Reviews with content warning for Classism - Emma

There’s a lot of classism in the book but we have narrator so I wouldn’t say the book fully believes any of it though probably some give. The context and times the book was made in and class of the author and so forth. But the only racism it is not five stars is the random but very explicit racism to Romani people in like chapters 39 to 42 out if 55 where a begging child is seen as some danger to this delicate white wealthy women and just popping out of bushes to ambush them god forbid for money. Incredibly ridiculous and racist.

It had some weird age gap stuff not even the age gap itself but like complimenting the male interest for watching and participating in her childhood which never of as grooming per se but was kinda creepy and and screamed father issues to me. Otherwise a lot of fun with a spoiled unreliable narrator.

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hanna's review against another edition

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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

Not my Austen cup of tea. Going against other low reviews, I actually really enjoyed Emma as a main character — yes, she's absolutely spoiled and a bit of a bitch but for me at least, she was really fun to read about it. This book was just too dragged out for me with too many characters whose stories weren't interesting enough. Have to say, though, that I really enjoyed the last 2/3 chapters and they made me end the book on a positive note.

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divine529's review against another edition

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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

I've read "Emma" several times before, but this was the closest I think I've ever read it.

I read it this time along with an audiobook I got from the library and I always struggle with audiobooks, but the narrator wasn't my favorite, so it made it a little extra difficult.

For those of you who don't know what this book is about, it follows our main protagonist, Emma, a matchmaker by nature and a busy-body, who always ends up getting in trouble due to her shenanigans. Like Austen's other novels, this one is still about class and finding love and there's a lot of different forms of that here as always.

It's by far my favorite Austen novel, but I always find myself enjoying the third part of the book a fair bit. And as much as Emma and Knightley's relationship age gap bothers me, I love their witty banter and friendship and love them as a couple. I definitely always enjoy reading Knightley as a hero and this time was no different.

It might be awhile before I reread this one, but I'm sure I will again sometime in the future.

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takarakei's review against another edition

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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

I find rating classics to be so difficult cause I really just don’t think I have a brain for them. Honestly I’d skip the read and just watch the 2020 movie adaptation which is delightful.

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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

So this was technically my 5th Austen (4th that I finished because I did DNF Mansfield Park). If I only count the 4 I finished so far, Emma is possibly last on my rankings list.

The novel is extremely slow at times, causing me to be bored and at one point I started skimming some of the dialogues.

There were too many monologues from characters (looking at you Miss Bates) or descriptions that went on unnecessarily (did not need those descriptions on Pork, Woodhouses)! I think the novel could have been cut by about 100 pages and nothing of substance would change. The pacing felt all over the place as the story picked up for me around 60 pages in but then slowed down again-rinse and repeat. The ending felt dragged out and kind of anticlimactic.

I didn’t mind the characters as much as others may have. Emma could be annoying and spoiled but I found her entertaining enough to read about. Miss Bates and Mrs Elton drove me insane, and Frank Churchill is a walking red flag. Mainly continued the book for Mr Knightley, that man carried this book! Mr Woodhouse had some funny (and relatable) lines, “the sooner any party breaks up, the better.” 😂

Overall I’m mostly glad to have read this and checked it off my list of Austen novels. But I can understand why many don’t like classics or Austen if they read Emma (I swear her other books are so much better and less boring). This is one Austen I won’t be rereading though.

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abibea's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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_maia3_'s review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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

4.75

Austen handles an unlikable heroine and silly but realistic characters in a graceful way, and this pays off in a novel that blends social critique, with mystery, coming of age, and female friendship (though some have noted sapphic overtones, me included). Particular care is given to the status of women, class, and social responsibilities (as pertain to the time). Well worth a read!

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hello_lovely13's review against another edition

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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

3.75

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