You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Wow, well that wasn't what I expected at all. It's much longer than the song for a start, and Heathcliff was much more of a shit than I expected.
[Listened to the Librivox audiobook by Ruth Golding]
The constant tragic downward spiral of this story was hard to look away from. It gets points for keeping the reader on edge, and for its complex characters. I also liked the fictional glimpse into the effects of racism, classism and intergenerational trauma on different people.
But in the end, I found all the characters unforgivable, any pity you develop for them vanishes quickly (even for the more sensible characters like Nelly). They were all suffering and they made sure everyone suffered with them through emotional, verbal and physical abuse.
Both the Catherines were so annoying and I didn't understand what they'd done to inspire such devotion from the miserable men. Similarly the men had volatile tempers and would resort to various forms of mistreatment if provoked. Didn't find anything romantic to appreciate in this, except maybe Catherine Sr. being the only person who treats Heathcliff like a peer. All the cousin romances were weird.
Entertaining in the same way as trapping a bunch of Sims who hate each other in the same house. But otherwise I don't think I've identified anything memorable/enjoyable in this book.
The constant tragic downward spiral of this story was hard to look away from. It gets points for keeping the reader on edge, and for its complex characters. I also liked the fictional glimpse into the effects of racism, classism and intergenerational trauma on different people.
But in the end, I found all the characters unforgivable, any pity you develop for them vanishes quickly (even for the more sensible characters like Nelly). They were all suffering and they made sure everyone suffered with them through emotional, verbal and physical abuse.
Both the Catherines were so annoying and I didn't understand what they'd done to inspire such devotion from the miserable men. Similarly the men had volatile tempers and would resort to various forms of mistreatment if provoked. Didn't find anything romantic to appreciate in this, except maybe Catherine Sr. being the only person who treats Heathcliff like a peer. All the cousin romances were weird.
Entertaining in the same way as trapping a bunch of Sims who hate each other in the same house. But otherwise I don't think I've identified anything memorable/enjoyable in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Incest
I finally read it.
I believe I have the capacity to become passionatly obsessed with the Brontë sisters, and their work.
I didn’t enjoy reading this as much as I did Jane eyre, but Emily’s story is genuinely incredible.
I already think I need to re-read it to be able to fully understand it, this wasn’t the easiest read. But Cathy and Heathcliff’s love is sort of unimaginable. I wish for a book in another persons perspective, like Cathy’s or Heathcliff’s. But I do think there is something to Nelly telling the story. You get it from a sort of involved, yet outside point of view and I think it makes it easier for the reader to make their own opinions and assumptions. Mine are that Heathcliff was so young. I mean even when he died, he was only
in his late 30’s. When he and Cathy were first in love and then separated, they weren’t even 20 yet. I honestly think it’s important to remember that Heathcliff’s actions are coming from a hurt, broken, and poorly treated child. I don’t mean to excuse his actions, but I don’t want to excuse the reasons behind his revenge either. He honestly was wronged in his life and he has reason to be a little messed up. I also think Cathy is just a girl in the world, honestly in love with Heathcliff, but also just trying to get by. Trying to find happiness in her day to day life. But her marrying Linton destroyed her only because Heathcliff came back. Only because she was reminded of what she lost and so conflicted in her feelings and her situation. She really made a cage for herself with no way out but death.
in his late 30’s. When he and Cathy were first in love and then separated, they weren’t even 20 yet. I honestly think it’s important to remember that Heathcliff’s actions are coming from a hurt, broken, and poorly treated child. I don’t mean to excuse his actions, but I don’t want to excuse the reasons behind his revenge either. He honestly was wronged in his life and he has reason to be a little messed up. I also think Cathy is just a girl in the world, honestly in love with Heathcliff, but also just trying to get by. Trying to find happiness in her day to day life. But her marrying Linton destroyed her only because Heathcliff came back. Only because she was reminded of what she lost and so conflicted in her feelings and her situation. She really made a cage for herself with no way out but death.
