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The Heights
Henry liked to imagine his life began that cold rainy day in San Francisco when Mr. Earnshaw found him shivering by the side of the road. That was the day Henry met Catherine. For Henry, Catherine is like a precious gift. She pushes away his angry thoughts and makes him feel safe and calm. And though Mr. Earnshaw, a widow, raises the orphan and Catherine as brother and sister, their love for each other goes much deeper. They vow to always be together. But everything changes when Mr. Earnshaw dies suddenly and Hindley, Mr. Earnshaw's own son, gains control of the family finances. Furiously jealous, Hindley never accepted Henry as a true member of the family. He works to sever Henry's relationship with Catherine and the violent rage Henry has harbored since he was a child bubbles to the surface. . . . Contemporizing the classic novel, Wuthering Heights , notable YA author, Brian James delives into the dark nature of obsessive love, the social injustices of class, and the self-destructive power of revenge in this emotionally raw unforgettable offering.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 27, 2009
6 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Brian James
106 books226 followersI've written numerous children's books, including the Pirate School series and the Catkid series. I'm also the author of several novels: Pure Sunshine; Tomorrow, Maybe; Perfect World; Dirty Liar; Thief; Zombie Blondes; The Heights.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 21, 2018
color me torn in my appreciation of this book. on the one hand, i am seriously addicted to reading interpretations of wuthering heights, even though many of them have been pretty atrocious. but now that i am on my teen fiction kick, i thought i would check this out, for research. i approve of modernizing the time period, and i'm fine with the teenagerization - because cathy and heathcliff pretty much acted like spoiled teenagers throughout wuthering heights; all passion and selfishness and disregard for others. and i respect the limitations this imposes on the ending of the book, and the grace with which james' ending was achieved, even if i found it less satisfying than m'dear bronte's. this version also really fleshes out catherine's alignment with edward in a way that not even the original was able to make truly believable, psychologically. so what do i have a problem with?? for one, the modern setting does away with a lot of the haunting qualities of wh. its harder to romanticize the wealthy bits of california than the windswept moors. and why keep all the characters names the same EXCEPT for heathcliff?? why "henry"? why not just plain "heath"?? too soon? but the major thing, and it's only because i am such a fan of wh - it's not truly a retelling because the heart of it is changed. it is a wonderful story of teenage obsession, but its more like endless love in its treatment than wuthering heights. so it is wuthering heights, but with a baboon heart or something. it is similar, and it works fine, but it's just... different.
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June 6, 2009
This book infuriated me.....I don't know if I have ever read a book that gave me this emotion! Wow!
It was written wonderfully, and instead of being scared, sad, happy, etc.....it made me mad! But, I wanted to know what happened at the end.
Wonderful.
It was written wonderfully, and instead of being scared, sad, happy, etc.....it made me mad! But, I wanted to know what happened at the end.
Wonderful.
August 7, 2009
I bought this book for two reasons: I love the cover art, and that the book blurb says this is a contemporary imagining of Wuthering Heights. Though I have not read Wuthering Heights (it is stacked somewhere in my to-be-read pile) but I know the story revolves around two star-crossed lovers and their doomed love and revenge. Initially I wasn't sure if I should read Wuthering Heights first, but then I thought I should read this book anyway (as to having a fresh perspective of this story) and moreover I hate to spoil the pleasure by comparing the two books while reading, something which I know I shouldn't but couldn't help it anyway. Since I have not read Wuthering Heights, I am not sure if the setting of The Heights would closely follows the former but I have to say it is an emotional charge book through and through.
Mr Earnshaw found five-year-old Henry on a cold rainy day in San Francisco. That day marked the beginning of Henry's life, but the best thing is it marked the day he met Catherine. Catherine is like a ray of sunshine to him; and for the first time Henry found happiness through her and Mr Earnshaw. However, Hindley, the eldest son in the family does not welcome him and think Henry has taken away all the attention and is a threat to him. It does not help that Henry is a Mexican and thus this is another reason Hindley despise him so.
Henry and Catherine have liked each other from the beginning and they feel nothing will bring them apart from each other. Unfortunately, things change after Mr Earnshaw died and Hindley gains control of the family. Hindley sees this as a payback time to Henry and he make sure to sever Henry's relationship with Catherine, and as if that is not enough, he enrols Henry in a public school where he has to endure the swearings and beatings from the school bullies. These have made Henry to become an angrier and a more bitter person.
It is at this point that Catherine began to get closer to Edgar. Edgar goes to the same school as Catherine and she knows he likes her. Though Catherine treats him as a friend, she couldn't help liking him as the days go by and the fact that he is always there for her whenever she needs him since she could hardly see or talk with Henry given the circumstances.
Henry, on the other hand, sees Catherine a changed person and to make things worse, a tragic accident happened and this has further widened the gap of their relationship. With all the things happening around him, it is no surprise that Henry's rage came to a point of eruption.
I knew this story would not end with a happily-ever-after, and in fact is a dark and a sad tale about doomed love, revenge and tragedy. But there is something more besides those, issues like the social injustice of class and also bits on racism (my heart ached for Henry when he is being bullied and abused by the other students in the public school).
I guess things might be different if Henry and Catherine have communicated more with each other and not thinking of the worse or assuming things that are not true. Honestly, I was a little stumped towards the ending because I thought there are certain things that would help me understand things better if told concisely but that is just me. I think the dark and brooding atmosphere is nicely done and it definitely adds intrigue and intensity to the story.
Now I really look forward to reading Wuthering Heights after reading The Heights. Have you read any of these books? What do you think of it(them)?
Mr Earnshaw found five-year-old Henry on a cold rainy day in San Francisco. That day marked the beginning of Henry's life, but the best thing is it marked the day he met Catherine. Catherine is like a ray of sunshine to him; and for the first time Henry found happiness through her and Mr Earnshaw. However, Hindley, the eldest son in the family does not welcome him and think Henry has taken away all the attention and is a threat to him. It does not help that Henry is a Mexican and thus this is another reason Hindley despise him so.
