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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
In true Bronte fashion, this is incredibly written and thoroughly depressing. I enjoyed it, but also was completely worn out by the end. I think i would’ve been an angrier and more bitter soul if I had to live through something similar.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have never hated a male protagonist so much. I have never felt such anger towards a 177 year old protagonist in all my life. Very nearly made me DNF.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: I found this book to be compelling, wondrously amusing, and in areas, refreshingly realistic.
Gilbert:
Gilbert, our young gentleman farmer, I found to be quite a bother at first. He was unbearable to read through, always either seeming too good for what was going on around him, or over the top and dramatic. Of course we have to begin the tale with our main characters having an issue with each other, what other option could there be in a classic involving ANY kind of romance? I can’t say I hate it but it obviously becomes very predictable after some time.
Gilbert’s attitude towards Helen (Mrs 'Graham') changes like the wind. He dislikes her, is infatuated with her, has love for her, and then goes back to hate and judgement (merely based on a misunderstanding and malicious rumours), before snapping back to the love… WHAT DO YOU WANT GILBERT?! Does he even know what he wants?
And oh my gosh, Gilbert's attack on Mr Lawrence?? The jealousy? The wrath? So unnecessary… and then he half asses an apology (AFTER finding out he was completely mistaken), simply because he didn’t want Helen to find out about the attack. Baffling behaviour! It’s also very much evident that Gilbert only continued to see Mr Lawrence for a selfish update on Helen or because Lawrence’s features reminded Gilbert of Helen. What?
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: I found this book to be compelling, wondrously amusing, and in areas, refreshingly realistic.
Gilbert:
Gilbert, our young gentleman farmer, I found to be quite a bother at first. He was unbearable to read through, always either seeming too good for what was going on around him, or over the top and dramatic. Of course we have to begin the tale with our main characters having an issue with each other, what other option could there be in a classic involving ANY kind of romance? I can’t say I hate it but it obviously becomes very predictable after some time.
Gilbert’s attitude towards Helen (Mrs 'Graham') changes like the wind. He dislikes her, is infatuated with her, has love for her, and then goes back to hate and judgement (merely based on a misunderstanding and malicious rumours), before snapping back to the love… WHAT DO YOU WANT GILBERT?! Does he even know what he wants?
And oh my gosh, Gilbert's attack on Mr Lawrence?? The jealousy? The wrath? So unnecessary… and then he half asses an apology (AFTER finding out he was completely mistaken), simply because he didn’t want Helen to find out about the attack. Baffling behaviour! It’s also very much evident that Gilbert only continued to see Mr Lawrence for a selfish update on Helen or because Lawrence’s features reminded Gilbert of Helen. What?
3.5 - half stars should be a thing.
The writing was beautiful and enjoyable but not all classics are meant for me.
The writing was beautiful and enjoyable but not all classics are meant for me.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
surprisingly humorous and utterly entertaining! helen graham might just be the love of my life (gilbert is so undeserving, every man is)
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Domestic abuse
When the mysterious Mrs Graves arrives at Wildfell Hall, she causes great speculation among the local residents and she captivates Mr Markham. Who is she? Where has she come from? What is she hiding?
It is impossible not to compare this to her sisters work. In terms of style it shares a lot of similarities with both, particularly Charlotte, though there are elements we also see in Emily's work. The gothic houses and moors, which are less evident in Jane Eyre, and the style of narration told from the perspective of Gilbert Markham and Helen's diary rather then directly from Helen's. However there the similarity ends. Like Jane Eyre (which I love) it is generally calmer and less melodramatic then Wuthering Heights (which I can't abide).
The characters are for the most part likeable, and we can sympathise with them. Helen, like Jane, is a good girl who has had a hard life. She most overcome these obstacles, and resist temptation, clinging to her faith in the hope she may one day find happiness. However Helen is less perfect than Jane. The hardships in her life are partly of her own making. She shunned the advice of her aunt and to a certain extant ignored her better judgment, blinded by the flush of first 'love'. It's something many of us run foul off, though thankfully with less terrible consequences. The result is she is more relatable. Both Huntingdon and Markham also less extreme then either Rochester or Heathcliff. Huntingdon is selfish and an alcoholic, making him cruel but not a psychopath, and Markham though passionate never contemplates forcing the woman he loves to do anything to which she would morally object.
My one issue with it was I felt the section told via Helen's was slightly longer then required. It could have been shortened and still conveyed how terrible Helen's life had been. I was eager for the action to return to the relationship between Helen and Markham, which is what really interested me.
Overall while I enjoyed it more then Wuthering Heights though didn't love it as much as Jane Eyre, for all the characters are more relatable.
It is impossible not to compare this to her sisters work. In terms of style it shares a lot of similarities with both, particularly Charlotte, though there are elements we also see in Emily's work. The gothic houses and moors, which are less evident in Jane Eyre, and the style of narration told from the perspective of Gilbert Markham and Helen's diary rather then directly from Helen's. However there the similarity ends. Like Jane Eyre (which I love) it is generally calmer and less melodramatic then Wuthering Heights (which I can't abide).
The characters are for the most part likeable, and we can sympathise with them. Helen, like Jane, is a good girl who has had a hard life. She most overcome these obstacles, and resist temptation, clinging to her faith in the hope she may one day find happiness. However Helen is less perfect than Jane. The hardships in her life are partly of her own making. She shunned the advice of her aunt and to a certain extant ignored her better judgment, blinded by the flush of first 'love'. It's something many of us run foul off, though thankfully with less terrible consequences. The result is she is more relatable. Both Huntingdon and Markham also less extreme then either Rochester or Heathcliff. Huntingdon is selfish and an alcoholic, making him cruel but not a psychopath, and Markham though passionate never contemplates forcing the woman he loves to do anything to which she would morally object.
My one issue with it was I felt the section told via Helen's was slightly longer then required. It could have been shortened and still conveyed how terrible Helen's life had been. I was eager for the action to return to the relationship between Helen and Markham, which is what really interested me.
Overall while I enjoyed it more then Wuthering Heights though didn't love it as much as Jane Eyre, for all the characters are more relatable.
Якби Гелена в ті часи була чоловіком, з неї вийшов би непоганий вікарій чи пастор)
Вона точно справилася б краще преподобного Майкла Мілворда, бо, не дивлячись на молодий вік, крім християнської смиренності має більше розуміння і людяності. Але як для художньої книжки, то мені моралізаторства забагато.
Ще подумалося: якби юним леді так настирливо не сватали не дуже юних парубків, то вони не кидалися б в обійми першому ліпшому молодику(
Вона точно справилася б краще преподобного Майкла Мілворда, бо, не дивлячись на молодий вік, крім християнської смиренності має більше розуміння і людяності. Але як для художньої книжки, то мені моралізаторства забагато.
Ще подумалося: якби юним леді так настирливо не сватали не дуже юних парубків, то вони не кидалися б в обійми першому ліпшому молодику(
