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
- Geri at One More Foggy Notion
- Rob at Books are Like Candy Corn
Each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…
Chapters 7 through 9
My synopsis:
Nelly (I’d call her Chatty Cathy, but there’s already too many Cathy’s roaming around in this book) continues to tell Lockwood about Catherine and Heathcliff’s childhood. We’ve moved into their adolescence, complete with moodiness and angst. Catherine seems to be a fickle, shallow teenager. She wants everyone to admire and cater to her, yet she doesn’t give much in return. Heathcliff just sulks around.
The first big news in chapters 7 through 9 is the birth of Little Hareton, Hindley’s son. Unfortunately, Hindley’s wife doesn’t last long after childbirth, and she exits stage left before we really get to know her. Hindley is distraught over Frances’s death, and turns into a crazy drunkard. At one point, he even pulls a Michael Jackson, dangling his son over the balcony. Except Hindley manages to drop poor Hareton. Luckily for Hareton, Heathcliff catches him. This does nothing to endear him to Hindley, however, and Heathcliff bemoans the fact that he missed his big opportunity to not ride to the rescue of his enemy and cause him more grief.
The second big news is that Catherine decides to get married. You know, because Edgar Linton is socially acceptable and loaded. And kind of cute, in a harmless way. Heathcliff may be her soulmate, but Catherine is more concerned about her reputation and social standing. Heathcliff doesn’t take kindly to this news, and disappears.
Catherine spends the night out in the rain searching for Heathcliff. She doesn’t find him, but does catch a nasty cold. Although she recovers, she manages to pass her cold off to Mr. and Mrs. Linton, who die. Nice going, Cathy, way to endear yourself to the future in-laws.
My thoughts:
Those Earnshaws are nothing but trouble. Hindley is a mean drunk (someone needs to call CWS on him) and Catherine is developing into a major bitch. Why Heathcliff loves her is a big mystery. She’s self-centered and immature and if I were him, I’d never un-disappear.
So if C has decided that Edgar is socially acceptable and loaded thus being husband-worthy, why is she off in the rain searching for the sulking dude?
.-= Care´s last blog ..And Finally… =-.
I think it was quite clever of her to kill of those pesky in-laws!
.-= Eva´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: the April Showers Post =-.
Jill, your recaps and thoughts make me laugh (especially your reference to Michael Jackson)! I was a weird set of chapters huh? Catherine just wants everything her way, to be cliche, she wants to have her cake (Edgar–money) and eat it too (Heathcliff–”soul mate”). Where it goes from here should be interesting huh?
.-= Victoria´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesdays Chapters 7-9 =-.
I wonder why anyone would love Catherine – I suppose it’s one of those self-destructive impulses. Or maybe the male characters thought they would be safer on her side than having her against them.
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” by Alan Bradley =-.
The Lintons were too nice to live.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..The 15/15/15 Project–day 5 =-.
hehe. you’re so funny. “i will never learn how to do that”. that’s my review of your review. words stolen from just-watched-Temple-Grandin-movie.
.-= Messy Karen´s last blog ..VII thru IX =-.
I want Heathcliff to grow some balls and stand-up to these bastards.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday: April 21, 2010 – Week 3 =-.
LOL! I never expected Michael Jackson’s name pop up in a WH synopsis. What in the world does Heathcliff see in Cathy – she is a piece of work! What a great book…
.-= JoAnn´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday: Week 3 =-.
Hilarious! I love the Michael Jackson reference and the killing of the in laws. I had tears in my eyes reading this post!
.-= vivienne´s last blog ..Wuthering Wednesday =-.
I love the Michael Jackson spin too. That’s creative!. Later today I’ll have my Wuthering Heights update published. The day is just getting started in Hawaii. Aloha from Rob
.-= Rob´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday: A Bodybuilder, Pie and Africa =-.
I’m enjoying reading your progress through the book. Your recaps are entertaining
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..Mondays Happen =-.
i agree that cathy is unlikeable at this point. i think it is because she has lost her most redeeming quality–her devotion to heathcliff. i love the fated quality of this book.
I’ve gotten behind in my reading. I vow to catch up next week. Hopefully tonight I can read everyone else’s updates, too. This is so fun and I need to get my butt on the ball!
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..#249 ~ Revolutionary Road =-.
lol. I never even thought of the Michael Jackson thing. Yup, Cathy is a miserable one. I’m thinking it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to cross her. It’s amazing that such an unhappy person can have two men pining after her. It’ll be interesting to see what’s going to happen when Heathcliff reappears on the scene. I finally got my post up – yup I’m late again but at least it’s still Wednesday this time.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..Book Review: Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt =-.
Love your summary and your thoughts – so funny! I have very dim recollections of Wuthering Heights.
That is a fantastic summary! It’s so insightful and witty. I am just loving this book.
.-= Whitney´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights Wednesday Week 3 =-.
I read from Care’s blog that it’s your birthday today… Happy Birthday, Jill!
.-= Melody´s last blog ..Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills =-.
lol, I love your synopsis. And I hear it’s your birthday! Happy, happy birthday!
Sending you hugs and virtual cake.
.-= Nymeth´s last blog ..March by Geraldine Brooks =-.
It’s funny I’m sure I read this book but reading your synopsis I kept thinking to myself what?? Don’t remember it at all. I might have to read this book again.
Also, I hear a Happy Birthday is in order? Have a great day!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Review: The Heart of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr =-.
Happy Birthday!
.-= Serena´s last blog ..SOS! The Six O’Clock Scramble to the Rescue by Aviva Goldfarb (Earth Day Celebration) =-.
I love your update…exactly how I perceived WH when I read it back in ’05.
Happy birthday! I’m popping open a soda to celebrate.
.-= bybee´s last blog ..Library Loot: Cowboys and Diaspora =-.
It’s actually Thursday as I type this. I’m coming by to say Happy Birthday to a blogger who always makes me smile! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Jill! Happy birthday to you! I hope you’re having a great day!
.-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Reading Journal: Good Poems =-.
Ok, Ms. Jill. Trying to figure out if this will overwhelm me. First I must locate my copy of Wuthering Heights…hold on…Dangit–could have sworn I just bought a new copy. Ok, according to my high school copy there are 34 chapters. Pretty much a waste of a comment to say I’m going to think about this long and hard. This is my favorite book, you know and I have been wanting to re-read this one.
And agreed–Cathy really is an annoying little twit isn’t she?
.-= Trish´s last blog ..Hoppy Easter =-.
Well, darn! WH is next up for my bookclub, to be discussed end of May, by which time you all with be done! It wont’ be as much fun to come back and read everyone’s thoughts after the fact. *sigh*