May | 2010 | Book Chatter

Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! Softdrink is hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week.

Volume II, Chapters 8-10

My Synopsis:

The wretchedness continues!

This week’s reading is all about Cathy and Linton. As you may recall from last week, Cathy and Linton were caught writing letters to each other. LOVE letters which Mrs. Dean quickly put an end to. In case you forgot, Cathy and Linton are cousins. However, when Cathy runs into Heathcliff (yet again), Heathcliff lays a guilt trip on her. He tells her that Linton’s health has taken a turn and that he has one foot in the grave. Why? All because Cathy stopped writing her letters. Apparently Linton is just “sick” over it.

Cathy, in her bubble-headed way, insists that she visit poor Linton and although Mrs. Dean does not agree, she wants to prove to Cathy that Linton is just fine and that this is all a bunch of nonsense, so off they go for a brief visit. Except, that when they visit, Linton IS in poor spirits and DOES appear to be sickly (afterall, he was born that way). At first, he seems to perk up a bit at the sight of Cathy but then they argue over whose dad is best… “my dad, no MY dad!” and then Linton falls out of the chair, upon the hearth and writhes like a child trying to get out of a high chair!

Cathy, bubble-head that she is (did I say that twice?) falls for it and promises to visit when she can. Mrs. Dean sweeps Cathy away, and then promptly falls ill for three weeks, which gives Cathy plenty of time to sneak off and visit the wretch. What’s interesting here is that Cathy wants to love Linton like a brother so he can live with her always. Linton wants to love her like a wife, but Cathy claims that sometimes husbands hate their wives. How profound, and coming out of Cathy’s mouth no less!

When dear Papa finds out about Cathy’s little adventure, he puts a stop to her visits which sends her into despair. What will Linton think? Will he fall ill? Will he throw himself upon the hearth and die from heartbreak?

My Thoughts:

In previous chapters I felt sorry for Linton but he’s a sniveling little twerp and deserves no pity. He whines and whines about his predicament, so much so that Joseph and Hareton (remember them?) completely ignore him. Trust me, if he were in my house I’d ignore him too.

I love how Cathy is the epitome of youthful exuberance and how Linton is just a puny little wretch. Such opposites. I wondered how Cathy could even find happiness in being around him but she says it best, she thinks of him as her “little pet.” Isn’t that enough to make you want to gag?

Reading along:

Legend of a Suicide Book Cover

Legend of a Suicide
By David Vann
Harper Perennial
March 2010
272pp

Here’s the blurb from the publisher:

In Legend of a Suicide, his heartbreaking semi-autobiographical debut story-collection, David Vann relates the story of a young man trying to come to terms with the guilt and pain of his father’s suicide. The wild outback of the author’s native Alaska acts as the ideal backdrop for this collage of six stories—a novella and five shorts—and mirrors the author’s own psychological wilderness.

The Short of It:

Legend of a Suicide is like a drop of water upon a smooth, glassy lake. Small, concentric circles that eventually grow in size as they ripple across the water. Beautiful in one sense, slightly disturbing in another but all in all, an unforgettable read.

The Rest of It:

Legend of a Suicide is collection of stories. One novella, and five shorter stories. Although they are separate and some were even published independently of the others, they still have a common theme; the relationship between a father and his son.

As the publisher’s blurb indicates, this collection is semi-autobiographical in that the author’s father did commit suicide but much of what happens in each story is fictionalized. This is true particularly for the novella, which is quite touching and shocking at the same time.

Vann does an exceptional job with setting. Nearly all of the stories take place in his native Alaska, so there is much to love. The writing makes you feel as if you’re there and considering the fact that I’ve never visited Alaska, I was quite impressed with how beautiful and true these passages seemed. I could smell the rain and feel the mist and taste the salt in the air. Vann’s writing is extremely lush.

Each story is carefully written. The characters are well-developed, the dialogue realistic but after reading the novella, I was relieved in one sense but felt totally violated in another. I won’t discuss what happens within the novella, but I was so completely absorbed in it, that when I realized what had taken place, I felt a tad violated. As if someone had taken advantage of me and then left me feeling all used up.

I grew up with parents that were/are clinically depressed. The guilt that I felt as a child over not being able to make them happy, ate me up and created scars that will never fade. It’s clear that David Vann experienced much of the same pain. The guilt that a child feels over losing a parent to suicide cannot be measured. It’s ongoing and overwhelming to consider. These stories clearly share that pain with us.

Legend of a Suicide is not a fun read. It’s not the kind of book to curl-up with, hot cocoa in hand, cat at your side. BUT, it’s beautifully written and although haunting at times and even a bit graphic, the images have stayed with me and I would definitely recommend it.

Photo of David Vann

To visit David Vann’s website, click here.

To view Vann’s other TLC tour stops, click here.

Source: A big ‘thank you’ to TLC Book Tours for asking me to be a part of this tour and to the publisher, for providing me with a review copy of the book.

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