Emma

Nothing much happens in this book, and yet it is never boring. It's full of speech, and greatly written one a that. Besides the dialogues it is of course Austen's free indirect style that makes this book an absolute delight to read. Highbury and its surroundings is populated by distinct and very entertaining characters, ones to (love to) hate and ones to like; e.g. Mr & Mrs Elton on one side, and Mr. Woodhouse and Miss Bates on the other.

English is not my native language and although I would say I'm not too bad at it, I did have difficulties understanding things at times, especially in the last few chapters, but also throughout. But I didn't bother deciphering the meaning of those sentences this time. Maybe at a later date when I'll read it again. I don't think I missed more than a few minute details about some characters' thoughts and feelings that do not take away from understanding the story at large.

I'm finally reading Austen's books in English this year, after almost 30 years of loving her work. Emma is one of my top favourite of hers.

Completely by chance I managed to leave two of the best Jane Austen novels - to my mind at least - until last so have finished my 2017 Jane Austen Challenge on a high note! I think Northanger Abbey is still very much my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised by Emma. I had expected this book to be as slow as Sense And Sensibility. However I found it more energetic and I loved Emma's unlikeable traits. Her father's total inability to empathise with anyone who doesn't share his narrow views, particularly on ideal diet and exercise, entertained me and raised several chuckles. The small town life of Highbury is cleverly and often wickedly evoked. Austen's portrayal of Miss Bates frequently seemed uncharitable, but I have known a couple of women who chattered away in a remarkably similar fashion.

I did feel a little disappointed in Austen's abandonment of Harriet. I felt as though, having served her purpose to Emma, she became then just a minor plot point to tidy away. I would have preferred a stronger resolution to her storyline. Despite being one of the longer books, I felt Emma maintained a pretty good pace throughout, only seeming to drag in the last few chapters, and I wasn't so frustrated with inane conversations as I had been in previous books. Perhaps I have become more attuned to Austen's writing style this year!

Looking back over my challenge I am glad to have finally read all six of Austen's novels - and even more glad than I can't envisage myself ever having to read certain of them again! I will now have a far greater understanding when Austen characters are alluded to in other novels and may even recognise her storylines and plot devices being 'recycled'.

Jane Austen’s ’Emma’ is a tale that has always been a favourite but it has been some time since I had read it and from page one I was once more happy to be back in the village of Highbury.

Every mess Emma makes is one you see coming and you cannot help but agree with both Mr Woodhouse and Mr Knightly when they beg her to stop. But she is a dreamer, and a dreamer must never be brought down to Earth even if her interfering nature does bring trouble to all those she loves. Austen writes her in such a manner that you cannot help but love her despite her follies and naivety towards her actions, and I know for certain I will return again to not only Emma but the other much-loved stories of Jane Austen.

Mr Knightly was a young girl’s ideal man when I first read Emma at twelve and he’s still the epitome of a caring gentleman now many years later. He hides his affection for Emma so well that you barely catch a hint of what is going on behind his more stoic words and actions but I think it is his constancy in the lives of both Woodhouses that permits us a glimmer of the heart he keeps hidden from harm. He is her voice of reason, her spending block and the one man Emma argues with and shows her true self too. I always loved that she herself is unaware of not only her own heart’s desire but Mr Knightly’s until he is courageous enough to open himself up to her scorn or refusal.

I'm so glad I re-opened this classic novel and returned to a world unbeknownst to Jane Austen? Made it a novel that always finds a home upon many a shelf.