** spoiler alert ** 
 In order to fully grasp this novel (or understand it at all) a fairly good knowledge of Jane Eyre is required. In Wide Sargasso Sea, author Jean Rhys imagines the life of the "madwoman" in the attic at Thornfield Hall. Most of the writing is dream like and stunted. The second section of the book, especially, switches points of view which at times makes it difficult to know right away, who is speaking. In a way, the writing reflects the downward slide of Antoinette into eventual madness. 
 I know that there are some that can't bear to have a classic reimagined by a different author and I feel that way too at times. A sloppy or lazy re-telling can make me just plain angry. However, if the author is skillful enough and has a solid plot purpose or message to relay in the re-telling, it can be magic and rewarding for the reader that loved the original. This novel is not a re-telling, but incorporates certain parts of Jane Eyre to create a prequel of sorts to flesh out the life of Rochester's first wife and how she ends up locked in an attic. 
 I though Rhys handled Antoinette's early life very well. The novel is slim, so there isn't minute detail of every event, but enough to give you an outline and written mysteriously enough to give you a feel for her strange and secluded life. Where it gets a bit messy for me is when "Rochester" (this character is not not actually named in the book) enters the picture. Does he love her or does he just want her money? Was Antoinette a woman of loose morals or was Rochester being fed lies by spiteful townspeople? And was Antoinette born "crazy" or was driven to it by Rochester? These questions are not exactly answered and left me to make my own assumptions. My conclusions are that Antoinette led an unhappy life during a time where she had little to no control over how she could live her adult life. Perhaps she should have run away from her husband when she had the chance. Sure, she'd be poor, but she just may have been free. 
 Overall, I'm glad to have read this and leant my thoughts to yet another good read!