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Consider This Classic: Kelly Recommends

Consider This Classic is a monthly feature where bloggers highlight and recommend their favorite classic. They'll tell you when they first read it, why they love it and where to go from there. If you'd like to participate in Consider This Classic, click here to sign up.

This month, I have Kelly from Effortlessly Reading here sharing one of her favorite classic. Kelly very kindly responded to my tweet asking for someone to highlight a book this month. I only discovered her blog recently, and I've really enjoyed everything I've read so far. I'm thrilled to share her recommendation today!


Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Publication Date: 1847
Originally Published In: United Kingdom
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)
Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë's only novel - remains one of literature's most disturbing explorations into the dark side of romantic passion.

An unpolished and devastating epic of childhood playmates who grow into soul mates, Wuthering Heights revolves around the willfully childish Catherine and the dark Heathcliff, who, in the words of Charlotte Brontë, "exemplifies the effects which a life of continued injustice and hard usage may produce on a naturally perverse, vindictive, and inexorable disposition." Heathcliff and Cathy believe they're destinies to love each other forever. But when cruelty and snobbery separate them, their untamed emotions literally consume them.

Set amid the wild and stormy Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights is widely regarded as the most original tale of thwarted desire and heartbreak in the English language.


I was forced to read Wuthering Heights for my sophomore English class in high school. Honestly, when it was first assigned to my class and I got the book in my hands, I HATED it. The book smelled (it was probably used for 15+ years, yes my high school is older than that), there was no cover (it's a school edition so I just had a HUGE light blue hardback in my hands), and most of all, it was a classic. My teacher promised our class that we'd LOVE it, but of course I was automatically suspicious (let's face it, almost every single English teacher says that in high school and 99% of the time, that doesn't happen). To my surprise, I absolutely LOVED Wuthering Heights - I read the entire book in 3 days when I was supposed to read it for two weeks. Most of all, the entire class loved Wuthering Heights too, even the ones that don't read the assigned books at all. Wuthering Heights may have a very slow beginning, but it's worth trudging through to get to the amazing middle and end.


Okay, I know a majority of people hate on the book because of its dreadful character, but for me, the dreadful characters is a part of the charm! Wuthering Heights is a story of horrible people doing horrible things and how love ultimately influences their decisions. The book is like a roller coaster - you know you're not supposed to like it, but at the same time, you just can't look away.


I'd love to cheat and name a Wuthering Heights retelling, but nah, I'm not going to do that. Hmm... I'll say Wuthering Heights is similar to Slammed by Collen Hoover - you're watching the characters go through something that you just don't agree with or like, but at the same time, you just can't look away.

15 comments

  1. This one has been on my shelf FOREVER -- I really should get around to it one of these days... I love hearing about assigned reading people actually enjoyed because I feel like anything that is *homework* starts at a disadvantage -- definitely worth considering when these assignments grab your attention anyway :)

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    1. Yes you should! :D
      Ha ha, I was so surprised when Wuthering Heights grabbed my attention THAT much. I literally couldn't put it down until I finished it!
      I hope you'll enjoy it Christine! (:

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  2. I've certainly tried to read Wuthering Heights before, but never gotten far enough to judge whether I like it or not. Your recommendation encourages me to give it another shot! It also kind of helps that I'm older and inclined to be more patient when reading a "classic".

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    1. Here's the thing: the first two chapters are boring. They give us a lot of backstory and sets the narration, but after chapter two, you will be sucked in into the book; I guarantee it!
      I don't think the first two chapters is too much to read, especially when the rest of the book is filled with awesomeness. ;D

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  3. I didn't have to read this in high school and I'm glad I didn't. I would have hated it when I was young and a romantic. Great review.

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    1. Give it a try now Juju; you'll definitely love it! (:

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  4. I haven't read this yet, but it's sitting on my shelf. I think I've opened it a few times, but then didn't get in to it. But your review makes me curious! I'll try to pick it up soon :)

    Tina @ Pages of Comfort - new follower!
    My FF

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  5. Wuthering Heights is one of my absolute favorite books! I love your assessment of it being "horrible people doing horrible things and how love influences their decisions." It's such a tortured love story! The characters are completely detestable and are motivated by love and revenge. It's a brilliant Gothic novel!

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  6. I finished this before the ever more popular Bronte Sister novel Jane Eyre (it's shorter and less daunting). I was VERY surprised how emotionally invested I was in these characters! GREAT suggestion!

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  7. I've tried to read this book twice and couldn't get into it. I've always wanted to read it due to one quote that is always coming up and it freakin' romantic as all hell. Maybe I'll try again...last time I was in college with no time to read...you've convinced me :)

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  8. This is one of those classics I have always meant to read but haven't - I should really check it out!
    ­Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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  9. I remember liking this one *okay* during high school, but not enough that I remember much of the plot. I've always told myself I would pick it up again when I wasn't "forced" to read it, but I'm still waiting on the perfect time. The description Kelly gives under the RECOMMEND section of horrible people doing horrible things makes me chuckle a bit because it is exactly why I love The Great Gatsby so much, and I've reread that twice since high school. Perhaps when I pick this one up again I will love it as much. I am a bit of a quirky reader. Great choice (:

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  10. I LOVE Wuthering Heights. I think it's so interesting that she compared it to Slammed. I haven't read that book, but I've heard really good things about it and it's on my TBR list. Now I'm even more excited to read it!

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  11. Yep, this is one of those classics I never got around to reading... and someone managed to avoid being assigned it in school too! Definitely needs to be read one of these days. :)

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