duarshe's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took so long to finish this book that is being hard for me to realize that I'm not going to be reading Emma's schemings anymore. To be honest, I'm a little sad.
Many people may criticize Emma for being so faulted of character but it is obviously the interesting part of the story. She has such a wrong worldview that we cannot trust her as the focalizer of the omniscient narrator. Such a technique, Austen. So while the novel goes on we only discover what the other characters think when they actually put words into it. (That was my English major talking, I'm sorry).
All in all, it is really a great novel. The only thing I would only get rid of is half of the unsubstantial conversations between some characters (half of Miss Bates' monologues).
Many people may criticize Emma for being so faulted of character but it is obviously the interesting part of the story. She has such a wrong worldview that we cannot trust her as the focalizer of the omniscient narrator. Such a technique, Austen. So while the novel goes on we only discover what the other characters think when they actually put words into it. (That was my English major talking, I'm sorry).
Spoiler
Also, it is hard for me to get over the fact that Mr. Knightley is 16 years older than Emma, and literally saw her as a baby. He even said that he fell in love when she was THIRTEEN (which means he was TWENTY-NINE). Mr. Knightley walked so that Jacob Black could run lmfao. But the true villain of the story is Mr. Frank Churchill. You're telling me that you were secretly engaged all along and you treated your fiancée like shit since the start. Boy... Poor Jane indeedAll in all, it is really a great novel. The only thing I would only get rid of is half of the unsubstantial conversations between some characters (half of Miss Bates' monologues).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexism
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Sexism
Minor: Racism and Racial slurs
sirenricobooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Pregnancy
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness
rohrbaugh82's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexism
t_stre's review against another edition
challenging
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 went into this book thinking it was a romance. But I think the main story surrounds Emma, her misguided romantic matches, and her navigating her shortcomings and growing up. Whereas the romance between Emma and Mr. Knightley felt very much like one of those adhesive bows you stick on top of presents after you’ve already finished wrapping it.
In the end, I did enjoy the flawed characters and the way Austen makes conversations feel to the reader as if they’re part of the gossip. But the very slow beginning was definitely more difficult to get through. I felt that the main romance hadn’t been introduced until the final eighth of the story. I tried hard to love this book.
In the end, I did enjoy the flawed characters and the way Austen makes conversations feel to the reader as if they’re part of the gossip. But the very slow beginning was definitely more difficult to get through. I felt that the main romance hadn’t been introduced until the final eighth of the story. I tried hard to love this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
ylienna'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Classism, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent and Death
emmi_lee's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Death and Pregnancy
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
hannahbailey's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
2.0
TW: sexism, classism and gypsy/traveller stereotypes
Jane, I'm so sorry I didn't like this. I just visited your house and loved it. You're a feminist icon! But wow, this book is long and boring. I did enjoy Pride and Prejudice though, so I'm not an Austen hater. This book just wasn't for me.
People that know me know I hate long sentences. Punctuation is free to use guys, you don't have to fill a whole page with your monologue. Taking a breath is ok. Letting someone else speak every once in a while is ok. What's not ok is saying something in five paragraphs that could be said in one line! The way this novel was written combined with the very dry subject matter made it an absolute SLOG to get through. If it wasn't a renowned and popular classic written by a woman, I would've dnf'd. I like to support women where I can 😌
I would say that some parts were enjoyable and it did feel ahead of its time. The women were often outspoken and sometimes cheeky and unafraid to turn down a marriage proposal. Most of them showed independence of thought and self, which was quite refreshing. Some of the characters were endearing and likeable, but most of them were snobby and uptight. Every new character introduced was more boring and annoying than the last. It's a surprise that I managed to get through the whole thing. Emma was especially judgemental and liked to categorise people by their class, which was always lower than her own. The Tory party would love her!
I can appreciate this was a gentle critique of marital arrangements and women's place in society at the time, but Austen could not keep me engaged nor interested in what was going on. Which, to be fair, wasn't much, given that rich people back then seemed to do nothing other than visit each other's houses and look down upon the poor. And if it was bad weather, write to each other instead. Rather similar to now I suppose.
Jane, I'm so sorry I didn't like this. I just visited your house and loved it. You're a feminist icon! But wow, this book is long and boring. I did enjoy Pride and Prejudice though, so I'm not an Austen hater. This book just wasn't for me.
People that know me know I hate long sentences. Punctuation is free to use guys, you don't have to fill a whole page with your monologue. Taking a breath is ok. Letting someone else speak every once in a while is ok. What's not ok is saying something in five paragraphs that could be said in one line! The way this novel was written combined with the very dry subject matter made it an absolute SLOG to get through. If it wasn't a renowned and popular classic written by a woman, I would've dnf'd. I like to support women where I can 😌
I would say that some parts were enjoyable and it did feel ahead of its time. The women were often outspoken and sometimes cheeky and unafraid to turn down a marriage proposal. Most of them showed independence of thought and self, which was quite refreshing. Some of the characters were endearing and likeable, but most of them were snobby and uptight. Every new character introduced was more boring and annoying than the last. It's a surprise that I managed to get through the whole thing. Emma was especially judgemental and liked to categorise people by their class, which was always lower than her own. The Tory party would love her!
I can appreciate this was a gentle critique of marital arrangements and women's place in society at the time, but Austen could not keep me engaged nor interested in what was going on. Which, to be fair, wasn't much, given that rich people back then seemed to do nothing other than visit each other's houses and look down upon the poor. And if it was bad weather, write to each other instead. Rather similar to now I suppose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Chronic illness, Sexism, Death of parent, and Misogyny