* Originally reviewed on 8/20/07 on another of my blogs. *
I read Wuthering Heights last week. I hated it. Heinous, vile people doing heinous, vile things to each other. I couldn’t stand either Cathy or Heathcliff. So much for a great love story.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte 
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{ 22 comments }
I wasn’t a big fan of this one either when I read it some years ago.
I hated that book, nothing but rampant narcissism on the moors. Heathcliff and Cathy deserved each other.
I always wanted to line the Brontes up for a collective Stooge slap, anyway.
When I listened to this a few years ago, I liked the language and the writing but I am also completely sympathetic to the urge to give everyone involved a swift kick in the shins.
Ah, I’m sorry to hear you hated it! I need to read it again to see what my latest reaction would be to it. Even though I know they are all crazy and do terrible things, my heart aches for them. I feel for all their tortured souls!
I can’t stand this book either. Heathcliff is the model of the “tortured bad boy” that has caused so much romantic havoc, both fictional and real.
And this is yet another reason why I’ve put off reading this book. I hated the movie when I saw it years and years ago and so I figured I’d hate the book. A friend said that while it is really sad the writing is beautiful and in the end there story is a little redemptive…. I’m still not sold.
I loved the first half of the book, and hated the second. And the worse thing was that I had to write about it for my disertation!
LOL. Amen to that. I am not a big Bronte fan, any of them.
Oh dear! This is my favourite novel. I agree there is more than a little inaction on most of the character’s parts – but isn’t that kind of the point? And I love the descriptions of the houses and moors – so evocative. Mind you – I found Jane Eyre quite irritating, so could shoot the sister!
K
I have yet to read this. Not sure if or when, really. One of my university friends hated this book so much she threw it across the room yelling “I hate you! I hate you!” at the top of her lungs. I’ve never forgotten this display of book hatred!
I like the writing but am not keen on the story.
Wow, that’s quite a reaction! I really enjoyed this novel, in spite of all the melodrama. The characters definitely are heinous, but I guess like heinous (since I’m kind of heinous myself).
I hated Wuthering Heights the first time I read it — in fact, I couldn’t finish it. Some years later, I read it for a Victorian Ficiton class, and then wrote a paper on it. And then I read it two more times, and wrote another paper on it. I will agree, yes, that the story is quite silly — not funny-silly, but melodramatic-silly — but I found that the writing really grew on me. When I actually sat down and started analysing it, I found it quite intricate.
I agree completely. I just read Wuthering Heights recently through DayLit and was extremely disappointed.
This is a riot! It’s one of those “of course you love it” books until you realize you think it’s silly – if you do. I liked it when I read it the first time, but I was mired in adolescent angst. When I saw the Merle Oberon movie I was astonished at the obsession and silliness. The melodramatic story is perhaps more than a tad crazy but the emotion is so intense and I still simply awestruck at the writing.
I have never read this classic, but was looking forward to it. Maybe I should reconsider!
Ouch. I had sooo wanted to read this, and even put off watching the movie until after I’d read the book. I heard so many great things about this book! :( Now I’m not sure if I should invest the time…
P.S. Found you from ReadingGroupGuides.com when I was looking for a guide for Twilight. We just started an online club at my sister site – would love to hear your thoughts at the Blog Catalog group!
Haha, I hated this book beyond belief when I read it and I can’t believe I actually made it through the whole book. I must have had more patience then!
I’m so glad that I wasn’t the only one that didn’t care for this book. There are so many people who rave about it. I geuss I like to be able to be able to see at least a hint of good in people and Wuthering Heights showed none, IMO. Too bleak!
So succinct! I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate. I thought I had to read it again because I must have missed something. Maybe I didn’t!
I read Wurthering Heights earlier this year and enjoyed it. Although, I don’t understand why it’s considered a love story both Cathy and Heathcliff are selfish vile people who do nothing but destroy the lives of people they supposedly love, they deserve each other.
I have to admitt, this novel took a while for me to get into, I think you have to be in right frame of mind to read it, and not just to read it but analyse it too.
I love the way Bronte decribes everything in such depth and passion in this book, it really made me get a sense of the atmosphere. although this book is infuriating sometimes, I think this was a good novel for Bronte to actually rebel at that time. She was able to express her feelings and really get a voice through this.
I think it’s a shame she died so young as we can’t get a chance to judge her other books and her style of writing.
You can’t just judge her style on one book, shame!!!
Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed the book second time round, it is a deffo read!!!
J
xx
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