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wuthrinheights's reviews
195 reviews
Special Christmas by Francine Pascal, Kate William
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A perfect book to read between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself! I haven't read this in a really long while, so it almost felt like reading it for the first time. I remember Suzanne from her first appearance but I didn't remember her coming back a second time. And I definitely didn't remember about her illness, or the bond she had with Todd.
As always, it's a joy to be with the Wakefields. It's so warm and inviting, like I'm truly home for the holidays with my favourite (literary) family. Some of the events were predictable (which knocked off the 0.25 stars) and some, not. But I enjoyed this a lot and I'm happy I picked this as a Christmas read.
As always, it's a joy to be with the Wakefields. It's so warm and inviting, like I'm truly home for the holidays with my favourite (literary) family. Some of the events were predictable (which knocked off the 0.25 stars) and some, not. But I enjoyed this a lot and I'm happy I picked this as a Christmas read.
Água Viva by Clarice Lispector
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Have you ever read a book where it's so good, you have to close it after every few sentences because you need to soak in its essence and messages? Água Viva was like that. It may be a really short book (with less than a hundred pages) but it wasn't a quick read. I couldn't do it. I had to read a little then sit in wonder and awe.
It is a book where you can't just read quietly, either. You have to read it in your head then read it out loud. To feel the words in your mouth, to slosh it around just so you can really embody her words. And in turn, it's almost like reciting a prayer. Just you, her book, and her words. It's magic.
Reading Clarice Lispector is just a continuous cycle of murmuring "good God.." and taking note of the quote(s) that leave me breathless. How was she able to articulate such deep, instantaneous thoughts? Olga Borelli was correct when she said this book was "breathing together."
A book with so many things to say, in essence it was about life and death. It was relentless. No matter how much you want to read on or pause, it goes on and on like thoughts you cannot switch off. I don't think I've ever read a book like this. It was witchy.
I think stumbling upon Lispector as a growing woman is the best thing that could've happened. It is life-altering literature. This is a book I think I should always reread because there's always something important and profound that I need to hear and remember.
It is a book where you can't just read quietly, either. You have to read it in your head then read it out loud. To feel the words in your mouth, to slosh it around just so you can really embody her words. And in turn, it's almost like reciting a prayer. Just you, her book, and her words. It's magic.
Reading Clarice Lispector is just a continuous cycle of murmuring "good God.." and taking note of the quote(s) that leave me breathless. How was she able to articulate such deep, instantaneous thoughts? Olga Borelli was correct when she said this book was "breathing together."
A book with so many things to say, in essence it was about life and death. It was relentless. No matter how much you want to read on or pause, it goes on and on like thoughts you cannot switch off. I don't think I've ever read a book like this. It was witchy.
I think stumbling upon Lispector as a growing woman is the best thing that could've happened. It is life-altering literature. This is a book I think I should always reread because there's always something important and profound that I need to hear and remember.
Wuthering Heights, Revised: An Authoritative Text, with Essays in Criticism by William Merritt Sale
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I took my time rereading this. In between my other CRs, before I sleep, etc, that it took me 4 months to finish it. Well, I actually read nearly half of it just yesterday. It was one of those cold, rainy, gloomy days and I was breezing through this story. I couldn't help it. It felt as familiar as if I were reading my diary regarding my past (no, my past did not resemble this book in the slightest. I just mean it's so comfortable to read Emily's words as if it were home).
This book is so special to me. The gloomy atmosphere, the intense emotions, the wild characters, the beautiful quotes, the tragic family tree, the eerie supernatural sightings, the comedic scenes, the growth and development of the characters, the unforgettable love declarations... oh, what is there not to love? This is such an iconic book. I fiercely love Emily Jane Brontë.
This is my first time reading the Norton edition and it was enlightening. The essays helped me understand the literature better and it made me be even more in awe of this novel. How Q. D. Leavis compared Cathy to characters from Dickens, Tolstoy, Lawrence; how Inga-Stina Ewbank wrote about the symbols in the book to differentiate characters and societal classes; how John K. Mathison wrote an essay solely on Nelly and how she was an unreliable narrator (which really opened my eyes to a lot of missed details); how Carl R. Woodring wrote about the narrators of the books and how it plays with the events; how Mary Visick compared Cathy to A.G.A, a Gondal heroine; how Mark Schorer analysed WH through the analogies and how "Her metaphors instruct her, and her verbs"; and lastly, how William M. Sale, JR reiterated Miss Fanny Ratchford's conclusion that Wuthering Heights was born from the tales of Gondal. I've spent over an hour reading these essays and I've learned so much in one sitting.
