I promise I’m not posting books just because there are upcoming movies. It is, however, a great time to get your hands on an inexpensive paperback copy of a classic! (Incidentally, Jane Eyre is public domain so you can read it for free on Kindle or the lesser e-reader of your choice.)
If Jane Austen and her ilk is a bit saccharine for your taste, the Brontes might be for you. Many are dark and brooding and much more drama-filled. Jane Eyre is far from my favorite heroine but I do re-read the book every few years and have seen most of the movie versions. I don’t think anyone’s quite nailed Mr. Rochester yet.
Many friends have told me they tried to get into Jane Eyre and just… couldn’t. The secret? The first ten chapters are boring, and don’t have much to do with the rest of the story. Skim them. It’s okay… I won’t tell. 🙂
There’s quite a bit of literary talent to go around among the Bronte women. If you’ve already done Jane Eyre (chances are you have), check out Charlotte’s other books, Shirley or Villette. I actually like them better! Emily, of course, wrote Wuthering Heights, which I always found too juvenile and unrealistic  but some people love it. I recently read Anne’s Agnes Grey, which I enjoyed more than I expected. I’ll get to The Professor and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall one of these days!
Whether you read (or re-read) the book quickly before the movie comes out this month or read it afterward to compare and contrast, read it. No fair just seeing all the period movies and not checking out the source material!