Henry and Catherine have liked each other from the beginning and they feel nothing will bring them apart from each other. Unfortunately, things change after Mr Earnshaw died and Hindley gains control of the family. Hindley sees this as a payback time to Henry and he make sure to sever Henry's relationship with Catherine, and as if that is not enough, he enrols Henry in a public school where he has to endure the swearings and beatings from the school bullies. These have made Henry to become an angrier and a more bitter person.
It is at this point that Catherine began to get closer to Edgar. Edgar goes to the same school as Catherine and she knows he likes her. Though Catherine treats him as a friend, she couldn't help liking him as the days go by and the fact that he is always there for her whenever she needs him since she could hardly see or talk with Henry given the circumstances.
Henry, on the other hand, sees Catherine a changed person and to make things worse, a tragic accident happened and this has further widened the gap of their relationship. With all the things happening around him, it is no surprise that Henry's rage came to a point of eruption.
I knew this story would not end with a happily-ever-after, and in fact is a dark and a sad tale about doomed love, revenge and tragedy. But there is something more besides those, issues like the social injustice of class and also bits on racism (my heart ached for Henry when he is being bullied and abused by the other students in the public school).
I guess things might be different if Henry and Catherine have communicated more with each other and not thinking of the worse or assuming things that are not true. Honestly, I was a little stumped towards the ending because I thought there are certain things that would help me understand things better if told concisely but that is just me. I think the dark and brooding atmosphere is nicely done and it definitely adds intrigue and intensity to the story.
Now I really look forward to reading Wuthering Heights after reading The Heights. Have you read any of these books? What do you think of it(them)?
January 15, 2010
The Heights
by Brian James
Publisher:Feiwel & Friends
# of Pages:256
Age Rating: +13
My Rating: 5 Stars
Where did I get it: From In Group to review.
Synopsis:
Henry liked to imagine his life began that cold rainy day in San Francisco when Mr. Earnshaw found him shivering by the side of the road. That was the day Henry met Catherine. For Henry, Catherine is like a precious gift. She pushes away his angry thoughts and makes him feel safe and calm. And though Mr. Earnshaw, a widow, raises the orphan and Catherine as brother and sister, their love for each other goes much deeper. They vow to always be together.
But everything changes when Mr. Earnshaw dies suddenly and Hindley, Mr. Earnshaw's own son, gains control of the family finances. Furiously jealous, Hindley never accepted Henry as a true member of the family. He works to sever Henry's relationship with Catherine and the violent rage Henry has harbored since he was a child bubbles to the surface. . . .
Contemporizing the classic novel, Wuthering Heights, notable YA author, Brian James delives into the dark nature of obsessive love, the social injustices of class, and the self-destructive power of revenge in this emotionally raw unforgettable offering.
Review:
Wuthering Heights is one of my most favorite classic book so when I was able to get this book to review, I was very excited.
The Heights was full of emotions, everyone seem so real to me, I could feel the hopeless that Henry felt or the sadness that Catherine felt.
This book has the most emotionality rides ever. If you are looking for a love story that has a happy ending then this is NOT for you. I thought that the author did a very good job at writing this book so that it was modern but at the same time, it stay true to Wuthering Heights.
If you are having a hard time reading Wuthering Heights then try reading this book first to see if that helps.
The characters seem so real, like the one part when Hindley was being mean to Henry, I just felt so mad, I wanted to hit Hindley and tell him to stop it but at the same time, I wanted to help Henry, to tell him that Catherine did love him.
The ending was sad but I want to find out what happens next.
If you love a good doom love story or if you love Wuthering Heights or just any emotionality story, then you have to read this book.
I give it 5 stars.
Enjoy! :D:D:D
by Brian James
Publisher:Feiwel & Friends
# of Pages:256
Age Rating: +13
My Rating: 5 Stars
Where did I get it: From In Group to review.
Synopsis:
Henry liked to imagine his life began that cold rainy day in San Francisco when Mr. Earnshaw found him shivering by the side of the road. That was the day Henry met Catherine. For Henry, Catherine is like a precious gift. She pushes away his angry thoughts and makes him feel safe and calm. And though Mr. Earnshaw, a widow, raises the orphan and Catherine as brother and sister, their love for each other goes much deeper. They vow to always be together.
But everything changes when Mr. Earnshaw dies suddenly and Hindley, Mr. Earnshaw's own son, gains control of the family finances. Furiously jealous, Hindley never accepted Henry as a true member of the family. He works to sever Henry's relationship with Catherine and the violent rage Henry has harbored since he was a child bubbles to the surface. . . .
Contemporizing the classic novel, Wuthering Heights, notable YA author, Brian James delives into the dark nature of obsessive love, the social injustices of class, and the self-destructive power of revenge in this emotionally raw unforgettable offering.
Review:
Wuthering Heights is one of my most favorite classic book so when I was able to get this book to review, I was very excited.
The Heights was full of emotions, everyone seem so real to me, I could feel the hopeless that Henry felt or the sadness that Catherine felt.
This book has the most emotionality rides ever. If you are looking for a love story that has a happy ending then this is NOT for you. I thought that the author did a very good job at writing this book so that it was modern but at the same time, it stay true to Wuthering Heights.
If you are having a hard time reading Wuthering Heights then try reading this book first to see if that helps.
The characters seem so real, like the one part when Hindley was being mean to Henry, I just felt so mad, I wanted to hit Hindley and tell him to stop it but at the same time, I wanted to help Henry, to tell him that Catherine did love him.
The ending was sad but I want to find out what happens next.
If you love a good doom love story or if you love Wuthering Heights or just any emotionality story, then you have to read this book.
