Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week. Joining me in this adventure are:
- Literate Housewife
- Vivienne( Serendipidy)
- Messy Karen
- Victoria
- Jenny (Take Me Away)
- Ti (Book Chatter)
- Lisa – Lit And Life
- Dar@ Peeking Between the Pages
- J.C. Montgomery (The Biblio Blogazine)
- Whitney
- JoAnn (Lakeside Musing)
- Gentle Reader (Shelf Life)
- Amy at New Century Reading
In my original postI somehow mis-figured the number of chapters and the reading time, so make sure you read my edited post if you’re wondering about time frames (basically, I’ve abandoned math and it is what it is).
And finally, each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…
Chapters 1 through 3
My synopsis:
In the first three chapters we are introduced to Heathcliff, the master of Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff is a moody grump, although our narrator, Lockwood, at first believes he is “in dress and manner a gentleman.” Lockwood initially likes Heathcliff, and feels he is a kindred spirit. However, Lockwood is a pest, and after he invites himself over for a return visit and is forced to spend the night due to a snowstorm, he revises his opinion of Heathcliff. Lockwood also meets the other inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. There’s Catherine (who Lockwood at first assumes is Heathcliff’s wife…wrong! She’s his daughter-in-law), Hareton Earnshaw (who Lockwood at first assumes is Heathcliff’s son…wrong! He’s his nephew. The son is dead.), Zillah (the housekeeper) and Joseph, the crotchety old servant.
These names can all be quiet confusing, both to Lockwood and the reader, since there appears to have been another Catherine (Lockwood meets her in a very bad dream) and another Hareton Earnshaw (his name is above the door mantel). After a haunted night at Wuthering Heights, Lockwood returns home confused, not to mention a little put out by the rudeness and inhospitableness of the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights.
Of course, Lockwood also comes across as a bit of an ass, so can we really trust him as a narrator?
My thoughts:
First, I was surprised by the narrator. Although I’ve heard of Heathcliff and Catherine, and have a very vague idea of the plot, I had no idea the story would be told by a neighbor. So now I’m wondering how this all plays out.
Second, I know the opinions on this one are all over the place, but so far, so good. It’s very readable. Maybe because the characters are a bit much and I’m having a hard time taking them seriously? Anyways, at this point I’m having a good time with it.
Third, check back next week, when we’ll see if I can write a post without parentheses (hah!).
It’s definitely annoying that half the characters have the same names as each other. Maybe she lost her copy of The Baby Naming Book.
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..International Children’s Book Day =-.
LOL…it might have been easy for her, but it makes it more difficult for us!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
Haha, we seem to have much the same reaction to the first bit! I’m pretty sure my goal for next week is to write a more coherent post
It is all very strange…I didn’t even pick up on their being another Hareton Earnshaw! I had absolutely no idea of the plot etc so I’m flying blind…
That said, so far so good.
Whew, glad you’re enjoying it so far!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
What fun! The characters all get worked out in the end. It’s a really twisted book which makes it more delightful each time I read it. Okay, that makes me sound twisted, but it is great fun, you’ll see
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..My Man Jeeves =-.
There’s nothing wrong with twisted!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
Stay tuned. My post will be up later this afternoon. I meant to post it last night but got distracted so now I have to do it a bit later. I’m not finding the book bad at all. Lockwood though is hilarious -I find him amusing- his little thing with the dogs had me laughing. If it keeps up in this manner it won’t be hard to read at all.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..Book Review: Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn =-.
The fact that Lockwood thinks so highly of himself just cracks me up.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
I love the button for the Wuthering Heights! Very appropriate. I also love this classic, it’s my all-time favorite gothic romance. I’m happy to hear that so far you’re enjoying it.
.-= lilly´s last blog ..Waiting On Wednesday : The Astronomer by Lawrence Goldstone =-.
Thanks! I’m feeling the gothicness, but not the romance.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
Here is a link to my first post. Thanks for letting me steal your summary. Maybe I’ll get next week’s post up earlier and you can steal mine back. LOL! Thanks for getting this started. I’m excited to keep reading one of my old favorites.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday ~ Week 1 =-.
And this is where I confess I already have next week’s post written. But that’s as far ahead as I am, I promise!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
I just posted my thoughts. I am getting into it much better than my first attempt at reading it.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday: April 7, 2010 – Week 1 =-.
Does that mean if I tried Moby Dick again some day it would be easier? Ack, just the thought makes me cringe.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
I wasn’t sure what format you were going to do this, so I shall post my thoughts tomorrow. I read it and was quite surprised by it. I had a vague idea of what it was about but was quite surprised. Sorry I didn’t post today. I shall make sure next week it goes out on Wednesday instead of Thursday.
.-= vivienne´s last blog ..Happy Easter =-.
You can use whatever format you like…and post whenever you want. I’m easy. ;-D
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
As my usual self, I take a different tack when reading a book.
But I love reading everyone’s take on the book though. This is going to be a great readalong. Thanks for hosting it!
.-= J.C. Montgomery´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday: Ch. 1-3 =-.
And it’s a great post! Thanks for joining in!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
Yeah, I’d forgotten about the all the naming confusion and whatnot. It took me a grand total of FOUR TIMES to read this darned book, but I finally did it a couple of years ago. I’m going to enjoy reading your synopses every week. I can tell already. hehehe
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Stalking Books =-.
Oh, the pressure!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
Finally got my post up this afternoon. I ‘m enjoying it so far, but am pretty sure this is going to be a wild ride!
.-= JoAnn´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday: Week 1 =-.
I hope so!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 1 =-.
i might have an easier time because i have you (and your participants) to help me understand what i just read. thank you.
.-= Messy Karen´s last blog ..I thru III =-.
I wish I had the time for this one because I would love to read Wuthering Heights again. It’s one of those books that I only remember that I read it in college and nothing else, and I suspect that I need a group dragging me along. I also think it’s a book that need to be read in sections. My book seems big and overwhelming.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Literary Feasts: The Heart Is Not A Size, by Beth Kephart =-.
I thought I commented her yesterday… but maybe it never went through… I’m behind! But I caught up on the first 2 chapters yesterday so I’ll be caught up soon and I’ll post my thoughts. =) I have always loved this book. We’ll see if I love it as much this time around!!
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Between Friends =-.
I am glad you’re enjoying WH so far. It does seem to have a lot of mixed reviews. I thought it was great when I read it, but it has been a few years.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Book Review: Murder of a Medici Princess =-.
I am going to enjoy the first time reader’s thoughts on one of my favorite novels.
I loved your post and I’m looking forward to the weeks that follow. I’ve been enjoying the book thus far; although was surprised by the choice in narrator, somehow I remember it differently.
.-= Whitney´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday Week 1 =-.
Sounds good. I am sure you are going to finish this one… it is at least readable
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Hannah’s List By Debbie Macomber =-.
I think the method to use the observant narrator in Wuthering Heights is genius. Like a bird on the rooftop. Is it probably used in many classics? I remember it is used in The Great Gatsby too.
.-= mee´s last blog ..Did Someone Just Come Back? =-.