alang23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mabry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nellihelene's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rainydaydreamer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Unlike anything I've ever read...
ashleylm's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like such a contrarian. I didn't love this book. I'm a huge fan of the oldies-but-goodies--my favourite books (some days, depending on my mood) are Middlemarch and Vanity Fair, but those are social novels that are very much about how their whip-smart characters fit into society, and Wuthering Heights is all angst and drama and wind and heaths and whatever wuthering is, and it's just not for me.
It's stayed with me, so it gets 1/2 a star for that, but I can't show 2 1/2 stars (I wish I could--5 stars is a pretty blunt system), so it's stuck at 2. But I mostly wanted to slap all the characters, the framing device seemed clunky, I strongly suspected that I was supposed to root for the wrong people, and I just didn't like it.
The Kate Bush song, on the other hand? Magnificent!
If you want long-ago lovers and much drama and sturm and drang then I'd recommend Gone With the Wind over this (despite some suspect depictions of African Americans--it was the time, you have to get past it), or (if you're especially into the doomed romance angle) Anna Karenina. Or even Jane Eyre if you just have to have a Bronte novel. But this one? Ech.
It's stayed with me, so it gets 1/2 a star for that, but I can't show 2 1/2 stars (I wish I could--5 stars is a pretty blunt system), so it's stuck at 2. But I mostly wanted to slap all the characters, the framing device seemed clunky, I strongly suspected that I was supposed to root for the wrong people, and I just didn't like it.
The Kate Bush song, on the other hand? Magnificent!
If you want long-ago lovers and much drama and sturm and drang then I'd recommend Gone With the Wind over this (despite some suspect depictions of African Americans--it was the time, you have to get past it), or (if you're especially into the doomed romance angle) Anna Karenina. Or even Jane Eyre if you just have to have a Bronte novel. But this one? Ech.
classicellie's review against another edition
This book fully deserves its place among the titans of British literature - a book we feel like we *should* read because it's so highly esteemed.
My friend said this book is about the consequences of a dark obsession, but I think to me it's a novel of cruelty and revenge on future generations resulting in a lot of 'what ifs' - what if the characters lived life as they truly wished and not as they felt they should, or were prevented from living?
The writing was beautifully descriptive and there were some truly outstanding passages. I liked the use of a narrator who doesn't have a huge place in the action until the end, and I thought the characters were so compelling precisely because they were so tortured and unlikeable. Heathcliff stood out to me as someone whose motivations you can understand but can't quite sympathise with.
I struggled with the Yorkshire dialogue, as I think everyone who reads this book will. Overall I was happy with how the book ended and would recommend it to anyone who's a fan of tragedy.
My friend said this book is about the consequences of a dark obsession, but I think to me it's a novel of cruelty and revenge on future generations resulting in a lot of 'what ifs' - what if the characters lived life as they truly wished and not as they felt they should, or were prevented from living?
The writing was beautifully descriptive and there were some truly outstanding passages. I liked the use of a narrator who doesn't have a huge place in the action until the end, and I thought the characters were so compelling precisely because they were so tortured and unlikeable. Heathcliff stood out to me as someone whose motivations you can understand but can't quite sympathise with.
I struggled with the Yorkshire dialogue, as I think everyone who reads this book will. Overall I was happy with how the book ended and would recommend it to anyone who's a fan of tragedy.
georgiacassandra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
blanca_leora's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0