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A review by eisenbuns
Emma by Jane Austen
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“He had ridden home through the rain; and had walked up directly after dinner, to see how this sweetest and best of all creatures, faultless in spite of all her faults, bore the discovery.”
"Emma" - Jane Austen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
-
This is the first time I've read one of Austen's works not knowing anything about the plot. I'd never seen Clueless (I know, I'm sorry!) or any of the stricter adaptations.
I really loved this book. Emma begins as a spoiled, snobby girl living with her father just on the other side of "losing" her longtime friend and former governess to marriage. She believes no one will be able to supplant her friend, especially in the way of intellectual stimulation, but it is in fact this "loss" which serves as a catalyst for Emma's growth.
There's a certain mastery in storytelling that Austen displays in this work, and I say that because I continually found myself gasping at the little evidences of Emma's gradual–so gradual!–emotional growth throughout the novel. The maturity she reaches by the end really takes my breath away.
I have to give it four stars because (and this may be silly) that's what I gave Pride & Prejudice on my most recent reread. I'm wondering now if I should adjust P&P to 5 stars, because I didn't like Emma quite so much, but I think I'll leave it for now.
Also, don't worry. As soon as I finished this last night, my spouse and I sat down to watch Clueless. I was so surprised at how faithful an adaptation I found it! So many scenes that were lifted almost directly from the novel.
I'm very glad to have finished this before the end of March, and I hope to read at least one more book before April. Tentatively, I've picked up Crooked Kingdom again, but I may well put it down again in favor of something lighter.
"Emma" - Jane Austen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
-
This is the first time I've read one of Austen's works not knowing anything about the plot. I'd never seen Clueless (I know, I'm sorry!) or any of the stricter adaptations.
I really loved this book. Emma begins as a spoiled, snobby girl living with her father just on the other side of "losing" her longtime friend and former governess to marriage. She believes no one will be able to supplant her friend, especially in the way of intellectual stimulation, but it is in fact this "loss" which serves as a catalyst for Emma's growth.
There's a certain mastery in storytelling that Austen displays in this work, and I say that because I continually found myself gasping at the little evidences of Emma's gradual–so gradual!–emotional growth throughout the novel. The maturity she reaches by the end really takes my breath away.
I have to give it four stars because (and this may be silly) that's what I gave Pride & Prejudice on my most recent reread. I'm wondering now if I should adjust P&P to 5 stars, because I didn't like Emma quite so much, but I think I'll leave it for now.
Also, don't worry. As soon as I finished this last night, my spouse and I sat down to watch Clueless. I was so surprised at how faithful an adaptation I found it! So many scenes that were lifted almost directly from the novel.
I'm very glad to have finished this before the end of March, and I hope to read at least one more book before April. Tentatively, I've picked up Crooked Kingdom again, but I may well put it down again in favor of something lighter.