I give it 5 stars.
Enjoy! :D:D:D
May 25, 2020
Although this book is well-written and the new take is creative, it’s rather infuriating for fans of the classic.
This version undermines the idea that Catherine and Heathcliff were meant to be together and it was mainly her selfishness and his pride that got in the way. The Heights paints Heathcliff as an obsessive aggressor who all but pushes Catherine to her death by trying to force her to love him.
Sorry Mr James, but in my book, “just friends” don’t haunt each other in the afterlife.
Everything gothic and most of the romance of Wuthering Heights is missing here, just like the story of the young generation. Although the different structure (no frame narrative, alternating first person narrator) allows for more insight into Catherine and Heathcliff’s minds, some of the changes made to the original plot don’t always work well in my opinion.
For unbiased fans of teen drama, this is probably a good and gripping read, but fans of Wuthering Heights will most likely end the book in frustration.
This version undermines the idea that Catherine and Heathcliff were meant to be together and it was mainly her selfishness and his pride that got in the way. The Heights paints Heathcliff as an obsessive aggressor who all but pushes Catherine to her death by trying to force her to love him.
Sorry Mr James, but in my book, “just friends” don’t haunt each other in the afterlife.
Everything gothic and most of the romance of Wuthering Heights is missing here, just like the story of the young generation. Although the different structure (no frame narrative, alternating first person narrator) allows for more insight into Catherine and Heathcliff’s minds, some of the changes made to the original plot don’t always work well in my opinion.
For unbiased fans of teen drama, this is probably a good and gripping read, but fans of Wuthering Heights will most likely end the book in frustration.
March 11, 2010
After rescuing a five-year-old Henry from the streets of San Fransisco, Catherine's father raises the pair together like brother and sister. Always the best of friends, their feelings for one another have grown deeper, but before they can express them, tragedy strikes and everything changes.
This dark retelling of the classic "Wuthering Heights" will have definite appeal to teens. It is dark and tragic, and a fast-paced read. My only problem with the book was a bit too much repitition in the alternating points of view. It drives me nuts when passages of dialogue are repeated word-for-word. Overall though, it's worth reading and is an excellent mirror of the original.
This dark retelling of the classic "Wuthering Heights" will have definite appeal to teens. It is dark and tragic, and a fast-paced read. My only problem with the book was a bit too much repitition in the alternating points of view. It drives me nuts when passages of dialogue are repeated word-for-word. Overall though, it's worth reading and is an excellent mirror of the original.
January 21, 2010
Nothing can compare to the original Victorian style writing that is signature to Wuthering Heights, but this was a well done modernized version of the beloved classic and it is easier to grasp in today's lingo.
The Heights brings with it the raw obsession and passion between Henry and Catherine. The writing and it's characters are just as consuming.
A brilliant read!
The Heights brings with it the raw obsession and passion between Henry and Catherine. The writing and it's characters are just as consuming.
A brilliant read!
October 2, 2010
this is an intense, brooding novel, absolutely gripping, and a perfect match in its tone and urgency to wuthering heights, on which it's loosely based. james captures the unbearable silence and upheaval of teenage life, as well as offering up an authentic slice of san francisco. be prepared to sit down with this one for a long spell of delicious reading.
November 25, 2015
I very much enjoyed this book, even though the ending was so sad. In spirit it was quite faithful to the original. I wish I'd had the option of reading 'The Heights' when I was 17, when I didn't have a romantic bone in my whole body and couldn't appreciate Emily Bronte yet. I would have understood 'The Heights' even then.
May 18, 2011
Amazing! Completely heartbreaking!
September 25, 2011
Wow! I couldn't stop crying and the ending was a shocker!
January 5, 2015
This is such a beautiful 'contemporary imaginging' of Wuthering Heights. My heart ached for Henry through the entire story!
July 3, 2016
This contemporary retelling of "Wuthering Heights" was okay but Emily Bronte's classic was so much better!
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August 4, 2021If you're a fan of Wuthering Heights you're gonna tear your hair out. The whole core of Wuthering Heights is changed: in the original WH, it is clear Cathy and Heathcliff are meant to be together but her selfishness and desire for material things make her cheat her true self with Heathcliff and abandon him and his pride gets in the way. There is also a spiritual connection, of friendship of love that is not inherently toxic but under the external pressures becomes thwarted.
But in The Heights, we have Henry (Heath) and Cathy as two kids who are both unaware of each others feelings yet the sweetness in their feelings for each other which on Henry's part is intense is overpowered by the fact that Henry is an obsessive aggressor who literally pushes Cathy to her death in a fit of rage. This change fundamentally changes not only the original core story but also the characters: Heathcliff would have never done to Cathy what Henry had done to Cathy. Even if you believe that WH was all obsession and no love, this book is still an extreme and frustrating read. The only positives I can think of is that is perfectly captured the gritty broodingness of the atmosphere.
If you read it as a Wuthering Heights retelling you'll be disappointed, but as a stand alone YA novel about teenage obsession it works
But in The Heights, we have Henry (Heath) and Cathy as two kids who are both unaware of each others feelings yet the sweetness in their feelings for each other which on Henry's part is intense is overpowered by the fact that Henry is an obsessive aggressor who literally pushes Cathy to her death in a fit of rage. This change fundamentally changes not only the original core story but also the characters: Heathcliff would have never done to Cathy what Henry had done to Cathy. Even if you believe that WH was all obsession and no love, this book is still an extreme and frustrating read. The only positives I can think of is that is perfectly captured the gritty broodingness of the atmosphere.
If you read it as a Wuthering Heights retelling you'll be disappointed, but as a stand alone YA novel about teenage obsession it works
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2022
Like some others I find myself with mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, I appreciate the twinned perspective of telling the story equally through the protagonists eyes. I feel this provides an interesting view from which to guage the events and their unfolding. I like the modernisation of the context, and think what James has done works.
