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Personally I prefer to read books where I like or enjoy the main characters so honestly it wouldn’t be my go to pick. However once I got past that I found it was actually a really easy/ captivating read once I acknowledged (not a major plot spoiler)
Despite the slow moving plot I felt compelled to finish it, at least just because I wanted to see if
3.5 stars because it wasn’t a bad story
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Classism
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
1st book of January 2023 and 1st of the year:
“‘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-may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you--haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. 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!” - Emily Brontë.
I read this years ago, but I think I listened to it too fast and didn’t remember much of it, so I decided to give it another try because I remember loving the quotes and the atmospheric setting, and I’m glad I did! The atmosphere and writing are rich, haunting, and poetic, and so many of the quotes, like the one above, quickly became new favorites of all time, said quotes being infinitely quotable and full of drama, passion, love(even if it’s toxic), and poetry! Almost every character is the absolute worst, but sometimes that’s exactly what I want to consume because it can be so entertaining, and I love watching/analyzing the characters’ complexities and thoughts/actions even as I’m shaking my head(tho reading about what Heathcliff does was hard). And winter is one of the perfect times to read this as you get cozy with a hot beverage and blankets. The audiobook read by Joanne Froggatt was also amazing! I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot more than the second, but the quotes made it up to me.
But please be aware of the TWs that are unfortunately prevalent in classic lit for unchecked racism, ableism, sexism, classism, incest, etc., and read/enjoy it critically and with that in mind. Other TWs include abuse(child, domestic, physical, and verbal), alcoholism, death, ghosts, grief, guns, and violence🥀🍂🪦💔
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism
Wouldn’t necessarily say she ending is unsatisfactory but it is frustrating how Mr. Lockwood’s character was truly obsolete all along. Nelly is also kind of a frustrating character because she’s such a passive narrator. Her will never influences the outcome of the story. I know it’s because she’s a servant, but you’d think she’d have at least some influence over her own actions. Her primary purpose really IS to just be there and observe, and occasionally be used as a tool to move the plot along. Kind of depressing for a character who’s dialogue narrates literally the entire book.
Also, most of the characters are extremely unlikable but you’ll love it if you know that already going in.
Final note; I disagree with the general consensus that this book is slow-paced. Someone dies or gets married nearly every chapter, and there’s several years long time jumps… I don’t know how much faster it can really get.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Racism, Suicidal thoughts
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Pregnancy
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Incest, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Minor: Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism