20 years ago I had to spend 6 months in jail for something that is now no longer illegal 🍃 As you can imagine, it got pretty boring lol and the "library" was 2 shelves of beat up old classics and religious books mainly. This was where I first picked up Wuthering Heights, and fell in love. Not only did the atmospheric writing take me out of the hell I was surviving, but I could relate to the tumultuous relationships Bronte wrote so well. The other girls who were in there were curious, and we ended up passing the book around and embarking on a journey of classic literature. Talk about a captive audience of readers 😅 We went on to read Jane Eyre, Rebecca, as well as some Dickens (and some VC Andrews thrown in for good measure 😂), but the Bronte novels were far and away the favs. These books helped turn what was one of the worst times of my life into something less terrible, and created a love for classics in me that I have to this day.

@WillowTalksBooks

11 күн бұрын

That’s an incredible and inspiring story! I would absolutely read this book or watch the film

@jacforswear18

10 күн бұрын

Amazing! HEY PEOPLE: support Books for Prisoners programs! Prison libraries are such important places (just like our public libraries)!!!!

@jacquelinestauffer5796

10 күн бұрын

So sorry you had that experience in jail, but I loved hearing about how you and the other girls found classical literature. I guess I'm one of those rare few people that like both Wuthering heights and Jane Eyre. I'm glad you shared your story. Sending you joy!

@michaeleberl2222

7 күн бұрын

I love this comment so much, and I hate our prison system all the more... Thank you for your mind, and a life truly lived..... *hugs*

The 👹MICHAEL 👹 keeps taking me out ahaha!

“Read Jane Eyre instead.” - Because a partner keeping their mentally ill secret wife in the attic and attempting bigamy, is the model for a healthy loving relationship?

@jacforswear18

10 күн бұрын

Don’t forget the racism. So much racism.

@EvieM1

10 күн бұрын

@@jacforswear18Yup!

@radrabbit6946

4 күн бұрын

yeah, its a gothc romance too and amazing!! Lets not tear down women writers lolz

"I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind" is one of my all time fav quotes - just stunning!

now i want a video from you reacting to 5 star reviews of jane eyre lol

@WillowTalksBooks

11 күн бұрын

OOOH!

@devlyn873

10 күн бұрын

This is an amazing idea! 😅

I am repeatedly collapsing in helpless laughter. It started with MICHAEL! and then never lets up. Thank you so much, Willow. It’s not the case that their love redeems them, but that they redeem their love for valuable prizes which they can fling at each other.

@WillowTalksBooks

10 күн бұрын

Haha love this

MICHAEL?!!!!

And that MICHAEL is why I love it. 😂 💜💜💜💜💜

I read Wuthering Heights for the first time a couple of months ago and loved every page.

Your laugh at the absurd French review is hilarious and it’s brightened my day. Thanks for that.,

this video is a classic 😊 laughing to tears here, you have a great sense for irony. when we read it in university I remember classmates hated everything about cathy while having crushes on heathcliff: hating her makes nonsensical not to hate him, but a quarter of century ago misogyny was not a topic to be discussed so I guess there may be a slight hope for humanity.

MICHAEL?!?! 😂😂😂

@eliza.the.earthling

10 күн бұрын

I couldn’t stop laughing at MICHAEL 😂

Love your blouse, BTW! Great print!

Having spent time among the miserable buggers, I always thought WH was just a pretty accurate tale of the everyday lives of Yorkshire farming folk.

@WillowTalksBooks

11 күн бұрын

😂

@cj1986x

10 күн бұрын

There's a degree of realism to WH that Bronte uses like a knife, if not a machete.

Thank you for this wonderful video! The 'I know it's a classic but...' start to so many of these reviews usually annoys me so much but you were making me choke with laughter.