I do find the slightly hysterical tone, especially as the story evloves, a little too hypoerbolic. I recognise where the idea comes from, but just find it all a bit creepy.
On the one hand, I appreciate the twinned perspective of telling the story equally through the protagonists eyes. I feel this provides an interesting view from which to guage the events and their unfolding. I like the modernisation of the context, and think what James has done works.
I do find the slightly hysterical tone, especially as the story evloves, a little too hypoerbolic. I recognise where the idea comes from, but just find it all a bit creepy.
December 27, 2017
While having never read the original text, as far as modern retellings go, this one was an instant favourite. I adore James' writing style.
June 4, 2019
Interesting play on a classic. The book made me mad and I even gasped once or twice aloud. Not my favorite, but any book that can spark emotion deserves a high rating.
May 15, 2023
I was going to give this a 2.5 🌟, but the pace picked up towards the end.
February 1, 2010
Originally posted on my blog: penultimatepage.com
My Thoughts:
I’m not sure how to put my feelings for this book into a review…
I was constantly frustrated with this book for multiple reasons.
First, there was the made up grammar. That’s right, made up grammar.
There were two points-of-view in The Heights, one was Henry’s, the other Catherine’s. For Henry’s PoV, James used dashes (-) instead of quotes (” “) to show that someone was talking, and two periods (. .) instead of commas (,) when there was a pause. After reading some of the discussion questions at the back of the book, I guess this was meant to show how Henry was deteriorating and didn’t want to draw attention to what people said more than what they thought. Honestly, it just got on my nerves. I think if I had been able to get more into the story, it wouldn’t have bother me as much, but I didn’t (I’ll explain this a bit later).
Another problem I had was that Catherine’s PoV was entirely in italics. Do you have to squint when you read this sentence? Possibly enlarge the page? What about three pages of this? Could you read that? I didn’t think so. It was terribly annoying having to squint to read three to five pages of Catherine’s point-of-view.
As I stated earlier, I had some seriously problems with not just the grammar, but the story as well. Let me just say, right off the bat, I do know that The Heights is a re-imagining of Wuthering Heights, and, no, I have not read Wuthering Heights. Maybe this book is right on with the original, but if so, I’m glad I haven’t attempted to read Wuthering Heights. Here’s how I would explain the story: Extremely stuck-up, crazysauce Catherine is secretly in love with her adoptive brother, Henry, who is also crazysauce and ultra-violent, but secretly loves her too. Catherine’s also ultra-violent brother, Hindley, thinks Henry, a Latino, is not good enough for Catherine so he begins to treat Henry as a slave which causes Henry to become even more violent, Catherine to become even more stuck-up, and everyone to drink some more crazysauce. This book is all depression, angst, yelling, and death.
Apparently, the reader is supposed to be sympathetic to Henry’s situation. Not I. No way. I cannot feel the least bit of sympathy to anyone who uses violence to solve every problem. Nor will I feel sorry for Catherine, who just gets more and more stupid by the page. She has so many opportunities to change Hindley and Henry’s course of action, yet just sits by and watches her family begin to self-destruct. I was terribly depressed and threw the book down in a huff when I was finished reading.
The last problem I had with this book, which may be more because of my personal taste, was the overlap in points-of-view. When the story switches from Henry to Catherine’s point-of-view, it sometimes overlaps. Often, there is no new information in the overlap. I could understand a slight overlap if we got some new insight via Catherine or Henry’s thoughts, but I can’t remember one place where that happened.
I don’t intend to give up on Brian James. I am going to try and pick up Zombie Blondes, or another of his titles, so that I can compare and see if his writing just isn’t my cup of tea, or if I’m not a fan of the destructive romance that is Wuthering Heights.
The Verdict:
Sigh. Books filled to the brim with angst, depression, yelling, and self-destruction are not my cup of tea.
My Thoughts:
I’m not sure how to put my feelings for this book into a review…
I was constantly frustrated with this book for multiple reasons.
First, there was the made up grammar. That’s right, made up grammar.
There were two points-of-view in The Heights, one was Henry’s, the other Catherine’s. For Henry’s PoV, James used dashes (-) instead of quotes (” “) to show that someone was talking, and two periods (. .) instead of commas (,) when there was a pause. After reading some of the discussion questions at the back of the book, I guess this was meant to show how Henry was deteriorating and didn’t want to draw attention to what people said more than what they thought. Honestly, it just got on my nerves. I think if I had been able to get more into the story, it wouldn’t have bother me as much, but I didn’t (I’ll explain this a bit later).
Another problem I had was that Catherine’s PoV was entirely in italics. Do you have to squint when you read this sentence? Possibly enlarge the page? What about three pages of this? Could you read that? I didn’t think so. It was terribly annoying having to squint to read three to five pages of Catherine’s point-of-view.
As I stated earlier, I had some seriously problems with not just the grammar, but the story as well. Let me just say, right off the bat, I do know that The Heights is a re-imagining of Wuthering Heights, and, no, I have not read Wuthering Heights. Maybe this book is right on with the original, but if so, I’m glad I haven’t attempted to read Wuthering Heights. Here’s how I would explain the story: Extremely stuck-up, crazysauce Catherine is secretly in love with her adoptive brother, Henry, who is also crazysauce and ultra-violent, but secretly loves her too. Catherine’s also ultra-violent brother, Hindley, thinks Henry, a Latino, is not good enough for Catherine so he begins to treat Henry as a slave which causes Henry to become even more violent, Catherine to become even more stuck-up, and everyone to drink some more crazysauce. This book is all depression, angst, yelling, and death.
