3.5 
 Like most of the characters have with one another, I have an intense love-hate relationship with this book. 
 Let's start off with the not so good and get it out of the way. Emily Bronte is not a good storyteller. The entire novel works as a story within a story within a story. We are so far removed from the characters that this novel mostly revolves around. It's just absurd. More often than not, we get summaries of events from one of these two narrators rather than seeing them for ourselves. It would have been a much tighter novel has Emily Bronte decided to skip the narrative shenanigans and just keep us with Cathy and Heathcliff. 
 So does this mean Emily Bronte is a bad writer? Not in the least. She can craft some simple but utterly elegant sentences. When she does decide to include a scene, it is masterfully told. Honestly, the story and actual plotting of the events in this novel are absolutely spectacular. It is as eventful as an over-the-top soap opera but with a dark, twisted mood. 
 And don't even get me started on Heathcliff. 
 As far as the other characters went,I didn't really care what happened to them. Heathcliff absolutely anchored this novel. We get the tragically tortured unrequited lover in the first half and the dark, sadistic villain in the second half. Is he an ass? Absolutely, but you understand why he is the way he is, and to a degree, I found his actions somewhat justified. Through thick and thin, I was rooting for him all the way. 
 I get why some people hate this book. Each and every character (except Nelly) is deeply flawed and incredible unlikable. But they are so compelling and Emily Bronte weaves them through such a twisted and compelling plot that I find that to be a sorry excuse for not liking this book. It is certainly a more entertaining classic than I expected, just not as masterful as I had hoped.