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divine529's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Mental illness
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Racism
takarakei's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Chronic illness
Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So this was technically my 5th Austen (4th that I finished because I did DNF Mansfield Park). If I only count the 4 I finished so far, Emma is possibly last on my rankings list.
The novel is extremely slow at times, causing me to be bored and at one point I started skimming some of the dialogues.
The novel is extremely slow at times, causing me to be bored and at one point I started skimming some of the dialogues.
There were too many monologues from characters (looking at you Miss Bates) or descriptions that went on unnecessarily (did not need those descriptions on Pork, Woodhouses)! I think the novel could have been cut by about 100 pages and nothing of substance would change. The pacing felt all over the place as the story picked up for me around 60 pages in but then slowed down again-rinse and repeat. The ending felt dragged out and kind of anticlimactic.
I didn’t mind the characters as much as others may have. Emma could be annoying and spoiled but I found her entertaining enough to read about. Miss Bates and Mrs Elton drove me insane, and Frank Churchill is a walking red flag. Mainly continued the book for Mr Knightley, that man carried this book! Mr Woodhouse had some funny (and relatable) lines, “the sooner any party breaks up, the better.” 😂
Overall I’m mostly glad to have read this and checked it off my list of Austen novels. But I can understand why many don’t like classics or Austen if they read Emma (I swear her other books are so much better and less boring). This is one Austen I won’t be rereading though.
I didn’t mind the characters as much as others may have. Emma could be annoying and spoiled but I found her entertaining enough to read about. Miss Bates and Mrs Elton drove me insane, and Frank Churchill is a walking red flag. Mainly continued the book for Mr Knightley, that man carried this book! Mr Woodhouse had some funny (and relatable) lines, “the sooner any party breaks up, the better.” 😂
Overall I’m mostly glad to have read this and checked it off my list of Austen novels. But I can understand why many don’t like classics or Austen if they read Emma (I swear her other books are so much better and less boring). This is one Austen I won’t be rereading though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Toxic friendship
abibea's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Chronic illness and Racism
_maia3_'s review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75
Austen handles an unlikable heroine and silly but realistic characters in a graceful way, and this pays off in a novel that blends social critique, with mystery, coming of age, and female friendship (though some have noted sapphic overtones, me included). Particular care is given to the status of women, class, and social responsibilities (as pertain to the time). Well worth a read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Death
hello_lovely13's review against another edition
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexism
kcbatts's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Racism and Adult/minor relationship
phantomgecko's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Obviously class (and wealth) is an important part of any Austen novel. But it just felt more odious in this one because of Harriet Smith.
In the beginning, Emma tells Harriet if she marries a common farmer, she could not associate with her anymore. In the end, Harriet marries a common farmer and Emma stops associating with her. This fact is kinda glossed over and rationalized with the discovery Harriet wasn't gentry anyway.
In the beginning, Emma tells Harriet if she marries a common farmer, she could not associate with her anymore. In the end, Harriet marries a common farmer and Emma stops associating with her. This fact is kinda glossed over and rationalized with the discovery Harriet wasn't gentry anyway.
The intimacy between her and Emma must sink; their friendship must change into a calmer sort of goodwill; and, fortunately, what ought to be, and must be, seemed already beginning, and in the most gradual, natural manner.
Gross. And yeah, I know that's how it was back in Jane Austen's time. But it's still ridiculous. Emma had only the slightest of character growth. The recognition that people are just people, and the British caste system is bs and a rejection of that system would have really endeared her to me.
As it is, Emma is a snob in the beginning, middle, and end of the book. I did not like her, therefore I did not much enjoy the novel.
Unrealistic expectations or not, my least favorite Austen novel thus far.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
pich's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs
katie_345's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it was slow paced and not much happened. This book (allthough trivial) focus’s on the everyday life similarly to other classics. This was fun and calming to read. :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry