Wow, thank you @southernfemmom. Not too long at all – I enjoyed every word you wrote!
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NOT too long, and I, too enjoyed your commentary! Thank you for joining in! And, Welcome to Cc book discussions 
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That picture of Joseph surprised me. In my mind (I haven’t seen any of the movies), I envision him as a Seven-Dwarfs type man, schlumpy, with a shapeless hat and a belly. Grizzly stubble beard and oversize flannel shirt.
Or like Rumplestiltskin stomping on the floor.
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I just noticed that if you zoom in on the Bible Joseph is reading, the text is just scribbles, except for the artist’s signature near the bottom of the right hand page (“Merritt”).
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Here’s every film version of Joseph (except the lost 1920 film). Lots of different faces, but all unpleasant! The Character of Joseph
Cathy: The Character of Catherine Earnshaw
Heathcliff: The Character of Heathcliff
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From your link Joseph described as “vinegar faced” ….
“ He was, and is yet most likely, the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbours.
(1801, aged about 71) Joseph was an elderly, nay, an old man: very old, perhaps, though hale and sinewy. ‘The Lord help us!’ he soliloquised in an undertone of peevish displeasure, while relieving me of my horse: looking, meantime, in my face so sourly that I charitably conjectured he must have need of divine aid to digest his dinner, and his pious ejaculation had no reference to my unexpected advent.
(1801, aged about 71) Vinegar-faced Joseph projected his head from a round window of the barn.”
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I had posted above that the forward to my edition notes that the single name “Heathcliff” makes it sound mythical.
It also suggests someone on the brink – Heathcliff is always teetering a bit toward madness. In addition, a heath is land that is “uncultivated” and “course,” so that fits, too.
But on the flip side, it’s worth noting that Heathcliff’s name was chosen to replace someone who was loved and lost: “…they had christened him ‘Heathcliff’; it was the name of a son who died in childhood” (p. 33).
Mr. Earnshaw “took to Heathcliff strangely,” and for Heathcliff’s part, he did exhibit feeling upon Mr. Earnshaw’s death. He could have been grieving for the loss of protection rather than the man himself; or perhaps Heathcliff was just mirroring Cathy. But in any event, when Mr. Earnshaw dies, “they both set up a heart-breaking cry.” A short while later, Nelly checks on Cathy and Heathcliff:
The little souls were comforting each other with better thoughts than I could have hit on: no parson in the world ever pictured heaven so beautifully as they did, in their innocent talk; and, while I sobbed and listened, I could not help wishing we were all there safe together.
Contrast that with the dying Heathcliff giving Nelly his instructions for burial beside Cathy:
No minister need come; nor need anything be said over me.–I tell you I have nearly attained my heaven; and that of others is altogether unvalued and uncoveted by me.
Of course, it’s normal for a child’s vision of heaven to be different from an adult’s. But it’s easy to forget (at least for me) that Heathcliff did once think as a child, with a child’s innocence.
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Scholars and regular folk have been discussing Wuthering Heights for a century and a half. We managed to cover a lot of ground in merely a week! Many thanks to everyone for all the great input.
We can continue to discuss Wuthering Heights as the spirit moves anyone to post, but we can also begin to talk about our choice for April. The floor is open for ideas!
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Several of us have requested something happy, please! I’m a big fan of Georgette Heyer if we want regency romance novels.
Of course I’ve been advocating for Georgette Heyer for quite a while! I did reread all her books in order a while back and would gladly read them yet again. Well, maybe not all of them…
We could pick a half dozen and read any or all.
The first one I read was A Civil Contract and I still love it. My favorite is The Grand Sophy. Also love Devil’s Cub and Frederica.
I’d be happy with any of her romances. Not as fond of the mysteries and the ones about war.
I recently read Heyer’s Cotillion, very cute.
The best choices for us have historically been those that lend themselves to in-depth discussion. Would a regency romance have enough complexity to fill the bill? Maybe. We could dip into some history of the period and the genre. Anyway, just something to keep in mind.
I have a suggestion, if people were up for a duet:
Jane Austen’s Persuasion was actually written and set during the British Regency period. We could have an Austen-Heyer duo and see how a Regency Romance written through a 20th century lens differs from one written at the actual time. Since they are both romances, it wouldn’t be a slog, but rather fun.
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@mary13, that sounds like a really interesting idea. I love the way you think! Normally I can polish off a Heyer romance in a day or two. Something happy is really needed at this time.
We could make it Regency authors in general with particular emphasis on Austin and Heyer; maybe throw in someone more contemporary like Julia Quinn (who wrote the Bridgerton books, among many others).
Edit to add I’ve read all but one of the authors in this blog.
Edit again to correct Bridgerton author.
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Didn’t Julia Quinn write the Bridgerton books?
Sorry, you’re right - they did several anthologies so my search mixed me up.
I’ve read all the Bridgerton books, but except for the medical bits I don’t consider them very interesting. The TV show is IMO much more fun The first book though has one event that actually now is considered very problematic. (Actually more than one.) Sort of a spoiler so I won’t go into it. But Daphne is my least favorite character of the bunch.
My favorite of the Regency modern novels are the Sebastian St. Cyr books (19 so far!) by C. S. Harris. The author has a PhD in European History so her books are historically accurate often covering the more seedy side of 18th c life. She always includes a historical afterward, letting you know if she took any liberties with the actual history.) These are primarily mysteries, but there is a romance that gets resolved a few books in.
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Yes, that one aspect of the first Bridgerton book was problematic in both the book and show. I also agree that it’s not my favorite Regency modern series. I’m not really a mystery reader (well, other than Agatha Christie back in the day) - prefer romance to be the primary driver in a Regency novel, although of course murder often plays a part.
We need other suggestions as well, so please bring them on!
Let’s say that one choice is Persuasion by Jane Austen & TBD by Georgette Heyer for a duet.
But we generally choose from four or five selections via Ranked Choice Voting, so what else might be interesting (and not tragic)? Anything on your to-read list that you’d like to tackle?
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Off the top of my head: How to Read a Book - Monica Wood. @jollymama mentioned it on a CCBC discussion thread and also on the Best Books thread. My IRL book club recently read and discussed it - someone saw it mentioned in People Magazine. One and all liked it and it generated discussion. Happy endings for all. (It reminded me somewhat of the Arthur Truluv book only better, imho.)
In a CCBC discussion, CBBBlinker mentioned giving The Bird Hotel five stars. One of her IRL book clubs read and discussed it.
I’ll go back and look for other books we considered but that didn’t quite make the cut.
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