The storytelling in this piece was truly excellent, almost as if it were a bedtime story specifically crafted for adults. It had such a captivating charm that I simply couldn't put it down!

Here is the 2025 Reading Schedule:

Jan - A Town Like Alice

Feb - Birdsong

Mar - Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere

Apr - War and Peace

May - The Woman in White

Jun - Atonement

Jul - The Shadow of the Wind

Aug - Jude the Obscure

Sep - Ulysses

Oct - Vanity Fair

Nov - A Fine Balance

Dec - Germinal

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Wuthering Heights is truly a captivating and yet dark spectacle. The unrelenting gloom that pervades the story and the complete absence of redemption make it seem rather extraordinary for the era in which it was written. In a strange way, this aspect is also quite refreshing. The decision to remove the narrative by two degrees from the novel's events has a significant effect. It obscures the motives of the principal characters, which unfortunately makes the novel vulnerable to a simplistic interpretation. However, one must not simply take the text at face value. Instead, one has to read between the lines. These are highly complex characters who find themselves caught in a web of causation. This web not only amplifies their flaws but also perpetuates them. I have a deep love for the novel's ambiguity. It refuses to guide the reader to a clear and straightforward destination. Instead, it forces you to forge your own path through its dark and mysterious moors, making the reading experience all the more engaging and thought-provoking.

Banjo Twang: a Redneck Wuthering Heights narrative in One Act

Ole boy Lockwood shacks up at Thrushcross Grange on them Anglish moors, a spooky skeery place. The uppity landlord, grumpy old high dollar named Heathcliff, stays in the big house o’ Wuthering Heights. Lockwood goes and asks ole girl Nelly Dean to learn him of the story of Wuthering Heights and all about ole boy Heathcliff. Lockwood scribbles it all down, everything Nelly tells him.

Nelly had been a serving girl, working for the earlier boss, old man Earnshaw and his folks. Earnshaw drags home a little dark skinned homeless boy, that’ll be Heathcliff. Earnshaw’s littlun girl Cathy and that boy Heathcliff become friends but that Hindley boy is right ornery to Heathcliff. But tell of Earnshaw, he likes Heathcliff better’n his own boy Hindley. Hindley goes off to the school house.

Hindley comes back a time later, has ole boy Heathcliff work in them fields and Cathy takes up with Linton, a boy who lives down the way. Hindley’s wife passes and he takes to the bottle and his youngun Hareton grows up without a maw. Cathy gets hitched to ole boy Linton. Heathcliff sets out and comes back a while after, having made himself some money.

Heathcliff sets on getting back at ole boy Hindley and gets himself Wuthering Heights. Ole girl Cathy has a baby girl herself but passes after the birth. Heathcliff goes on after her ghost and has her stay and spook him. Rich ole Heathcliff does some right crafty wrangling and gets both of them houses and treats poorly with littlun Catherine, that’ll be Cathy’s girl. That’s when he rents out Thrushcross Grange to ole boy Lockwood.

That’ll be when Lockwood hears of Nelly’s spin and Lockwood gets powerful mad at how Heathcliff has done all wrong and he sets off. Lockwood comes around a time later and hears how ole Heathcliff has gone plumb crazy with Cathy’s ghost and has himself passed on. That young’un Catherine and ole boy Hareton are set to get hitched and to get title to both them houses. The end.

**(Book 902 from 1001 books) - Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë**

Wuthering Heights is a remarkable literary work. It is Emily Brontë's sole novel, penned between October 1845 and June 1846. The story unfolds in a captivating manner.

Most of the novel is related by the housekeeper, Nelly Dean, to Lockwood. However, the novel employs several narrators, perhaps five or six, to present the story from different perspectives. This frame story technique used by Emily Brontë adds depth and complexity to the narrative. For instance, Lockwood, the initial narrator, relays the tale told by Nelly, who in turn shares the story of yet another character. The use of a character like Nelly Dean is a literary device borrowed from the Gothic novel, serving to portray the events in a more mysterious and thrilling way.