Apparently, the reader is supposed to be sympathetic to Henry’s situation. Not I. No way. I cannot feel the least bit of sympathy to anyone who uses violence to solve every problem. Nor will I feel sorry for Catherine, who just gets more and more stupid by the page. She has so many opportunities to change Hindley and Henry’s course of action, yet just sits by and watches her family begin to self-destruct. I was terribly depressed and threw the book down in a huff when I was finished reading.
The last problem I had with this book, which may be more because of my personal taste, was the overlap in points-of-view. When the story switches from Henry to Catherine’s point-of-view, it sometimes overlaps. Often, there is no new information in the overlap. I could understand a slight overlap if we got some new insight via Catherine or Henry’s thoughts, but I can’t remember one place where that happened.
I don’t intend to give up on Brian James. I am going to try and pick up Zombie Blondes, or another of his titles, so that I can compare and see if his writing just isn’t my cup of tea, or if I’m not a fan of the destructive romance that is Wuthering Heights.
The Verdict:
Sigh. Books filled to the brim with angst, depression, yelling, and self-destruction are not my cup of tea.
July 14, 2013
Review: Gillian Engberg, Booklist, May 1, 2009, Vol. 105, No. 17.
The Heights was written as “a contemporary imagining of Wuthering Heights.” Catherine and her adopted brother, Henry, are best friends who are secretly in love with one another. When their father dies, Catherine’s brother returns home to act as guardian, reigniting his hate for Henry. Hindley treats Henry like a slave, causing him to lash out and driving Catherine into her neighbor, Edgar’s arms. While the story line does not mimic that of the original, it takes the essence of Wuthering Heights and weaves it into a more relatable and understandable plot for today’s audience.
The Heights is only loosely based on the story of Wuthering Heights. All of the key characters were accounted for and the story line followed the general idea of holding grudges and seeking revenge. The main character, Catherine, was much more personable in this version of the story and half of the story was told from her point of view. Through her eyes, readers understand her feelings while she is torn between Henry and Edgar. Alternating chapters were told from Henry’s (Heathcliff) point of view, and his narrative unveiled his obsession with Catherine as well as his lack of self-control. According to the author, he is the character that is most different from the original Wuthering Heights, which is why his name is the most different, too.
Brian James is the author of the children’s series Pirate School and Catkid as well as numerous young adult novels. He was an English Literature major in college but had had no interaction with Wuthering Heights prior to a discussion with his editor. While he had no real “authority” to remake the classic, his version presents his insight as a reader. James covers the breadth of topics discussed in Wuthering Heights: forbidden love, miscommunication, and revenge. In doing so, however, James often takes these topics to new depths and sometimes even uncharted territory.
This book’s most relevant place in the high school curriculum would be comparing it to the original, Wuthering Heights. In addition to comparing and contrasting works of literature, as a SOL, it can also support understanding of the original. As the classic was written, it can be tricky for high schoolers to comprehend. The Heights could provide background knowledge on an easier reading level, therefore boosting comprehension. SOL 9.4 the student will read, comprehend, and analyze a variety of literary texts (10.4 of other cultures, 12.4 British literature). It is also worth noting that this book could be used to teach the effects of emotionally abusive relationships in Family Life.
The emotional reading level is geared toward ninth through twelfth grade due to mature language as well as complex themes of forbidden love and abuse. In reference to leisure reading, I would suggest this to tenth or eleventh grade girls who enjoy reading romantic fiction. Educationally, I think that all students would enjoy reading this book in conjunction with the required reading of Wuthering Heights.
This book belongs in the library along with other quality spin-offs of literary classics. Much like a series, if a student were to take an interest in Wuthering Heights, he or she would be relieved to know that there were other similar titles waiting in the library. Its merit lies in it connection to the classic love story and its ability to keep the classic relevant in today’s world.
The Heights was written as “a contemporary imagining of Wuthering Heights.” Catherine and her adopted brother, Henry, are best friends who are secretly in love with one another. When their father dies, Catherine’s brother returns home to act as guardian, reigniting his hate for Henry. Hindley treats Henry like a slave, causing him to lash out and driving Catherine into her neighbor, Edgar’s arms. While the story line does not mimic that of the original, it takes the essence of Wuthering Heights and weaves it into a more relatable and understandable plot for today’s audience.
The Heights is only loosely based on the story of Wuthering Heights. All of the key characters were accounted for and the story line followed the general idea of holding grudges and seeking revenge. The main character, Catherine, was much more personable in this version of the story and half of the story was told from her point of view. Through her eyes, readers understand her feelings while she is torn between Henry and Edgar. Alternating chapters were told from Henry’s (Heathcliff) point of view, and his narrative unveiled his obsession with Catherine as well as his lack of self-control. According to the author, he is the character that is most different from the original Wuthering Heights, which is why his name is the most different, too.
Brian James is the author of the children’s series Pirate School and Catkid as well as numerous young adult novels. He was an English Literature major in college but had had no interaction with Wuthering Heights prior to a discussion with his editor. While he had no real “authority” to remake the classic, his version presents his insight as a reader. James covers the breadth of topics discussed in Wuthering Heights: forbidden love, miscommunication, and revenge. In doing so, however, James often takes these topics to new depths and sometimes even uncharted territory.
This book’s most relevant place in the high school curriculum would be comparing it to the original, Wuthering Heights. In addition to comparing and contrasting works of literature, as a SOL, it can also support understanding of the original. As the classic was written, it can be tricky for high schoolers to comprehend. The Heights could provide background knowledge on an easier reading level, therefore boosting comprehension. SOL 9.4 the student will read, comprehend, and analyze a variety of literary texts (10.4 of other cultures, 12.4 British literature). It is also worth noting that this book could be used to teach the effects of emotionally abusive relationships in Family Life.
The emotional reading level is geared toward ninth through twelfth grade due to mature language as well as complex themes of forbidden love and abuse. In reference to leisure reading, I would suggest this to tenth or eleventh grade girls who enjoy reading romantic fiction. Educationally, I think that all students would enjoy reading this book in conjunction with the required reading of Wuthering Heights.
