** spoiler alert ** 
 Generally, I like the slow pace of 19C novels, the extended description of setting and person. I like getting drawn into the fictitious world. I like the battles of wits and psychological studies. And this novel has those. 
 I like that the novel is narrated as if it were a memoir, written (we learn at the end) ten years after most events. 
 I dislike the hints of Beauty and the Beast mythology in Jane and Rochester. Yes, he does get tamed and become likeable; but I get tired of seeing women put into the civilizing role. 
 I tolerated the moralizing via various characters as part of 19C until we came to St John. He was just too preachy and went on way too long. At first I shrugged it off as part of his character, and I hypothesized that Bronte was mocking him in presenting it to excess, especially when he claims that he has God's will for someone else, for Jane, who had no such internal push to become a missionary. Then I came to the ending of the novel and wondered why it ended with him, his anticipation of death told in Revelation terms. Was this meant to elevate him? To make this the lesson for all from the novel? Was it meant to say he had never changed? That it did say, but why end thus? Is even the end part of the mockery of his approach to life--mocking importance to a self important man? 
 Another place that did not work for me was Rochester's narration of his past to Jane after the wedding has been called off. Mere telling went on way too long. 
 I also could not believe that the feisty Jane could be almost persuaded by St John. Yes Bronte did try to make it believable by Jane's saying that she was docile and obedient until a certain level of resistance had been reached and then she would fight back. And as a child she had been excessively obedient, but then she had grown out of it. So I wasn't convinced that she remained in character. Of course, her being almost persuaded did add to the drama. It would have done so more had it been believable. 
 In spite of features, which to me seemed faults, overall it was a good read.