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kaaeellii's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.25
mommamel11's review against another edition
2.0
Tedious. I never read the original. I have seen some of the film versions. This Emma seems so mean spirited. I can't believe George would put up with her.
annebennett1957's review against another edition
4.0
I ended up really liking this retelling of Jane Austen's Emma. Parts are classic Alexander McCall Smith with his repeatable jokes infused throughout. I listened tot he audiobook and found myself wanting to reread the original or at least rewatch the DVD, which I own.
heykylie's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sweet and a nice modern romp through a familiar story, though the "modern" aspect didn't super work very well for me as far as all the secondary characters went (felt like a stretch for nearly all of them).
helen_moore_reads's review against another edition
It was just boring, dragging along…
pamiverson's review
4.0
Fun re-telling of the Jane Austen tale, set in small-town but very class-conscious England. An entertaining story on its own -- happy ever after -- but it makes me want to reread the original. And maybe watch Clueless again (my favorite re-telling of an Austen story.)
kelliepalmer's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
turrean's review against another edition
3.0
Fun; frothy; light. I really like McCall's Miss Taylor and Mr. Woodhouse, especially the latter. Framing his hypochondria as an anxiety disorder made him understandable in a modern setting. Other characters were less successful. Knightley was a faint echo of the original; Emma seemed more spiteful. Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill were barely present. A scene where Emma convinces Harriet to pose nude for a portrait was just weird.
abeth_parker's review against another edition
3.0
This was an "okay" updated version of the novel Emma by Jane Austen. Of course, when the prose is being updated by 200 years, it's going to be quite different from the original. I don't have issues with updated Austen novels that are "too modern." That's exactly the point. But, even taking the updated aspect into account, this novel fell a little flat. If the Jane Austen novel "Emma" didn't exist, I wouldn't be at all enamored of this book. The updated characters and settings were believable (what would Mr. Woodhouse have done if he really did have access to the internet and could research all the horrible things that could happen to people?). I, however, felt no attachment to any of the characters in the book, except for Miss Bates, who I always have a soft spot for. The only true enjoyment I got out of this book was the fact that I could reference the story to the beloved Jane Austen classic.
linneahedvig's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved this one. I had forgotten how HARD I identify with Emma. This really put me on an Emma kick. I think I might eventually even read the original novel...I really love how this version puts more emphasis on the relationship between Miss Taylor and the Woodhouse family. No-nonsense Scottish Miss Taylor was my favorite part of the book!