Book Notes: Emma by Jane Austen

  

Summary

This is my favorite Jane Austen novel. It feels like a modern situation and story. It is the story of a young woman who thinks she has the world figured out. Her attempts to craft people, relationships, and situations to her liking meet the chaos and complication of real life. When I finished it, the word that came to mind was “delightful.” It’s just a fun story.

Why I read it

I realized a year or so ago that my favorite books have tended to be literature, but I also realized that I don't read much literature. To correct that, I made a resolution this year to read all of Jane Austen's novels that I haven't read. This is the 5th of her 6 novels.

Quotes

If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. 445

 

The affection which he had been asking to be allowed to create, if he could, was already his. 447

 

Key Takeaways

• This is my favorite Jane Austen novel.
• This is long (500 pages or so) and worth reading. I would just read it along with something lighter and quicker. I read this along with James Herriot's All Things Bright and Beautiful. I would pair it with a short young adult novel instead.
• I told Emma that this book feels like something that could be happening now. It reminds me that people aren't that different than they were in 1811-1816 when Austen wrote this. That is a good reminder--people are people and problems are problems.
• A few years ago, BBC did a TV series based on the book. I like that version best. There is very little left out of the book. I've watched at least one movie version, but I don't think there is enough time in a movie to capture the book.
• I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, but this is more fun.

You Might Also Like

(These suggestion are not because they are similar to Emma, but they are books that simply fun to read like Emma. All of these put a smile on your face and are satisfying.)

Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montegomery

The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Holes, Louis Sachar

Hoot, Carl Hiaasen