Emma I think is my favourite Jane Austen novel because Emma as a character is so misguided and yet perversely confident in her decisions. Identifying with and sympathizing with Lizzie Bennett and Elinor Dashwood is a walk in the park (although I understand that there are those in the world who prefer Marianne; there is no accounting for taste, but I freely admit that I am an INTJ) -- Emma is more challenging and therefore in some ways more satisfying. Hating that nice Jane Fairfax? Plotting to make a superior match for Harriet? Finding Miss Bates tiresome? Bliss.

I can't let go without complaining about the Gwyneth Paltrow movie version of the book. I have actually gone back to watch the movie more than once because I will review the cast of characters and say "But I love him! The movie must better than I remembered! Let me watch it with a new awareness of Alan Cumming as Mr Elton or Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill!" and then I really don't care for it all over again. I did like Sophie Thompson as Miss Bates and Jeremy Northam as Mr George Knightley, and it's generally an excellent cast so I blame the director and whoever handled the adaptation. And the casting of Harriet was 100% despicably wrong -- she should be pretty and sweet, not awkward and plain.