Helpful Score: 10
The characters in Wuthering Heights are uncivilized, disturbed, and repugnant. Although it is distinguished as a Victorian romance novel, it is impossible for these characters to genuinely love. They are manipulative, self deprecating, and pathological to the point of the readers amusement and wonderment. Very few readers will enjoy this novel, but many cannot help being in awe of Bronte's literary skill. It is intriguing that Emily Bronte, in her 20's, was able to articulate the depth of human depravity and psychopathology with such profound perception. Through her writing, we learn something about her; she is passionate and intense, but there is still so much more that I want to know about her...the author. This is one of my favorite parts of the narrative.... it beams with imagination, brilliance and eloquence. "Heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on the top of Wuthering Heights; where I woke sobbing for joy" (Chapter 9).
Helpful Score: 6
This story stands alone and withstands time. I did a high school book report in the 50's. I was enthralled by the beautiful love story of two star crossed lovers and mesmerized till the end. Suffice it to say I got an A+ on my report. It stands alone and in a class all by itself.
Helpful Score: 5
I found that the storyline was well written and kept the reader's interest but the charcters were very easy to dislike, and by the end of it I hated most the people involved. Also the whole incestuous relationships bugged me. But overall, I'm glad I read it.
Helpful Score: 2
I must say that when I first started reading this book it took me a while to get into. Mainly because they use a lot of old English in it (the book was written in 1847) and because Joseph's dialect was hard to decipher. As the book progressed I started to fall in love with the most heartbreaking and tragic love stories I have ever read. Talk about obsessive love. The ironic thing about this story is everyone consistently makes decisions that they think will bring them happiness or in some cases peace and it ultimately leaves them miserable and bitter. Even though this book was written well over a century ago and poorly received at first. It is one of the most amazing if not the best book I've ever read. She definitely knew the ingredients for a good drama. Bad Timing. Had it not been for the timing in most of the characters decisions things may have turned out completely different. I will say I will never forget one of the most compelling love stories of all time. That is Catherine and Heathcliff.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of the most morally decrepit books I have ever had the misfortune to read. I really don't even know where to begin my review.
First of all, why was Mr. Lockwood even in the book? It would've made much more sense to just start the tale as a recollection from Mrs. Dean, made as she reviewed her life in her old age, than inserting Mr. Lockwood into the picture just to have him leave again.
This was the most vile cast of characters I've ever encountered in any novel. The supposed 'love' between Catherine 1.0 and Heathcliff makes no sense. You can say their souls are made of the same stuff all you want, but that means nothing without evidence to back it up. Everyone suffers because of their 'love' - Edgar, Isabella, Hareton, Catherine 2.0, and so on.
Heathcliff is a truly disturbing person and the amount of women who find him to be a swoon-worthy archetype of the impassioned lover is alarming, to say the least. The man is cruel, vicious, and depraved. How could anyone ever find anything to admire in a man who tortures and imprisons the daughter of the supposed love of his life, along with acting as a tyrannical despot and threatening his own son?
And, finally, I cannot emphasize enough how the premise of this book was so ridiculous, considering every problem in it could have been avoided if the characters had ever, just once in their miserable lives, stepped off the Grange or Heights land and met a person other than their own cousin whom they could marry. It was continually remarked that they were removed from the world, which was true, and a complete detriment to every character, since they all failed to realize that life is more than just pining away for a person living on the next estate.
First of all, why was Mr. Lockwood even in the book? It would've made much more sense to just start the tale as a recollection from Mrs. Dean, made as she reviewed her life in her old age, than inserting Mr. Lockwood into the picture just to have him leave again.
This was the most vile cast of characters I've ever encountered in any novel. The supposed 'love' between Catherine 1.0 and Heathcliff makes no sense. You can say their souls are made of the same stuff all you want, but that means nothing without evidence to back it up. Everyone suffers because of their 'love' - Edgar, Isabella, Hareton, Catherine 2.0, and so on.
Heathcliff is a truly disturbing person and the amount of women who find him to be a swoon-worthy archetype of the impassioned lover is alarming, to say the least. The man is cruel, vicious, and depraved. How could anyone ever find anything to admire in a man who tortures and imprisons the daughter of the supposed love of his life, along with acting as a tyrannical despot and threatening his own son?
And, finally, I cannot emphasize enough how the premise of this book was so ridiculous, considering every problem in it could have been avoided if the characters had ever, just once in their miserable lives, stepped off the Grange or Heights land and met a person other than their own cousin whom they could marry. It was continually remarked that they were removed from the world, which was true, and a complete detriment to every character, since they all failed to realize that life is more than just pining away for a person living on the next estate.