Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

B. J. Harrison Reads Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

164 reviews

katlypso22's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death

Minor: Cursing, Death, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent

madisonbell_'s review against another edition

1.5

slow-paced

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Setting aside its immense literary and cultural impact, I genuinely loathe everything (and I mean everything) about this book, and hate-rereading it solely to fully enjoy the mockery of Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation, which so far looks less like Wuthering Heights and more like Snow White.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty

mystic23's review against another edition

4.25

dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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They're all bad people... but written beautiful... It's just toxic 😂

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment

np16's review against another edition

3.75

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment

kasey_cross's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

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I know it’s a classic but I just hate Heathcliff so much 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting

Heathcliff hangs his neighbor’s puppy from a fence

camomila_'s review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

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I finally finished this book, and while it took me a while (by my own standards), I almost gave up three times. I really disliked the first half, but the second half was much more engaging, I didn’t want to stop reading.

The biggest issue I had with the book was its narration style. The story is told through multiple layers of perspectives, recounting events from third and fourth-hand accounts rather than immersing us in the moment. While I appreciate the creativity and the challenge this must have presented to the author, I found it difficult to connect with the story at first. It wasn’t so much that it was hard to follow, but more that it felt confusing at times. However, I do have to praise Emily’s writing. Even though the narration style was confusing, her ability to write emotional scenes and make the reader feel connected to the characters’ struggles was impressive. She can really evoke emotion and make you care about the events unfolding. 

As for the characters, I disliked most of them, and while I understand that this was Emily’s intention, I’m a character driven reader, so this made it tough for me, especially in the first half. Catherine Earnshaw/Catherine Linton and Heathcliff were so frustrating and toxic that I almost couldn’t bear it. But the second half of the book, which focused more on other characters and storylines, was much more enjoyable for me. 

Heathcliff, in particular, was incredibly cruel and angry. His actions made me so furious that I had to take a few deep breaths to calm down. I don’t understand why so many people consider him an "anti hero." I do acknowledge his trauma and the terrible decisions that shaped him, I believe that doesn’t excuse his behavior, especially his abuse and violence towards women and children. Emily didn’t create him to be a hero or a likable character, she created him to show the cycle of abuse, which she was ahead of her time for. 

I have a lot more to say, but I’ll keep this brief. While there were things I liked about the book, I still disliked a bunch too. I don’t regret reading it, but it was not an enjoyable experience for me. That said, I do believe that this was Emily's intention, this is not a romance. It’s striking that so many people label it as such, as it reflects how society often misunderstands toxic relationships. Catherine and Heathcliff’s bond is not an example of romance, no matter how many "romantic" phrases they share. Their relationship is far from ideal and not something that you should wish for. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment

kosh_kosh's review against another edition

3.5

dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

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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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse

theoriginaledi's review against another edition

3.0

dark

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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

kleinreads's review against another edition

3.75

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

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Blood

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment

vallestos's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Racism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Incest, Physical abuse