I don’t believe anyone in this story is a true villain. (Except that I really do not like young Linton. I seriously get that he was mistreated and sick and selfish like the rest of us, but his selfishness takes another level. I just don’t find or really want to find any redeeming qualities in him.) The papa Earnshaw was a good man I believe. He tried his best, and it was his death that soured everything. Hindley was a selfish and insecure human. I don’t like him, but I can sort of understand him and sympathize for him. I really do like Edgar Linton. He’s a wonderful person, and of course has faults but he was just trying his best. I feel bad for Isabella, she didn’t deserve to have her life stolen like it was, but I also for unknown reasons don’t like her very much. I think it takes only basic common sense to know that staying clear of a relationship with Heathcliff is best. Heathcliff was way too consumed with revenge and with proving himself, he could’ve had a life with Cathy. A possibly long and happy life, but his inexperience told him that revenge was more important.
As bleak a book as this is, the ending was perfect. Catherine Linton becoming Catherine Heathcliff, and then Catherine Earnshaw is strangely kismet. And Heathcliff’s death wasn’t by exact suicide like I kind of predicted. It remains Erie in a way, with Cathy and Heathcliff haunting the land they loved. But it also becomes endearing with Catherine and Hareton living at Thrushcross Grange along with Nelly (who although imperfect, deserved a happy ending).
I liked this book, and am exited to read more Brontë work.
not entirely sure about my rating yet but let it be said that i had a great time reading this. might be my favorite classic that i´ve read so far yay!
Why do people love this book?!? Everything that happened in it was horrible!
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I’m sure that there’s something that someone somewhere can latch onto. However, I struggled. I felt like I had to spend more time researching what was going on via Google search than what Brontë was willing to give me.
I think the only reason I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice was because I was told to break down the language of Austen in class, and I was willing to. However, three chapters in and more questions than answers later, I am ready to put this down and begin looking elsewhere.
I think the only reason I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice was because I was told to break down the language of Austen in class, and I was willing to. However, three chapters in and more questions than answers later, I am ready to put this down and begin looking elsewhere.
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:
N/A
I hate all of these characters omg. They are all the most insufferable people ever. I think the only redeemable thing or thing that I enjoyed about this book was some of the imagery and sort of gothic themes of this book, but besides that everything is shit. Like sometimes I wonder what it was like to live in the 1700s and 1800s but if this was the most interesting type of book they had back then I would go insane. I would be known as the crazy lady who lives in a cottage by herself doing spells and shit and is then accused of being a witch. Like the closest thing they got to fantasy back then is just accusing innocent women as witches, where are the dragons and fairies, where is the fun. Random rant sorry. Also I don’t understand how at least according to all the footnotes Brontë is making an argument against slavery but then she makes heathcliff the one black character is the most evil villain to ever exist, people think he is a literal demon, and he actively tries to ruin everyone’s life for just the fun of it. Omg all I hear about this book is the romance btwn Catherine earnshaw and heathcliff but that is literally only in the first half of the book, and they are both crazy! Damn if I were Isabella while heathcliff is right in front of me saying he doesn’t care for me and that I’m a stupid slut who is too gullible to leave him while talking about Catherine and how he desperately only cares for her I would’ve slapped him into the next century. STAND UP PLEASE! I’d say fav character was Catherine linton at least she had some personality and maybe hareton. Nelly is just hear for the drama like she didn’t ever have to get involved in any of this shit like if I were her and once Catherine linton had left I would’ve just chilled at thrishcross grange and lived my best life, but maybe that makes me a bad person. Nelly was just bored. I don’t understand though the point of having it technically told from Lockwood point of view? Like he honestly adds no value to the story, like the r only argument is oh you get an outsiders point of view but no, we never actually hear much about what he thinks of everything, it is literally just Lockwood retelling everything that Nelly told him which is just nellys point of view of the whole story. Like I saw someone wrote a version of Wuthering heights from nellys perspective but I’m just kind of like how, it is literally already told from her pov. So yeah I would never read this again and once again another example of people romanticizing classics that are so very boring. Cough cough bell jar