Ratings516
Average rating4
This book is A Confederacy of Dunces with a privileged white woman as the lead. It's a hard read until you realise she's a buffoon you're meant to laugh at the entire time.
She is smug, classist, and closeminded, the kind of person who genuinely believes they care about others but are completely incapable of seeing anyone elses point of view. Even after her journey of self discovery it's made very clear - with her attitude towards Harriet and Mr Martin - that she is still plenty classist and closeminded.
Maybe it's society conditioning me, maybe it's my own insecurities, but if I'm honest I kinda love her spoiled white ass.
Abandono tras un 20%, no me engancha nada...
Alguien que lo haya leído me puede decir si, además de contar sus juegos de celestina, pasa algo más?
I must begin by stating that I may be utterly biased here. Emma is the novel that introduced me to the treasure that are Jane Austen's masterpieces. I read it when I was fourteen, and fell in love with it right there and then.
People often tend to mention that Emma Woodhouse is the least likeable heroine Jane Austen has created. It may be so, since she is rather headstrong, spoiled and with a strong tendency to plan other people's lives, without giving a second thought to all possible consequences, secluded in the protection of Hartfield, her house, her bubble. It may be so but we should not forget that she has no siblings, and an onlychild, more often than not, believes that the world probably revolves around him/her. And I am an onlychild, so don't judge me... :)
I recently revisited Emma's world for a group discussion, and I once again found myself utterly charmed by Jane Austen's creation. In this novel, she presents all the vices of the aristocracy, all the possible ways the high and mighty use to look down on those who are less fortunate, and she does so with style and elegance, and her unique satire. Yes, Emma is a difficult character, but I think we must regard her the way we do with a younger sister or a younger cousin who has yet to experience the difficulties of the ‘‘real'' world ‘‘out there''. Emma is a charming character, for all her faults. Frankly, I find her a bit more realistic than the other iconic heroines, the ever - perfect Elizabeth, the always - sensible and cautious Eleanor, or the ever - waiting, passive Anne. Emma makes many mistakes and regrets, but her heart is kind. After all, don't we become a little stupid when we fall in love? And I am not ashamed to admit that I fully sided with Emma in the infamous picnic scene. In my opinion, she gave voice to what everyone was thinking.
The rest of the characters are all iconic as well. Mr .Knightley is sensible, gentle, gallant, the true voice of reason. I highly prefer him compared to Mr. Darcy. Frank Churchill joins Sense and Sensibility's John Willoughby as the two most unsympathetic young suitors in Jane Austen's works, Harriet is well...Harriet, and Miss Taylor is a lady that I believe all of us would want as a close friend and adviser.
Emma is a wonderful journey, full of satire, lively, realistic characters and the beautiful descriptions of a tiny English town. It is small wonder that there have been so many adaptations in all media, the big screen, TV and in theatre. The best adaptation, in my opinion, is the 2009 BBC TV series, with Romola Garai as Emma and Jonny Lee Miller as a dreamy Mr. Knightley.
Paused ~ 40%
I really want to read this, but I'm currently not in the mood. I'll come back to this another time, probably in audiobook format instead.
Very slow book and way too long for what it is. Quite difficult to read as the characters aren't very likable. However, towards the end of the book you do feel rather more fufilled - whether that be from the realisation you have finished the book or some sort of gratification at the developement of the title character, Emma. Overall I would probably not recommend this book but I can see how one could enjoy it if you like more character driven, read-by-the-pool type books.
Emma is a novel by Jane Austen. It is a story of the upper class woman known as Emma Woodhouse who thinks she understands love and who will be the best life partners. Most of her match-maker abilities are focused on her companion, Harriet Smith. Emma means well, however miscommunications, misconceptions, and personal conflicts abound in the town of Highbury where the book takes place. Emma's well meaning schemes and misunderstandings of love lead to many mismatched relationships.
Emma gives off a sense of someone who has been spoiled, isolated, and has had her ego strokes just a tad too much. The town of Highbury always flatters her and seems to follow her every word. This is exemplified by the character of Harriet Smith, a lower class girl who cannot seem to have a thought of her own unless Emma approves of it, or even suggests it. This leads Harriet to some heart break.
Emma does come to the realization of what she done with her schemes. However, this comes through jealousy. In all her schemes, Emma has unknowingly schemed against herself. She now regrets trying to “arrange every body's destiny” and acknowledges her machinations to be mistakes. Admitting to being “doomed to blindness”.
I enjoyed this book it was quite intriguing on who would finally get together with who. Also wondering when Emma would come to her realization. However, the language barrier was a problem, which is understandable as this novel was written in 1815. Jane Austen wrote in a time where complex sentence structure was the norm. Some of these sentences can go on for half a page or more. Also, Austen wrote in a very formal language. Some of the wording can be confusing if you read this book quickly. This book is to be read slowly and savored.
All in all, this was an enjoyable book and I highly recommend it. The themes of marriage and courtship, social class, miscommunication, and misperceptions are readily apparent in this book. Experience is important. Humbleness is important. One can do the wrong thing while meaning to help others if understanding is not present. All of these can come from experience and the willingness to listen.