C. P. Sanger summarised the book then went into detail of every date of birth and death of the characters, and wondered how Emily had knowledge of the dates as well as the laws of land ownership. He was in awe of her brilliance and knowledge. He also wrote that this was a "tempestuous book" and I couldn't find a more perfect word to describe it than that. Sums it up greatly.
David Cecil wrote that to Emily, "man and nature are equally living and in the same way; different manifestations of a single spiritual reality." That she accepted both good and evil in people: "the deeds and passion of humans do not spring from destructive impulses, but they're only destructive if they were diverted from their natural course." And that the characters' intense emotions resemble the forces of nature; they love each other not because of their pleasant personalities, but from a sense of affinity. That's such a brilliant way of reading into her works. Someone finally found the right words to explain a good reason to back up why I love this book despite the terrible characters.
As for the newspaper clippings of the book reviews, I can only imagine how much Emily must've laughed and felt a surge of pride seeing her words being reviewed in its time (especially when they just didn't get it, nor were they aware of who the actual author was).
All in all, this was such a perfect addition to my collection of WH. It's a must read by fans of Wuthering Heights who want to delve deeper into this brilliant novel. I'm so happy I found a copy so I can find more reasons to love my favourite book.
This book is so special to me. The gloomy atmosphere, the intense emotions, the wild characters, the beautiful quotes, the tragic family tree, the eerie supernatural sightings, the comedic scenes, the growth and development of the characters, the unforgettable love declarations... oh, what is there not to love? This is such an iconic book. I fiercely love Emily Jane Brontë.
This is my first time reading the Norton edition and it was enlightening. The essays helped me understand the literature better and it made me be even more in awe of this novel. How Q. D. Leavis compared Cathy to characters from Dickens, Tolstoy, Lawrence; how Inga-Stina Ewbank wrote about the symbols in the book to differentiate characters and societal classes; how John K. Mathison wrote an essay solely on Nelly and how she was an unreliable narrator (which really opened my eyes to a lot of missed details); how Carl R. Woodring wrote about the narrators of the books and how it plays with the events; how Mary Visick compared Cathy to A.G.A, a Gondal heroine; how Mark Schorer analysed WH through the analogies and how "Her metaphors instruct her, and her verbs"; and lastly, how William M. Sale, JR reiterated Miss Fanny Ratchford's conclusion that Wuthering Heights was born from the tales of Gondal. I've spent over an hour reading these essays and I've learned so much in one sitting.
C. P. Sanger summarised the book then went into detail of every date of birth and death of the characters, and wondered how Emily had knowledge of the dates as well as the laws of land ownership. He was in awe of her brilliance and knowledge. He also wrote that this was a "tempestuous book" and I couldn't find a more perfect word to describe it than that. Sums it up greatly.
David Cecil wrote that to Emily, "man and nature are equally living and in the same way; different manifestations of a single spiritual reality." That she accepted both good and evil in people: "the deeds and passion of humans do not spring from destructive impulses, but they're only destructive if they were diverted from their natural course." And that the characters' intense emotions resemble the forces of nature; they love each other not because of their pleasant personalities, but from a sense of affinity. That's such a brilliant way of reading into her works. Someone finally found the right words to explain a good reason to back up why I love this book despite the terrible characters.
As for the newspaper clippings of the book reviews, I can only imagine how much Emily must've laughed and felt a surge of pride seeing her words being reviewed in its time (especially when they just didn't get it, nor were they aware of who the actual author was).
All in all, this was such a perfect addition to my collection of WH. It's a must read by fans of Wuthering Heights who want to delve deeper into this brilliant novel. I'm so happy I found a copy so I can find more reasons to love my favourite book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde, Oscar Wilde
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.75
I skipped The Importance of Being Earnest for I have read it already before. I will begin my review with the second play: Lady Windermere's Fan. What a fantastic play! It was thoroughly captivating. I was hooked from the start, and wanted to devour it as quickly as I could. It had so much tension and drama, with twists that made me gasp out loud. I was lucky to read this with a buddy, because I needed someone to talk to immediately! Full 5 stars. Great play!
