First thing: DNF stands for Did Not Finish.
This is a classic novel written by Emily Bronte, the only novel ever written by her, and the best summary is from Goodreads:
Wuthering Heights is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine’s father. After Mr Earnshaw’s death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine’s brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries. The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature.
I read the first two chapters. Here is the thing: its the writing I can’t get over. Maybe I had a bad edition, but the writing was just terrible. It is a reflection, and maybe the basis, of today’s writing style. Lets describe EVERYTHING in the room, and just a little about the people. I think that first view point was just so stuck up, so obnoxious, I couldn’t get past it.
Heathcliff seemed interesting, the characters seemed interesting. I just couldn’t stand the writing style. Could. Not. Do. It.
I have watched at least one movie of this book, and numerous based upon Wuthering Heights.
Just can’t get through the book. Sorry.
Read this baby in high school. I agree that Victorian and older writing leaves a lot to be desired, but I thought Wuthering Heights was one if the better works from the era. I liked it wholeheartedly more than Jane Eyre, and definitely more than Great Expectations. That being said, would I give it a re-read? Oh hell naw.
I need to find a site that has a timeline of all the “classic” literature. I think part of what bothers me about Wuthering Heights is that its popular because it was different, not because it was good. It was polarizing because of its characters, not how the character’s were written. I think there are other works from this time period I do like, just I refuse to put myself through this one if I can help it.
Count of Monte Cristo. Written around the same time, and far superior to this novel.
Also a good writer of the era? Edgar Allen Poe. Love pretty much everything I’ve read of him, though it’s mostly short form stuff.
Completely agree! I love Edgar Allen Poe