyre.
Thank you for joining us on this journey.
Happy Jane Eyre reading and watching.
Stuffies For Broccoli: The 1963 Mini Series & Versions We Didn't See
In the style of an edgy live-action Disney movie of the 2010s, Lillian and Piper come up with a sympathetic back story for Brocklehurst. He's waaaaay more relatable now. Trust us!
We also discuss the adaptations we didn't get to review, including silent films, radio dramas and plays.
Happy New Year!
Hero or Villain? A Character Study of Edward Rochester
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!! When it comes to character studies, we saved the best for last. So, in the spirit of giving, here's our gift to you.
The one. The only. Edward. Fairfax. Rochester.
Jane & Edward (2023): An Interview with Author Melodie Edwards
We talk to Author Melodie Edwards about her reimagining of Jane and Edward's love story in modern-day Toronto. We talk about what inspired this story, what was easy to adapt, and which plot points were harder to figure out in this new setting.
You can find all of Melodie's work here: https://melodieedwards.com/
Pre-order her next novel reimagining Jane Austin's Persuasion here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704141/once-persuaded-twice-shy-by-melodie-edwards/9780593440797/
Analyzing Nature in Jane Eyre
Nature plays such an important role in this novel and we were so excited to talk about it this week. Join us as we explore the poetry, metaphors and themes of the natural world through Charlotte's writing.
It's Czech to me: The 1972 Czech Mini Series
It's our final foreign language adaptation! Without subtitles to guide us, Piper and Lillian spend a lot of time discussing what-ifs with some of the major story beats.
Palate Cleanser: A Christmas Carol the 1984 Movie
Thanksgiving is over which means we're technically allowed to talk about Christmas. So to cleanse our palates, we chose the George C. Scott Christmas Carol! The story is way spookier than Lillian remembered.
And Now a Word from Us Authors! Talking About Each Other's Fanfics
Back in March, Lillian and Piper read and reviewed a handful of Jane Eyre Fanfiction. They also wrote some of their own.
Selections from each story is read on air, but you can read the full fics here:
Meeting on the Road by Lillian Cotter:
https://eyrebuds.weebly.com/meeting-on-the-road.html
Through Your Eyes by Piper Cleaveland:
https://eyrebuds.weebly.com/through-your-eyes.html
Rewatching the 1943 Movie with Guest Patrick Cotter
One of the best things about younger siblings is they have to do what you say, like watch Jane Eyre from 1943 and then talk about it with you on your podcast!
This week, Piper and Lillian get a fresh perspective on an old classic, with Lillian's bother, Petrie -I mean- Patrick.
Seeing the Brontes: To Walk Invisible the 2016 Mini Series
This show was as good as everyone said it was.
Also Branwell is Eminem. His forehead is sweaty, knees week, arms are heavy, he has vomit on his sweater already, not-mom's spaghettis. -Ope! There goes gravity!
Happy Halloween! Discussing the Gothic Elements of Jane Eyre
Have you been locked in a room where your uncle died? Woken in the middle of the night to find your bed engulfed in flames? Dragged to a foreign country and forced to live in an attic for the rest of your life?
You or your loved ones may be entitled to a gothic settlement.
Don't Say Macbeth!: The 1856 Play
The Ingrams perform a comedy of manners, John and Grace are the odd couple, oh, and Jane and Rochester are there too.
Palate Cleanser: The Corpse Bride 2005
It's a beautiful day -it's' a rather nice day- a day for a glorious podcast!
Steak and Milk: Re-Watching the 1970 Movie
George C. Scott is a big, burly man with a soft squishy heart and we love him.
Adaptions Through the Decades: The Brontes at the BBC (2016)
In this week's episode, Lillian swims across the Atlantic with Piper on her back! It's very impressive.
We also talk about a 2016 BBC documentary about the many times the BBC adapted the Brontes work and why. Not as impressive, but still worth talking about.
St. John the "Nice Guy": The 1961 Made for TV Movie
This adaptation was recently released from the vault for American audiences, giving Lillian and Piper more fodder for their mania and analysis.
A "Character Study" of Thornfield Hall
A gentleman's manor house, a cold and gothic asylum, a place to call home. Thornfield Hall means different things to different people and in this week's episode Lillian and Piper discuss the many faces and personas of this iconic place.
The Master of Thornfield Radio Hour
We're back! And to thank you for your patience, we're sharing a sample of some very special Patreon content.
The Master of Thornfield Radio Hour emulates the chill vibes and thoughtful introspection of a public radio music special, complete with a soft spoken radio host and lots of great music.
To listen to the full Radio Special as it was meant to be heard [with complete songs intact], you can contribute to our Patreon. $3 will give you access to the full show: https://www.patreon.com/eyrebuds
To follow along for free, check out the Master of Thornfield Playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7h5UdxC2Roz8jcCJ0AWvUc?si=7912849475c34ee5
Update for Non-Spotify Listeners
This week's episode is exclusive to Spotify since we re-built the episode through their music + talk platform.
Search Eyre Buds on Spotify to listen to this week's episode.
