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challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a tough one. I didn't expect to love this book (I have not enjoyed any books by the Brontë sisters so far) but I thought I would at least like it. I think the writing style is beautiful -- I want to buy a physical copy just so I can underline the parts I loved. I understand what this book is trying to say about generational trauma and cycles of violence. I get that the characters are meant to be detestable. The through-line between the two generations is clear and I do think Emily Brontë is an incredible writer.
But this story did not speak to me. I did not fall in love with this book. I did not feel for any of the characters; it was just an awful person telling the story of other awful people being awful to each other, and I didn't root for any of them. I saw the story here without feeling it.
The evocative writing is perfect, but it was such a grind. I don't know if the Brontës are for me.
But this story did not speak to me. I did not fall in love with this book. I did not feel for any of the characters; it was just an awful person telling the story of other awful people being awful to each other, and I didn't root for any of them. I saw the story here without feeling it.
The evocative writing is perfect, but it was such a grind. I don't know if the Brontës are for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
They're all bad people... but written beautiful... It's just toxic 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment
dark
emotional
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
classicc loveee (wish they wouldnt all keep going by the same names and marrying each other and calling each other different names tho- that family tree is extremely complicated but thats just wuthering heights haha)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Well, wow... To be honest I didn't expect this book to be so dark and depressing. I must say that the portrayals of characters so unlovable and so ugly is really good. It does what it supposed to I guess. I was really disqusted by their actions and behavior. So the book does its thing to you for sure. Though I understand why this book is so iconic and by no means good, for me personally it was hard to read mentally. Constant manipulations, aggression and domestic abuse are just too much for me. But if u r well prepared mentally, give it a go for sure
P.S. Note for people like me : I am not native English speaker, so it was sometimes exhausting to read this book.
P.S. Note for people like me : I am not native English speaker, so it was sometimes exhausting to read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have now had to revisit this book three times over the course of 12 years, because for some ridiculous reason, members of my book club keep requesting that we discuss this one. I read it in hard copy the first time and was thoroughly disappointed. The second time I made very little progress and eventually just gave up and watched a movie version, which I also didn't enjoy. This, my third attempt and second time actually finishing the book, I read it mostly via audio book and probably only made it to the end because I kept increasing the speed of the audio. I will freely admit I hate-read the final chapters of this book just so I could enter it with a star rating instead of a DNF. Maybe this book is groundbreaking because of the way it frames the story, first introducing you to a cast of truly miserable characters and then going back in time to explain how things got so bad. Maybe Emily Bronte was the first author to do this, maybe not. Maybe the book was a stand out in its time for its unvarnished, unflinching portrayal of child abuse and spousal abuse and the cycle of generational trauma. I found myself quite literally hating nearly every character and I certainly didn't like a single one. The character development was depressing. Most characters went from bad to slightly worse. A few went from bad to impossibly bad. Only two have a possibility of positive growth presented in the final pages. I contemplated giving this book two stars, but I did find the book better in print than in audio and certainly some of the writing is quite beautiful. That said, I never, ever want to read this book again and I can't imagine ever recommending it to anyone, ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism
dark
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of those books for reading on eerie autumn days. It is an intriguing look into the nature of… well, one’s nature. Or rather, into the question of nature versus nurture. Though it lacks the same aesthetic of Frankenstein or The Hunchback of Notre Dame, there is something deeply gothic about these characters and their plights—most are as detestable as they are pitiable, and the rest are fodder for their anguish. And in the closing of the story with something as sweet as began it, Heathcliff and all his tortured schemes seem pointless, giving everything the appearance of a self-contained nightmare or illusion, unreal and yet lingering in the imagination.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Blood
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment