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A review by lizshayne
Emmett by L.C. Rosen
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
"Are the flaws of the main character(s) a main focus of the book?" is the story of Emma.
Here's the problem and I have this problem every single time I read a retelling of Emma and the problem is that, while I love Emma, I LOATHE Emma.
So any character based on her...I will slowly seethe at the entire book and, if I don't, I will judge the author for failing to capture the book's nature. So, you know, there's that. Rosen does a very good job under the constraints of making Emmett and, in particular, Mr. Woodhouse, sympathetic even as the book hews quite closely to the arc of Emma. Emma is a book that soars because Austen's prose is so good and she's very deft even when she's not being subtle. Rosen is not that subtle and any time you shift from free indirect discourse to tight first person, the subtlety of the text inevitably shifts.
Basically, I judge every Austen retelling by the standards of the original and then complain about it, which is very silly and this book, as its own thing, is very sweet and Emmett is an excellent heir to Cher Horowitz as a contemporary reflection of Emma Woodhouse.
Here's the problem and I have this problem every single time I read a retelling of Emma and the problem is that, while I love Emma, I LOATHE Emma.
So any character based on her...I will slowly seethe at the entire book and, if I don't, I will judge the author for failing to capture the book's nature. So, you know, there's that. Rosen does a very good job under the constraints of making Emmett and, in particular, Mr. Woodhouse, sympathetic even as the book hews quite closely to the arc of Emma. Emma is a book that soars because Austen's prose is so good and she's very deft even when she's not being subtle. Rosen is not that subtle and any time you shift from free indirect discourse to tight first person, the subtlety of the text inevitably shifts.
Basically, I judge every Austen retelling by the standards of the original and then complain about it, which is very silly and this book, as its own thing, is very sweet and Emmett is an excellent heir to Cher Horowitz as a contemporary reflection of Emma Woodhouse.