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Wuthering Heights

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"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte is a dark and complex tale of a convoluted and tragic love story between Heathcliff and Catherine. Set against the haunting moors of England, the novel blurs the line between passion and obsession, delving into themes of vengeance, societal expectations, and human nature. The book portrays a cast of flawed and complex characters, with relationships marred by cruelty, revenge, and unfulfilled desires. The writing style is described as gothic, mysterious, and enthralling, with a moody atmosphere that matches the bleak setting of the moors.

The narrative unfolds through multiple generations, showcasing the consequences of love and revenge that reverberate through time. Despite the challenging writing style and complex characters, the story captivates readers with its haunting and chilling portrayal of characters not likely to be called sane in the modern world. The book challenges traditional values and beliefs, questioning the dark side of English and Western culture, making readers reflect on psychological and gothic elements in the narrative.

Characters:

The characters are deeply flawed and often unlikeable, contributing to the overarching themes of obsession and revenge.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features rich, descriptive language and complex narrative structures, often employing unreliable narrators to convey deep emotional themes.

Plot/Storyline:

Plot revolves around toxic relationships and revenge, primarily showcasing the intense and destructive love between Heathcliff and Catherine and the resulting impact on those around them.

Setting:

The novel is set against the bleak and dramatic backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, enhancing the story's gothic elements and character dynamics.

Pacing:

The pacing is a slow build-up that escalates in intensity, but it often feels heavy and dark, culminating in an abrupt resolution.
1801.—I have just returned from a visit to my landlord—the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with. This is certainly a beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have f...

Notes:

Wuthering Heights was published in 1847 and was Emily Bronte's only novel.
The narrative is primarily told through Mrs. Nelly Dean and Mr. Lockwood's perspective, creating an unreliable storytelling experience.
There are multiple romantic relationships in the story, but the focus is largely on obsession, revenge, and cruelty.
The characters are often described as unlikable, and many readers struggle to sympathize with them.
Heathcliff is often portrayed as a dark and villainous character, contrary to the idea of him being a romantic hero.
The book explores complex themes such as class differences, societal expectations, and the effects of abuse on individuals and relationships.
The setting of the novel prominently features the bleak Yorkshire moors, which contribute significantly to the story's atmosphere.
The characters often engage in intense emotional displays, but their love appears destructive rather than nurturing.
The book has inspired numerous adaptations and references in popular culture due to its iconic characters and themes.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of abuse, violence, revenge, murder, and other dark elements that may be triggering to some readers.

From The Publisher:

There are few more convincing, less sentimental accounts of passionate love than the story of the tormented Heathcliff, who falls wildly in love with Catherine Earnshaw, the daughter of his benefactor, and of the violence and misery that result from their thwarted longing for each other.

Ratings (479)

Incredible (79)
Loved It (133)
Liked It (119)
It Was OK (71)
Did Not Like (58)
Hated It (19)

Reader Stats (899):

Read It (502)
Currently Reading (8)
Want To Read (236)
Did Not Finish (20)
Not Interested (133)

17 comment(s)

Incredible
2 weeks

I first listened to this in early 2019 and have had it high on my top favorite classics of all time. Been meaning to reread this and I was so pleased to see I still love it. Gloomy, bitter and full of terrible characters and it's far from a happy book or swoony romance. After this reread it's on place 3 of my favorite classics, the first being the phantom of the opera and Dracula. Might need to reread them soon too

 
Loved It
1 month

read the penguin version so i could understand it better, but the plot, characters and the point of the story were beautiful.

 
It Was OK
3 months

Was given this book by my fifth grade teacher, did not realize until very recently that everyone in it is an abusive maniac.

 
Incredible
3 months

There are so many terrible people in this book, but I can't help but be fascinated by them, hoping to see the younger generations overcome the trauma of the older ones. And the vibes of this setting are immaculate. I read this as a teenager and it was even better a decade later.

 
Incredible
3 months

One of my favorite books. Gothic romance set in the British moors, relationships gone crazy

 
Loved It
3 months

Pensaba que seria un libro romantico, al estilo "sentido y sensibilidad". Y ciertamente es un libro romantico, mucho mas quiza que el anteriormente mencionado pero a la vez es totalmente distinto. Principalmente por sus personajes totalmente odiosos.

Mientras que en el tipico libro romantico el amor lo puede todo y es la mayor fuerza positiva, aqui el amor desde luego es la mayor fuerza pero mayoritariamente negativa, destructiva, obsesiva.

Este libro es casi su propio genero, la formula seria: horror + pasion = tension.

Para lo limitado de los eventos y los caracteres, el libro mantiene la tension perfectamente.

 
Did Not Like
3 months

Too gothic for my taste

 
Did Not Like
4 months

It was too difficult to read because the language is old and the writing style is confusing.

 
It Was OK
4 months

The Lost family

 
Did Not Like
5 months

Surprisingly bad!

Actually listened to Winter Edition narrated by Angharad Price

 
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About the Author:

Emily Jane Brontë was the most solitary member of a unique, tightly-knit, English provincial family. Born in 1818, she shared the parsonage of the town of Haworth, Yorkshire, with her older sister, Charlotte; her brother, Branwell; her younger sister, Anne; and…

 
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