Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Read-Along of Emma by Jane Austen: the rest of the book! I finished the book.  Hurrah!  I couldn't help myself.  After Emma visited with the Bates' to view Jane's new pianoforte, I just had to keep reading.
I absolutely enjoyed reading Emma.  It was such a fun book to get lost in.  The dramas, the loves, the mysteries, and so much more.  Austen captured the time and place perfectly.  She made it easy to imagine these unforgettable characters going on their walks after dinner, visiting with one another, falling in and out of love, planning balls and outings, etc.  I found myself laughing out loud, shouting in frustration, and sighing in content all the while I read this book.  It was just such a great read.  And in the end, I found that I did like Emma after all.  Though she may have been a bit of a brat at times, her heart was always in the right place.  All she wanted was the best for her family and friends.

I'll definitely be reading more of Austen in the coming year.  I'm thinking Sense and Sensibility or Mansfield Park should be next.  What do you think?

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday!! Happy reading!!

Posted by Nadia A at 2:26 PM
Labels: dolce bellezza, Emma, fiction, Jane Austen, Literature, novel, Read-Along, Women's Fiction I was nodding my head in agreement all the way through your post! The secret engagement especially shocked me, yet it should have been obvious... everything made SO much more sense in light of it. Sense and Sensibility gets my vote for your next Jane Austen :)

December 23, 2015 at 9:13 AM Nadia A said...

JoAnn, I know what you mean! After learning about the secret engagement, it all begins to make more sense. I'm with you - it should have been obvious, but it wasn't - LOL! So glad you love the book, too :) And thanks for the tip - S&S it is! Cheers!!

December 23, 2015 at 10:44 AM You do such a brilliant job of summarizing a lengthy and complicated (mysterious in places?) book. Writing your thoughts in bullet points is an excellent way to highlight each character. While I'm not sure if I "like" Emma or not, I can give a resounding thump on the back to Mr. Knightley. What a wonderful character! Oh, that men like him were more abundant.

Unlike you, I am ready for a break from Austen. When I read something Victorian, I always pick up a thriller afterward for a fast paced action packed read. But, I'm so glad we read Emma this December. Xoxo

December 23, 2015 at 10:45 AM Definitely Sense and Sensibility! You seemed to have such fun with Austen's humor and heart here that S & S has to be next. And I do think that Austen makes Emma progressively more likable as she gains more self awareness. She has been humbled a bit by the end. :)

December 28, 2015 at 7:16 PM Laurie C said...

I loved reading Emma again! I had read it before so the plot didn't surprise me, but maybe that helped me enjoy the author's sense of humor even more! It was great reading your thoughts! At points, the book did start to seem a bit like a soap opera in the style of Downton Abbey, didn't it? ;)

December 30, 2015 at 2:44 PM Aren't the characters and their relationships great in this book?!

January 2, 2016 at 3:42 PM M, thanks! Bullet points helped me keep track of what I wanted to write about :) I know you didn't like Emma much, but I do think she became more self aware by the end and was able to acknowledge her mistakes (which made her relatable and more likable). Knightley is a terrific character - I loved him! I agree with you - where are the Knightleys in this world? I know what you mean about changing pace after reading Austen. Sometimes fast-paced is the perfect pick-me-up after a slow-going read.

Frances, thanks for the suggestion. S&S it will be! Seems like everyone thinks that one should be next up. I'm with you in regards to Emma - she is definitely more humbled by the end, which makes her more relatable and likable.

Laurie C, me too! I loved it! That's cool that this time round you were able to enjoy Austen's sense of humor more - I can definitely see that she has a keen eye and a smart sense of humor. I'm sure when I re-read Emma I will discover things I missed the first time round - I love when that happens! Thanks - I'm glad you read my posts :) And yes, the book did start to have that DA soap style (which I do love).

Lisa, yes they are! Loved getting to know them all. Emma turned out to be such a fun read.

January 5, 2016 at 11:11 AM The Bibliophile Belle said...

My unread book pile will continue to get larger this year - A new year's resolution I know I can keep! Looking forward to reading Year of Yes this year as well. 😄
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