Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Incest
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Mental illness, Violence
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Incest
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness
Minor: Animal cruelty, Kidnapping
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Blood, Alcohol
Graphic: Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
"If he loved with all the power of his puny being, he couldn't love as much in eighty years, as I could in a day."
This is a tragic and devastating story of lost love and toxic relationships. I didn't fully appreciate that till I started reading. 4 Stars for how this story made me feel. Emily Brontë's words are devastatingly soulful. The love declaration after death caused my own heart's death. I felt those tears so deeply throughout the chapters, and the way the yearning was explored...I was distraught.
I skimmed over all the parts with Yorkshire accents because I didn't have the strength to sound everything out, but I liked the depth it added to the characters. I still have no clue who's who and what was really going on - I recommend reading a chapter summary before each one as it helped me actually appreciate the story rather than crying with confusion. Also let's not forget that literally everybody married their cousin at least once during the story, and they all changed names but they were all the same names...so that didn't help.
I HATED majority of the characters, and actually cheered for one character's death, as sad as it was. The only people I really liked in the whole book were Isabella (sweet, caring Isabella who didn't deserve that life), and Nelly. That woman was a mother, a friend, and was the only one who truly deserves to go to the heaven yearned for throughout. Adult Catherine was catty and SO DRAMATIC. Actually every character was, why are we all throwing fits as soon as we don't get our way? But it was almost worth it for the second-hand embarrassment when nobody believed them, so they just had to walk away like nothing happened AHAHA, deserved. That all being said, Cathy was strangely loveable - child Cathy was definitely her mother's daughter, except I loved the empathy that lay beneath. Little Cathy ultimately did not deserve that much death, I hope she's happy now.
This book did feel long though, It only took me a couple days because I was determined to get through it so the actual reading didn't drag. That being said, the story is slow paced but something is always happening between characters or to a specific character's heart. It was definitely an enjoyable (painful) experience and I love that my Dad gave this to me. It's his favourite book and I'm so glad the story did his love justice.
Special mention for some of my favourite quotes because the hilarity and relatability of Brontë's writing should never be overlooked:
"canine mother"
"What vain weather-cocks we are!"
"I shall be was dirty as I please, and I like to be dirty, and I will be dirty".
"frittering your life away in silly trifles"
"your mother was a wicked slut"
"I needn't repeat that, because you would call it silly"
"don't degrade yourself into an abject reptile"
"get in, and don't annoy me."
"If you had any real griefs, you'd be ashamed to waste a tear on this little contrariety."
The ending was a lovely circle really and just added to the theme of yearning. Strangely, I am so glad I got to experience this pain, and I'm glad I get to love someone in my own life as deeply as Heathcliff loved Cathy. That being said, I can't imagine living a life with that much misery. I want to live my own freedom the way Cathy should have been able to.
"Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! only do not leave me alone in the abyss where I cannot find you." Oh God it is unutterable. I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!"
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Incest