Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: Sometimes a Classic Is Just Not for You
I did not enjoy Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.
Not as a reader. Not particularly as a writer either.
I know. It is a classic. People have studied it, loved it, defended it, and probably written very intense essays about the moors.
But for me, it was depressing, hard to read, and full of people I did not want to spend time with.
And the writing did not save it for me.
That might sound harsh, but I think it is also useful. Sometimes a book is important, influential, and beloved by many people… and still not for you.
That does not mean the book has no value.
It does not mean other readers are wrong.
It simply means taste matters.
I kept waiting for the moment when I would suddenly understand why this book has survived for generations. That moment never really came.
Below are some things I, as a writer, took from the experience anyway.
When a Classic Doesn’t Land
There can be a strange pressure around classics. You are supposed to admire them. Understand them. Appreciate their importance. Learn from them.
And sometimes you do.
But sometimes you finish a beloved book and think: I know this matters to other people. It just did not land for me.
And that is perfectly fine. Because reading is still a relationship. A book can be influential, culturally significant, and technically interesting, and still fail to connect with you.
Writer takeaway:
Not every respected book will work for every reader. Your book will not be for everyone either. And that is okay.
Atmosphere Can Become Too Much of a Good Thing
One thing Wuthering Heights undeniably does well is atmosphere.
The setting feels bleak, isolated, and emotionally heavy. The weather, the house, the landscape — everything contributes to the mood.
But for me, the atmosphere became overwhelming. There is so much intensity, so much darkness, that I eventually felt trapped inside it. And perhaps that is intentional.
I wanted moments of relief. Some contrast. A little oxygen. I paused so often that I’m now behind in my weekly book reviews, which feels rude of the moors.
Writer takeaway:
Atmosphere is powerful. But emotional intensity often works best when balanced with variation.
Difficult Characters Need Something to Hold On To
The characters in this novel are famously complex. They are obsessive, cruel, reactive, and often deeply unpleasant.
That alone is not a problem. I do not need characters to be likeable. But I do need something that keeps me invested.
For me, that was missing here.
I understood what the book was doing intellectually. I just never felt emotionally pulled toward the people inside it.
Writer takeaway:
Readers do not need to like your characters. But they usually need a reason to keep following them.
When Narrative Distance Creates Emotional Distance
One of the interesting choices in Wuthering Heights is its layered narration. We experience much of the story through people recounting events rather than living directly inside them.
For some readers, that creates mystery and complexity. For me, it created distance.
I often felt like I was hearing about emotion rather than experiencing it.
That does not make the structure wrong. But it changed my connection to the story.
Writer takeaway:
Narrative distance shapes emotional closeness. The more filtered a story becomes, the more careful you may need to be about maintaining reader investment.
So, Would I Recommend It?
Not really (never thought I would reach this conclusion in a book review).
I know many readers love Wuthering Heights, and after discussing it with my book club, I understand that a little better. Several people liked or loved it, and it was genuinely interesting to hear why.
It didn’t change my mind. But it did give me more to think about.
You may enjoy this book if you love Gothic atmosphere, difficult characters, emotional intensity, and stories that feel more like a storm than a comfort read.
For me, it was depressing, hard to read, and never fully rewarding.
So no, I would not recommend it.
But I would recommend discussing books with people who disagree with you. Sometimes that is where the best part of the reading experience happens.
This is part of my ongoing series of craft-focused book reviews for writers.