This book belongs in the library along with other quality spin-offs of literary classics. Much like a series, if a student were to take an interest in Wuthering Heights, he or she would be relieved to know that there were other similar titles waiting in the library. Its merit lies in it connection to the classic love story and its ability to keep the classic relevant in today’s world.
April 9, 2012
Ask anyone, I am a sucker for stories about star-crossed lovers. I love angst with a capital A. So the premise of Brian James’s YA novel The Heights would seem like a perfect fit for me. I mean the tagline was “theirs was a love that would last forever.”
Sadly, for me, this book was a pale cousin to its predecessor, Wuthering Heights. James sets his novel in foggy San Francisco where Catherine Earnshaw and her older brother, Hindley, live with their widowed father. Henry lives there too. He’s the orphaned Mexican boy Catherine’s father scooped off the mean streets and raised as his own. Now, years later, Mr. Earnshaw is dead and Hindley, a big shot lawyer, has come home to make sure Henry doesn’t get anything he’s rightfully entitled to (as Mr. Earnshaw preferred Henry to Hindley – and no wonder, Hindley is a misogynistic asshat.)
Hindley is also intent on splitting up Catherine and Henry, siblings on the cusp of admitting that their feelings for each other might be just a teensy bit more complicated than they should be. Of course, they never get around to admitting their feelings to each other before Hindley throws his oar in and muddies the waters.
Told in alternating view points, we see Catherine mooning over Henry and Henry mooning over Catherine – but nothing much comes of it, especially once Hindley banishes Henry to the basement of their huge house in The Heights (a tony neighbourhood in San Francisco) and sends him to a rough school way across town where Henry is constantly in danger of being beat up. Make no mistake, he’s tough and can handle himself – and without Catherine’s calming influence, he’s more likely to swing than swoon.
James tries at Bronte’s themes: obsession, class, revenge – but the problem with The Heights, for me at least, is that the novel’s contemporary setting makes the characters seem sort of inert. I never wanted them to be together because neither of them seemed all that sympathetic. And yes, you could make the same case for Catherine and Heathcliff – but Bronte’s sweeping tale somehow elevates those characters to mythic, romantic heights in a way James never quite manages.
I will be happy to encourage my students to read The Heights, but even happier if they go on to read Wuthering Heights.
Sadly, for me, this book was a pale cousin to its predecessor, Wuthering Heights. James sets his novel in foggy San Francisco where Catherine Earnshaw and her older brother, Hindley, live with their widowed father. Henry lives there too. He’s the orphaned Mexican boy Catherine’s father scooped off the mean streets and raised as his own. Now, years later, Mr. Earnshaw is dead and Hindley, a big shot lawyer, has come home to make sure Henry doesn’t get anything he’s rightfully entitled to (as Mr. Earnshaw preferred Henry to Hindley – and no wonder, Hindley is a misogynistic asshat.)
Hindley is also intent on splitting up Catherine and Henry, siblings on the cusp of admitting that their feelings for each other might be just a teensy bit more complicated than they should be. Of course, they never get around to admitting their feelings to each other before Hindley throws his oar in and muddies the waters.
Told in alternating view points, we see Catherine mooning over Henry and Henry mooning over Catherine – but nothing much comes of it, especially once Hindley banishes Henry to the basement of their huge house in The Heights (a tony neighbourhood in San Francisco) and sends him to a rough school way across town where Henry is constantly in danger of being beat up. Make no mistake, he’s tough and can handle himself – and without Catherine’s calming influence, he’s more likely to swing than swoon.
James tries at Bronte’s themes: obsession, class, revenge – but the problem with The Heights, for me at least, is that the novel’s contemporary setting makes the characters seem sort of inert. I never wanted them to be together because neither of them seemed all that sympathetic. And yes, you could make the same case for Catherine and Heathcliff – but Bronte’s sweeping tale somehow elevates those characters to mythic, romantic heights in a way James never quite manages.
I will be happy to encourage my students to read The Heights, but even happier if they go on to read Wuthering Heights.
January 23, 2010
The Heights—a contemporary imagining of Wuthering Heights
by Brian James
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance
Rating: 4, DNF
Ah. Again. A high rated book that I did not finish. “Haley what is wrong with you?” Haley stop talking to yourself.
Let me start with the positive: This book is all about the characters. James has taken characters that were only mildly relatable in Wuthering Heights and made them so realistic that you feel everything they feel. This is a mark of a good writer… but also a very painful book. The viewpoint alternates between Henry and Cathy, but it’s not distracting. It’s so easy to get inside their heads and live their lives. Almost too easy.
The negative: It was too painful to finish. I know what’s going to happen because I know the story of Wuthering Heights… and I don’t think I want to live through that. Because I know if I read it, it will feel 110% real. And I don’t think I could handle that.
This book has taken me two days to read… and each time I could only get a little bit farther before I had to stop because I was so angry at the characters for being stupid and prideful and selfish and mean and hateful, that I threw the book across the room. Twice.
I guess this sad love story is just not my kind of love story. Let’s hope I’m not jinxing myself (Haley you know you don’t believe in such things). If you love sad romance stories or love Wuthering Heights, you’ll love this—because this one hurt. I’ll save it for a rainy day when I need to force myself to break down and cry…
Content: Henry has a dirty mouth, but it’s not overdone. No sexual content, and all romance is appropriate
Recommendation: Anyone who wants a good cry… ages 13+
Cover: I know I usually don’t say anything about the cover… but really they could have done better. Henry (Heathcliff) is supposed to be dark skinned with dark hair. The guy on the cover looks nothing like him.
