Emma in Classics Without All the Class

Apr 25, 2013 Anindyta rated it it was ok

The first time I finished Jane Austen’s book is on February because of my Serapium Reading Challenge 2013 –held by Kaskus Serapium. That time, what I choose for the romance theme book is Pride and Prejudice, because I saw that book is the most popular among other Jane Austen’s. I still remember how I thought bad things about Jane Austen, because I used to read how people said that Jane Austen is so boring. And, I’m not romance book lover. So I’m kind of pessimist when I first started the read. B The first time I finished Jane Austen’s book is on February because of my Serapium Reading Challenge 2013 –held by Kaskus Serapium. That time, what I choose for the romance theme book is Pride and Prejudice, because I saw that book is the most popular among other Jane Austen’s. I still remember how I thought bad things about Jane Austen, because I used to read how people said that Jane Austen is so boring. And, I’m not romance book lover. So I’m kind of pessimist when I first started the read. But after read the book…I loved it! In fact, I really loved it! That, because of that, I’m curious to start another Jane Austen. Therefore, I read Emma a few days ago.

What made me excited to read Emma is the…actually the plot. Emma told about Emma. Haha kidding. Well, but yes it’s right, it’s told about Emma, the second and youngest daughter in Woodhouse family who lived alone with her father. Her sister, Isabella, was already married and her governess, Miss Taylor, was too. So, it left us Emma and her father alone live in Highburry. Eventhough they often invited by their friends, like Emma’s brother in law,Mr. Knightley, or… Mr. Elton, but they still felt lonel.y. Because of this loneliness, Emma promised to herself that she will not married,-like her sister and her governess- so her father won’t feel lonelier. For her pleasure, Emma chose to be a matchmaker for everyone’s love! Oh, how she didn’t have a clue about her poor matchmaking skill. Her target was Harriet, her new friend. Meanwhile, not only Emma who played the matchmaking thing. Secretly, Miss Taylor –well, Mrs. Watson, now she’s married- and her husband, want to build a relationship between Emma and their son, Mr. Frank Churcill.

So, as you can see in here, the point in this story is about matchmaking or what we Indonesian called it as mak comblang. From the start until the ending, that’s what the characters do. Matchmaking. I don’t hate the story, I like it. It’s light and somehow the matchmaking feels a little more cheerful and far from desperate subject. By the bye, first I’m excited about this match making, eventhough you can say it’s so…not special and often found in another novel, stories, or films. But because it’s a classic one, I appreciate this Jane Austen’s ideas. I think, maybe she is the one who started this whole matchmaking fever stories.

The book consists in 3 parts. I know, all the classics are slow –most of it. But well, I didn’t expect Emma to be this slow! Maybe in the first part, the tempo is still not so slow and I can enjoy it like any other classic book. But in the second part and third part, the tempo is still not getting any faster so I fell into boredom. Unlike PAP where the pages is like 200ish pages and the tempo isn’t so slow, Emma has more pages, slower tempo, long paragraphs all in it –even the conversation sometimes feel not nessecary and too long for comfort. I know, the conversation helped Austen to describe the characters, but it’s not working. Eventhough the characters please me and amuse me, like the quarrel between Emma and Mr. Knightley –found that hilarious and swet, the worrying of Mr. Woodhouse –this one is my favorite!, the long words from Miss Bates –actually, I like it at first, but they are annoying too. What’s so annoying of them ? The gossiping thing! It’s annoyed me when Emma was gossiping with Mr.Churcill and made fun about Jane Fairfax. It’s annoyed me when Mrs. Elton talking about who-cared-who and Jane Austen provide nearly one chapter about this! I’m just easily annoyed because of this, and bored. Besides, I really don’t like how Emma talked bad about someone behind them. She’s really more like antagonist for me.

Well, anyway I can still feel the love in this book. Love is Jane Austen’s specialty anyway, I always find that somehow I can still smile of the so-polite-so-classic-love-line. What I learnt about this book is… never ever think that you’re superior to someone and can judge that person right away. And…I learnt that I won’t let Emma matchmaking me! She’s the horrible matchmaker I ever found! Anyway, for her sake, I must say Emma had a bright side too, I like her way to accompany and humour her father. I like her for not being too selfish to her father. I like her manner when she ought to hide her anger. I like her, but not entirely. And… another thing I learnt is never ever gossips too much, or it annoys somebody. The gossip’s not even proved true!

So well, the truth is… I like the story of the book, the plot, the matchmaking thingy, the various characters, but… it’s too long and made me bored and not really interested about it. But, I still can finish this one. *Sigh* It will be much better if the book is much shorter because I really like the ending. I just didn’t like the length of conversations, the length of paragraph, lack of humour, and…the evil in the gossiping!

2/5
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Mar 22, 2021 Heidi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics

I started carrying the pocket edition of this book in my bag to pull out and read when on the bus or in a park/playground with the boys around Vienna. And then 2020 happened, so no more buses or playgrounds or going anywhere for a while, so it turned into one of two self-assigned readings in early 2021. I didn't enjoy it as much as Persuasion, which is my favorite Auten novel, but I did, of course, adore Mr. Knightly. ...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Audrey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: england, classics, 1810s, saw-the-movie-first, regency

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was quite enjoyable. I think it would probably have been even better if I didn't already know the story (due to having watched several screen adaptations). Despite the fact that I am practically nothing like Emma, this is one of my favorite Austen stories. At parts, it really does read a little like a mystery, which makes it extra fun. While I do like Jane Austen, somehow I just feel like I can never really sink my teeth into her characters. There is not the sense of immediacy and emotion t ...more

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