Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Wuthering Heights

“You said I killed you-haunt me, then! [...] Be with me always-take any form-drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!”

I will be forever obsessed with this book 'til my dying day

enjoy his playlist for the book

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reclusivebookslug's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad fast-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

4.0

I didn't know much about this book before going in, besides the "romance" between Heathcliff and Catherine, which amounted to no more insight than the phrase literally signifies. But I've developed a recent passion for reading classics written by women and I love Charlotte Brontë's novels. All that to say, this was not what I had expected, for both better and worse than my expectations.

It took me about a third of the way through to become properly invested, although I've found dragging exposition to be common in novels from this period. The narrator being Mr. Lockwood and not either of the titular main characters through me for a loop. I found it especially difficult to differentiate the characters' names, as most of them come from two families, are referred to by their last name, and there are two Catherines (mother and daughter). I actually ended up looking at the character list on SparkNotes and making a character map for myself. This turned out to be a lot of fun for me but nevertheless, it initially hindered my understanding of the text.

Although I agree with the notion that likable characters are not essential to a good book, I personally find it much more enjoyable to read a book with characters I support and relate to. This was an exception for me, as though I find most of the characters detestable and none entirely praiseworthy, I enjoyed this a great deal. I think this is in part due to the unique style of narration, from Mr. Lockwood's perspective and Nelly's retelling to him.

There are no truly likable characters (in my opinion), characters do not grow but decline, and are put into situations that worsen their character and have no clear means of escape. My chief enjoyment of this book comes from a less-than-good-natured part of myself that delights in gossip and revenge. It comes from a place of morbid curiosity in exploring the lowest parts of human nature and in seeing bad people suffer for their bad deeds (that makes it sound more violent and perverse than it is, mind). I somehow doubt this was Brontë's intention.

I wish Hareton's character and Hareton and Catherine's relationship had been developed more, as that was a highlight for me. Seeing Hareton endeavor to improve himself despite all the negative influences and neglect he's faced made me happy. Though gruff and touchy, he was always kindhearted, and he was one of the only characters I could at all root for throughout the entirety.

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veganecurrywurst's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I disagree with the people saying that this is not a lovestory (although the predominant theme is revenge). I genuinely believe that Heathcliff loved Cathrine I and vice-versa. But they all were such toxic, irresponsible and egocentric people without boundaries that the being together only made it worse.
Most of the other characters even the narrator(s) are deeply flawed human beings.
I think the most "likable" are probably Catherine II and Hareton.
In oder to really appreciate this book, I recommend doing a bit of research on it first and listing to other people's thoughts on the book. I'm probably going to give this a higher rating after I reread it.

“He shall never know I love him: and that, not because he’s handsome, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same.”

“If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.”

“I have not broken your heart – you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine.”

“I’m wearying to escape into that glorious world, and to be always there: not seeing it dimly through tears, and yearning for it through the walls of an aching heart: but really with it, and in it."

“It was not the thorn bending to the honeysuckles, but the honeysuckles embracing the thorn.”

“I have to remind myself to breathe – almost to remind my heart to beat!”

“Treachery and violence are spears pointed at both ends; they wound those who resort to them worse than their enemies.”

Some info-graphics I really enjoyed: https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2018/jul/30/emily-brontes-wuthering-heights-in-charts

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ashleyend's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Honestly, I am so confused about my feelings for this book. I can’t decide if I hate Heathcliff, or admire his unhinged devotion. Heathcliff and Catherine are just the absolute worst and it’s not entirely their fault, but they don’t take any responsibility. In fact, most of these characters avoid responsibility to the point that they’re insufferable. Not sure what to think, but it was highly entertaining and the prose rarely dragged.

“It is for God to punish wicked people;we should learn to forgive…. ‘No, God won’t have the satisfaction that I shall.’” pg. 101

“Have mercy on your own soul!… ‘Not I! On the contrary, I shall have great pleasure in sending it to perdition, to punish its maker.’” pg. 116

“‘May she wake in torment!’ he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. ‘Why, she’s a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there- not in heaven - not perished - where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer- I repeat it till my tongue stiffens- Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest, as long as I am living! You said I killed you- haunt me then! …Be with me always- take any form- drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!’” pg. 204

“The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!” pg. 353

“No minister need come; nor anything be said over me- I tell you, I have nearly attained my heaven; and that of others is altogether unvalued, and uncoveted by me!” pg. 363

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neni's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-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

4.25

I didn't expect this to be as engaging as it was. Obviously classics can be enjoyable, and I've read classics that moved me ( Jane Eyre, for one), but they're usually more serious in tone and with a more sad/ reflective vibe.

Wuthering Heights managed to give off that dreamy, nostalgic vibe we associate so much with the Bronte sisters, but paired it with frankly the juiciest family and relationship drama I've ever read lmao. Seriously, the kardashians have nothing on these characters , and I mean that in the best possible way.

The ammount of toxicity in the relationships and the sheer magnitude of the generational trauma, while not exactly pleasant to read all the time, made for a gripping narrative. There were plenty of moments I actually found pretty funny, just from a "let's see how much of a human disaster this bitch is" perspective. Like a car accident in slow motion: you know shit is about to go down badly but you just can't look away.

The characters themselves were all pretty unlikable, which surprisingly made it fun to read about ( even if I ended up not particularly caring about any of them lol).

On a more serious note, I really liked the writing style ( to be expected) and thought the narrative strategy was clever (a character, being the narrator, telling another character the story) and interesting (obviously it's not unique to this book, but I thought it fit the story particularly well).

One thing that brought the rating down slightly for me was the ending, which gave me mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I couldn't help but feel the satisfaction of what is basically the closest thing to a "happy" ending I think is possible. On the other hand, I thought Heathcliff somehow got off "too easy" (that bastard of monumental proportions certainly deserved more suffering in my opinion) and the romantic plotline kind of came out of nowhere, in a way that didn't feel very believable. Especially considering the backrounds and the previous behaviors of the affected characters . I wasn't exactly disappointed, per se, but there was definitely a meh feeling.

Overall though, I really liked this and enjoyed my time reading it.

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claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

3.5

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