*angry and sad Haley now goes to the corner and pouts and finds a lighter romance to cheer herself up*
by Brian James
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance
Rating: 4, DNF
Ah. Again. A high rated book that I did not finish. “Haley what is wrong with you?” Haley stop talking to yourself.
Let me start with the positive: This book is all about the characters. James has taken characters that were only mildly relatable in Wuthering Heights and made them so realistic that you feel everything they feel. This is a mark of a good writer… but also a very painful book. The viewpoint alternates between Henry and Cathy, but it’s not distracting. It’s so easy to get inside their heads and live their lives. Almost too easy.
The negative: It was too painful to finish. I know what’s going to happen because I know the story of Wuthering Heights… and I don’t think I want to live through that. Because I know if I read it, it will feel 110% real. And I don’t think I could handle that.
This book has taken me two days to read… and each time I could only get a little bit farther before I had to stop because I was so angry at the characters for being stupid and prideful and selfish and mean and hateful, that I threw the book across the room. Twice.
I guess this sad love story is just not my kind of love story. Let’s hope I’m not jinxing myself (Haley you know you don’t believe in such things). If you love sad romance stories or love Wuthering Heights, you’ll love this—because this one hurt. I’ll save it for a rainy day when I need to force myself to break down and cry…
Content: Henry has a dirty mouth, but it’s not overdone. No sexual content, and all romance is appropriate
Recommendation: Anyone who wants a good cry… ages 13+
Cover: I know I usually don’t say anything about the cover… but really they could have done better. Henry (Heathcliff) is supposed to be dark skinned with dark hair. The guy on the cover looks nothing like him.
*angry and sad Haley now goes to the corner and pouts and finds a lighter romance to cheer herself up*
July 24, 2009
A contemporary re-telling of Wuthering Heights, The Heights explores the twisted romance between Henry--the modernized Heathcliff--and his beloved Catherine. Raised as brother and sister, Henry and Catherine share a deep connection, but not the same blood. Henry is a Mexican orphan, and Catherine is a wealthy Caucasian. Nonetheless, Mr. Earnshaw loved them equally since bringing Henry into his home years ago. In fact, he seemed to favor Henry over his own biological son, Hindley. When Mr. Earnshaw passes away, Hindley becomes Catherine and Henry's legal guardian. Hindley is filled with bitterness and hatred towards Henry, and he does everything in his power to tear Henry down and separate him from Catherine. Without Catherine, Henry spirals into destruction. Catherine is sorry to lose Henry, but she begins to turn her affections towards her new boyfriend, Edgar. Finally, in a desperate attempt to win back the love of his life, Henry ends up losing her forever.
The Heights only follows the first half of Wuthering Heights, but it captures the most famous story arch. Most of the original characters are here, but with roles more familiar to young adults. For example, the Nelly character transforms from a maid into Catherine's best friend. While the story of Heathcliff and Catherine was told second-hand, The Heights switches between Henry and Catherine's voices as they tell their own story. Despite the change of ethnicity and name, Henry's character is remarkably faithful to Heathcliff. On the other hand, Catherine's character is more noticeably changed. James' Catherine lacks the headstrong devotion to her "soulmate" that Brontë's Catherine displayed. For this reason, the novel is a good introduction to studying Wuthering Heights, but won't tell quite the same story. Teens should enjoy the modern version and find it much more accessible than the original.
The Heights only follows the first half of Wuthering Heights, but it captures the most famous story arch. Most of the original characters are here, but with roles more familiar to young adults. For example, the Nelly character transforms from a maid into Catherine's best friend. While the story of Heathcliff and Catherine was told second-hand, The Heights switches between Henry and Catherine's voices as they tell their own story. Despite the change of ethnicity and name, Henry's character is remarkably faithful to Heathcliff. On the other hand, Catherine's character is more noticeably changed. James' Catherine lacks the headstrong devotion to her "soulmate" that Brontë's Catherine displayed. For this reason, the novel is a good introduction to studying Wuthering Heights, but won't tell quite the same story. Teens should enjoy the modern version and find it much more accessible than the original.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2013
Eh...
I really liked the ending. It reminded me of an M. T. Anderson kind of ending, or even something out of The Catcher in the Rye.
But up until the ending...
Well, let's say this. First of all, one thing I'm noticing is that it's really hard for these modern adaptations not to demonize Hindley. I think they fail to recognize that Hindley is a victim too. But then, this is probably because nobody really does the Heathcliff revenge bit properly.
Since this book was pure YA, James couldn't have Henry (the Heathcliff character) run off and come back all rich and Jay Gatsby-ed out, and that really hindered things. And, of course, the whole second generation was gone.
But most of that, I can understand, given the limitations of making it modern and making it YA.
The only thing that really annoyed me about this book was how the author would retell the same scene (repeating the dialogue and everything) from the point of view of another character. I was like, "Dude, read some romance novels so you figure out how not to do this." Any romance author knows how to give the reader all the emotional reactions one needs from each character without repeating the same damned scene. GRR.
I also thought it was funny that the author kept the name Edgar, but changed the name of Heathcliff to Henry. Such a guy thing to do, not to realize that Edgar is the most deeply unsexy name ever (except Angus,maybe?) and that Heath is infinitely preferable to Henry.
Overall--not to be sexist--but it was just overly clear that a GUY was writing this, and Wuthering Heights is a proto-romance, and it requires just a bit more, uh, estrogenic influence. :)
I really liked the ending. It reminded me of an M. T. Anderson kind of ending, or even something out of The Catcher in the Rye.
But up until the ending...
Well, let's say this. First of all, one thing I'm noticing is that it's really hard for these modern adaptations not to demonize Hindley. I think they fail to recognize that Hindley is a victim too. But then, this is probably because nobody really does the Heathcliff revenge bit properly.
Since this book was pure YA, James couldn't have Henry (the Heathcliff character) run off and come back all rich and Jay Gatsby-ed out, and that really hindered things. And, of course, the whole second generation was gone.
