A review by jferguson1138
Emma, by Jane Austen
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism