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
nkazi's review
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Sexism
ednam0dewannabe'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
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
ratthew86's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.0
Definitely wasn’t in the right place when I picked this up (extremely stressed, busy, anxious) but by the end I did feel as if I was able to have some fun with it. I really felt the length of this because of how extremely character-driven it was but also, having watched (and loved) the recent movie adaptation definitely added to the slow pace. I wouldn’t recommend people start with this Austen book but if you enjoy her other novels you’ll like enjoy this too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexism and Toxic friendship
booksjessreads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
So I have been waiting a while to post this and I really don't know why because I generally enjoyed the book. Was Emma my favourite heroine? No. Did I grow to love her? Kind of. Do I admire her strong-minded character and her confidence (minus her vanity)? Absolutely. Is my relationship with this book complex? 1000% yeah.
Emma was a slow read. I read this alongside the audiobook (as I normally do with classics) and until the middle of the book I was not completely convinced I would like this. Austen's writing was as great as it always is, but it was Emma's character that I was turned away by in the beginning. Although, Austen herself wrote "I am going to make a heroine whom no one but myself will like." She pretty much stuck by her word.
I really loved Mr. Knightley's character and thought he was a very caring and strong character throughout. I loved how he had always looked out for Emma and was the only one who made any attempts to improve her and guide her through her mistakes, where everyone else worshipped the ground she walked on. However, this was so reflective of society at the time. It was very telling of how friendships with those in the upper-class could be superficial. No one corrected Emma because they didn't want her to improve and Knightley was the only one who really cared about her development.
I really enjoyed how Austen doesn't just tell you her opinions of society, she shows you and its where her wit and sarcasm most come to life. This novel is mainly about marriage and romance, due to Emma's interest in forcing couples together to be married, but it's also about misunderstandings, family and social connections.
Whilst this wasn't my most favourite novel, I did come to enjoy it at the end. 3½ stars for me since I just found the book lacking a plot of any sort, but I can't discredit the way Austen writes and her humour kept me going.
Â
Emma was a slow read. I read this alongside the audiobook (as I normally do with classics) and until the middle of the book I was not completely convinced I would like this. Austen's writing was as great as it always is, but it was Emma's character that I was turned away by in the beginning. Although, Austen herself wrote "I am going to make a heroine whom no one but myself will like." She pretty much stuck by her word.
I really loved Mr. Knightley's character and thought he was a very caring and strong character throughout. I loved how he had always looked out for Emma and was the only one who made any attempts to improve her and guide her through her mistakes, where everyone else worshipped the ground she walked on. However, this was so reflective of society at the time. It was very telling of how friendships with those in the upper-class could be superficial. No one corrected Emma because they didn't want her to improve and Knightley was the only one who really cared about her development.
I really enjoyed how Austen doesn't just tell you her opinions of society, she shows you and its where her wit and sarcasm most come to life. This novel is mainly about marriage and romance, due to Emma's interest in forcing couples together to be married, but it's also about misunderstandings, family and social connections.
Whilst this wasn't my most favourite novel, I did come to enjoy it at the end. 3½ stars for me since I just found the book lacking a plot of any sort, but I can't discredit the way Austen writes and her humour kept me going.
Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
paradaiso's review
hopeful
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
Wonderful classic. The ending in particular gave such a warm feeling and (this may be the romantic in me) almost made me cry in joy for the characters. It is an excellent way of immersing oneself into the past without having to compromise heavily on morals since there is no overt discrimination (of course it is a product of its time and therefore there is both sexism and racism inherently present). Would highly recommend to those who want something slow paced and lighthearted.Â
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Adult/minor relationship
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