I burst out laughing when you went "MICHAEL!" 😂 I got so oddly excited while watching this that I flapped my hands. *autistic joy ftw* When I took a French class in high school there was a copy of Wuthering Heights and despite having no idea what it was about, I felt drawn to it and would constantly stare at it. Sadly I never worked up the courage to take it (it was in a box with other books). So when I saw a copy with the black background and red rose in Target I made my mom buy it for me. Hope you liked reading my little anecdote. 😊 Also, I need to repeat my previous comment: Wuthering Heights is a beautiful book. Anyone who disagrees is entitled to their wrong opinion. 🖤❤️

@WillowTalksBooks

11 күн бұрын

🥹🥹🥹💜💜💜

Thanks for actually talking in depths about why these 1 star reviews often miss the point/ don't even make an effort to understand the context or themes of the book. With this trend on booktube I've been disappointed recently because it's often just an emotional response like "wooow, how can you hate my favorite book???" without considering some potential relevant criticism. Also, you "scared" me with the first MICHAEL as my name sounds a bit similar 😂😂

@maika0395

10 күн бұрын

Oh, and concerning the romantic period issue: I've just finished a book by German author Florian Illies about Caspar David Friedrich, THE German romantic painter/ artist, called "Zauber der stille". It's not really a biography but talks about Friedrich's influence, where his paintings ended up and especially why his paintings still are so inspiring for us today (wanderer above the sea fog must be a staple in so many teenage and young adult's room decorations 😂). But at his time, his paintings were deemed too dark, too melancholic, too apocalyptic - themes that we consider typical for the romantic era today. Really interesting read 😊

@WillowTalksBooks

10 күн бұрын

Haha that was me just making sure you’re paying attention 😇

The MICHAEL got me every time. 😂 This was utterly brilliant. I adore both Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, and I really appreciate how you provided great insight interspersed with fun! 😊

The way you said “Michael” had me cackling.

"A truly nasty couple." That's kind of the point, MICHAEL.

@AnaClaudiaBertiniCiencia

9 күн бұрын

The only point in which MICHAEL is right, indeed.

I’m reading Wuthering Heights right this second for the first time and I’m so glad I’ve found your channel because of it!🤣 MICHAEL📢📢

I love the arc from MICHAEL to romantic...

I had tears in my eyes at MICHAEL 😭💀

What an entertaining video! Thank you for this delight, Willow!💕😁

I need that third review on merch! It's gold!

MICHAEL!!! Haha. You had me in complete stitches and, as a fervent lover of the Romantics, nodding and humming in agreement just seconds later. I believe that part of the issue here, aside from people not understanding that The Romantics were a lot of things, but lovey-dovey they were not, is that a lot of film adaptations of Wuthering Heights lean into the "romance" of things. I believe this sets potential readers up for disaster because they go into this novel thinking this book is going to be one thing, when in reality it is an entirely different beast. It is a story of obsession, of monsters, of broken characters. At its core, I do believe it is very much also a story of redemption though, not for Heathcliff and Cathy, though, the theme of salvation was something Brontë needed not one but two generations of people living in misery and spite to achieve, and I think that is fucking brilliant. I'll also gladly go on record and admit that Heathcliff in my mind will FOREVER look like a damn fine young Ralph Fiennes.

How funny is it that these one stars made me want to read it? Lol

I've watched this three times and laughed my ass off every time!

Your timing is impeccable; I just read WH for the first time this past weekend. It was cathartic for me (Heathcliff could have been my stepfather, in some sense).

Oh it’s too early to be laughing this much

😂 Thank you for the laughs! I want to read this book for quite a while now and didn't get to it yet. This video pushed it up my TBR. Soon!

“‘Read *Jane Eyre* instead.’ Red flag!” So true! Your video is going to be my go-to “in defense of Wuthering Heights” video from now onward.

MICHAEL

So fun!! Poor MICHAEL... 😂

I loved this video , so entertaining . Do you happen to have a recommendation on learning about the Bronte sisters? You peaked my interest on learning about them and their dynamic .

@WillowTalksBooks

10 күн бұрын

There’s this one enormous 1000-page biography of their whole family. A friend of mine read it and then gave me all the highlights and juicy bits lol. It’s called The Brontes by Juliet Barker

@viviannewson8662

10 күн бұрын

Thank you I will be getting it !

@msrichardsreads

10 күн бұрын

I second this recommendation! I read it a few years ago and loved it!

