As I mentioned in my last post, that book was such a slog that I took a break from it and re-read an old favorite–Wuthering Heights. I realize this book gets a bad rap, particularly to the extent that it romanticizes Heathcliff despite the fact that he is a terrible person. (For any of you who read the Thursday Next series–I find the references to Heathcliff in those books hilarious). I’m more of a Hareton girl myself, and (my two cents) I do not believe that the reader is intended fall in love with Heathcliff. He is clearly presented as doing terrible things (particularly to Isabella) but there is so much to love about this book even if you acknowledge Heathcliff’s cruelty. For example, I love the descriptions of the moors and the two houses, you really feel like you are there and the setting so informs the characters. From a technical standpoint, I love the narrative structure and the effects it has on how the story can be told and what should be believed (Nelly clearly tries to get herself off the hook in many instances). I also like that all of the main characters are flawed and that you understand their motivations when they act badly.
So anyone out there that also loves this book? Any haters?
I love it too, although I like Jane Eyre better (but hey Rochester is an ass too),! and I LOVE the Thursday Next books :)
*HIGH FIVE*
Yaaas! I love Heathcliff (how can you not when Tom Hardy, even wearing a horrendous wig, looks so dashing: http://data.whicdn.com/images/33787391/08238_large.jpg) and am willing to forgive his horribleness.
Catherine on the other hand is horrible and could have prevented everything if she had just agreed to run off and live with him and the gypsies as any rational person should have. This is an inarguable point so please don’t argue with me.
Sharing just because why not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pMMIe4hb4
I had intended this to be my 3rd book this year. I’m now on my 8th, and have gotten no further.
Which leaves me 11 months to finish the book. That doesn’t bode well for how much I like it.
I don’t recall Wuthering Heights, so I assume that I neither loved it nor hated it. I did enjoy the Thursday Next books and may have to re-read to see if the older me will like them.
I hate Wuthering Heights with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. I want to stab every single character in that book, even the very minor supporting ones, in the face. I want them all to die in some sort of mass extinction event. I’ve read the book three times, in two different languages. I’ve had to write college essays on it, so I really could (if I wanted to) give well-thought out, analytical answers as to why I loathe it so – but I won’t. Really glad you love it, I’ll take the Texts from Jane Eyre version and leave the original.
Like Malin, I too have an irrational desire to poke the eyes out of both Heathcliff and Catherine and I’m sure, after some therapy, I could articulate better the reasons why. I also harbor a deep dislike of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (so go figure) so you now know a few of my “I was an English major but” secrets. That said, I think one of the fun things about this group is to see the range of button-pushing for an given book (in a positive or negative way). By they way, thanks for the Kate Bush video; that will now be running through my head as I drive to work.