Or donate $3 to Patreon to listen to the original Master of Thornfield Radio Hour with the full songs:
https://www.patreon.com/eyrebuds
Or listen along with the musical playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7h5UdxC2Roz8jcCJ0AWvUc?si=a8d0b19344f54931
Palate Cleanser: Wuthering Heights 1992
We are finally sampling another Brontë's work with Emily Brontë's classic gothic tale, Wuthering Heights. Somethings you need a happily ever after. Sometimes you're glad both of the main characters die in the end. Heathcliff does a great job of making Rochester look like a nice guy in this dramatic tale of two people whose love is causing them pain.
Reader, I Murdered Him: An Interview with Author Betsy Cornwell
Adele takes center stage in a story about a young woman whose life takes her down a winding path with a very Jane Eyre balance of gothic and romance. Lillian & Piper sit down with Author Betsy Cornwell to talk about the who, what, how, and why of her incredible novel inspired by the characters of Jane Eyre.
La Casa De Thornfield: The 1971 Spanish Series
Lillian and Piper go back to their roots, reviewing an adaptation of Jane Eyre. This time we're headed to Spain, where the hair is voluminous, the shirts are frilly and 9 random dudes attend your almost-wedding.
Discussing Theology in Jane Eyre with Professor Elisabeth Jay
This week we're graced with the insight of an actual expert in the field of Victorian literature and theology.
An Emeritus Professor at Oxford Brookes University, Professor Jay helps us shed some light on the complicated and beautiful conversation Jane Eyre has with religion, spirituality and death/ the afterlife.
The Perks of Being a Bronte: Emily the 2022 Movie
Piper and Lillian discuss Frances O'Connor's take on the lives of the Brontes, specifically Emily, and the events of her life that inspired her gothic writing.
If you like moody teen dramas AND classic literature, this one's for you.
Female Friendships: Helen, Miss Temple, Diana & Mary Rivers Character Study
An angelic young girl, the only adult who sees children as human, and two friends when Jane needed them most. In our third character study, Lillian & Piper examine how female friendships affect Jane’s growth and how these women are.
Palate Cleanser: Gentleman Jack 2019
Happy Pride Month everyone! To celebrate, we're discussing season one of the HBO series Gentleman Jack, based on the real life story of Anne Lister: an avid journalist, a lover of women and a real "I like to bring my thermometer with me on holiday!" kinda gal.
Rochester Retrospective 2: The Razzies
37 Jane Eyre adaptations will enter the ring, but only 5 will emerge triumphant! Along the way, we're ranking roasts, drag, slip-n-falls, and downright wackadoo, out-there adaptation choices. Buckle in, ladies and gentlemen. It's time to Razzie.
POV: You Go Out for Bread, And Then...: The 2016 BBC Radio Drama
Lillian and Piper discuss an audio drama that was recorded for Charlotte Bronte's birthday. It's wonderful and we loved it, but don't tell the IRS...or the NRA... or the IRA for that matter.
Rochester Senpai: The 2015 Manga
This adaptation is not only Kawaii, it's also a wonderfully true adaptation and a great intro to either Jane Eyre for Manga lovers, or Manga for Jane Eyre lovers.
And Now, a Word From the Fans: Reading Jane Eyre Fanfiction
Hollywood directors and multi-billion dollar studios aren't the only ones who get to adapt Jane Eyre, the fans have ideas and stories to tell too! On this week's episode, Lillian and Piper read and discuss three Jane Eyre fanfics.
Read along with us!
Some Enchanted Evening by Winam.
A Mended String by woolyhat.
Flesh of his Flesh by Laurielove. (This fic contains adult content. Rated M for mature.)
Palate Cleanser: The Count of Monte Cristo 2002
"Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next."
On this week's episode, Piper and Lillian discuss one of the most famous stories of betrayal and revenge ever written. There's also romance, hot air balloons and Dumbledore!
Go West, Young Podcasters! The 2023 Yavapai Musical
Eyre Buds reaches a new milestone as Lillian and Piper see their first in-person production of Jane Eyre! We were delighted to receive an invitation to the premier of the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center production of Jane Eyre the Musical. Join us as we recall our journey to the beautiful southwest, where the Jane's are talented, the Rochester's are daring and the music is top notch.
Tickets are currently available from April 21st-23rd. Reserve your seat here!
Fun with Ed and Jane: the 2004 Oddsocks Production
"If You Become A Doctor, Folks'll Face You With Dread,
If You Become A Dentist, They'll Be Glad When You're Dead,
You'll Get A Bigger Hand If You Can Stand On Your Head,
Be A Clown, Be A Clown, Be A Clown."
The Real Housewives of Thornfield: Discussing the "Other Women" of Jane Eyre
Finding out Rochester keeps Bertha in the attic is a surprise, but what about the other skeletons in his closet? In this week's episode, Piper and Lillian talk about Blanche, Celine, Giacinta and Clara; the role they play in the story, and how they shape our perception of Jane's love interest.
