I am feeling a bit uninspired of late but I wanted to put down a few words about the books I have been reading (it wouldn’t be much of a blog if I never post now would it?). Thanks to my recent bout with bronchitis I was able to finish the Emily Bronte classic Wuthering Heights. Below a few thoughts:
– I have to admit up front this is not really my type of work. I am general a tight plot or interesting perspective type reader. Long meandering family sagas are not my usual choice. To be fair, however, the book was a rather amazing work of imagination. To create the world of Wuthering Heights and to populate it with such large characters is no mean feat. I found it rather easy to read but it didn’t really capture my attention and pull me along.
– I also was put off by the constant cruelty and over-reaction. I kept thinking what is wrong with these people? Is there something in the water up on the moors? I am not sure why anyone would find Heathcliff attractive. Sure I can see why his undying love for Catherine might be romantic in some ways but after he goes off the deep end doesn’t his cruelty and malice negate his supposed love? Perhaps I lack the imagination to really see the characters for what they were.
– I did sympathise with Hareton some. The poor guy wasn’t really given a chance by anyone but forced to live a cold hard life full of fear and violence. I was happy that the younger Catherine was able to break through her selfish melancholy and reach out to him and that he could respond in kind. A little balanced love for a change!
– The narrator, Nelly Dean, was also a well written character. She seemed at times the only sane one in the story. Her voice as a narrator seemed real and also kept the tension (such that it was) going.
– I have no insightful literary comments I am afraid. It wasn’t the worst book I have read (heck I couldn’t even finish A House for Mr. Biswas!) and it wasn’t the greatest either. But hey, at least I know what it is about.
