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steven_v's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Domestic abuse
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Wuthering Heights is a stunning, claustrophobic nightmare of a gothic novel that I appreciate more in my 30s than I did in my teens. I went into this with little memory of the plot - the entirety of my recollection of my senior-year English essay on the subject was “everyone’s awful.” But two of my childhood besties were game for an impromptu buddy (re)read, and there is nothing quite like revisiting a book you didn’t understand on your first read and realizing it’s actually more horrifying than you previously understood (as a parent, the generational cycle of abuse and the childhood trauma wrought by severe isolation, confinement and emotional manipulation color the story for me, now).
Also on this read, I was more interested in the structure and style. The use of two unreliable narrators is so brilliantly done, where Mr. Lockwood’s diary-style narrative depends entirely on an abbreviated version of Nelly Dean’s narrative, which depends entirely on her retelling of events that happened to other people nearly three decades ago. The layers of bias between us and the events of the story create a feeling of always viewing the action through a fun-house mirror, with the melodrama rendered farcical and the broodiness of the characters and the moors deepening into supernatural terror.
Ultimately, who but an isolated and introverted young woman confined to the English moors, writing under an alias, defying the strictures of her zealous Christian family members could have written a story even her own sister would later caution is maybe too dark? (Charlotte’s posthumous introduction to the novel is overly apologetic and explanatory to a degree that I really dislike, but her note that her sister’s writing was “moorish, and wild, and knotty as a root of heath” is perfectly said).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, and Incest
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Racism
Minor: Pregnancy
gia0203's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am so infatuated with this gloomy, bleak, yet still slightly hopeful novel! catherine earnshaw will be on my mind for the rest of my life. heathcliff’s rambling about cathy’s body rotting beside his own is forever imprinted in my brain. I’m enamored by the romantic declarations that were far too late and the brutal revenge that did nothing to ease heathcliff’s pain. and oh! the tragedy every time heathcliff saw cathy in her daughter! I even enjoyed the miserable complaints of linton, who may now be my most hated character of all time.
so I have found a new obsession. time to watch every adaption I can get my hands on.
so I have found a new obsession. time to watch every adaption I can get my hands on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death and Pregnancy
aligrant's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Bullying, Death, and Violence
renorsomethin's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Medical content, Confinement, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, and Mental illness
garvsy's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
S. As a classic, it's ok I guess.
I DIDN'T like the first part of the book, mainly because of the characters, not how they were written, (because they're ok), just because of their awful personalities.
I hated them, except Linton and Ellen (whom I don't entirely like), and Catherine and Hareton.
The book nailed it, I felt bad for Heathcliff at the beginning but hated him when he starts his revenge on innocent people.
For me, the first part of the book was a little hard and heavy to read (because characters as I said before). I knew that would happen since I started reading it. I started liking it in the middle when the new characters appear.
The other thing I didn't entirely like was the way the story was narrated, for me Lockwood is a little unnecessary, but well... it doesn't really bother me. I think it would be more interesting to know the background story from Catherine's diaries. And intercalate Ellen's narration with the diaries.
Having said that, yes it is... not a bad story.
I DIDN'T like the first part of the book, mainly because of the characters, not how they were written, (because they're ok), just because of their awful personalities.
I hated them, except Linton and Ellen (whom I don't entirely like), and Catherine and Hareton.
The book nailed it, I felt bad for Heathcliff at the beginning but hated him when he starts his revenge on innocent people.
For me, the first part of the book was a little hard and heavy to read (because characters as I said before). I knew that would happen since I started reading it. I started liking it in the middle when the new characters appear.
The other thing I didn't entirely like was the way the story was narrated, for me Lockwood is a little unnecessary, but well... it doesn't really bother me. I think it would be more interesting to know the background story from Catherine's diaries. And intercalate Ellen's narration with the diaries.
Having said that, yes it is... not a bad story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Toxic relationship
mcmeiss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Grief, Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Classism, Death, Mental illness, Outing, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
tsundoku_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had to read this for school, and this is probably the best book I've ever had to read for school. None of the characters were likable and were honestly kinda insane. However, the story was really good, as was the writing. The ending was a bit unsettling relating to Heathcliff but it added to the story. This book made me want to read more classics. Like for being written so long ago, there were some pretty funny lines.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Incest, and Racism
papaya_'s review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I definitely do not understand why this is considered to be a romance novel. It's not.
I found Wuthering Heights to be incredibly difficult and unpleasant to read. Emily Brontë definitely succeeded in creating horrible unlikable characters. I was also deeply sickened by the violence and some of the descriptions of cruelty, especially against animals.
I found Wuthering Heights to be incredibly difficult and unpleasant to read. Emily Brontë definitely succeeded in creating horrible unlikable characters. I was also deeply sickened by the violence and some of the descriptions of cruelty, especially against animals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, and Violence
lakeofstars's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i always come back to you and i am always angry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Death, and Sexism