A Woman of no Importance was a slightly slow play to me, especially in the first half. There were too many characters that they all kind of blur together, that I kept referring to the list of names just so I can be sure that I know who's who--as best as I could keep up, for there were so many gossip surrounding each person. It was mostly a play consisting of a group of friends talking about each other behind their backs. But things started to pick up deliciously by the end of Act 2. Suddenly it was going so fast and I was invested. I was so scared about how it was going to end but WOW. What an amazing ending. I loved it in the end! It was also funny that Wilde copied and pasted quotes from his other works (lines from Dorian Gray and Importance of Being Earnest, and then from this play again). 4.5 stars!
An Ideal Husband was different than his other plays. It was longer and more political. But the characters were more lively than usual. I was feeling all kinds of things reading this; curiosity, anger, triumph, disappointment. I couldn't wait to see how it played out but although some felt great, a lot of it felt underwhelming. I wanted more drama and flair like in A Woman of No Importance. Alas, this was my least favourite play. 3.75 stars.
Scratch that. Salomé was the most different out of all the plays he's written (that I've read so far). It actually felt like I was reading a Shakespearian play what with the humour, the omen/foreshadowing, the theatrical dramatic characters. It was completely out of the box, and the ending was utterly shocking. It ended on a wildly abrupt tone. 4.5 stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book of compilated plays and I wish it had all of his works as well. I may need to reread Dorian Gray to be sure but I think I enjoy his plays better than his novel.
A Woman of no Importance was a slightly slow play to me, especially in the first half. There were too many characters that they all kind of blur together, that I kept referring to the list of names just so I can be sure that I know who's who--as best as I could keep up, for there were so many gossip surrounding each person. It was mostly a play consisting of a group of friends talking about each other behind their backs. But things started to pick up deliciously by the end of Act 2. Suddenly it was going so fast and I was invested. I was so scared about how it was going to end but WOW. What an amazing ending. I loved it in the end! It was also funny that Wilde copied and pasted quotes from his other works (lines from Dorian Gray and Importance of Being Earnest, and then from this play again). 4.5 stars!
An Ideal Husband was different than his other plays. It was longer and more political. But the characters were more lively than usual. I was feeling all kinds of things reading this; curiosity, anger, triumph, disappointment. I couldn't wait to see how it played out but although some felt great, a lot of it felt underwhelming. I wanted more drama and flair like in A Woman of No Importance. Alas, this was my least favourite play. 3.75 stars.
Scratch that. Salomé was the most different out of all the plays he's written (that I've read so far). It actually felt like I was reading a Shakespearian play what with the humour, the omen/foreshadowing, the theatrical dramatic characters. It was completely out of the box, and the ending was utterly shocking. It ended on a wildly abrupt tone. 4.5 stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book of compilated plays and I wish it had all of his works as well. I may need to reread Dorian Gray to be sure but I think I enjoy his plays better than his novel.
Tempest by William Shakespeare
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Going into this with no idea what it's about, I had little expectations. It wasn't disappointing, but it was also just... fine.
I only liked one character (Miranda) but the others, even till the end I couldn't remember who everyone was. I kept having to go back to the list of characters throughout the book.
It was slightly funny and I liked the scenes between Miranda/Prospero/Ferdinand/Ariel the most. The others, not so much.
I wasn't thrilled about the pacing of the play either. Some felt too rushed, some felt too draggy. But overall it wasn't terrible. I'm glad I gave it a try.
I thought there would be a couple of deaths in the end but no, Shakespeare didn't deliver this time. I felt disappointed that it ended so abruptly and without a punch. I wanted justice for the villains!
I only liked one character (Miranda) but the others, even till the end I couldn't remember who everyone was. I kept having to go back to the list of characters throughout the book.
It was slightly funny and I liked the scenes between Miranda/Prospero/Ferdinand/Ariel the most. The others, not so much.
I wasn't thrilled about the pacing of the play either. Some felt too rushed, some felt too draggy. But overall it wasn't terrible. I'm glad I gave it a try.
The Turn of the Screw (Collins Classics) by Henry James
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
3.0
I picked this up yesterday for I had time to kill. A gothic victorian novella that centers around a governess in a manor with haunted kids? Sounds just like something I'd enjoy.
