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A review by notwellread
Emma by Jane Austen
5.0
Emma, the best Austen.
(...that I have read thus far, in my opinion.)
I don't really want to do a full-length, formal review for this book (especially since it's already been reviewed and examined a million times), but nevertheless I have a few things I would like to say.
This has so much to recommend it. I liked the subversion of more traditional romantic imagery, and I like that Frank's character was shown to change (going through a brief angsty phase and coming out of it more likeable), but didn't change completely (doesn't apologize for anything, seemingly still writes his letters in the same style), and that Austen, although I have heard her criticised as soppy, didn't plump for an entirely happy ending.
I also found the French/English subtext fun (Knightley and Frank's names; Knightley disliking Frank's letters: "your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, not in English"; the Emma calling Frank a patriot to Highbury when she has only just met him). For some reason, that in particular still comes to mind.
My criticisms would be that it took a while to get going (such is the nature of the 19th century novel), I would have liked to see illegitimacy explored more (but I suppose it would have been quite a tangent), and whether or not Emma is that bad during the first half of the novel - I feel like I am kind of used to people like her / that a lot of girls act like that? Although she was certainly snobbish and naïve I don't feel like the other characters are so superior to her; even Knightley has his flaws.
I can see how some of the characters and their repetitive behaviour might annoy some people, but I thought it really brought out the small-town atmosphere and acted as a sort of catalyst for Austen syndrome (when you read/watch too much Austen and start speaking like one of the characters...not sure whether this is just me though).
(...that I have read thus far, in my opinion.)
I don't really want to do a full-length, formal review for this book (especially since it's already been reviewed and examined a million times), but nevertheless I have a few things I would like to say.
This has so much to recommend it. I liked the subversion of more traditional romantic imagery,
Spoiler
(Frank rescuing Harriet versus Harriet and Robert Martin's low key reconciliation)I also found the French/English subtext fun (Knightley and Frank's names; Knightley disliking Frank's letters: "your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, not in English"; the Emma calling Frank a patriot to Highbury when she has only just met him). For some reason, that in particular still comes to mind.
My criticisms would be that it took a while to get going (such is the nature of the 19th century novel), I would have liked to see illegitimacy explored more (but I suppose it would have been quite a tangent), and whether or not Emma is that bad during the first half of the novel - I feel like I am kind of used to people like her / that a lot of girls act like that? Although she was certainly snobbish and naïve
Spoiler
(does she really believe Frank is in love with her after ~two days~?!)I can see how some of the characters and their repetitive behaviour might annoy some people, but I thought it really brought out the small-town atmosphere and acted as a sort of catalyst for Austen syndrome (when you read/watch too much Austen and start speaking like one of the characters...not sure whether this is just me though).