Also, that Performance was Oscar worthy🎉. Still laughing at MICHAEL. My boss is called MICHAEL, you know what I am gonna be doing in every call, meeting etc. 😂

Bad people in good books liker has entered the chat: I've never been sold on a book harder than this . I'm gonna read this and listen to bangers about divorce!🎉

MICHAEL should read more ENGLISH literature

🚨 MICHAEL 🚨 !!!

MICHAEL!!!😂

cute dress willow and great vid. Yelling MICHAEL almost had me in tears lol.

I remember being 14 and getting into fandom, and asking my mum if she had ever had a crush on a fictional character. She told me Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. I was expecting her to say no. 😂😂😂 Considering my dad was one of the kindest most lovely people ever and that their relationship was unbelivably healthy its kind of hilarious.

@WillowTalksBooks

8 күн бұрын

We all love a toxic, passionate, unpredictable bad boy I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️

MICHAEL 👹

I never read the book but I did watch the 1992 movie with my partner in a spooky bed and breakfast in Haworth (the village where the Brontës lived) and it was a straight up vibe

Honestly it's astounding to see just how many people seem to wilfully misunderstand Wuthering Heights. As for their complaints about how awful the characters are, yeah that's supposed to be the point, it's meant to be a cautionary tale, not a love story. Also i feel so validated by your thoughts on Jane Eyre, as i felt much the same way about that book. I've always found Jane Eyre somewhat boring compared to Wuthering Heights.

You look so pretty in this video!

You inadvertently reminded me of my childhood because my parents were like that too about Eastenders. Possibly one of many reasons why they got divorced. I never realised Charlotte Bronte was a bad older sister. I feel like I want to learn more about this

MICHAEL!

Thank you for making me laugh so much. ❤

Another wonderful video. I personally love ‘Wuthering Heights’ and find the characters likeable simply because they appear realistic to me: we can’t always be good. The same goes for Joss Merlyn in Daphne Du Maurier’s ‘Jamaica Inn’. A wonderful novel. If I may suggest, how about creating a video about negative reviews about ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Dracula’? These are truly wonderful novels but not everybody shares my opinion.

Yeeeees! Thank you for this. It’s amazing. It’s about time for me to go and re-read Wuthering Heights I think 😅❤

Even though this was my most disappointing read of last year (sorry) I loved watching you defend it! I knew what i was getting into, I think the issue for me was that all the characters were...bland. I don't think they were dislikeable ENOUGH for me (red flag?) and not complex enough to keep me interested. Felt a bit like someone offering me an incredible meal and handing me a Weight Watchers wafter bar instead 😂 I'm not a girly who gets it, but I really wish i was!

i often only read 1 star reviews. the victims of earthlings on goodreads is amazing they all now have ptsd

I'm going to be hunted down to the ends of the earth for this but the truth needs to be said: Jane Eyre is an average work of Victorian literature (In the sense that it doesn't really stand out/ is not that distinctive among other works of literature from that era) at best while Wuthering Heights is an ICONIC GENIUS TIMELESS MASTERPIECE Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

@WillowTalksBooks

8 күн бұрын

I’ll stand by your side on this one

One, your reactions to the reviews were hilariously priceless. Thank you for that. Two, these horrid characters are lonely - even desperate - and highly emotional - and clearly don't know how to behave - which is kind of the fun of it. No one behaves. They live in the middle of nowhere, and no one behaves. It's rather marvelous. Three, when I read Withering Heights (sorry, couldn't help myself), I simply marvel at Emily's use of language and emotional savagery. Four, speaking of the word "wretched," have you read "This Wretched Valley" by Jenny Kiefer? It's a wilderness horror novel set in the USA. I'm half way through and enjoying it and wondering how it will resolve. It's making me realize that I like the wilderness horror genre. I also enjoyed "The Dark Between the Trees" by Fiona Barnett, and that kind of falls into the same genre - though it has a historical, folklore quality to it as well. Ta ta