I'm aware of this book being the inspiration of The Haunting of Bly Manor, a show I wasn't a fan of, but I was very curious to read the original book. I was half glad, half disappointed that I read the book after watching the show. I'm glad it was easier to picture them, but I was disappointed because I couldn't help but feel like I knew what was going to happen. So sometimes I felt a little bored because it was like watching the show again. But I didn't have to worry about that because it ended up being different from the show.
This story wasn't as great as I expected, and the creepiness felt flat; I wasn't scared at all. But the language was easy to read and I liked the way it was written. It was a breeze to read this book.
However, the ending was incredibly abrupt that when I got to the end, I literally said "HUH?" out loud. I had to look up the Sparknotes to make sure I read it right. It was certainly unpredictable to me.One of the possible analysis said that she was losing her mind and she accidentally smothered Miles which led to his demise. For this, I do think it was a creepier ending, making it better than I initially thought of.
I'm aware of this book being the inspiration of The Haunting of Bly Manor, a show I wasn't a fan of, but I was very curious to read the original book. I was half glad, half disappointed that I read the book after watching the show. I'm glad it was easier to picture them, but I was disappointed because I couldn't help but feel like I knew what was going to happen. So sometimes I felt a little bored because it was like watching the show again. But I didn't have to worry about that because it ended up being different from the show.
This story wasn't as great as I expected, and the creepiness felt flat; I wasn't scared at all. But the language was easy to read and I liked the way it was written. It was a breeze to read this book.
However, the ending was incredibly abrupt that when I got to the end, I literally said "HUH?" out loud. I had to look up the Sparknotes to make sure I read it right. It was certainly unpredictable to me.
The Love Detective by Alexandra Potter
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
After reading Me and Mr Darcy, I decided to go for another romance book. Plus, I DNF-ed this book many years ago so technically this is my first time reading it (till the end).
This book ended nicely but through it all, I felt like the pacing wasn't that smooth. It was fast and fun at first but suddenly it grew really slow, like she was trying hard to fill up the pages. It picked up again till the end so I bumped up my rating another 0.25.
The main character felt very similar to Emily from Me and Mr Darcy. I understand authors tend to write their MC through themselves like a self portrait, but sometimes I felt like I was reading about Emily again and not a different person.
I do think Jack was a better male love interest than [whatever the last guy's name was. He was so terrible till the end, I couldn't find him appealing]. Yes, he was obnoxious at first but he was alright. I think the romantic parts were a bit sudden but they're okay. Enemies to lovers, road trip, only one bed. Hey, these tropes never fail.
I enjoyed reading about the many types of love in this book but the description of the travels felt a little repetitive and echo-ey. Like trying to write down as many memories as you can in your diary after a long vacation.
I sound like I have more negative things to say about this book than good ones but honestly, it wasn't a bad book. It was good enough to keep me engaged to read till the end but I think my expectations were too high after the previous book. It's quite alright!
This book ended nicely but through it all, I felt like the pacing wasn't that smooth. It was fast and fun at first but suddenly it grew really slow, like she was trying hard to fill up the pages. It picked up again till the end so I bumped up my rating another 0.25.
The main character felt very similar to Emily from Me and Mr Darcy. I understand authors tend to write their MC through themselves like a self portrait, but sometimes I felt like I was reading about Emily again and not a different person.
I do think Jack was a better male love interest than [whatever the last guy's name was. He was so terrible till the end, I couldn't find him appealing]. Yes, he was obnoxious at first but he was alright. I think the romantic parts were a bit sudden but they're okay. Enemies to lovers, road trip, only one bed. Hey, these tropes never fail.
I enjoyed reading about the many types of love in this book but the description of the travels felt a little repetitive and echo-ey. Like trying to write down as many memories as you can in your diary after a long vacation.
I sound like I have more negative things to say about this book than good ones but honestly, it wasn't a bad book. It was good enough to keep me engaged to read till the end but I think my expectations were too high after the previous book. It's quite alright!
Me And Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with Alexandra Potter. When I found this book on my shelf, I knew I had to reread it because it's been so long since I picked it up, I've forgotten most of it. And after watching Austenland (again and again and again), this sounded so similar to the movie, I definitely had to read it again.
Emily Albright was hilarious. She was relatable, feisty, and loyal. From the first page, I immediately felt like we were soulmates. Not only because of her love for books, but also because of her complaints about modern men. I kept agreeing with her and shaking my head, laughing.
