May 21, 2026, Seward Folly

Dreamland Book Review by Micheley Kowalski

If you’re interested in books at all, no doubt you’ve had some awareness of the recent “Wuthering Heights” buzz. The resurgence of interest in the text is led, of course, by the sexy new movie release, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.

I confess I haven’t seen the movie yet (it’s likely I will tune in at some point), but I’ve recently been swept along by my own Brontë sisters’ obsession. I reread “Wuthering Heights” on a recent trip, and holy moly, that book is a foreboding, inimitable world of its own. I remember finishing it the first time around with a distinct feeling of unease. This time I landed at the end with more appreciation of the craft and a sense of elemental relationships – between Catherine and Heathcliff, Cathy and Hareton, and also the landscape and our place in it. It’s a masterpiece, but not one that necessarily leaves one feeling a sense of peace with the world. Passion, revenge, isolation, disdain for convention… One wonders what it means to live a good life in the world of “Wuthering Heights.” It’s such a unique and juicy reading experience.

Soon after, I devoured “Jane Eyre” in about a week. This text, while also spooky and unconventional, invites the reader to become intimate with Jane, and by the end it almost feels as if she’s a friend – fiery, incisive and funny, with a core of unflinching morality. This book is not without its problems, the so-called madwoman in the attic belies colonialist and patriarchal views, and the modern reader will find much to investigate around these themes. At the end of the text, Jane remains a singular character and her journey to find family and love while remaining true to her character really is an amazing reading experience.

I’m on to Anne Brontë next! If you’re wondering about a classic that is otherworldly, a little
creepy, and transporting, maybe pick up something by the Brontës. These sisters open up little worlds that are like nothing else I’ve read before.

And if you REALLY want to take a deep dive into these kinds of topics, consider taking one of the classes through Oxford University’s Lifelong Learning program – they’re absolutely worth it:
https://lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/brontes-online?code=O25P514LTV