The novel has been published with various titles in Iran, such as "Tandbad-e Hawadeth or Wuthering Heights", "Blind Heights", and many others. It has been translated and published by numerous translators over the years. The story of Wuthering Heights, the name of the Earnshaw family's residence, which is built on a hill and exposed to the wind, is a passionate and troubled love story between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. This unrequited love ultimately leads to the downfall of the two lovers and many of those around them. Heathcliff, a gypsy boy, is unable to marry Catherine, and after her death, he embarks on a path of revenge.

The dates of adaptation and publication of this novel in Iran are also significant, with multiple translations and editions being released over time. Overall, Wuthering Heights remains a classic work of literature that continues to captivate readers with its powerful story and unique narrative style.

(Book 902 from 1001 books) - Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

Jesus, people, go to therapy.

Therapy can be a valuable resource for many individuals. It provides a safe and confidential space where people can openly express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Through therapy, people can gain a better understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their life situations.

Therapists are trained professionals who can offer guidance, support, and practical strategies to help people overcome challenges, manage stress, and improve their mental health and well-being. They use a variety of techniques and approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, and humanistic therapy, to meet the unique needs of each client.

Whether you are dealing with a specific mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety, or simply looking to enhance your personal growth and development, therapy can be a beneficial step. So, don't hesitate to reach out and seek the help you need. Remember, going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Doceniam tę książkę, ale nie dla mnie.

Byłaby dla mnie zbyt egzaltowana i niemiłosiernie przedstawiona.

Według mnie problemy bohaterów można by załatwić dwiema poważnymi i spokojnymi rozmowami, zamiast przez dramatyczne rozwinięcia akcji.

Jednak zauważam, że książka jest bardzo podzielna. Generalnie ludzie albo ją kocha, albo nie cierpią.

Moja opinia jest tylko moją osobistą opinią, więc nie przejmujcie się nią zbyt dużo!

Każdy ma prawo mieć swoją własną opinię o książce i warto przeczytać ją samemu, aby złożyć własną ocenę.

Well, well, well…

Hell should not come as a surprise. We are constantly surrounded by the idea that it looms over us at the end of our lives. However, what I didn't anticipate was encountering it within the pages of this book. My misapprehension had caused me to shy away from reading Wuthering Heights for many years. I had foolishly believed it to be a passionate, overly dramatic, and cheesy love story, simply dressed up in gothic trappings.

But this was truly evil incarnate. Bosch's horrifying Tree-Man seemed to have resurfaced in the form of Heathcliff, devouring anything that dared to come near with its repulsive frame, all the while observing the process with a look of sarcasm, delight, and spite. And although there is a glimmer of redemption, complete with visions and such, that appears to resolve the hideousness, this novel, with its language that wallows in hatred, fails to offer its own atonement. Just like Bosch. It is precisely its viciousness that holds a strange allure.

How could a young woman have concocted this wicked yet brilliant creation in the time and place that she did? It has completely shattered several of my misconceptions about the (early) Victorian age.

I am left with this enigma, pondering the depths of Emily Bronte's mind and the mysteries that lie within this captivating and disturbing novel.

-------
The reason for the missing star is that at times, the characters develop in ways that are not entirely convincing.

Virginia Woolf once said, of the two Catherines in Wuthering Heights, that “they are the most loveable women in English fiction.” However, having not read an extensive amount of English fiction, I still hold an opinion: I completely disagree. In fact, I firmly believe that this book has achieved something remarkable. It houses the single most unlikable cast of characters that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about within one novel.

Despite this so-called “setback” (although one could argue that it is an intentional masterstroke), the story manages to thrive. Emily’s prose is like poetry in motion, and it truly stands as a testament to her genius that this work remains a colossal figure in world literature. In the hands of anyone else, it would likely have been a failure. I found myself constantly wanting to argue with almost every character in the book, imagining depriving them of their dinner and sending them to their room to reflect on their naughty behavior.

