Reviews

Emma: A Modern Retelling by Alexander McCall Smith

corvinaq's review against another edition

4.0

I normally do not approve of such modernizations, but Alexander McCall Smith is no ordinary mortal. I am AMAZED this remarkable man has really captured the FEEL of all the characters. And of course it's practically illegal to describe one of his books without using the word "charming." I really enjoyed this book. One star is taken off because the great love of Mr. Knightley is underdeveloped and because Emma is infuriating for most of the book.

jhaverinen's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

avasquez5's review against another edition

1.0

I was hoping for something so much better. I liked the dad's back story but that's about the end of it. There was no connection between the Knightleys and the Woodhouses. The book could have been so much shorter based on the emotional depth of the characters. It was disappointing.

seggler's review against another edition

2.0

While I did not dislike this book, I can't be that enthusiastic about it. Maybe it's because I have read and loved Emma so much, I was destined to not love it. Engaging none the less. Was quite vague though. Could have been longer.

ennhandly's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

bunnyclark's review against another edition

Pace was too slow, then my library loan ran out. I wasn’t interested enough to renew

emilielewis's review

2.0

I'm not sure which Emma Smith read but it wasn't Austen's. As an OOC fanfic it's not bad, but the story spends an inordinate amount of time in Mr. Woodhouse's point of view before switching to Emma's. The Emma character is awful (as she should be) but with no redeeming qualities or hard-won lessons. Also Knightley is hardly even present and their relationship is basically ignored. Decent writing but all in all a very poor adaptation.

kirstenbeyondthebookends's review against another edition

2.0

Not a fan. This book was just clunky and hard to get through. I got about 20% through and ending up just skim reading the rest of it.

I'm a big Jane Austen fan but Emma has never been my favorite of her stories. I could never connect with the main character, she was self centered, materialistic and flighty in Austen's works and bringing her into the modern world just amplified those flaws. The modern retelling also had me scratching my head over the George Knightley romance. I literally could not figure out why he liked her aside from being physically attracted to her.

After loving the modern treatment of Pride and Prejudice (Eligible) I was sorely disappointed in this one.

slelswick's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted to enjoy this since Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors. At first, I liked this modern portrayal of Emma, but the story didn't hold my attention or interest. I abandoned it part way through and can't make myself finish it, although I really liked the way McCall Smith portrayed Mr. Woodhouse as anxious and fastidious.

alisonstar87's review

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.25