Emma by Jane Austen

[Michelle]

Synopsis
Often said to be Jane Austen's most perfect novel, "Emma" is also the perfect read - with a very imperfect - but loveable - heroine...Beautiful, clever and rich, Emma Woodhouse thinks she knows best. She only wants to help others arrange things as she thinks they should be done, and convinced she's just not destined to find true love herself, she believes that she must instead devote herself to playing Cupid for others. But absolutely nothing goes to plan - and in the process, Emma has a lot of learning to do: about others, but most of all about herself...

[Michelle]

Synopsis
Often said to be Jane Austen's most perfect novel, "Emma" is also the perfect read

This seems to be alot to live up to.. it'll be interesting to see what people here think of it.

[Kell]

I started Emma this morning during my teabreak & got through one chapter - all's well. During lunch I kept getting distracted, meaning I didn't quite finish another 2 chapters (I'll possibly finish ch3 during my afternoon coffee break). I'm already finding it very difficult to get to grips with the very formal style - I know it's very much "Of the period", but it's something I'm just not used to - I'm hoping I'll settle into it soon as I'm easily distracted if I can't get into the style (as demonstrated at lunchtime!). I'm also already of the opinion that Emma herself is both arrogant & childish - especially for someone who's 21 years old.

I've never read any Austen before (although I did see the film adaptation of Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, a few years back) & I'm finding it a bit hard-going so far, even though I vaguely know what's coming.

I feel that if I were ever to have met Emma in the flesh, i'd have given her a good shake & made an effort never to have met her again. I hope my opinion of her improves as the story progresses because right now I'd dearly love to see her get her come-uppance - LOL!

How's everyone else getting along with it? Anyone care to share their thoughts so far?

[Sarahrob]

I like Emma. She is completely condescending, meddling in other people's lives as though they are her personal playthings, but you can't help feeling she does it because she honestly thinks she is making things better.
She is presumptious, but not malicious - just thoughtless as a consequence of never having any restraint placed on her.

[Kell]

I've just reached a point where Mr Knightley is pointing out how vain Emma is where her cleverness is concerned, which is rather funny, because I was already beginning to feel that way about her, so I now feel I have an ally - LOL!

I have to admit that even another chapter's-worth into it, it's starting to grow on me - especially if Mr Knightley continues to be so vocal on the subject of Emma & her friendship with Harriet, as Harriet is clearly in a hero-worship position.

I was a little worried before I got to read a little more at coffee-break there, as I was wondering whether or not I would be able to get into it if I thought the heroine so flighty & imperious, but I think Mr Knightley may prove my knight in shining armour by being more objective - hurrah!

[1sillywabbit]

I know I'm running behind :oops: but were going to visit Jane Austens house tomorrow, (at last)
really want to buy 'Emma' there :mrgreen:

Wabbit x :wave:

[Kell]

Ooh, enjoy your visit, Wabbit - & do tell us all about it when you get back!

I've just finished Part 1 of Emma & I'm getting more used to the style of writing now & can very much say I agree with Mr Knightley's way of thinking 99% of the time. I sometimes find Miss Bates' prattling annoying, but I get the feeling that's exactly how I'm supposed to feel about that.

I do feel that Austen very much guiding me in my way of thinking about the characters & situations - usually I would feel very much outside of what's happening in this kind of story; as if I were an observer looking in, but I feel like I'm seeing it all through Austen's eyes & she's decided specifically how she feels about each character & has made the effort to make sure I feel exactly the same way about them as she does. It's fascinating, really!

[Louiseog]

I read Emma for A Level and need to read it again, the fear is still there!
I prefer Austen on audio as I get the jokes there but not when I read them

[Kell]

There are jokes???? LOL!

[Louiseog]

When you hear them read there are bits which are quite funny, no honest!! I laughed out loud at Pride and Prejudice! But not when I read them?!

[Kell]

I've noticed a few moments of humour, ut none that have made me laugh out loud as such - it seems a very gentle, round-about style of humour (I'm more often than not attracted to very dark humour), but it has made me smile a few times so far. I'm a few chapters into Part 2 & plan on reading a few more in the bathtub tonight too...

