archiveofrasa's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
perhaps this shouldn't have been the first Jane Austen book I started with, but that notion of a "heroine whom no one but myself will much like" drew me in; like, I wanted to know what kind of person only Austen would like, okay!! as a result, it did take me a while to get through this book, but I wouldn't necessarily blame it by any means. the plot was entertaining, I just had school 😔
Emma is always portrayed to be this intentionally annoying character, but I actually really liked her and empathised with the decisions she made, even if they weren't very good ones. her development was steady, not very quick or "ah-ha!" like, but not every story needed that and for this type of story, I think this gradual change was fitting. Harriet was just so cute and adorable and I loved whenever she would come into a scene; her development into making decisions for herself was nice, even if it was a lot nearer to the end. Mr Knightley – he was okay? like I definitely didn't hate him; I liked how he is Emma's critic in whatever she does and provides her other perspectives she hasn't considered, but I think I would've liked him with Emma more if he wasn't, like, sixteen years her senior and didn't say that one line. you know that one; we didn't need that ðŸ˜
I know a lot of people say this is one of her funniest works, but I guess my autistic self was more interested in the social cues the characters mentioned and how that impacted the way they would interact with each other (or how they would judge each other); e.g. the way her friendship with Harriet is written – a lot of class context and internal feelings (+ external factors like Emma feeling abandoned by Miss Taylor after she gets married) need to be considered before outright stating that Emma is a horrible person. the narrative of Emma was really well done, found myself thoroughly entertained by it and how it spoke of everything going on.
my criticism does lie in the racism and classism of Romani people near the middle-end; I understand the time it was written in but even then, it's good to point it out and acknowledge that it's not okay. this is one of my primary issues with a lot of classics and how I, as someone who isn't white, feel distanced from really connecting with them like privileged people are able to do.
despite this, how long it took to read, understand and grow accustomed to the language, I very much enjoyed the experience and am definitely rereading this at a later time to be able to properly grasp the concepts and themes. but if you're just starting to get into Austen: maybe don't start with this one ðŸ˜
Emma is always portrayed to be this intentionally annoying character, but I actually really liked her and empathised with the decisions she made, even if they weren't very good ones. her development was steady, not very quick or "ah-ha!" like, but not every story needed that and for this type of story, I think this gradual change was fitting. Harriet was just so cute and adorable and I loved whenever she would come into a scene; her development into making decisions for herself was nice, even if it was a lot nearer to the end. Mr Knightley – he was okay? like I definitely didn't hate him; I liked how he is Emma's critic in whatever she does and provides her other perspectives she hasn't considered, but I think I would've liked him with Emma more if he wasn't, like, sixteen years her senior and didn't say that one line. you know that one;
Spoiler
"[I] have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least."I know a lot of people say this is one of her funniest works, but I guess my autistic self was more interested in the social cues the characters mentioned and how that impacted the way they would interact with each other (or how they would judge each other); e.g. the way her friendship with Harriet is written – a lot of class context and internal feelings (+ external factors like Emma feeling abandoned by Miss Taylor after she gets married) need to be considered before outright stating that Emma is a horrible person. the narrative of Emma was really well done, found myself thoroughly entertained by it and how it spoke of everything going on.
my criticism does lie in the racism and classism of Romani people near the middle-end; I understand the time it was written in but even then, it's good to point it out and acknowledge that it's not okay. this is one of my primary issues with a lot of classics and how I, as someone who isn't white, feel distanced from really connecting with them like privileged people are able to do.
despite this, how long it took to read, understand and grow accustomed to the language, I very much enjoyed the experience and am definitely rereading this at a later time to be able to properly grasp the concepts and themes. but if you're just starting to get into Austen: maybe don't start with this one ðŸ˜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death, and Adult/minor relationship
solouncapitulomas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yeah so the fact that he was in love with her when she was like 13 doesn't sit right with me and the four starts are for emma and emma only bc she is an icon and i love her
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness and Racism
Minor: Death, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
madamenovelist's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Xenophobia
The only slur in this book is the g-word for Romani people in one portion of narrative. Rather jarring for first-time readers since the rest of the book is quite wholesome.phoebemurtagh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
emilyelysian's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
eggsoap's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I found Emma to be the hardest of Austen's novels to get through of the ones ive read. The blatant self-importance of Emma herself isn't that different to many Austen characters but the fact that this leads her to veiw of the people around her has mainly seeming to exist for her entertainment makes her hard to like. She probably has the most character development of any of Austen's heroines throughout her novel, except maybe Lizzy Bennett, but the vhange happens much later in the story for Emma and she does a lot more outward harm through her actions before the development.Â
The biggest point in Emma's favour is that her character growth is mainly self prompted. She doesn't really need any prompting beyond Mr Knightly telling her how much she hurt Miss Bates on the Box Hill trip to begin her self-reflection and attempts to repent. She has a lot of loyalty for the people in Highbury, but it is only once she actually sees just how arrogant she has become and reflect on rhe damage that it has done that she really is able be properly generous and display the care to the people around her that she should. Due to her own guilt she does develop and become kinder and stops treating the lives others as her entertainment.
Ironically, it is her arrogance makes Emma's romance with Mr. Knightly so satisfying to read. They know each other so well and they care about each other so obviously, that Emma's willfull blindess his and her own feelings and complete resolution to never marry, make the payoff that much better in the end. They might be my favourite couple, if I could get over Mr Knightly admitting to Emma that he fell in love with her when she was 13. Yuck.
Spoiler
The biggest point in Emma's favour is that her character growth is mainly self prompted. She doesn't really need any prompting beyond Mr Knightly telling her how much she hurt Miss Bates on the Box Hill trip to begin her self-reflection and attempts to repent. She has a lot of loyalty for the people in Highbury, but it is only once she actually sees just how arrogant she has become and reflect on rhe damage that it has done that she really is able be properly generous and display the care to the people around her that she should. Due to her own guilt she does develop and become kinder and stops treating the lives others as her entertainment.
Ironically, it is her arrogance makes Emma's romance with Mr. Knightly so satisfying to read. They know each other so well and they care about each other so obviously, that Emma's willfull blindess his and her own feelings and complete resolution to never marry, make the payoff that much better in the end. They might be my favourite couple, if I could get over Mr Knightly admitting to Emma that he fell in love with her when she was 13. Yuck.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Classism, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Addiction
nehanaomi's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm choosing to ignore that ONE part of Mr. Knightley's character.Â
Content Warnings
Minor: Classism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Toxic friendship
jessthanthree's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Adult/minor relationship, and Racial slurs
Minor: Racism
ratthew86's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Definitely wasn’t in the right place when I picked this up (extremely stressed, busy, anxious) but by the end I did feel as if I was able to have some fun with it. I really felt the length of this because of how extremely character-driven it was but also, having watched (and loved) the recent movie adaptation definitely added to the slow pace. I wouldn’t recommend people start with this Austen book but if you enjoy her other novels you’ll like enjoy this too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexism and Toxic friendship