This book made me giggle and gasp and groan. I couldn't quite put it down, it was that entertaining. I am so happy I picked this up. Would definitely recommend this to Austen fans. It's always a nice reminder that sometimes the thing you've always wanted may not be all that great.
Emily Albright was hilarious. She was relatable, feisty, and loyal. From the first page, I immediately felt like we were soulmates. Not only because of her love for books, but also because of her complaints about modern men. I kept agreeing with her and shaking my head, laughing.
This book made me giggle and gasp and groan. I couldn't quite put it down, it was that entertaining. I am so happy I picked this up. Would definitely recommend this to Austen fans. It's always a nice reminder that sometimes the thing you've always wanted may not be all that great.
Letters to Felice by Franz Kafka
I am amazed that Felice kept all the letters he sent. Their love must've been incredibly intense. I could see so much of myself in Franz (the good and the bad), that reading these made me feel like I could've written all that in another life. And no matter how many times I feel so frustrated by him, I had to step back and think "perhaps the reason why you are so angry is because you see so much of yourself in him." Rest well, Kafka. This was life-altering.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
What a book. My copy had a little over 800 pages and it was such a heavy book (figuratively and literally). But not once did I regret getting a copy. This was beautiful.
From his early years of knowing Felice and groveling at her feet, pouncing at the mailman for her letters, and rubbing her letters to his face (to get as close to her as possible), to the all-too-real commitment of being engaged to her making him spiral, it was a lot.
In the first half of the book, he was more lighthearted. All he wanted was to get to know every single part of her (from asking her many, many questions to scrutinising every picture sent by her). But as they grew closer and the relationship became more serious, he grew more frightened.
Suddenly his flaws were blown up like a film on a movie screen. His derailing health, his inadequacy, his worries and quirks. He was so worried that Felice will shirk away from him, and her parents wouldn't allow him to marry her (which, he felt was valid).
But everyone loved him. Felice, her parents, his parents, etc. Julie Kafka (Franz's mum) was adorable. Her letters to Felice (and to Felice's mum) were included. From there, you could see how sweet and caring she was. And she was completely supportive of their relationship.
From his early years of knowing Felice and groveling at her feet, pouncing at the mailman for her letters, and rubbing her letters to his face (to get as close to her as possible), to the all-too-real commitment of being engaged to her making him spiral, it was a lot.
In the first half of the book, he was more lighthearted. All he wanted was to get to know every single part of her (from asking her many, many questions to scrutinising every picture sent by her). But as they grew closer and the relationship became more serious, he grew more frightened.
Suddenly his flaws were blown up like a film on a movie screen. His derailing health, his inadequacy, his worries and quirks. He was so worried that Felice will shirk away from him, and her parents wouldn't allow him to marry her (which, he felt was valid).
But everyone loved him. Felice, her parents, his parents, etc. Julie Kafka (Franz's mum) was adorable. Her letters to Felice (and to Felice's mum) were included. From there, you could see how sweet and caring she was. And she was completely supportive of their relationship.
This mammoth of a book was a lot to take in, but I loved it very much. It is possible that I found hundreds of favourite quotes within these letters. Letters to Felice was much better than Letters to Milena. The last few pages made me teary eyed when he broke the news of his tuberculosis and how he feared that his last letters to her would be
"Poor dear Felice" -- were the last words I wrote; is this to be the closing phrase to all my letters? It's not a knife that stabs only forward but one that wheels around and stabs back as well.
Franz
I am amazed that Felice kept all the letters he sent. Their love must've been incredibly intense. I could see so much of myself in Franz (the good and the bad), that reading these made me feel like I could've written all that in another life. And no matter how many times I feel so frustrated by him, I had to step back and think "perhaps the reason why you are so angry is because you see so much of yourself in him." Rest well, Kafka. This was life-altering.
Channel X by Francine Pascal, Laurie John
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I haven't read SVU in years so I'm introduced to new characters for the first time. This book was incredibly scary, especially because it felt like there's some truth to it, and how real it could be (or already is?).
Channel X held my attention from the first page. It was intense and terrifying. It was hard to know what was real or wasn't. And even till the last page, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happen, and the characters won't ever get to escape the horrors.
Channel X held my attention from the first page. It was intense and terrifying. It was hard to know what was real or wasn't. And even till the last page, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happen, and the characters won't ever get to escape the horrors.