jkhurma's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t believe it took me so long to finish the book because it was fantastic.
It never left the back of my mind because I constantly needed to know what Emma would do next. Austen said no one but herself would like the character Emma. She was wrong. I love Emma.
And don’t even get me started on my love of Mr. Knightley!
It never left the back of my mind because I constantly needed to know what Emma would do next. Austen said no one but herself would like the character Emma. She was wrong. I love Emma.
And don’t even get me started on my love of Mr. Knightley!
but_then_you_read's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I did not like this book. It was my first Jane Austen and I thought I would immediately be taken by her, but no go. The whole book is just so dull. Emma's character development is excellent I'll give you that, but that's pretty much the only thing I liked.
The first 400 pages is just a bunch of rich people going about their daily lives. See a plot like that is not a problem in itself, it's just that the writing was so damn boring. I really had to force myself to read more than one chapter at a time. And then when something finally happens, in that Emma and Mr. Knightley finally tell each other how they feel, everything unfolded in like a page. And there were about two lines of dialogue, and then you were supposed to figure out the rest yourself. It's like the reader wasn't allowed to witness the intimate moment between the two, which, in my opinion, is so counterproductive to the point of any book. The reader is supposed to be the silent third person in any setting, observing without contributing. But this book didn't let you do that.
I don't know, this was just a big fail for me. Like I said, it was my first Jane Austen. I'm going to give her one more shot with Sense and Sensibility, but if I like that one as little as I liked Emma, then I'm just going to leave it at that, and wonder what Austenites see in her.
The first 400 pages is just a bunch of rich people going about their daily lives. See a plot like that is not a problem in itself, it's just that the writing was so damn boring. I really had to force myself to read more than one chapter at a time. And then when something finally happens, in that Emma and Mr. Knightley finally tell each other how they feel, everything unfolded in like a page. And there were about two lines of dialogue, and then you were supposed to figure out the rest yourself. It's like the reader wasn't allowed to witness the intimate moment between the two, which, in my opinion, is so counterproductive to the point of any book. The reader is supposed to be the silent third person in any setting, observing without contributing. But this book didn't let you do that.
I don't know, this was just a big fail for me. Like I said, it was my first Jane Austen. I'm going to give her one more shot with Sense and Sensibility, but if I like that one as little as I liked Emma, then I'm just going to leave it at that, and wonder what Austenites see in her.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
4.0
I think this might be my favourite Austen novel.
No less than a triple wedding, and the pairings precisely those that are most mutually attached. And Emma herself: so ridiculous, intelligent but always deluded by a romantic sensibility. If anything, Mr. Knightley's proposal scene solidified it for me. I'm a sucker for the best friends to lovers trope, what can I say? Even if it's an early nineteenth century version, reminiscent of all those amatory fiction novels where the man must first positively influence the woman's behaviour and views.
Austen, queen of the slow burn.
No less than a triple wedding, and the pairings precisely those that are most mutually attached. And Emma herself: so ridiculous, intelligent but always deluded by a romantic sensibility. If anything, Mr. Knightley's proposal scene solidified it for me. I'm a sucker for the best friends to lovers trope, what can I say? Even if it's an early nineteenth century version, reminiscent of all those amatory fiction novels where the man must first positively influence the woman's behaviour and views.
Austen, queen of the slow burn.
cosycinephile's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
chloe_7's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very very very slow - painfully slow. But the writing is beautiful and decadent. Past the first 200 pages and I genuinely started getting into the plot and characters. A classic.
vivian_munich's review
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
wieske's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
nijntjes's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
krunkjess's review against another edition
3.0
I'm all for happy endings but Emma was insufferable until the 3rd part of the book and by then I didn't want her to get her happy ending!
manda434's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I forget how annoying all the characters are in this book.