Twisted Tale, Amazing Narrator

Wuthering Heights is a classic because of its beautiful language and spellbinding story-telling, not because the story itself is very wonderful. It's primarily about really, really warped characters, most of whom I could hardly even care what happened to them. It was so well-written, though, that I became completely absorbed nonetheless. Not only was it well-written but I just LOVED the narrator. She was almost whiny when voicing the Catherine characters, and yet it fit them so well that it was just perfect. She was half the reason why I was so drawn into the book; I would highly recommend any book read by Emma Messenger. In the end, the book had a much happier ending than I had hoped for so I was pretty satisfied. Enjoyed it much better than I thought I would.

14 people found this helpful

Five stars for the wonderful Emma Messenger

I have waited to read this book for years now, but never found the time or patience to do so, as my native language is German, and even though I do read in English every once in a while, it is just more demanding and time consuming for me. I therefore often go with a German translation. This classic though needs to be read in the original, I thought.
To now have a talent like Emma Messenger's read it to me is simply wonderful. Her voice is most pleasant and has the range and variety of an entire orchestra, she's extremely good with rhythm, her emotional skills and delivery are excellent, plus she never lacks to let humor show through where it is appropriate. I highly recommend having Emma Messenger read to you and I'm excited to hear more of her. I can very well picture her doing something like Truman Capote's "The Grass Harp". I doubt there's much she couldn't do.

21 people found this helpful

buy the other versions.

Returned due to poor narration. the story deserves a narrator such as Juliet Stevenson. Struggled to complete one chapter.

6 people found this helpful

I hate that I love it

What about Emma Messenger’s performance did you like?

Her voice held all the ranges that were appropriate for a novel with so many characters, and she made it clear at all times who was speaking even if their name wasn't mentioned in the dialogue.

Any additional comments?

I love classics, they have a certain charm to them. However, being in my early twenties, I am several generations removed from the ideals, and general philosophies of many characters, so I find it difficult to relate and engross myself in the story completely.

I remember somewhere near the middle of the book, I grew so frustrated that I seriously considered turning the audio off completely. I was tired of the "woes" and pity that every female expressed, the violent anger the males showed most of the time, and not to mention that every single character was not only vile, ill-mannered, and had no respect for a fellow human being, but that it was to be expected of the wealthy. All of those remarkable traits making it impossible to hope for someone's good ending. In fact I seriously hoped the author would finish them off in some way or another, because the world would be much better off.

Regardless, I managed to finish the audio, with it came somewhat of a silver-lining, and I thought nothing of it for several days. Until, all of a sudden, the volume of emotions and range of personalities had finished settling and began to repeat themselves at random moments. Walking to class or working out, I'd suddenly remember a scene from the book and with it came a warm feeling, a solid feeling of satisfaction for having known that world, regardless of how cruel.

Bronte knew well enough what she was doing when she delved and exposed the psyche of every developing character. It made them real, visceral, and crude to imagine. Yet on the other hand, all the ugly parts of human nature she bestowed on them had small glimpses of kindness, even if you couldn't trust it. It reminded me much of our world, centuries down the line, and strangely enough created a feeling of connection.

It also brought to light that regardless of how good we try to be, and we should always strive towards being kind, in our history and sometimes in ourselves we can become absolute monsters. So, on that level I related to the story, although I hate to think of it that way, but the difference between me and them is that I choose to forgive transgressions and not let revenge eat me up. That thought gives me strength and so I thank Bronte for painting a picture of a world, a path towards a dark existence, I willingly chose not to live.

17 people found this helpful

excellent narrator! interesting story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

the lady reading it should, if she didn't, get an award...one of the best read books I have ever heard, she made it much better than just reading it.

3 people found this helpful

An enjoyable way to "read" a classic

What made the experience of listening to Wuthering Heights the most enjoyable?

I was enveloped by the story. I listened on my way to work and realized 3 miles past my turn i had missed it. I was so engrossed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Heathcliff, I had sympathy for him, even thoguh he was so cruel and horrible. I felt sorry he had such a terrible begining to his life.

Have you listened to any of Emma Messenger’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no this was the first time I had heard her.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was shocked several times by turns in the plot, by the cruelty of the characters and I had several audible "OMG" moments.

3 people found this helpful

one of the best novels of all time

one of the best novels of all time and very well narrated. one that you can listen to over and over.

7 people found this helpful

Very well narrated

This narrator really adds to the audio book experience through the emotion she brings to the story. Recommended!

9 people found this helpful

Cheaper version - You get what you pay for.

I thought the preview was okay at first, but starting 10 minutes in, I would have read the characters extremely differently. This being my first reading of WH, I wish I had just read it myself. Heathcliff was too snarly, Nelly could have been far more maternal toward H than she was read, and Catherine was made to look a joke simply by the narrator's intonation. Wonderful literature, though, and very insightful early psychology on EB'S part. You could tell she was an acute observer in life.

4 people found this helpful

Worth reading but not a love story

The story is good--well crafted and interesting. However, the love between Heathcliff and Catherine--so often referred to as a great love, is awful and icky and not love at all. Many of the characters, including Heathcliff and Catherine are terribly unsympathetic, even given the customs and mores of the era in which it was written. That said, it is certainly worth reading and it might be easier to get through in this format as the language of the era is a bit easier to listen to than it is to read.

1 person found this helpful