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Katie's Reviews > Emma: A Modern Retelling
Emma: A Modern Retelling
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Katie's review
bookshelves: books-read-in-2015, books-read-in-2015-new, format-ebook, how-library
Apr 13, 2015
bookshelves: books-read-in-2015, books-read-in-2015-new, format-ebook, how-library
Ummm.
Well, for starters, this was a very mean book because it seemed okay for the first half of the book, so by the time I grew disgusted with it, I was committed and wanted to see how it turned out. (Because even though it's a retelling, I had my doubts about how it would end!!!)
And this book has probably more important problems, but my biggest problem is Knightley was hardly in it!!! Like, he and Emma basically have three conversations. This is why I didn't know how the book would turn out, especially since Emma doesn't seem interested in men. The original Emma wasn't interested in marriage, but this Emma (view spoiler)
And I know that famous Austen quote about Emma's unlikability, but this Emma really was unlikeable a lot of times. She thinks quite mean thoughts about Harriet.
And as for those bigger problems . . . well, Emma's hard to bring into modern times and I don't think Smith did enough to change it. There's this idea that woman who aren't rich need men to take care of them. (And sometimes even if they are rich, as in Isabella's case.) Emma matchmakes Harriet and Mr. Elton, not so that they'll get married, but so Elton will pay for Harriet's gap year. (view spoiler) Also, Frank Churchill (view spoiler)
I did like Mr. Woodhouse. I have had some major struggles with the same kind of anxiety he has. I know we're probably still supposed to read him as comic, but I didn't (and wasn't offended either).
ANYWAY. Next week is Claire LaZebnik's Emma YA retelling and I am pretty sure she will save me!
Well, for starters, this was a very mean book because it seemed okay for the first half of the book, so by the time I grew disgusted with it, I was committed and wanted to see how it turned out. (Because even though it's a retelling, I had my doubts about how it would end!!!)
And this book has probably more important problems, but my biggest problem is Knightley was hardly in it!!! Like, he and Emma basically have three conversations. This is why I didn't know how the book would turn out, especially since Emma doesn't seem interested in men. The original Emma wasn't interested in marriage, but this Emma (view spoiler)
And I know that famous Austen quote about Emma's unlikability, but this Emma really was unlikeable a lot of times. She thinks quite mean thoughts about Harriet.
And as for those bigger problems . . . well, Emma's hard to bring into modern times and I don't think Smith did enough to change it. There's this idea that woman who aren't rich need men to take care of them. (And sometimes even if they are rich, as in Isabella's case.) Emma matchmakes Harriet and Mr. Elton, not so that they'll get married, but so Elton will pay for Harriet's gap year. (view spoiler) Also, Frank Churchill (view spoiler)
I did like Mr. Woodhouse. I have had some major struggles with the same kind of anxiety he has. I know we're probably still supposed to read him as comic, but I didn't (and wasn't offended either).
ANYWAY. Next week is Claire LaZebnik's Emma YA retelling and I am pretty sure she will save me!
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Reading Progress
April 13, 2015
–
Started Reading
April 13, 2015
– Shelved
April 14, 2015
– Shelved as:
books-read-in-2015
April 14, 2015
– Shelved as:
books-read-in-2015-new
April 14, 2015
– Shelved as:
format-ebook
April 14, 2015
– Shelved as:
how-library
April 14, 2015
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)
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by
Natasha
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Dec 03, 2015 04:35PM
I completely agree with you on the Knightley front. It's like they all of a sudden decided they loved each other when the reader saw no evidence of that.
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It was really disappointing. I love the Emma/Knightley relationship, but it was so non-existent here.
Seriously! What was up with the lesbian red herrings in this plot???? So awkwardly shoe-horned in, with zero payoff.
Laura wrote: "Seriously! What was up with the lesbian red herrings in this plot???? So awkwardly shoe-horned in, with zero payoff."RIGHT? Like I said in the review, I really didn't know how the book was going to end!
same here. no point at all. did not further the story.
Just a disappointment all around.
I agree with all of what you said. Especially about it not becoming over disappointing till halfway through and then I felt like I still had to finish it.
Some books are sneaky like that!
