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duarshe's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took so long to finish this book that is being hard for me to realize that I'm not going to be reading Emma's schemings anymore. To be honest, I'm a little sad.
Many people may criticize Emma for being so faulted of character but it is obviously the interesting part of the story. She has such a wrong worldview that we cannot trust her as the focalizer of the omniscient narrator. Such a technique, Austen. So while the novel goes on we only discover what the other characters think when they actually put words into it. (That was my English major talking, I'm sorry).
Also, it is hard for me to get over the fact that Mr. Knightley is 16 years older than Emma, and literally saw her as a baby. He even said that he fell in love when she was THIRTEEN (which means he was TWENTY-NINE). Mr. Knightley walked so that Jacob Black could run lmfao. But the true villain of the story is Mr. Frank Churchill. You're telling me that you were secretly engaged all along and you treated your fiancée like shit since the start. Boy... Poor Jane indeed
All in all, it is really a great novel. The only thing I would only get rid of is half of the unsubstantial conversations between some characters (half of Miss Bates' monologues).
Many people may criticize Emma for being so faulted of character but it is obviously the interesting part of the story. She has such a wrong worldview that we cannot trust her as the focalizer of the omniscient narrator. Such a technique, Austen. So while the novel goes on we only discover what the other characters think when they actually put words into it. (That was my English major talking, I'm sorry).
All in all, it is really a great novel. The only thing I would only get rid of is half of the unsubstantial conversations between some characters (half of Miss Bates' monologues).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexism
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
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.)
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.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Sexism
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
cleotheo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Medical content, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Slavery, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
sirenricobooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Pregnancy
erica_cronje's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
Let's see, what do i think of Emma?
I thibk this was a good place to start my classics journey, thanks to the movie i knew what was going to happen, or roughly knew at least, and that helped. It also helps that the novel is very lighthearted in nature, making it easy to relax whilst reading, i honestly chuckled a a few lines, really enjoying myself.
As for the characters, they are clearly flawed, as is almost the entire plot of the novel, Emma's faults being to clear despite everyone seeming to think her perfectness itself. I enjoyed Emma's little moments to feminism seeping through, something the film lacked a bit, but it is understandable since it is not one of her main characteristics, but it was nice to read in any case.
I especially enjoyed the handling and change in relationship to Jane and Frank with Emma after she discovers their engagement, for the first time, Emma truly sees that she could have had not better friend than that in Jane since they are quite alike, and Frank is much more bearable and I enjoy the atmosphere created when they are all friends, laughing at their past selves and simply enjoying each other's company.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable novel to read, lighthearted and fun, with some marvelous quotes, and I am happy I am starting my classics journey with Emma.
I thibk this was a good place to start my classics journey, thanks to the movie i knew what was going to happen, or roughly knew at least, and that helped. It also helps that the novel is very lighthearted in nature, making it easy to relax whilst reading, i honestly chuckled a a few lines, really enjoying myself.
As for the characters, they are clearly flawed, as is almost the entire plot of the novel, Emma's faults being to clear despite everyone seeming to think her perfectness itself. I enjoyed Emma's little moments to feminism seeping through, something the film lacked a bit, but it is understandable since it is not one of her main characteristics, but it was nice to read in any case.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable novel to read, lighthearted and fun, with some marvelous quotes, and I am happy I am starting my classics journey with Emma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness
lea_kellerr's review against another edition
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I had to read this for my academic writing class and it was a pain to get through. The ending was foreseeable, the characters annoying and overall it was just a very slow and boring read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs
snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
rohrbaugh82's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexism
archiveofrasa's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
perhaps this shouldn't have been the first Jane Austen book I started with, but that notion of a "heroine whom no one but myself will much like" drew me in; like, I wanted to know what kind of person only Austen would like, okay!! as a result, it did take me a while to get through this book, but I wouldn't necessarily blame it by any means. the plot was entertaining, I just had school 😔
Emma is always portrayed to be this intentionally annoying character, but I actually really liked her and empathised with the decisions she made, even if they weren't very good ones. her development was steady, not very quick or "ah-ha!" like, but not every story needed that and for this type of story, I think this gradual change was fitting. Harriet was just so cute and adorable and I loved whenever she would come into a scene; her development into making decisions for herself was nice, even if it was a lot nearer to the end. Mr Knightley – he was okay? like I definitely didn't hate him; I liked how he is Emma's critic in whatever she does and provides her other perspectives she hasn't considered, but I think I would've liked him with Emma more if he wasn't, like, sixteen years her senior and didn't say that one line. you know that one;"[I] have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least." we didn't need that 😭
I know a lot of people say this is one of her funniest works, but I guess my autistic self was more interested in the social cues the characters mentioned and how that impacted the way they would interact with each other (or how they would judge each other); e.g. the way her friendship with Harriet is written – a lot of class context and internal feelings (+ external factors like Emma feeling abandoned by Miss Taylor after she gets married) need to be considered before outright stating that Emma is a horrible person. the narrative of Emma was really well done, found myself thoroughly entertained by it and how it spoke of everything going on.
my criticism does lie in the racism and classism of Romani people near the middle-end; I understand the time it was written in but even then, it's good to point it out and acknowledge that it's not okay. this is one of my primary issues with a lot of classics and how I, as someone who isn't white, feel distanced from really connecting with them like privileged people are able to do.
despite this, how long it took to read, understand and grow accustomed to the language, I very much enjoyed the experience and am definitely rereading this at a later time to be able to properly grasp the concepts and themes. but if you're just starting to get into Austen: maybe don't start with this one 😭
Emma is always portrayed to be this intentionally annoying character, but I actually really liked her and empathised with the decisions she made, even if they weren't very good ones. her development was steady, not very quick or "ah-ha!" like, but not every story needed that and for this type of story, I think this gradual change was fitting. Harriet was just so cute and adorable and I loved whenever she would come into a scene; her development into making decisions for herself was nice, even if it was a lot nearer to the end. Mr Knightley – he was okay? like I definitely didn't hate him; I liked how he is Emma's critic in whatever she does and provides her other perspectives she hasn't considered, but I think I would've liked him with Emma more if he wasn't, like, sixteen years her senior and didn't say that one line. you know that one;
I know a lot of people say this is one of her funniest works, but I guess my autistic self was more interested in the social cues the characters mentioned and how that impacted the way they would interact with each other (or how they would judge each other); e.g. the way her friendship with Harriet is written – a lot of class context and internal feelings (+ external factors like Emma feeling abandoned by Miss Taylor after she gets married) need to be considered before outright stating that Emma is a horrible person. the narrative of Emma was really well done, found myself thoroughly entertained by it and how it spoke of everything going on.
my criticism does lie in the racism and classism of Romani people near the middle-end; I understand the time it was written in but even then, it's good to point it out and acknowledge that it's not okay. this is one of my primary issues with a lot of classics and how I, as someone who isn't white, feel distanced from really connecting with them like privileged people are able to do.
despite this, how long it took to read, understand and grow accustomed to the language, I very much enjoyed the experience and am definitely rereading this at a later time to be able to properly grasp the concepts and themes. but if you're just starting to get into Austen: maybe don't start with this one 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs