Book 1: Wuthering Heights
Finished today. I got the DS "game" 100 Classics (it was released only in England, but since I flew through there on New Year's Day, I managed to get a copy at Heathrow), and I read the book on that. It was not that bad. It sits comfortably in my hand as I read, so think I will read more books on the DS. That said, I did got out and officially buy the book. Nothing feels quite like a book, but it was nice to hit a button nestled in my hand to flip the page. Moby-Dick is my next read, and it is on the DS list, but I think I will read it mostly in print form.
Anyway, Wuthering Heights. I find the novel's characters to be so...melodramatic in thier view of the world. Maybe because they are so cut off from it. I get that repression can cause madness, but they can't seem to find their worth inside themselves. I guess that is a late-20th century view point. Taught by indoctrinating self-esteem into kids and telling people they are their own god. When you find your worth in the company your keep, then you get the utter depravity of decency as in WH. I still enjoyed Heathcliff. When he is talking to Nell, he seems almost normal. His sorrow real and understandable. Yet, he drew all those kids that were connected to Catherine into himself and then tormented them in his sorrow. Each a part of her, each having a mannerism or the eyes of her, it reminded me of Snape and Lily. Not in that Snape wants the world to suffer, but more his connection with Harry in that Harry held a part of her in him. The part that was James, Snape wanted to beat away, but he can't deny part of Lily is there too. I wonder if JKR thought of Heathcliff when she wrote Snape. How could she not? Snape has the passion and melancholy sorrow in him. Though Heathcliff had no doubt that Cathy loved him, he did have the rejection too. She married another. For different reason, but then again, I am finding a line of connection not a full on river.
I like how Nell is all "these-people-are-insane". Anyone entering WH gets infected except her, though she too has her moments. I plan to read the book again, eventually. As of right now, I am glad the book ended its torment. It is as peace. I want to tuck it away so it can rest.
Anyway, Wuthering Heights. I find the novel's characters to be so...melodramatic in thier view of the world. Maybe because they are so cut off from it. I get that repression can cause madness, but they can't seem to find their worth inside themselves. I guess that is a late-20th century view point. Taught by indoctrinating self-esteem into kids and telling people they are their own god. When you find your worth in the company your keep, then you get the utter depravity of decency as in WH. I still enjoyed Heathcliff. When he is talking to Nell, he seems almost normal. His sorrow real and understandable. Yet, he drew all those kids that were connected to Catherine into himself and then tormented them in his sorrow. Each a part of her, each having a mannerism or the eyes of her, it reminded me of Snape and Lily. Not in that Snape wants the world to suffer, but more his connection with Harry in that Harry held a part of her in him. The part that was James, Snape wanted to beat away, but he can't deny part of Lily is there too. I wonder if JKR thought of Heathcliff when she wrote Snape. How could she not? Snape has the passion and melancholy sorrow in him. Though Heathcliff had no doubt that Cathy loved him, he did have the rejection too. She married another. For different reason, but then again, I am finding a line of connection not a full on river.
I like how Nell is all "these-people-are-insane". Anyone entering WH gets infected except her, though she too has her moments. I plan to read the book again, eventually. As of right now, I am glad the book ended its torment. It is as peace. I want to tuck it away so it can rest.