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
conbeeni'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Racism
cinderrunner's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book's pacing is very slow but in a comforting sort of way. Its like coming home for a relaxing visit with old friends. Its a book to take your time with. It is a very domestic book, a bit of a comedy of errors. Its most enjoyable if you have prior context for the time period or have seen a film/stage adaptation before. I wouldn't recommend this for someone who is just getting into the classics and doesnt have any background knowledge to make the jokes land. All of the characters have their particular quirks and, as a result, i have very mixed feelings toward them and dont find at least half of them very likeable. But that's human nature and i realize a lot of it is due to behavior and customs of the time period. A lot of the characters come across very classist, annoying, and pretentious (again, that's the time period and setting). But even Austen claimed Emma was going to be a character very few people beside herself actually liked. Overall, the book is sweet, cute, steady, and comforting.Â
Spoiler
Mr. Knightley's age gap with Emma and him saying he has loved her since she was 13 made me a bit uncomfortable cause we get into grooming territory. But again, time period.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
sbooksbowm's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Emma is the clueless representation we need and deserve.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
icedcaramelatte's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexism
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy and Racism
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
cdoubet's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Classism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
jferguson1138's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.5
Landed gentry romance is such a bizarre, but interesting genre. The social back and forth maneuvering, not all of the "rules" still making a ton of sense, but whatever. It's a fun romp through matchmaking and good manners.
I enjoyed the audiobook version of Emma. I think if I hadn't listened to the audiobook version it might have been much more of a slow drag. That goes double for any passage involving Mrs. Bates who, when she entered a scene, you just had to brace for impact. But via audiobook, those passages worked okay as word salad monologues that I think the author intended that just beat you down until you laugh at the thoroughness. If I had been reading them myself I might have gotten lost in the slog.
I did do a double-take towards the end when I realized how much older Mr. Knightly was than Emma and that he'd had eyes for her since she was 13, but I guess he didn't make a move until she was older. That plus how the author uses the characters of gypsies makes you remember that it is definitely a period piece.Â
I enjoyed the audiobook version of Emma. I think if I hadn't listened to the audiobook version it might have been much more of a slow drag. That goes double for any passage involving Mrs. Bates who, when she entered a scene, you just had to brace for impact. But via audiobook, those passages worked okay as word salad monologues that I think the author intended that just beat you down until you laugh at the thoroughness. If I had been reading them myself I might have gotten lost in the slog.
I did do a double-take towards the end when I realized how much older Mr. Knightly was than Emma and that he'd had eyes for her since she was 13, but I guess he didn't make a move until she was older. That plus how the author uses the characters of gypsies makes you remember that it is definitely a period piece.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
mickymouse_007's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
This was definitely interesting. There is so many layers to the books and hidden meanings behind all the dialogues and the language. Have trust issues because of this book as nobody's pov is reliable (especially not Emma's while Mr. Knightly is comparatively more accurate)Â
"everything is not what it seems" could have been part of the movie's music playlist but make in 1800'sÂ
This was a fun read. Compared to P&P, it was definitely more comical and the writing style was a bit different but still enjoyable to say at the very least.Â
I loved the character development in this book and also character analysis. And I loved how they did a deep dive into the character of the side characters like Miss. Bates, Jane Fairfax, Harriet, Mrs. Elton, John Knightly and so on whom would have otherwise been completely ignored and how these people and their lives and their personality shape Emma to be who she is and also shapes her alteration.
Speaking of the devil, did I like Emma? Surprisingly, I did and didn't at the same time. I found her to be a very humane character who has flaws and makes mistakes (loads of them in fact) but she still has a lot more learning though.Â
Final thoughts: loved it. Definitely will reread it just to understand the hints on and also understand the themes more. Definitely recommend!!
"everything is not what it seems" could have been part of the movie's music playlist but make in 1800'sÂ
This was a fun read. Compared to P&P, it was definitely more comical and the writing style was a bit different but still enjoyable to say at the very least.Â
I loved the character development in this book and also character analysis. And I loved how they did a deep dive into the character of the side characters like Miss. Bates, Jane Fairfax, Harriet, Mrs. Elton, John Knightly and so on whom would have otherwise been completely ignored and how these people and their lives and their personality shape Emma to be who she is and also shapes her alteration.
Speaking of the devil, did I like Emma? Surprisingly, I did and didn't at the same time. I found her to be a very humane character who has flaws and makes mistakes (loads of them in fact) but she still has a lot more learning though.Â
Final thoughts: loved it. Definitely will reread it just to understand the hints on
Spoiler
frank churchill's and jane fairfax's relationship
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy and Death of parent
nehanaomi's review
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