So, why did I actually like Wuthering Heights? I felt that it defied the norm. It did not conform to my preconceived notion of what a Victorian novel should be. It made me work hard to extract even a morsel of meaning, and in doing so, it made me feel far smarter than I truly am. I would pick out the subtleties in situations, characters, and interactions, which would excite me to no end. Emily’s achievement reminded me of the work of Lev Vygotsky and his concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). This idea posits that there is a set of tasks that I can perform independently, which constitutes the first level. The third and final level consists of all the tasks that I am unable to do, regardless of the guidance provided. But the second and middle level is the ZPD. It is here that I can approach tasks and ideas with a bit of guidance, gradually enhancing my own capabilities while learning. Emily served as my guide, and she did an outstanding job.

I suppose this was indeed a love story, albeit not a typical one. I was in awe of the numerous toxic relationships on display and the seemingly ordinary patterns of back and forth that they created for the characters. Even by the standards of the Victorian era, some of the conduct between the various lovers was simply unbelievable, and yet everyone seemed to be fine with it. It was perfectly acceptable to begin the day by slighting your partner, giving them an ultimatum, running out on them, returning at night, verbally and emotionally abusing them, and going to bed angry. No issues there. I would highly recommend the book to many simply for this aspect alone. It serves as a perfect study of what not to do in a romantic relationship.

Finally, and on a somewhat more lighthearted note, WHAT ON EARTH is Joseph saying? My British friends, I apologize, but I had to turn to a website for help. I have never been so utterly flabbergasted while reading dialogue. The seemingly random arrangement of characters just wasn’t making sense in my brain. I sincerely hope that the other Brontë sisters spare me from such pain.

As a youngster, this book truly mystified me.

Adults insisted that I should read it, so I gave it my best shot. Later on, teachers also recommended it, and I read it once more. Then, it unexpectedly appeared on the syllabus, leading to a third and fourth reading. I even went as far as watching the movie adaptation. And yet, I still couldn't bring myself to enjoy it.

The families in the story are constantly at each other's throats, spewing raw cruelty. Heathcliff is portrayed as horrible and savage, while Cathy comes across as spoiled and selfish. What exactly was there to like about them? In the end, I firmly believed that they both got what they deserved.

However, that's not to say that the book isn't well-written. Bronte's plot, like so many gothic plots, is highly improbable, yet it manages to hold up. Her characters, although they shock and sicken us, are real enough. Moreover, the author's prose style is engaging enough to keep us reading until the very end. But why is this so? That's a question for another day. Better still, I encourage you to read it for yourself and form your own opinion.

This is my favourite book. I don't say that lightly - I've read a great deal from all different genres - but this is my favourite book. Of all time. Ever.

The ladies over at The Readventurer were kind enough to let me express my complete adoration for Wuthering Heights in their \\"Year of the Classics\\" feature. But now I realize it's time I wrote a little something in this blank review space. After all, it's my favourite book and it deserves better than just empty nothingness.

So, what do I love so much about Wuthering Heights? Everything. Well, maybe not everything. That wouldn't really convey my feelings strongly enough.

What I truly love about this novel is the setting; the wild and untamed wilderness. This isn't a story about niceties and upper class propriety. It's the tale of people who don't quite fit into the social norms, who live far away from the strict rules of civilization. It's almost as if they're from a different world. The isolation of the setting on the Yorkshire moors, between the fictional dwellings of The Heights and Thrushcross Grange, really emphasizes how far removed these characters are from what we consider normal. It shows how unconventional they are and how lonely their lives can be.

