Wuthering Heights

[lawyerlee]

Have you read Wuthering Heights? Is it worth it? Is there anything I should know to get me through it?

I've set out to read it three times now, and each time I've set it aside promising myself I'd get back to it later. I really do want to read it, but for some reason I've had trouble getting into it. Any thoughts would be most appreciated. :)

[Freckles]

One of my all time favorite novels.
Heartbreaking, haunting, and beautifully written.

[TX Sweetheart]

The only time I read it was for my senior english project in high school... I thought it was really well written... I don't really remember much of it though :(

[Brandles]

Is this the book with Heathcliff and Catherine in it? I read it in my junior college prep English class and maybe, at 16, I wasn't mature enough to appreciate it, but I found it hard to get through and boring.

But, the first time I read "The Oddessy" in 8th grade, I hated it and it was painful and I didn't understand it. The second time, in college (as a senior), I LOVED it and breezed right through it! :)

[Asha]

that is my favorite book of all time. i get goosebumps when i think of it. it is a slow start, but i appreciated the beginning once i read it again. it is such a heartbreaking love story. it was painful for me to read parts bc i could literally feel the pain of the characters. do try to read it again.

[camberne]

Diana, definately keep reading. I love that book!! It's slow starting because of the stupid back story that you have to trudge through to get to the real story (I honestly couldn't care less about Lockwood and his trudging through the moors on a stormy night). But, having seen the Laurence Olivier version of the film when I was eight, I had to read it... and then read it again for school. It's a classic tragedy, and all the characters have their flaws, and are quite unlikeable at times ~ but, oh wow, I just love Heathcliff anyway.

[lawyerlee]

Diana, definately keep reading. I love that book!! It's slow starting because of the stupid back story that you have to trudge through to get to the real story (I honestly couldn't care less about Lockwood and his trudging through the moors on a stormy night). But, having seen the Laurence Olivier version of the film when I was eight, I had to read it... and then read it again for school. It's a classic tragedy, and all the characters have their flaws, and are quite unlikeable at times ~ but, oh wow, I just love Heathcliff anyway.
Thank you for the tip, Alice. You're dead on that I was having a really hard time trudging through that beginning portion because I just thought, "Who cares?!" I'll keep after it. :)

[lawyerlee]

I finished up the book I'd been reading on Friday, so I started up with this again on Saturday. And I've been really glad that I did! I'm enjoying it quite a lot. I'm glad to have been told that the very beginning wasn't indicative of the rest of the book. That made a big difference for me. :)

[enchantingdragon]

My favorite book. Defintetly finish reading it. The beginning with Lockwood and the back story is a bit slow but Heathcliff and Catherine (the older) will envelop you with their story quick enough I promise! ;)

[meganth]

This is one i always wanted to read but never got around to it. You guys convinced me to go out and buy it last night. ;)

[lawyerlee]

I finished reading it tonight, and I am finding myself with so many lingering questions about Heathcliff and his behavior. I am having a difficult time understanding why he behaved the way he did as an adult. Was much of it resentment and anger from his childhood? Was it related to being separated from Catherine / not being able to be with her when they were so clearly soulmates? I'm just not sure. And did he treat the younger Catherine the way he did because it was too painful for him to be reminded of his true love? I just can't imagine treating her daughter the shameful way he did. This book will definitely stay with me for a while as I sort through my thoughts. :)

[enchantingdragon]

Hi Lawyer Lee! I am not sure if this will answer any of your questions or perhaps just open a can to a whole new bunch but there is a book I read by another author who had a series of questions after Wuthering Heights was over. Mostly she wondered about Heathcliff's whereabouts after he left Wuthering Heights and his mysterious return to it with all that money. Since Emily Bronte is dead and will never be able to tell us her own ideas this author wrote a book called "H The Story of Heatcliff's Journey Back to Wuthering Heights" Not sure you'd be interested but if you love the Brontes the way I did it was a must read

Also if you want to further analyze the story I recomened Cliff Notes to be honest. When I was reading it (for fun) in high school I found myself wondering a lot of things as well and I bought the Cliff Notes just to see what they ahd to say and it did give me some insight. I actually wrote my senior paper on the dualities within Wuthering Heights, how Thrushgross Grange was wear the peaceful personalities lived, it was set in a more peaceful valley , etc and how Wuthering Heights was on top of the moor area hit by the wind and the personalities within were all similar to the house, harsh and tempermented, etc which was a point that was pointed out to me by Cliff Notes. Alright just some thoughts. Have a lovely day! :)

[lawyerlee]

I actually wrote my senior paper on the dualities within Wuthering Heights, how Thrushgross Grange was wear the peaceful personalities lived, it was set in a more peaceful valley , etc and how Wuthering Heights was on top of the moor area hit by the wind and the personalities within were all similar to the house, harsh and tempermented, etc which was a point that was pointed out to me by Cliff Notes.
That totally makes sense! Which would also explain, in my mind, why Nelly says that Hareton and young Catherine planned to move from Wuthering Heights to Thruthcross Grange near the end of the story.

I was thinking of picking up the Cliffs Notes, but wondered if that would be silly. So thank you for encouraging me to do so and for recommending the other book. :)

[Asha]

i guess the romantic in me thinks that heathcliff acted the way he did because of the pain of not being able to be with catherine. i think he treated the younger catherine that way bc it reminded him more of that fact. though, they were clearly desperately in love with each other, i don't think they would have ever worked out. their love was so strong that it would have conflicted with the realities.