Sarah Moss, the acclaimed author of "The Night Tiger", has revealed that despite being lauded for her gothic and atmospheric writing style, she never developed the same affinity for Emily Brontë's iconic novel "Wuthering Heights" as she did for Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre".
Moss, who has been praised for bringing together elements of Gothic fiction with literary exploration, has attributed this disparity to her perception of the two novels during different stages of her life. Moss stated that while both novels are masterpieces of 19th-century English literature, she grew increasingly uneasy with the eroticized abuse in "Wuthering Heights". In contrast, she found solace and admiration for the strong female characters and narrative structure in "Jane Eyre".
Moss's remarks highlight a crucial aspect of reading: how our perspectives change over time. The same text can evoke vastly different emotions and reactions depending on one's life experiences, cultural context, and literary preferences. This sentiment is underscored by Moss's statement that all books have the power to alter our understanding of the world.
Moss's love for literature is a testament to her passion for storytelling, with authors such as Christina Sharpe, Barbara Pym, and Miriam Toews serving as significant influences on her writing style. Her eclectic reading list, which also includes contemporary writers like Helen Garner, Gun-Britt Sundström, and Kathleen Jamie, highlights the diversity of texts that continue to captivate her imagination.
Through Moss's words, readers are reminded that literature is not static; it evolves alongside us, offering new insights and perspectives with each rereading. Her take on "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre" serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of reading and the importance of self-reflection in our literary journeys.
Moss, who has been praised for bringing together elements of Gothic fiction with literary exploration, has attributed this disparity to her perception of the two novels during different stages of her life. Moss stated that while both novels are masterpieces of 19th-century English literature, she grew increasingly uneasy with the eroticized abuse in "Wuthering Heights". In contrast, she found solace and admiration for the strong female characters and narrative structure in "Jane Eyre".
Moss's remarks highlight a crucial aspect of reading: how our perspectives change over time. The same text can evoke vastly different emotions and reactions depending on one's life experiences, cultural context, and literary preferences. This sentiment is underscored by Moss's statement that all books have the power to alter our understanding of the world.
Moss's love for literature is a testament to her passion for storytelling, with authors such as Christina Sharpe, Barbara Pym, and Miriam Toews serving as significant influences on her writing style. Her eclectic reading list, which also includes contemporary writers like Helen Garner, Gun-Britt Sundström, and Kathleen Jamie, highlights the diversity of texts that continue to captivate her imagination.
Through Moss's words, readers are reminded that literature is not static; it evolves alongside us, offering new insights and perspectives with each rereading. Her take on "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre" serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of reading and the importance of self-reflection in our literary journeys.
. I remember when I was younger, I loved the whole romance thing between Heathcliff and Catherine, but now I'm all about the toxic relationships 
. It's crazy how our perspectives change as we grow up. And I love that Sarah Moss is owning her opinions about these classic novels - it's like she's saying, "Hey, I know what you think, but actually..." 
. It makes me want to re-read "Jane Eyre" with new eyes and see if my feelings are different this time around 
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Anyway, I think Moss is spot on that our perspectives change over time, but maybe we could also consider how our interpretations are influenced by our own cultural contexts? 
... i was re-reading some old poetry by Sylvia Plath last week and i couldn't relate to her emotions at all... used to be this huge fan but now her words feel kinda dark & depressing... maybe thats just me though? anyhoo... moss's statement about how our life experiences shape our reactions to books is like, so real 
she's got so much insight into how our perspectives change over time, you know? like, we can love a book one day but then not so much later, or vice versa 
and i think that's so relatable. her love for 'jane eyre' is everything 
i've always been a fan of strong female characters in books & she gets it totally! 
. I think this is what makes reading so amazing - it's not just about consuming stories, but also about growing and changing alongside them 
Like, I can see why she'd feel uneasy about the whole Nelly Dean drama, but can't we just appreciate it for what it is – a classic? 
And don't even get me started on how much I love Jane Eyre... like, Bertha Mason is basically the OG villainess 
. Anyways, this just made me think about all the books that I loved back in school but now feel kinda meh about... maybe I'll re-read them with new eyes? 
. Sarah Moss is just trying to save face after people roasted her for not liking "Wuthering Heights" enough. Newsflash: just 'cause you don't love a book doesn't mean you're not intelligent or cultured 
. And what's with the "my perspectives changed over time" thing? It sounds like she's trying to justify why she didn't appreciate "Heathcliff is so brooding and tortured" enough 
. I'm good, I've read "Jane Eyre" a million times and still think Jane is a bit of a goody-goody 
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. And Moss's reading list? Mind blown 
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? Moss is giving me all the feels when she talks about finding solace in the strong female characters and narrative structure of "Jane Eyre" 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that her influences range from classic authors to contemporary writers like Helen Garner? It's a reminder that literature is always evolving, and there's always something new to discover 
. it's amazing how she was drawn to the strong female characters in "jane eyre" - that's so empowering 
! and i can see why wuthering heights might be harder for her to connect with given its portrayal of toxic relationships 
. but what i love about this is that we get to see moss's growth as a reader and how it informs her own writing style 
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. I mean, Jane Eyre's feminist vibes are still giving me life 
! Anyway, it's dope to see Moss's eclectic reading list - Christina Sharpe's work on grief and trauma really resonates with me 
. And can we talk about how much diversity in literature is needed? It's like, authors like Moss are proof that there's more to reading than just classics 
. Here's a chart showing the number of books written by female authors between 2020-2024 vs male authors: 