afaithu's review against another edition
4.0
Jane Austen is not my favorite author, but when you get in that cozy, historical romance mood she is the only one who will suffice. Emma is a pleasant story full of the most amusing characters and situations, and I found it a delightful time. Not the deepest or most impactful of all my reads, but certainly perfect for the mood I felt myself in at the time. Charming indeed.
thereadingtrashqueen's review against another edition
I made it to 37% before DNFing. I was going to give it a little longer but the audiobook skipped again and I just couldn't take it. I just don't seem to be able to connect to it. I don't care for the characters, and everyone seems annoying and childish. I might try again one day with the physical copy I have, but this audiobook is a very firm DNF.
polos_missing_skittles's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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
briina24's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
catisbookish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.0
I'm sorry, but Emma did Harriet so fucking dirty and received zero consequences for her actions. Does she gaslight/gatekeep/girlboss though? Yes, yes she does.
wotchergiorgia's review against another edition
5.0
Emma è stato il secondo romanzo di Jane Austen che ho letto dopo Orgoglio e Pregiudizio.
Mi ha subito catturata, mi ha subito divertita - perché di commedia si tratta - molto più di quanto pensassi e molto di più di quello sopracitato. L’ironia (comunque sempre presente nei romanzi della Austen) è eccezionale, così come la costruzione dei personaggi, che sono davvero spettacolari. Emma Woodhouse è, e credo rimarrà sempre, una delle mie protagoniste letterarie preferite. Il suo personaggio subisce una trasformazione radicale: da che a malapena riuscivo a sopportarla all’inizio del romanzo, a che mi ci sono rivista verso la fine, quando ho davvero cominciato a comprenderla. Per non parlare di George Knightely, nettamente superiore (per mio gusto personale) a Fitzwilliam Darcy e ad ogni altro uomo Austeniano! Le parole “mia cara, carissima Emma, perché carissima mi sarete sempre” sono impresse nel mio cuore indelebilmente.
Non c’è che dire, il mio preferito della Austen è sicuramente Emma.
Mi ha subito catturata, mi ha subito divertita - perché di commedia si tratta - molto più di quanto pensassi e molto di più di quello sopracitato. L’ironia (comunque sempre presente nei romanzi della Austen) è eccezionale, così come la costruzione dei personaggi, che sono davvero spettacolari. Emma Woodhouse è, e credo rimarrà sempre, una delle mie protagoniste letterarie preferite. Il suo personaggio subisce una trasformazione radicale: da che a malapena riuscivo a sopportarla all’inizio del romanzo, a che mi ci sono rivista verso la fine, quando ho davvero cominciato a comprenderla. Per non parlare di George Knightely, nettamente superiore (per mio gusto personale) a Fitzwilliam Darcy e ad ogni altro uomo Austeniano! Le parole “mia cara, carissima Emma, perché carissima mi sarete sempre” sono impresse nel mio cuore indelebilmente.
Non c’è che dire, il mio preferito della Austen è sicuramente Emma.
warriorpickle's review against another edition
3.0
The audio production on this book was fantastic, but the story itself left a little something to be desired.
Listening to the book was actually quite enjoyable. The audio was just so well done and I couldn't have appreciated it more. I just didn't like the story told all that much. It was fine, but definitely not special to me. I think Emma was part of the problem as she is the main character and one of the most selfish people I have ever read about, as far as being a main character. She is manipulative and comes across as a little full of herself. Saying all that might make it sound like I hate her, but I don't, she was just a little annoying to me.
I was a little disappointed with where the story was going for a second. I really liked Harriet and thought she often got screwed over. But the ending turned out to be a pleasant enough conclusion for me to look back fondly upon.
If you like this book already, or stories set in these types of settings, you should give this a listen. I think you will enjoy the well acted audio here.
Listening to the book was actually quite enjoyable. The audio was just so well done and I couldn't have appreciated it more. I just didn't like the story told all that much. It was fine, but definitely not special to me. I think Emma was part of the problem as she is the main character and one of the most selfish people I have ever read about, as far as being a main character. She is manipulative and comes across as a little full of herself. Saying all that might make it sound like I hate her, but I don't, she was just a little annoying to me.
I was a little disappointed with where the story was going for a second. I really liked Harriet and thought she often got screwed over. But the ending turned out to be a pleasant enough conclusion for me to look back fondly upon.
If you like this book already, or stories set in these types of settings, you should give this a listen. I think you will enjoy the well acted audio here.
sbnich's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still not an Austen fan, but I'll grudgingly admit I didn't hate this book. I'll give it 3 stars for interest and 4+ because it is very well written and quite progressive for the era.
I can appreciate Austen's talent and why people love her books. I just don't love them myself. That said, I have a goal to at least read two of hers this year. Another long cleaning project let me knock the audio of this out rather quickly. I do think I enjoy Austen more via audio as she does really do well at dialogue.
I can appreciate Austen's talent and why people love her books. I just don't love them myself. That said, I have a goal to at least read two of hers this year. Another long cleaning project let me knock the audio of this out rather quickly. I do think I enjoy Austen more via audio as she does really do well at dialogue.
bibliopau's review against another edition
4.0
“I cannot make speeches, Emma — If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
When it comes to sudden (but romantic) proclamations of love, no one can beat Jane Austen. Though the same trope of characters are seen in Pride and Prejudice, the characters in Emma are still distinct in their own unique and witty way.
I know Austen loves her detailed description and often delves into the quotidian lives of her characters but when I tell you that this novel dragged! I also found it difficult at times to differentiate between the narrators and Emma’s point of view.
When it comes to sudden (but romantic) proclamations of love, no one can beat Jane Austen. Though the same trope of characters are seen in Pride and Prejudice, the characters in Emma are still distinct in their own unique and witty way.
I know Austen loves her detailed description and often delves into the quotidian lives of her characters but when I tell you that this novel dragged! I also found it difficult at times to differentiate between the narrators and Emma’s point of view.
lcdmccullough's review against another edition
3.0
This novel get 4 stars because its beautifully written. However, the heroine is such a brat that it's difficult to like her. She's nosy, interfering, high-handed and arrogant. She's supposedly "tutoring" her friend Harriet and guiding her towards a better life. Basically all she's doing is teaching her to turn her nose up at everyone else. Harriet even turns down a proposal from a man she really likes because Emma thinks she can do better. Emma's attempts at matchmaking of course lead to misunderstandings and mayhem. Not that she thinks any of that is her fault.
Despite all of Emma's flaws, Mr. Knightley loves her anyway. Therein lies the one redeeming quality of the book.
The end.
Despite all of Emma's flaws, Mr. Knightley loves her anyway. Therein lies the one redeeming quality of the book.
The end.