This is a novel for readers who can appreciate complex and often unlikeable characters. It's for those who understand that you don't have to like someone to understand them and their circumstances. People aren't born evil... so what makes them that way? What kind of torment can drive a man to believe he has no worth? What kind of person would dig up the grave of their loved one just to see them again? Heathcliff wasn't created to be liked or to earn our forgiveness. Emily Brontë simply tells his story, from his abusive and unloved childhood, to his obsession with the only person who ever showed him any real kindness, to his adulthood as an angry and violent man who beats his wife and imprisons the younger Cathy to make her marry his son.

It would be so easy to hate Heathcliff, and I don't see him as some dark, sexy hero like some people do. But I do appreciate what Emily Brontë is trying to teach us about the cycle of violence and aggression. Heathcliff eventually becomes little more than the man he hates. By being raised with beatings and anger, he in turn unleashes that on everyone else. And Cathy isn't exactly a delicate flower either. What hope did Heathcliff have when the only person he ever loved was so selfish and vindictive? But I love Emily Brontë for creating such imperfect and messed-up characters.

This is a dark novel that deals with some very complicated people, but I think in the end, we're offered a glimmer of hope. Through Cathy (younger) and Hareton's relationship, we see the possibility of peace and happiness. And there's the suggestion that Cathy (older) and Heathcliff were reunited in the afterlife. I had an English teacher in high school who said that Cathy and Heathcliff's personalities and their relationship were just too intense for this world and that peace was only possible for them in the next. I have no idea if this was something Ms Bronte intended, but the romantic in me likes to think it's true.

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\\n  \\n    “you said i killed you—haunt me, then! be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where i cannot find you!”\\n  \\n

Emily Bronte had no right to make this book so astonishingly good.

Wuthering Heights is not a typical romance (despite Stephanie Meyer's attempts to convince us otherwise in the Twilight saga). Instead, it is a love story, albeit a highly distorted one. Bronte's profound command of the English language is evident as she weaves poetry within her prose, crafting one of the most devastating and emotionally intricate stories of all time.

This book should not be read单纯 as a romance but rather as a tale of deeply complex and often unlikeable characters and their relationships. Bronte uses them as vessels to explore the boundaries and intersections between infatuation, love, and lust. Unlike most classics, she does not shy away from vividly depicting some of the most monstrous characters in literature, revealing what they love, what they hate, how they love, and how they hate.

This in itself is a literary triumph and a remarkable feat.

\\n  \\n    \\"if all else perished, and he remained, i should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.\\"\\n  \\n

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

\\n  mini review\\n
I originally rated this book 3 stars when I read it almost ten years ago, but now I am bumping it up to 5. I fear this may be the best Bronte novel... sorry, Charlotte.

It's a work that continues to haunt and fascinate readers, with its powerful themes and unforgettable characters.

When people express their dislike for books where the characters are all unlikable, I often think, "Hear me out: Wuthering Heights." Let's face it, these characters are far from being saints. They are, in fact, quite the opposite. But I can already hear your protests: "But but, madam, consider their past and their circumstances."

Oh, I understand and agree that their pasts may have shaped them, but that doesn't make them any less unpleasant as individuals. However, think about it. What fun would a happy and content ghost be, especially on the desolate moors? I firmly stand by my opinion. And let me tell you, this book is truly amazing.

Em.B, you have written a masterpiece.

The phantoms sobbing through the night, the shitty guest relaying the story based on the cleaning lady's oddly verbatim retelling, and the man who is more beast than man, as they say. It's a tale of love, a tale of obsession, and a tale told through soaring statements of euphoric beauty. "Honest people don't hide their deeds," and this dishonest crew is going to give you the most notorious tell-all in literary history. Things will get real, and it will be a wild ride that you'll absolutely love. This is a classic for a reason. Heathcliff may be an eternal little vindictive shit, but of course, I'm going to devour this story, gripping the pages and flipping them as fast as my eyes can manage. Read it. Just do it, and you'll see why it's so beloved.

Also, a big shoutout to Anne Carson's phenomenal poem/essay The Glass Essay, which inspired me to revisit this wonderful book.