It's Not Over 'Til the Crazy Lady Sings: The 2002 Opera
Lillian and Piper discuss our first opera adaptation. It's also Lillian's first opera ever and she left the experience feeling more like a crying clown than a triumphant Valkyrie. Stay tuned to the end for a special lgbtq round of Jane Eyre fan-casting!
The Toby Stephens Army: Rewatching the 2006 Mini Series
In this week's episode, Lillian and Piper go back to one of our favorite adaptations. Spoiler alert: it still holds up. Though we have more to say about drag and how we really wish Toby would have committed to it and given us his best Lip Sync Battle performance.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Presents: The 1938 Radio Drama
Surprisingly, this week's episode about Orson Welles' first radio adaptation of Jane Eyre is rated S for sexy. Because there wasn't much to talk about so we fill the air with another game of Marry, F*ck, Kill, and it gets... a little spicy.
Palate Cleanser: Emma the 2020 Movie
Requested by popular demand, Lillian and Piper discuss Jane Austin's classic comedy of manners, Emma, in which a pretty girl who has everything realizes that maybe she doesn't know everything after all.
Jane Eyre Costumes with Victorian Historian Leila
After over a year of Bonnet Watch 1847, Lillian and Piper finally get a chance to ask all their fashion questions to someone who knows what they are talking about. Leila, the Victorian Historian, gives us the basics of 50 years of fashion history before breaking down the fashion of three adaptations: 1983 BBC Miniseries, 2006 BBC Miniseries, and 2011 Movie.
Find Leila:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorian.historian/
Linked Tree (including Etsy): https://linktr.ee/victorian.historian
Discussing Wide Sargasso Sea
This unofficial prequel to Jane Eyre is Jean Rhys' story of Antonetta Cosway, the woman who will become Bertha, the mad woman in the attic. It's a novel that has become deeply imbedded in the discussion surrounding Jane Eyre and has accumulated its fair share of supporters and haters alike. This week, Lillian and Piper discuss Wide Sargasso Sea and the questions it attempts to answer.
Poetry in Motion: The Cathy Marston Ballet
In theater, when a character's emotion surpasses the power of speech, they must break into song to express themselves. When that's still not enough, they break into dance. Cathy Marston's Ballet adaptation is, "Jane Eyre without words," yet it managed to capture the raw emotion of the story on an entirely different level.
Branwell Sucks, I Guess: The 2006 Documentary
It's a rainy Thursday and your lit teacher is out sick, so the substitute wheels in a TV on a library cart and pops in a VHS tape. What are you watching? Why, it's a documentary about the Bronte Sisters, of course! Someone get the lights. And no talking during the movie! There will be a quiz at the end of class.
The Tiger's Teeth: Reevaluating Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender
In rewatching the 2011 adaptation of Jane Eyre, Piper and Lillian reminisced on why we love this movie, but we also discussed an interesting theory: when you remove concerning yet crucial narrative elements of Jane Eyre to appeal to a wider audience, what do you loose in return?
Palate Cleanser: Belle (2013)
Lillian and Piper discuss a movie that deals with big historical issues, incredible declarations of love, and kissing.
Buongiorno Bertha: The 1957 Italian Mini Series
"Non sono un uccello e nessuna rete mi avvolge!"
Lillian and Piper discuss our first Italian adaptation of Jane Eyre, in which there are love triangles and drama galore.
Why Jane Eyre? One Year of the Eyre Buds Podcast
Whether you relate to Jane, cry for Bertha, or fall in love with Rochester every time you re-read this novel, there are so many reasons why Jane Eyre has continued to capture the attention of its readers for 176 years. In our one-year anniversary episode of Eyre Buds, Piper and Lillian celebrate by discussing some of the story's most prevalent and provocative themes.
A Dance with the Dead: An Interview with Author Piper Cleaveland
Piper wrote and published a book and Lillian was kind enough to read it. It's not Jane Eyre related, but it does involve romance, mystery and a man named Edward.
If you'd like to learn more about A Dance with the Dead and get links where you can read it for free, visit https://adancewiththedead.com/
Special Announcement from Piper & Lillian
We are starting a Patreon! We have loved the last year of making Eyre Buds and want to do even more. Currently, making the podcast is costing us money, so we thought we would come to you, our lovely listeners, to see if you would want to become a bigger part of our journey.
For more details, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/eyrebuds
Piper's Art: https://piperillustration.wordpress.com/
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3yOylARrwhk
A Very Jane Eyre Christmas
It's Christmas time at Thornfield and Jane and Rochester have invited the entire cast to join them for an evening of games and merriment! When a blizzard snows them in and the guests can't stand another round of over-the-top charades, Jane suggests they all exchange the gifts they bought for Secret Santa. I wonder what wonderful cadeaux are in store!
The One with Vincent Price: The 1950 Radio Drama
Happy Holidays, everyone! It's a short one this week since today's adaptation was less than 30 minutes long. Don't worry though, if the gypsy scene is your favorite, then there's lots to look forward to.
We were so thrown off by how short this episode was that we completely forgot to rate the adaption. So for those of you who are dying to know where this version ranks in the lineup, here are our scores:
Piper: 4/10 Family Prayers
Lillian: 4/10 Donna Reeds