[1sillywabbit]

:D Little update on Our trip today to Jane Austen's House
WOW! :mrgreen: its well worth a visit...I highly recommed it...
Very nice helpful staff, just a lovely elderly couple who love the house, their work and Jane.........and they answered all my silly questions... lol
Wonderful seeing Jane's home, things, esp the little table she sat at in the window to write, etc.. loads of free info + lots of interesting items, from a print of a prayer written in her hand only 50p and loads of items to buy as keepsakes, not to mention the great bookshop in one of the rooms, with so many choices of her books, from lovely gilt edge and cloth bound collector's library HB (which I bought of 'Emma') for £5.99 so prices very good to, + copies of her book in an almost chick-lit style £4.99 so many choices..... + DVDs etc...
Your left free to wander the House, walk and Sit in her Garden, see her carriage etc etc, little tea rooms over the road, and a Pub :wink: all in such a quaint little setting...Really is a Wonderful step back in time.
We loved it...
if you ever have the chance Do go there..

http://www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk/

http://www.hants.gov.uk/austen/


Wabbit x :wave:

[Angel]

Jane Austen's house looks great - I want to go!! Tiger also has said she'd like to see it

[1sillywabbit]

Yes GO! :mrgreen:
Think its going to be an all time fav place of mine :D ... would defy go again, Very unlike me as once I have been somewhere that's it...Such a lot to look at....
Even the garden was lovely with all the old fashioned plants.. it reminded me a little of 'The Secret Garden' as you walk through an arched bush to the 2nd hidden half.... I can't say enough just how much we enjoyed it.
Can wander and sit in the garden as long as you want... I read the first page of 'Emma' out there :roll: ... then we wandered around the House again.... Loved it!

LOVED IT :) :D :mrgreen: I Will stop going on about it now... its really Lovely :shock: though :oops:

Wabbit x :wave:

[linda321]

Jane Austen's house sounds fab, Wabbit!

I've just starrted re reading Emma. I read it a couple of years ago. I can't remember much about it, just the gist of the story. I bought a DVD of it with Gwynneth Paltrow as Emma. Has anyone seen it? There was another version as well, I didn't know which one to buy!

[Sarahrob]

I've also started rereading (but once I start I can't stop - I was nearly late for work this morning!).

I forgot how claustraphobic Emma can feel. In other Austen books at least the characters travel around, so there is a change of scene and society. In Emma the story doesn't move outside the village, so it does feel very confined.
I love the pettiness of everyday life; the fact that a letter can still be talked about months after it was received, with nothing much else going on to distract people.

[Kell]

The claustrophobia and pettiness are the very things that I find so maddening and dull – LOL! With the focus so squarely on the comings and goings of a very few people in a small village (all of whom seem to spend all their time indoors if they can possibly help it!), there’s nothing of excitement for me. Even the impending ball (about which there was so much chatter and excitement for the characters), or the arrival of Frank Churchill, or the marriage of Mr Elton, have seemed small and lacklustre to me. They must lead very dull lives indeed if one letter, already months old, is providing all their entertainment for so long a period. I couldn’t have stood to live in such a stifling atmosphere! Not that I would have had much choice if I’d been a lady of class and money in that time.

I can appreciate that this (and Austen’s other works) are considered classics, as they are certainly very evocative of the Regency period, but nothing of consequence ever seems to happen and I’m feeling incredibly tired of some of the characters and their lives – I feel almost as thought I’m being worn down by them and I can’t relate to them at all – the women are far too twittery for my liking.

Still, I feel I’m on the home stretch now that I’m onto Volume 3. I’m in it for the long haul and will finish this if it’s the last thing I do.

Then I’ll be moving onto something that looks a little more suited to my tastes – something a bit more gripping…

[Michelle]

Well Kell, at least you know you've explored one of the 'classics'. Do you think that if there was more going on, you'd enjoy the characters more?

[linda321]

I think IKWYM Kell! The thing that keeps me going is the beautiful writing style! I've just finished chap 5, and I just loved the way Austen writes about the conversation between Mr Knightley and Mrs Weston.

(I'm going to have to read a bit quicker, it seems there is no time to read atm, and I'll never finish it at this rate!)

[Kell]

Michelle – yes, I think if there were more things happening and I felt I could relate to the characters a little more, I’d enjoy it better. I think this was just perhaps the wrong choice for me. I’ve read a very few other classics, but I’ve gravitated towards the likes of Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley and their ilk (dark, brooding, gothic, horrific, sensual works), as well as Alexandre Dumas (action-packed and with some humour thrown in, although often dealing with rather traumatic events). After those others mentioned, this just seems so pale and wan by comparison. The characters seem insipid, whereas in the others they’re more boisterous and/or colourful, and seem far richer than the inhabitants of Austen’s delicate world. L

I’ll still be trying more classics though. I quite fancy trying some Victor Hugo…

Linda – I agree about the conversations. They’re the one area that seem to bring things to life a little, but the constant stream that often flows from between the lips of Miss Bates makes my eyes tired and I find I have to force myself not to skip ahead in case I miss some major plot point.