Very lighthearted and amusing. The characters are fun and memorable, definitely will reread. I'd personally like to see some parts shortened and others expanded on, but oh well.
Austen writes insufferable characters well, but it does mean spending a lot of time with insufferable characters. And there are a lot of them in Emma, including the main character. I had understood from 'the zeitgeist' that Emma was a 'matchmaker' but that's not really true: she's a meddler. A matchmaker puts people together successfully; Emma just interferes.
It's also unclear quite why Emma is considered to be so eligible. Everyone praises her beauty but they also seem to think she is clever, whereas she comes across more supercilious. Maybe it's just her fortune.
Otherwise it's the usual plot - will they/won't they in bonnets and carriages. I found I didn't really care for the happiness of any of them.
Probably not a good sign that Miss Bates' ramblings were among the more enjoyable parts for me
The audiobook production from Audible is absolutely top-notch. Loved this Upon a reread!
I am not super impressed by this book. But it was kinda wholesome and nice to read
“Have I no chance of ever succeeding,” in explaining how much I adore the love these two have for each other. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times...IF I LOVED YOU LESS I MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE.
⭐️⭐️
2.5 Stars= It was an okay read
0 peppers = No spice
Trope: Age gap (16 years), friends to lovers (mentioned late in book)POV: Third PersonSeries/Standalone: StandalonePart of an series: NoSafe or Dark: Safe
“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
I enjoyed it, tho I read it in like a month and a half. Tbh the ending was bittersweet cause I really liked Emma and Harriet's friendship
There's no doubt dat Jane Austen wanted us to dive deeper within the psyche of the rich social circles of that time and to play with their characters; every character was well thought out and felt alive to us, no matter how annoying and/or insufferable they are
Classics are tough for me to follow. I always get about halfway through and see if there is a movie adaptation I can watch so I have a better understanding of what's happening before finishing the book. When I looked up this one and saw that Clueless was a loose adaptation the whole book clicked for me. Mr. Knightly is one of my favorite Austen male leads. I thought it was interesting that the somewhat vapid and bubbly character that Austen usually writes as a sister or side character was the main character for this book. Emma was annoying, but her love for Harriet was beautiful.
What a lovely story!
It features the amusing and vivid characters that are a trademark of Jane Austen's writing, the cosy atmosphere or times long gone and manners long forgotten, and most of all, the wit and clever plots which fill the reader with anticipation for the most minute events.
What amazed me the most is how Jane Austen managed to create such a multilayered and realistic protagonist in Emma. Such that is not your typical “good lady”, but a human being, sometimes affected by shameful human emotions, I am sure most of us can relate to.
I can't recommend this book enough!
This was the fourth of Austen's novels that I read. Though almost as long as Mansfield Park, it's slightly more readable and relatable. This book strays from the flock of Austen's straightforward romance by the protagonist's declaration in the first chapter that she doesn't intend to marry, ever.
Emma prides herself in being a masterful matchmaker. Emma prides herself in being perfection personified. In fact she takes up the task of molding Harriet Smith, an illegitimate young girl with no connexions atleast to a small degree to the likeness of herself.
Enter Jane Fairfax. She is beautiful and accomplished. She had no governess like Emma had to guide her through her youth. Yet her musical skills surpassed Emma. Despite being poor, she was better than Emma and the latter couldn't help but acknowledge that. The only fault in Jane Fairfax that could be found was that she is ‘reserved.' Considering how people in this book can't stop talking their head off?, Jane must be one of the few sane people in the book. If written from Jane's point of view, this would have been like any other romance novel.
The Hartfield residence where Emma lives with her insanely hypochondriac father Mr. Woodhouse (reminiscent of Lady Bertram from Mansfield Park), is at a walkable distance from Bates' residence (where Jane Fairfax lives) and Donwell Abbey.
Mr. Knightley lives at Donwell Abbey. He provides healthy criticism for Emma's shenanigans. He is normal, hence boring.
Readers entertainment depends on Miss Bates, there are pages of conversation with only her in it.
And Mrs Elton who's so full of herself, the fact that something doesn't concern her is incomprehensible to her. Of course everything is about her, depends upon her, cannot exist without her, would crumble without her.
Emma meddles in the natural course of events pertaining to people's relationships resulting in, umm.. complications.
I vaguely remember writing this in some other review, but it is appropriate here too.
If not for the uncommon combination of beauty and precision in writing, unique to Austen, this story would look like nothing other than a soap opera. Jealousy, check. Matchmaking, check. People poking their nose in affairs not theirs, check. Bad communication prolonging the story, check.
The book is looong, and it requires some serious dedication to finish it. The story and characters are not worth the time and effort they demand. So unless you are hell bent on reading all of Austen's books, you'd better skip this.
This novel quite entertaining, although at times it became a bit of a chore to read. Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this. As usual, Jane Austen's writing is great and I really enjoyed what she has done in this novel.
