josefineisreading's review against another edition
- 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
There were parts that I liked and nearer to the end I found it easier to read. It felt like there was a fair bit of filler but I think it’s more because of the time rather than a fault of Emily Brontë. I’m writing this having finished it a few hours ago and I can say I won’t reread it but I do think it’s a pretty decent story.
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Child abuse, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, and Confinement
susanna22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Classism, Bullying, Child abuse, and Death of parent
canyi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler
it’s not a romance but more of a horror, the true romance is not the “main” couple, they’re the source of the horror. The true romance in this book is the end couple, I guess you could look at it as a romance that blossomed from the pure evil doings of Heathcliff but it really doesn’t feel like it’s the main point.Personally I prefer to read books where I like or enjoy the main characters so honestly it wouldn’t be my go to pick. However once I got past that I found it was actually a really easy/ captivating read once I acknowledged (not a major plot spoiler)
Spoiler
that it was not a romance but more of a horror.Despite the slow moving plot I felt compelled to finish it, at least just because I wanted to see if
Spoiler
Heathcliff is ever stopped3.5 stars because it wasn’t a bad story
Spoiler
just terrible people, although I will admit the rating would be lower if it didn’t have a somewhat happy ending.Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Stalking, Bullying, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Classism, Death, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Torture, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
cherryfer's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying and Violence
Minor: Physical abuse
tammykuffo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Death, Classism, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Racism, Mental illness, Incest, Grief, Bullying, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Violence, Racial slurs, Child death, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
theimposter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Chronic illness, Grief, Terminal illness, Bullying, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Classism, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Incest, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship
jubsrabellogs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I cannot say it was a pleasant read, but it was a captivating one, and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. And it kept me engaged in the question of nature versus nurture. Although, by the end, it looked like Emily Brontë was firmly on the former’s side. And how curious it would be that the unknown “gipsy” child is the one with a despicable nature… (yikes, Emily!)
If I was made to choose between this and Jane Eyre, I would choose the latter without second thought. But this book was still a haunting and worthy piece of gothic literature, and it certainly scared me more than Dracula and Frankenstein ever did (although I do love both).
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Physical abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Misogyny
alishamegan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked cathy 1 and 2, and edgar linton who is the only good male in the book, the soft boy. Heathcliffe is a psycho, and cathy 1 knew that. She loved him like a girl or woman might love the toxic abusive boy or man despite knowing his nature, and add to that fact that they grew up together makes it even harder for her to leave him. but SHE DOES. She chooses edgar bc she knows what's good for her, and I love that. she chose the healthy loving relationship over the unhealthy toxic one. GOOD FOR HER. also heathcliffe is a black man and I certainly saw that clearly. But also hate the obvious and predictable racism by all the white ppl.
CORRECTION
So I forgot cathy 1 hit edgar, so yes she is also abusive totally. And that cannot be excused at all. I still like cathy 1 bc of her choices, but I of course condemn that action against poor edgar. And edgar is awesome.
Also Nelly is a bum like i don't care her narration is not totally reliable and she meddled when she wanted and didn't meddle when she didn't. She was better than the other horrible servant though that did not help cathy 2 at all.
Also cathy 2 is a child througout and only 18 by the end and she is very brave and resilient.
Also mr lockwood is also a waste man and I'm glad cathy 2 did not marry him, as he like most Victorian white men wants his love to be an "angel". However I don't like hareton either bc abuse sooo. I wish she would have escaped but this is the olde times and she would have no cash and assets as a woman etc etc so that's no escape at all. She made the best of cards dealt to her, like her mom cathy 1. Good for her again.
It is also interesting to compare mr lockwood wanting cathy 2 to be an angel and thinking less of her when she acts like any human being would in her situation, and heathcliffe loving cathy 1 with or may be because of her roughness and continues to when she becomes a so called proper lady. Both also resist and doing the opposite of what their love interests expect and want from them which is fab.
Joseph is irritating af and enough said.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
birtelesemann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Bullying, and Death of parent
overbooked207's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
1st book of January 2023 and 1st of the year:
“‘May she wake in torment!' he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. ‘Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there-not in heaven--not perished--where? Oh! You said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer--I repeat it till my tongue stiffens-may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you--haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always- take any form- drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!” - Emily Brontë.
I read this years ago, but I think I listened to it too fast and didn’t remember much of it, so I decided to give it another try because I remember loving the quotes and the atmospheric setting, and I’m glad I did! The atmosphere and writing are rich, haunting, and poetic, and so many of the quotes, like the one above, quickly became new favorites of all time, said quotes being infinitely quotable and full of drama, passion, love(even if it’s toxic), and poetry! Almost every character is the absolute worst, but sometimes that’s exactly what I want to consume because it can be so entertaining, and I love watching/analyzing the characters’ complexities and thoughts/actions even as I’m shaking my head(tho reading about what Heathcliff does was hard). And winter is one of the perfect times to read this as you get cozy with a hot beverage and blankets. The audiobook read by Joanne Froggatt was also amazing! I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot more than the second, but the quotes made it up to me.
But please be aware of the TWs that are unfortunately prevalent in classic lit for unchecked racism, ableism, sexism, classism, incest, etc., and read/enjoy it critically and with that in mind. Other TWs include abuse(child, domestic, physical, and verbal), alcoholism, death, ghosts, grief, guns, and violence🥀🍂🪦💔
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Classism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship