February is Classics Month for the CC Book Club! We will be reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, published in 1847. The novel tells the story of two families living on the West Yorkshire moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their turbulent relationships, particularly with the Earnshaws’ foster son, Heathcliff.
Bronte’s novel reflects her various influences, blending romanticism, gothic sensibilities, and Greek tragedy. Victorian critic Douglas Jerrold wrote at the time: "In Wuthering Heights the reader is shocked, disgusted, almost sickened by details of cruelty, inhumanity, and the most diabolical hate and vengeance, and anon come passages of powerful testimony to the supreme power of love – even over demons in the human form. ” Wuthering Heights is generally considered to be one of the greatest English novels ever written.
Whether it is right or advisable to create beings like Heathcliff, I do not know: I scarcely think it is. But this I know: the writer who possesses the creative gift owns something of which she is not always master—something that, at times, strangely wills and works for itself. - Charlotte Brontë, 1850
Emily Brontë’s windswept masterpiece is notable not just for its wild beauty but for its daring reinvention of the novel form itself…[it] plunges impetuously into a wild and passionate exploration of love in all its destructive manifestations. - The Guardian
I thought I’d pull this up as a reminder. I have my copy of Wuthering Heights ready to start tonight.
I’ve never read it which surprises me. I’m glad the CC Book Club chose it as its “winter classic.” The push to read it now rather continually thinking “later” is a good thing for me. Otherwise, I’d still be saying I haven’t read it yet but want to do so.
I wonder if the weather about to hit here over the next few days could be considered “wuthering”. Regardless I plan to spend time reading Wuthering Heights - a good choice to tuck into while housebound due to inclement weather.
Yes, CC book club has gotten me to explore many books I wouldn’t have otherwise. Thanks to @Mary13 for being our fearless leader and all who participate and provide insights I would never have gotten otherwise.
This has been on my list and when I saw it as the CC book club selection, I jumped at the opportunity. This is my first time participating in the CCBC and am looking forward to hearing what others have to say about Wuthering Heights!
Welcome, @cuppasbux! I’m glad you’ll be joining us.
Hang in there, @HImom! The first narrator is a bit of a drip, but the story picks up when Nelly takes over. I love this book – there is so much going on and so many complex, intertwined relationships.
I’m also having trouble getting into the book - I’m the one who didn’t want depressing books so yikes! Not my usual kind of romance. I had to stop last night at about page 71. I’ll try again but don’t know if I really want to go on.
Also I have some trouble reading dialect; for me it disrupts a smooth read and takes me out of the story as I, for lack of a better word, translate the dialect. I started reading a sample of James which made every single list of best books for 2024. But the dialect stopped me - and I understand it’s an integral part of the story.
@stradmom and @Marilyn, I get it – it’s not a traditional romance, and how it ever got marketed as such is something I bet we’ll talk about. And the language can be a challenge (mostly with peripheral characters), but I find that Nelly’s narration keeps me focused.
There’s a lot of 19th century British words I don’t know, but the Kindle helps with that (for example, grimalkin = (archaic) a cat ).
Looking forward to the February 1st discussion (if anybody is still here for it )!
I considered that, but my visual reading skills are far superior to my aural reading skills. I learned that while recovering from my eyelid etc. surgery a couple of years ago. At least when I fall asleep reading my ebook, it doesn’t go on without me. It also falls asleep .
As I said, translating the idioms takes me out of the story so that’s not the problem. I can figure most out in context. But the passages filled with apostrophes really do put brakes on.
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