Who Would Like This Book:
If you love witty dialogue, character-driven stories, and a dash of small-town drama, Emma is a classic you can't miss. Jane Austen's sharp sense of humor and irony shine as she crafts a heroine who's both lovable and exasperating. The book is a comedy of manners, full of lively observations about social class, matchmaking, and the foibles of the well-off. Perfect for fans of romantic comedies, period dramas, and anyone interested in a smart, slice-of-life look at Regency England.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers find Emma slow-paced and packed with lots of talking but little action - or just too much gossip and trivial small-town concerns. If you struggle with classics, the early 19th-century language and social nuances can make it tough to engage. Also, Emma herself as a spoiled, sometimes snobbish protagonist is intentionally flawed, and not everyone takes to her meddling ways. If you want a plot filled with big twists or dire stakes, or if unlikable main characters aren't your thing, this might not be your cup of tea.
About:
Emma by Jane Austen is a story set in a small English village, focusing on the life and misadventures of Emma Woodhouse, a clever but misguided matchmaker who believes she knows best. The novel is distinguished by its light tone and subtle humor, presenting a comedic view of social manners and relationships among the characters. Readers often appreciate Austen's ability to portray her characters as complex and relatable, particularly Emma, who, despite her flaws, is endearing in her quest for romance and self-improvement. The writing style features rich dialogue that can sometimes be heavy in description, capturing the essence of the time while drawing modern readers into the nuances of societal interactions and personal growth.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Has Romance?
The romance in Emma is significant, particularly the evolving relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley.
From The Publisher:
Emma is considered by many readers to be Jane Austen's crowning achievement, a timeless comedy of manners that lays bare the limits on women's autonomy in Regency England. The disparity between Emma Woodhouse's self-confidence and self-knowledge, and her determination to arrange marriages for her friends while avoiding one for herself, leads to a painful series of misunderstandings for everyone who suffers from her well-meaning altruism - and with Mr Knightley being the only person of her acquaintance who has the good sense to challenge her, Emma must eventually recognize her match in every sense.
Long praised for its rich detail and perfect craftsmanship, Emma is one of those classic masterpieces that readers go back to again and again for its inexhaustible fund of humanity.
Ratings (305)
Incredible (46) | |
Loved It (134) | |
Liked It (79) | |
It Was OK (34) | |
Did Not Like (9) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (522):
Read It (322) | |
Currently Reading (4) | |
Want To Read (153) | |
Did Not Finish (7) | |
Not Interested (36) |
10 comment(s)
After having seen the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow years ago I was hesitant to pick this up. I found the character of Emma very annoying. But I enjoyed the book very much. I liked the story and characters. It was engaging and witty and I really liked the romance. Great read.
I had an sudden urge to listen to the audiobook for Emma, didn't knew why. But I later got excited when I saw that Netflix is going to have the new Emma movie on Netflix soon. Funny how things can work sometimes. I loved this as much as I did the first time. I don't find Emma annoying, but rather clueless ( haven't seen that movie btw) but utterly charming. She does only wanna do the right thing. The story is loveble and charming from the beginning to end. My only negative thought about it was that it's rather long end. Felt it could have ended a lot sooner but ai loved it nevertheless
OK - thankfully, it got better. The first part of the book was torturous - Emma was an unbearable snobbish brat. The book improved once Jane Fairfax and Frank Church entered the picture. And I must confess a major crush on Mr. Knightley.
I think I read too much, however, because I knew who was going to hook up with who from the very beginning. I had all the couples properly paired -- maybe I should be a matchmaker!
Emma was bratty - although she seemed to improve a bit by the end. I'm glad I don't have to hang out with her in real life, but at least she demonstrated some redeeming qualities.
Emma... Emma... Emma...
The story is really very simple and sweet, if told in a simple and short way.
May be because Emma was written in 1816, it has long explanation of every single detail, too many tea cups, dinners, people walk so leisurely and also are rich. I do not know how many times i yawned while reading. If anyone doesnt like a slow moving, explanative story , do not choose this book.
Amusing Austen novel
A flawed heroine learned from her mistakes
This really was a very good book. Emma is a very lovable character, and Mr. Knightley is the perfect match.
DNF @ 31%.
It just feels so
long. I'm having trouble keeping track of the characters in general and who's speaking in particular. I don't like Austen's writing style and feel like I'm always tripping over her sentences. I really
want to like this, but it's just not working. Maybe I'll come back to it some day.
emma is probably my favorite Austen protagonist. it can be a fun, humorous read and i think the ending is very satisfying
I don't know why, but I didn't expect it to be such a good book. I should have. I had read Pride and Prejudice before, and I also liked that book very much. But I think Emma is even better.
This story hasn't gotten old at all. It is still as fun as it was years ago. What also surprised me was that although the conventions had changed significantly, all the actions of the characters are still understandable and reasonable to me. I mean, I understand the rules that the people in Austen's times followed. I understand why some marriages would be considered impossible and others would lead to Emma's family breaking off contact with a person. The author has included so much information that we still understand it all.
The main character, Emma, might irritate me in another story, but she rarely did here. She is not deprived of the ability to reflect on her own actions and learns from mistakes. And at the same time, she is very intelligent. I liked that Emma could see when she had made a mistake and try to fix it. I also enjoyed her witty mind.
This is one of those stories in which almost everyone pairs up. But how it happens is enough to build the whole story. And it all comes out so naturally.
And it's impossible to underestimate the humour with which Austen wrote this story. Not only was I really invested in the story, I also had a lot of fun reading it. I have really laughed more than once. I have already noticed it with Pride and Prejudice, but there was probably even more of it in this book.
Now I am sure to read some other Austen books as well. I can't believe I haven't done it yet.
What can you read after
Emma?
About the Author:
Though the domain of Jane Austen's novels was as circumscribed as her life, her caustic wit and keen observation made her the equal of the greatest novelists in any language. Born the seventh child of the rector of Steventon, Hampshire, on…
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
