Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights was always an intimidating book for me.  I didn't dare touch it for a really long time due to all the things I had heard about it.  I have a weak constitution when it comes to dark, emotionally draining books, and who hasn't heard about the tragic, all-consuming love between Heathcliff and Cathy that leads to the destruction of so many lives?  At the same time, however, I knew that it was a book I had to read in my lifetime simply because it's been dubbed one of the greatest romantic classics of all time, and I, being a hopeless romantic, found it my duty to finish it whether or not it gave me any pleasure.

I'm so glad I did.

Last week, I picked up my copy of Wuthering Heights which I had had for a few months, gathering dust in my bookshelf, and made the decision to plow through it as if I were in an English Literature class and had to finish it for homework by a certain deadline.  I gave myself a week.  I finished the book in two days.

Now don't get me wrong, it certainly wasn't love at first sight.  I had tried to read this book in the past, but the first two chapters always repelled me, and I couldn't go on.  The old English was difficult to get through, and the scenes were quite boring and, quite frankly, a bit weird.  This time, I forced myself to persevere, and after the first three chapters, the story picked up at a rapid pace.  Looking back, I now appreciate those initial chapters because they truly set the scene for the rest of the story.  It shows a grown up Heathcliff who has already lost his Cathy.  He is the landlord of Wuthering Heights and resides with a rough, uncivilized boy, and his daughter in law, a beautiful but haughty girl.  The house is depicted as being a dark, desolate and completely loveless residence.  The tenants all seem a bit crazed and banned from normal society.  Because of this, the reader becomes curious and desirous to know what had happened in the past for things to have turned out that way.  I certainly did.  Once Nelly Dean, the old housekeeper of Wuthering Heights starts telling the story from the very beginning, I was entranced, and I devoured the book.

I was inspired by the relationship between Heathcliff and Cathy.  Granted, I wouldn't want it for myself (I like my share of stable, healthy relationships thank you very much.), but there was something other worldly about what they had, something beyond all the normal, everyday relationships or interactions we see.  They simply understood each other like nobody else; they were true soulmates.

Cathy articulated it best in the little speech she gave when she was tormented about accepting Edgar Linton's marriage proposal.  She said about her beloved, "He's more myself than I am.  Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same... My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees.  My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary.  I am Heathcliff!  He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."

I could've wept with joy from reading those exquisite words.  And I did.

5 stars *****

Love for Emily Giffin

I found this image on Emily Giffin's official website and thought it was fabulous. Each girl is reading one of Emily's books. It goes to show, reading CAN look glamorous. :)

I HIGHLY recommend her books. They're the most wonderful, well-written, insightful, psychologically astute chicklit novels I've ever read. My favorites are Something Blue, Love the One You're With and Heart of the Matter.

Happy reading! :)

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Another great Jane Austen favorite of mine, Persuasion took me completely by surprise; I did not expect to be so touched and affected after reading it. This was the last Austen book I read, and I found it particularly special because of its deeply poignant and mature love story. Although all of Austen's other novels are love stories at the core, the relationships aren't as developed as the one shared between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. Austen's other books use the love stories as a focal point while the meat of the material is dedicated more to people's social practices, habits, and follies. They also tend to have a fairytale like feel to them, but Persuasion felt much more real and down to earth. It really struck true to the much more deep and complicated emotions people experience.

In Persuasion, Anne Elliot, the protagonist, is much older than Austen's other heroines. She is a very kind, sensible, principled and dependable woman. However, she has one regret that has haunted her for a long time: the fact that as a young woman, she rejected the man she loved because her family did not approve of him, and she was simply too compliant and obedient to object. Now she is at the stage in her life where marriage is no longer a priority or an option because of her age (28!). Her life revolves around keeping her father company and taking care of him. Unfortunately, her family's circumstances have also deteriorated.

When Captain Wentworth comes back a successful man at sea, all the emotions she had felt for him from the past come rushing back to the surface. Wentworth, on the other hand, has turned distant and aloof. The sadness and deep regret Anne feels upon his return is truly heartbreaking. The fact that she has already lost her youth and beauty, and her family is no longer in the same privileged position makes it even more saddening.

This was the first Austen novel that made me cry. I felt so much sympathy for Anne, and I was dying for the moment their relationship would be rekindled.

When it finally did, I felt like I was flying.

5 stars *****

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

I just started watching the TV series, The Tudors, recently. It's about the life and reign of King Henry VIII, as well as his relationships with his six wives. It's quite juicy and addictive, and since I've been having that whole era on the mind lately, I thought I'd write a review of The Other Boleyn Girl, which is a novel I read back in college.

The story focuses on Mary Boleyn, who is the lesser known sister of Anne Boleyn, King Henry's second wife, who ended up getting beheaded. This book went at such a fast pace. It was juicy, intriguing, captivating, and highly addictive. I personally thought the writing could have been a lot better. There was something missing in it. I don't remember what specifically since it's been years since I read it, but I do remember the language being too simple, a bit Young Adult-ish in my opinion. I wished the descriptions could have been more intricate, especially since it is a work of historical fiction.

Nonetheless, this book definitely did the job of hooking me in. As soon as I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading. I didn't really care that the writing wasn't the best; I was more focused on the unfolding events of the story, the relationships, the love, the seduction, the betrayal, the power struggles, and the terrifying consequences of the characters' actions. It was a complete soap opera, and I was engulfed in it for a few days.

As for its historical accuracy, I can't comment on that since I don't know much about the period; however, despite this, there were times when I felt that Gregory had perhaps exaggerated the negative aspects of Anne Boleyn's character. The contrast between her and Mary were just too black and white, too good and evil, and I found that hard to believe. Very little sympathy or empathy was given to Anne's character and, since she is a historical figure, I doubted the honesty of her portrayal.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to lovers of romance and historical fiction. It's a great, fun read.

4 stars ****

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

I just finished this book, and it was such a wonderful read! It was recommended on the Barnes & Noble website, and I decided to read it primarily because of the presence and actual relevance of vintage clothing in the story. I was definitely satisfied with the fashion part of the book. The way the narrator, Phoebe who owns a vintage clothing store, describes the clothes and the way she gives more meaning to them was truly a delight to read. It made me appreciate vintage fashion that much more. Fashionistas will love this novel.

As for the rest of the book, I was not disappointed. I dove into it not really knowing much about it, and so I was surprised to find that it actually has a very sad undertone throughout because of something tragic that happened in the main character's past. There is also a lot of mystery as to what exactly happened, and I really liked that. It kept my attention throughout the entire story.

Apart from that, there is also some romance and a lot of warm, feel good aspects, such as the friendships Phoebe forms and her personal successes.

This book was sad, beautiful, touching, happy, and just an overall delight to read. I can easily see this adapted into a charming, feel good movie in the same vein as Chocolat.

5 stars *****