I've been attempting to read Emma....for about a month now. I bought this beautiful old hardback copy at my favorite used bookstore in Phoenix before we moved. It's red and turquoise...with gold foil lettering on the binding. It's a very pretty lil book.
Being the Austin fan that I think I am...I'm surprised I can't get into it. I think Emma's a snotty nit wit. I tend to want to love the main characters I read about...and she annoys the hell outta me.
To make this a little more ridiculous...I've seen the movie staring Gwenyth Paltrow. Umm...I own the movie in fact. But I haven't seen it in so long, I can't quite recall anything.
Does it get better? Or should I just keep it on the bookshelf to admire the pretty colors?
Watch the new BBC version instead...and then try reading the book again. She does have redeeming qualities, I swear!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1366312/
Yes it does get better. You know, when Jane Austin wrote "Emma", she said she was writing a character that only she could love, or something to that effect.
ReplyDeleteI really like the book, especially for how it highlights inequalities due to wealth, which happens further along in the book.
Emma does have some wake up calls in the book.
Hey Jes! How strange, I myself was reading "Emma" for the first time back in September too - and it was a pretty hardback copy! I totally agree with you, it was a challenge to get into. I finished it and was thankful that there was at least a surprise ending...I hadn't seen the movie before and didn't anticipate how things were going to turn out. Did you end up finishing it?
ReplyDelete