I love every toxic moment of Wuthering Heights, but I really want to talk about Jane Eyre right now. It also doesn't portray a healthy relationship. Rochester is absolutely -- no spoilers -- horrible and cruel to a vulnerable character that he had a hand in making, um, wretched -- even Jane sees it. That's AN example. (And I love Jane Eyre) For people who've read J.E. and haven't read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, it's a book that directly addresses issues of abuse, mental illness, racism, and colonization with characters who will seem, um, familiar. I'd also like to mention Jane Steele, which is Jane Eyre as a serial killer, or a woman who is aware her life is very similar to JE, and who just can't stand predators. There's heavy Sikh rep. I like texts that comment on other text both lovingly and critically. Another example for me would be Longbourn, by Jo Baker. It's a beautifully written book about the servants of the Bennet family of Pride and Prejudice, and how they toil and have their own lives and dramas that go unseen by their employers. Lizzie is tromping through mud, but Lizzie is not doing laundry. Anyhow, unlikable characters shouldn't inherently be seen as a flaw.

@WillowTalksBooks

11 күн бұрын

Wide Sargasso Sea is really excellent, I agree. Opened my eyes to the racism and colonialist cruelty of Jane Eyre

My mom and i tried buddy reading it last year and both independantly dnfed at 10% lol. Anne Brontë is my queen.

@WillowTalksBooks

11 күн бұрын

Anne is outstanding and underrated, I agree

I love that book 😂❤❤❤

MICHAEL has a lot to say.

How he got rich.

I LOVE Wuthering Heights but let’s be fair with the review that mentions pregnancy. I’ve always found it odd as, I think there are no references to Cathy’s being pregnant until she dies? Like she’s mysteriously ill and she dies and Nelly says, oh right, Catherine Junior was born that night? I’ve wondered if Emily Brontë knew how pregnancy works. But - I’m with you on your points

I haven't read it in a long time, but I think if I re-read it, I still wouldn't like it. I like misery, but a different sort. Loved this video though!

@cj1986x

10 күн бұрын

I reread it 2-3 years ago, and while I think it's a uniquely important novel written by a genius, I did not enjoy the experience of rereading it any more than I remember feeling when I read it as a teenager. It's not a gentle read and it wasn't meant to be. I like Willow's comparison of Gothic to punk rock. There is so much anger behind Bronte's writing in it, along with this deep imperative to not let the reader look away from these characters, it can feel overwhelming.

Catherine was Heathcliff's way into the Earnshaw lineage; Heathcliff was Catherine's opportunity to rub people the wrong way (and let's not forget that most of the other characters are horrible as well, each in their own way). The whole novel is basically a well-crafted social commentary (great setting, great writing) that gets drowned out by melodrama, which is exactly why I, while appreciating what it did, never actually liked it.

My high-school advanced English class we roasted the fuck out of this book. Then we did worse to the movie. But we also got down with the atmosphere. The girls and a few of the boys got down with the beautiful goth trash factor. Most of the boys couldn't handle it the soap opera factor.

😂😂😂

Is MICHAEL judging the book or (in his head) real people?

Puh! My one star review is not in this video! ;) I gave it a one cause the reviews and ratings on goodreads are for me and I simple did not like it. Like plenty of classics and/or "morally not great" characters but this just wasn't it.

Sorry, English is not my mother tongue: why using “mental” is a red flag? (PS: at least I know “wuthering” is right 😅)

@WillowTalksBooks

9 күн бұрын

It implies the person is crazy or mentally ill :)

@AnaClaudiaBertiniCiencia

9 күн бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks Oh, it’s pejorative, then… I imagined that. Thank you!

Why are you doing this to yourself, Willow? I think Emily Bronte was a genius, and I can see why people love this novel, but I'll be honest: I don't enjoy reading it. I enjoy having read it and knowing what it's about and all the really deep literary stuff Bronte did with it. I like talking about why I think Bronte was genius and what about the novel makes me think that and I love hearing/reading people who love it talk about it, but I don't want to reread it again. Reread Frankenstein? Yes. It's up there with as one of my most reread favs. Reread Wuthering Heights? Um, I'm going to pass.

@WillowTalksBooks

10 күн бұрын

Okay but I enjoy it so

MICHAEL