[Purple Poppy]

I haven't started Emma yet, but remember loving it when I first read it , in my teens. I understand what you mean Kell, but life has changed soooo....much in the last 100 years that there's no comparison. That was the life of well-to-do ladies (no wonder Jane Austen turned to writing). I think it must be hard for any young person to relate to that age...just the slowness. I grew up in the fifties and sixties and compared with 2006, THAT was incredibly slow. But at least you've tried it and are able to form an opinion.

Merlin is beautiful, Linda. Please give him a hug from me!

Susanna :wave:

[crystall_child]

I'm a mad Jane Austen fan, I even used my Favourite book by her (Persuassion) as part of my dissertation! I'm currently reading Lady Susan, a very early work of hers.
Emma however, is another favourite of mine, and yes there certainly are jokes! Jane Austen made a living out of making fun of society and its conventions, but she did it in such a cleve and a gentle way, that they didn't mind or perhaps didn't notice! I would wholeheartedly recommend any of her books!

[Lilywhite]

I have managed to find a copy of Emma (probaby one of the only famous classics I didn't own lol) and I will get around to reading it eventually. I have read Austen before and I did enjoy it (you have to love Mr darcy :) ) so I am quite looking forward to this one, especially considering some of the comments made on here.

[Kell]

I actually finished Emma tonight in the bath (there was more left than I expected and then I had a migraine all today which prevented me from reading earlier). The end seemed to take forever to wrap up – all the engagements and announcements and making the visits to congratulate one another – and all I could think of was “Hurry up and get to the weddings, will you?”

I can’t say I really enjoyed reading Emma as a whole, although there were moments I did like – mostly when Mr Knightley was giving Emma a piece of his mind, because I felt she really deserved her come-uppance a lot of the time. I just couldn’t get into the characters at all – especially Miss bates, who really grated on my nerves, and the icy yet timid Jane Fairfax who always seemed so aloof. I know there was a reason for her behaviour, but I still didn’t like her at all.

Emma herself I thought was very fickle in her allegiances – deciding that she liked Frank Churchill before ever having met him, and that they would surely make an excellent couple was rather conceited. Deciding not to like or associate with someone purely because of their station in life, despite the fact that someone she admired and respected (Mr Knightley) thought them worthy and loyal friends she would be lucky to have herself, and then changing her mind at the last moment, seemingly because it meant she didn’t have to feel guilty about mucking things up for someone else any more.

Mrs Elton I thought was insufferable – I could not have stood to be in her presence after an initial meeting, no matter what her station or situation. Then again, I thought she and Mr Elton were perfectly suited as he was so biddable himself.

There were sections of the text that I enjoyed, mostly the descriptions of countryside or clothing, but I found the actual plot very boring and personally, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been half the length, as any action would have moved at a swifter pace. Perhaps the leisurely pace is supposed to be representative of the actual pace of life for the characters, but it wasn’t enough for me.

I’m afraid to say I’ve been put off reading any more Austen for the time being, although I may be persuaded to return at some later date – but it won’t be for a while.

[linda321]

I feel as though I'm struggling a bit now. I don't seem to have the 'space' atm to read a classic. Every time I sit down with it and read a page, I can't remember what I've read, and have to read it again! I think I have too much going on atm, and my mind keeps going round and round!!

But, I do love the witty writing, so will persevere. It doesn't matter if I don't finish it by the end of the month does it?

[Kell]

No, not at all - you can take as long as it takes. in fact, if you fancy going back & looking at the past reading circle choices & commenting on them, it's all to the good. :)

[Lilywhite]

wow this one really does feel like an uphill struggle. If I concentrate I can read a 400 page book in a day, now in three days I've managed 50 pages. She makes me laugh though, because you read a huge paragraph and by the end all you realise has happened is an invitation to tea has been accepted :lol:

I'm liking Emma at the moment, she's quite devious in a butter wouldn't melt, kind of way.

[Michelle]

There's been an interesting reaction to this one. Although we have some fans, others have struggled with this book. Is it because of the writing style, because life was so different then, or maybe because we're more used to fast paced thrillers etc these days?

[Lilywhite]

It does feel like a language barrier sometimes. I know she's speaking English but she really takes the long way round lol I don't think it's because of the time period of the story, I just think it's the time period of the author. I get the story, I just have to concentrate on the phraseology (sp).

