Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Emma

There’s a lot of classism in the book but we have narrator so I wouldn’t say the book fully believes any of it though probably some give. The context and times the book was made in and class of the author and so forth. But the only racism it is not five stars is the random but very explicit racism to Romani people in like chapters 39 to 42 out if 55 where a begging child is seen as some danger to this delicate white wealthy women and just popping out of bushes to ambush them god forbid for money. Incredibly ridiculous and racist.

It had some weird age gap stuff not even the age gap itself but like complimenting the male interest for watching and participating in her childhood which never of as grooming per se but was kinda creepy and and screamed father issues to me. Otherwise a lot of fun with a spoiled unreliable narrator.

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tadpal's review against another edition

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emotional funny relaxing medium-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

5.0

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frantically's review against another edition

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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

2.5

Not my Austen cup of tea. Going against other low reviews, I actually really enjoyed Emma as a main character — yes, she's absolutely spoiled and a bit of a bitch but for me at least, she was really fun to read about it. This book was just too dragged out for me with too many characters whose stories weren't interesting enough. Have to say, though, that I really enjoyed the last 2/3 chapters and they made me end the book on a positive note.

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divine529's review against another edition

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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

I've read "Emma" several times before, but this was the closest I think I've ever read it.

I read it this time along with an audiobook I got from the library and I always struggle with audiobooks, but the narrator wasn't my favorite, so it made it a little extra difficult.

For those of you who don't know what this book is about, it follows our main protagonist, Emma, a matchmaker by nature and a busy-body, who always ends up getting in trouble due to her shenanigans. Like Austen's other novels, this one is still about class and finding love and there's a lot of different forms of that here as always.

It's by far my favorite Austen novel, but I always find myself enjoying the third part of the book a fair bit. And as much as Emma and Knightley's relationship age gap bothers me, I love their witty banter and friendship and love them as a couple. I definitely always enjoy reading Knightley as a hero and this time was no different.

It might be awhile before I reread this one, but I'm sure I will again sometime in the future.

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takarakei's review against another edition

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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

I find rating classics to be so difficult cause I really just don’t think I have a brain for them. Honestly I’d skip the read and just watch the 2020 movie adaptation which is delightful.

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pich's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

This was just gossip stretched out for over 400 pages, though I mean that in a very good way.

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puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

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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

4.0

Jane Austen said ‘I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like’ and she was wrong because I love Emma a lot. But also, what a power move. Emma is an unlikeable protagonist at least at the start of the book, but more than that she’s a flawed human being who learns and grows and makes mistakes and will never be perfect, she’s a part of a network of people who love her despite and because of her flaws and so how can you ever really dislike her!

What I love most is that her love interest is the one person to consistently call her out on her bullshit and that’s exactly why they’re perfect for each other. Also they are both autistic and Emma is aro, no I will not elaborate these are just my little headcanons. (But if you want me to elaborate. I could.)

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