But most of that, I can understand, given the limitations of making it modern and making it YA.
The only thing that really annoyed me about this book was how the author would retell the same scene (repeating the dialogue and everything) from the point of view of another character. I was like, "Dude, read some romance novels so you figure out how not to do this." Any romance author knows how to give the reader all the emotional reactions one needs from each character without repeating the same damned scene. GRR.
I also thought it was funny that the author kept the name Edgar, but changed the name of Heathcliff to Henry. Such a guy thing to do, not to realize that Edgar is the most deeply unsexy name ever (except Angus,maybe?) and that Heath is infinitely preferable to Henry.
Overall--not to be sexist--but it was just overly clear that a GUY was writing this, and Wuthering Heights is a proto-romance, and it requires just a bit more, uh, estrogenic influence. :)
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October 21, 2009So I saw *The Heights* by Brian James in a catalogue and immediately yearned to read it. The Heights is a re-telling/re-imagining of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte...I Know! How cool is that?
I'm not in the torn-about-re-tellings camp at all. Bring them on, I usually say. Generally the re-imaginings have been fairy tales, such as the Once Upon a Time series published by Simon & Schuster, which takes a new look at tales such as The Little Mermaid and even The Snow Queen (my favourite fairy tale ever!). Re-tellings are cool; they take a beloved story and tell it again or in a different way. There are usually enough references to the original material that are fantastic to find, so I find re-tellings fulfilling.
And The Heights is no exception.
I haven't read Wuthering Heights in years but it was, along with Jane Eyre, one of my FAVOURITE books when I was in highschool. If my highschool-self saw me have to reference wikipedia.org to remind my now-self of the content of the book, she would scorn me with narrowed-eyes.
Read the rest on my blog: http://eoseventeen.blogspot.com/2009/...
I'm not in the torn-about-re-tellings camp at all. Bring them on, I usually say. Generally the re-imaginings have been fairy tales, such as the Once Upon a Time series published by Simon & Schuster, which takes a new look at tales such as The Little Mermaid and even The Snow Queen (my favourite fairy tale ever!). Re-tellings are cool; they take a beloved story and tell it again or in a different way. There are usually enough references to the original material that are fantastic to find, so I find re-tellings fulfilling.
And The Heights is no exception.
I haven't read Wuthering Heights in years but it was, along with Jane Eyre, one of my FAVOURITE books when I was in highschool. If my highschool-self saw me have to reference wikipedia.org to remind my now-self of the content of the book, she would scorn me with narrowed-eyes.
Read the rest on my blog: http://eoseventeen.blogspot.com/2009/...
February 27, 2010
I am a huge fan of Wuthering Heights, so I was really excited to see this book! I think the author did a good job showing Henry's feelings of powerlessness. As a lover of the original, I wish that the author had used "Heath" instead of Henry, as he maintained all the other main characters' original names, but that is a minor details. I also wish the book was formatted a bit differently. I found it frustrating to read half of a book in italics. Also, I didn't like all of the dashes, lack of quotation marks, and weird punctuation marks, but that may have been the English teacher in me. I'm sure my students wouldn't mind. The ending was a bit abrupt in my mind, as well.
I think this is a great adaption of the original, and I would recommend it to anyone, including those who haven't read Wuthering Heights.
I think this is a great adaption of the original, and I would recommend it to anyone, including those who haven't read Wuthering Heights.
August 17, 2011
Hmmm.... I didn't really like Wuthering Heights much. I hated the jealousy of Healthcliff and the way Cathy always accepted it. It bugged me. I admit I was 1/2 confused through most of the Bronte's book. I recently watched the Masterpiece Classic movie of Wuthering Heights and the story all fell in place a bit more. So, that being said... I have no idea why I thought this would be the book for me to read. I didn't mind the modernizing of the story at all. Usually I think reinterpretations get lost, but the author did a good job keeping it real. I guess I just hate this story and I didn't really enjoy this book much either. I've given up on figuring out why this is a classic. Anyone care to argue?
June 20, 2010
Rating: C
140-Character Summary: Wuthering Heights told as if Heathcliff and Cathy lived in San Francisco in an era where marrying your adopted sibling would be creepy.
140-Character Review: Making Bronte easier to understand is a good (Henry was the best translation), but the shortening of the book left "a lot to be desired".
Blog Recommendation Date of Post: 11/9/2009
140-Character Summary: Wuthering Heights told as if Heathcliff and Cathy lived in San Francisco in an era where marrying your adopted sibling would be creepy.
140-Character Review: Making Bronte easier to understand is a good (Henry was the best translation), but the shortening of the book left "a lot to be desired".
Blog Recommendation Date of Post: 11/9/2009
November 2, 2011
After trying to explain the beauty of Wuthering Heights to my dubious friend, I wondered if there was a modern remake of the novel, and sure enough, there is. It would be a great book to use as a teaching tool in comparison to Wuthering Heights ... appeal to emotional teenagers and engage them in conversation with the book and all that ... but otherwise, it left a lot to be desired. At times I felt like the author was trying too hard to mirror the original novel, and then it abruptly ended without telling the story of the second generation.
February 21, 2013
I found this book lacking in writing and plot formation. The idea of this modern rendition of Wuthering Heights set in San Francisco is intriguing but executed in a manner that couldn't quite hold my attention.
By the end I finally understood that it is actually the chronicle of a boy slowly spiraling into an obsessive insanity. For this, the figurative language and the switching views via Catherine and Henry (Heathcliff), I commend James. Other than that I think it could be better.
By the end I finally understood that it is actually the chronicle of a boy slowly spiraling into an obsessive insanity. For this, the figurative language and the switching views via Catherine and Henry (Heathcliff), I commend James. Other than that I think it could be better.
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