This Jane Austen novel is light-hearted and often very perceptive and witty. However, Emma's romance feels unconvincing, flat, and rushed which is strange for such a slow moving story. It was delightful to hear it read by a narrator with a strong British accent.

Among all Jane Austen's splendid works, Emma is the one which gives me the most pleasure simply as a read. Sure, there's plenty of humor here, as the overconfident Emma is constantly misjudging situations, and the understated Mr. Knightley patiently counsels her. But over it all is a glorious text.

a heroine whom no one but the authoress could like........of course that is not true. This is a well loved book.

Comedy to escape to for readers with “idle” time, no idle mind induced, but reprieved from reading of serious social realism. Touch of farcical and satirical effect may be the outcome of subconscious effort, reveals Jane Austen’s linguistic talent especially considering her limited experience and restricted exposure.
I liked Emma character (though she often acted against the honest and straightforward way, she’s the opposite of hypocrite.), no less than the book. Jane Fairfax and Mr. Knightly, the only characters that were not mocked, whom I liked the least, less than Mrs. Elton and Frank Churchill.
Remarkably, these characters are timeless and can be who we are.

I read Pride and Prejudice a few years ago, and was looking forward to reading another one of Jane Austen's classics. I was very disappointed with Emma. Emma, the main character, is a rich dull woman with first world problems.

“A man," said he, "must have a very good opinion of himself when he asks people to leave their own fireside, and encounter such a day as this, for the sake of coming to see him. He must think himself a most agreeable fellow; I could not do such a thing. It is the greatest absurdity—Actually snowing at this moment!— The folly of not allowing people to be comfortable at home—and the folly of people’s not staying comfortably at home when they can! If we were obliged to go out such an evening as this, by any call of duty or business, what a hardship we should deem it;—and here are we, probably with rather thinner clothing than usual, setting forward voluntarily, without excuse, in defiance of the voice of nature, which tells man, in every thing given to his view or his feelings, to stay at home himself, and keep all under shelter that he can;— here are we setting forward to spend five dull hours in another man’s house, with nothing to say or to hear that was not said and heard yesterday, and may not be said and heard again to-morrow. Going in dismal weather, to return probably in worse;—four horses and four servants taken out for nothing but to convey five idle, shivering creatures into colder rooms and worse company than they might have had at home.”

When reading this I was extremely reminded by the movie Clueless. Great book nonetheless.

E MMA ARE YOU THERE!? emma what are we here for?

This book is equalled only by Rose in Bloom. I love the part when they go on the outing to Donwell Abbey. But who would ever guess that Frank Churchill actually was engaged to Jane Fairfax?

This was such an amazing book. I have to admit when I first started reading Jane Austen I thought it might be a bit dusty and boring. However, Emma was so captivating and fun to read. Even though the language wasn't exactly what we speak now, I feel like teenagers need to be exposed to this kind of language to broaden our vocabulary. I mean if we can't understand what Jane Austen is saying, what will it be like for future generations? The novel revolves around a young, beautiful, rich and single girl named Emma who refuses to be in love. 'I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall.' However, this doesn't stop her from playing match maker. This time, Emma is trying to set up one of her friends Harriet Smith even though her friend Mr. Knightley warns her not too. Soon her precise plans unravel unexpectedly, producing very different results. What I really loved about this book were the characters, Emma was flawed- no doubt about that but she was witty, charming and independent. She is by far one of the best heroines that i have read. She sees that she doesn't need romance to make her life happy, and I respect that about her. The title of the book is Emma because that is exactly what Emma wanted her life to be about, her. Not her being the wife of someone, or her living in someone else's shadows, but her accomplishments as independent women. I also really adored Mr. Knightley, he is just as clever as Emma and their conversations are interesting to read but he is a bit more of a realist than Emma, which is why the two contrast so much. Overall, I recommend Emma to any teenage girl, so they can realize they don’t need a boyfriend to be considered a person, we as women have the ability to define ourselves, through our own accomplishments, not through our relations.