Emma is the third book by Jane Austen that I have read so far. I joined the online Jane Austen Club, so I should have the rest of the books read within the year. Usually, when I like a book I zip right through it (slightly slower with Jane Austen books) devouring and savoring every twist and turn of every word. That’s how it was when I read Pride and Prejudice and again with Persuasion.
Emma, on the other hand, dragged on. It’s a smaller book than Pride and Prejudice, probably the same length as Persuation; but while it only took a weekend to finish the other books, Emma took a painstaking whole week to read. Maybe it was even longer than that. I had lost time.
Why did it take so long? I just did not like Emma (the character) from the beginning. I thought her shallow and just plain infuriatingly dull. I don’t get why other readers liked her. To make matters worse, it seemed like Jane Austen’s writing had taken on a bit of Miss Bates’ tendency for verbosity. Some paragraphs just went on and on about seemingly nothing. It got a bit annoying at times.
Maybe I was just in a mood. I don’t know. I really wanted to like this book, but even the story line did not resonate with me. I never did fall in love with Mr. Knightly like I did with Mr. Darcy. I never grew to admire Emma like I did Anne and Elizabeth. At the end I didn’t sigh for the love of Emma and Mr. Knightly, I just sighed because it was over.
Sorry I couldn’t be more positive about this book. Maybe I’ll re-read it again one day to see if I still feel the same about it.
Anyway, after the disappointment of Emma, I jumped on The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
October 18th, 2008 at 4:42 am
I can totally relate. I thought at first that it was just because I was so caught up by Twilight virus the time I read Emma. I even had to see one of the film adaptations. That helped me to appreciate some chapters. =)
October 18th, 2008 at 4:51 am
[...] of the film adaptations because I hardly appreciated the story at first. I can totally relate to JMom when she said: I just did not like Emma (the character) from the beginning. I thought her shallow [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Emma is definitely an acquired taste. The point of the novel isn’t really the romance, but Emma’s fantasy life where she imagines she controls everyone.
I agree that as far as romance goes nothing compares with Pride and Prejudice.
October 19th, 2008 at 11:06 am
hi TeaTree, exactly! I think that is what made Emma so irritating and infuriating to me, is the superior attitude she had of thinking she knew what is best for everyone. It was almost funny to me when she started realizing how misguided her intentions and how wrong her interpretations were of people.
I forgot to say in my review that while reading the book, I was wishing that Miss Fairfax had been more prominent.
I was rooting for her more than anyone.