[Kell]

I've since read another book set in the same period, but another country & you know what? Plenty hapened in it. I think it was just the fact that nothing of importance ever seemed to happen in the lives of the characters in Emma - it was just too dull for me & very, very repetitive.

[Sarahrob]

Of all Austen's books I think Emma is the slowest. There is no change of scenery or society, no new characters, and very little happens. If you look at the likes of Northanger Abbey, at least the story moves locations and so different characters are introduced.

I love Emma - I love the ongoing importance of the most trivial events and the fact that really minor things are of such interest to everyone. I can appreciate that someone who is not such a fan could find it irritatingly claustraphobic - of the very few characters most are intentionally annoying!

[1sillywabbit]

:( Well I enjoyed going round her house, was much more interesting than reading her book 'Emma' its very slow going :roll: having probs picking it up now... just not enjoying it :| does it get better?

Wabbit x :wave:

[Lilywhite]

I too, have put this one down, not because I'm not enjoying it but because it caused such a backlog in my reading :) I know I will finish it, but it will be a slow reading week when I do.

I am enjoying the book so far, I like Emma and her meddling ways. I love the way she's oblivious to everything that is not in her plans and how everything is so trivial yet vital to the story. Just like many ladies lives where (I think) when husbands worked and they were ladies of leisure.

[linda321]

Phew! I've finally finished Emma! I loved it mostly, but it was a struggle at times, and took me alot longer than normal to read. Why is that? I think it was the language. I found I would read a paragraph, and then have to read it again to find out what had happened!

I bought the DVD, with Gwynneth paltrow as Emma, and thought it was wonderful! All the characters were just how I imagined, which doesn't often happen does it? I don't think there was anything left out either.

Off to start Empress Orchid now.

[Kell]

I have to say,I much prefered the film to the book - I think it was easier to get the humour that way. There just wasn't enough action in the text to keep my interested, but with the film, everything happens within a couple of hours, rather than the week it took to slog through the book...

[sonic1]

I recently re-read Emma (I think around last November or December).

I fell in love with Emma Woodhouse and her doting, homebody father. I had to be somewhat forgiving of certain antiquated assumptions and resignations (based on Austen's time of being, and place), but also felt as if some of it was very applicable even for modern times.

I fell in love with, and dated, a girl who was far above me in "class" in high school. It had its inevitable drama (her mother loved me at first, then realized I was from total poverty and came to hate me and forbid me to be around her daughter).

Though this is not the story of Emma, I felt for Harriet Smith, who was subject to her class designation. Though she, more resigned to living out her social purpose than I.

Mr. Knightly was loveable too, in his honest mannerisms.

This is my favorite Austen book by far.

[Angel]

I've started to read this as an ebook, and I'm enjoying it so far. I'm not too sure what to think of Emma as a main character.

It's not a patch on Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility though! Still it passes a few pleasant minutes at work between jobs ;)

[Kylie]

I fell in love with Emma Woodhouse and her doting, homebody father. I had to be somewhat forgiving of certain antiquated assumptions and resignations (based on Austen's time of being, and place), but also felt as if some of it was very applicable even for modern times.

I have difficulty reading about the privleges and friendships denied to people of a lower class at that period of time. It seems like such a strange idea to me, but it makes the novel all the more intriguing I think. So despite what Emma would say about these things (and knowing that I would never have been in her class had I been around then), I could still like her because I know that that's just the way society was back then.

I think the beauty of Jane Austen's writing is that, even though this book was written nearly 200 years ago and contains some long outdated ideas, it still remains very relevant to today.

I love Emma - I love the ongoing importance of the most trivial events and the fact that really minor things are of such interest to everyone. I can appreciate that someone who is not such a fan could find it irritatingly claustraphobic - of the very few characters most are intentionally annoying!

I agree. It must have been nice to live in such a time where things were more simple!

I absolutely loved this book but I won't gush too much about it here; I've already done that in my own reading list. :smile2:

[jenmck]

I have to say,I much prefered the film to the book - I think it was easier to get the humour that way. There just wasn't enough action in the text to keep my interested, but with the film, everything happens within a couple of hours, rather than the week it took to slog through the book...


I find a lot of Jane Austen's work translates better on film. I love "Pride and Prejudice" and the A&E version is stellar. "Persuasion" was more difficult to read, but a FABULOUS movie (With Amanda Root).
"Emma" is a one of my favorite books, but I can see how it would be tough to slog through. I have a Jane Austen mood. Then, I'll sit down and read all of the ones I own in a week or two. For me, the language, the style, everything is a mood.