Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and the perils of misconstrued romance. The novel was first published in December 1815. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian-Regency England; she also creates a lively comedy of manners among her characters. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the very first sentence she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich." Emma, however, is also rather spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives; and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray.
Classics are such a doozy to get through, but it is always so rewarding once you've finished! Emma was one of those books that took me an entire MONTH to get through. Not because I wasn't reading it, or because I didn't enjoy it, but just because if I read for 20 minutes I would get through a maximum of 5 pages. I promise I'm a faster reader than that! It was one of those books that because of the language, it took a good page or so to really get immersed back into it, remember what was going on, and also start to understand the language again.
I was told before I read the book that a lot of the things that happened involving dating definitely still applied to today and I totally agree! Those college dating days were filled with fun, awkwardness, over-zealousness, and heartbreak and it turns out that this regency period was filled with pretty much the exact same things. Humans are human, I suppose.
I enjoyed the book, but I wouldn't list it as one of my favorites. I definitely wouldn't read it again (I hardly ever do read books again). I didn't feel like anything really exciting happened until the last 50 pages!! There was a major plot twist (I'm also horrible at predicting things ha!) and then I was hooked for the last little bit. But the rest was just your typical travel to the neighbors and gossip sesh for literally the entire book.
I did and always do enjoy our book club discussions though. We really analyzed the character of Emma. Apparently Jane Austen wrote her as a character that was not supposed to be loved. She is a little bit self-centered, speaks her mind when she shouldn't, and even though she may have had good intentions, she got herself in a lot of trouble because of things she said or did. Some of the other characters are not easy to love either! Their lives were simple, yet also superficial.
As per usual, Jane Austen is amazing at creating a swoon-worthy male lead that makes you believe in true love and in perfect matches. Mr. Knightley is no exception to that. He might have been my favorite character in the book as well.
I've also heard that watching a rendition of the movie is super helpful in keeping the characters straight and understanding the story line.
I was told before I read the book that a lot of the things that happened involving dating definitely still applied to today and I totally agree! Those college dating days were filled with fun, awkwardness, over-zealousness, and heartbreak and it turns out that this regency period was filled with pretty much the exact same things. Humans are human, I suppose.
I enjoyed the book, but I wouldn't list it as one of my favorites. I definitely wouldn't read it again (I hardly ever do read books again). I didn't feel like anything really exciting happened until the last 50 pages!! There was a major plot twist (I'm also horrible at predicting things ha!) and then I was hooked for the last little bit. But the rest was just your typical travel to the neighbors and gossip sesh for literally the entire book.
I did and always do enjoy our book club discussions though. We really analyzed the character of Emma. Apparently Jane Austen wrote her as a character that was not supposed to be loved. She is a little bit self-centered, speaks her mind when she shouldn't, and even though she may have had good intentions, she got herself in a lot of trouble because of things she said or did. Some of the other characters are not easy to love either! Their lives were simple, yet also superficial.
As per usual, Jane Austen is amazing at creating a swoon-worthy male lead that makes you believe in true love and in perfect matches. Mr. Knightley is no exception to that. He might have been my favorite character in the book as well.
I've also heard that watching a rendition of the movie is super helpful in keeping the characters straight and understanding the story line.
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