Why I Think I Love Wuthering Heights So Much

Bold And Defiant Writing That Refuses To Be Tamed

Hello!!!

This is Joyie and welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet where I talk all things books!

Quite a week, if you know what I mean. News headlines aside, it's also been a very busy week for me at work, because next week I'll be on leave for my sister's wedding. So I haven't been able to read anything. Have you been reading anything this week?

Recently I came across a post on Instagram, about Wuthering Heights. The poster talked about how much they didn't like the book and why. The post made complete sense. A lot of people who don't like Wuthering Heights do so for very good reasons, I often agree with a lot of things they say, like it being so violent and the characters being absolutely insufferable. The only difference is that despite that, I absolutely love that book. So, I thought it'd be nice to write a letter about why that is.

Also, this will contain spoilers so don't read if you're trying to avoid spoilers.

I'll admit, I always find it very difficult to explain why I like things. But one thing I can say about Wuthering Heights is that I've never had a book emotionally affect me as much. No other book has ever cost me as much emotional energy, and I think that's what it ultimately boils down to.

WH is a book that deals exclusively with the dark, twisted side of human nature, which is why all the characters seem like they're doing their utmost competing for some ‘most despicable human being’ award. It takes our ideas of morals that a story is supposed to abide by, and flouts them all, making a show out of it. And it does it so unapologetically—just like Heathcliff pursues his quest of revenge without an ounce of remorse—that reading WH almost feels like a violation.

I often refer to WH as a dark fairy tale where instead of two people ending up together and everyone living happily ever after, two people don't end up together and then everyone lives unhappily ever after.

I went into Wuthering Heights not knowing a thing about the story. For the first half, I was full of sympathy for young Heathcliff, finding his relationship with Catherine quite endearing, while feeling uneasy in expectation of the impending fall-out.

I spent the second half of the book just trying not to get a heart-attack. I had to take breaks from reading to pace around the room and scream at young Cathy begging her to not go to Wuthering Heights.

The relief I felt when Heathcliff finally died, simply cannot be put into words. The terror was so real that in the end, young Cathy and Hareton ending up together made me genuinely happy, cousins or not.

I still remember the evening I finished Wuthering Heights, it felt like the end of a long excruciating journey I was delighted to have taken.

After that, I've read the book three more times and with every re-read, the shock-factor dissipates a little and I discover new things to love in it. But I still think that my main reason for being so deeply moved by WH was its bold, almost defiant writing, that refuses to be tamed, to be bound by what is considered acceptable and unacceptable, proper and improper. I find it extremely refreshing and even cathartic.

Wuthering Heights makes me feel, more than any story ever has. Even though the feelings aren't necessarily nice.

What about you? Have you read Wuthering Heights? What do you think of it? I'd love to know!!!

For more of my bookish ramblings, you can also find me on Instagram

Also, if you’d like me to write for you, you can contact me at joyiewrites@gmail.com

That’s it for today, I'll be back in your inbox next week.

Until then,

Joyie 🌻